During the International Campaign, “Freedom for Öcalan, Political Solution to the Kurdish Question” DEM Party MP and Member of the Imrali Delegation Pervin Buldan spoke about Öcalan’s strategy of transforming an oppressive regime through the power of democratic society.
With the step taken by Devlet Bahçeli, a new process has begun’
Pervin Buldan stated the following about the first meeting: “Mr. Öcalan said that fifty years were spent in rebellion. He said that the denial of our language and identity forced us into armed rebellion, and that he has been concentrating on peace for the last 25 years. He talked about the need for a new struggle for peace and democracy. In saying this, he underlined that Kurds and Turks act together. He talked about how Atatürk approached the Kurds and how he did this by keeping İsmet İnönü by his side. He said that the current situation is looking at the issue from a place that does not understand the unity of Atatürk and İsmet İnönü. For a Turkish-Kurdish alliance to materialize, everyone needs to revisit the past. He said that he had decided for this and that he believed there was no other solution but to make peace and lay down weapons. For this, Mr. Öcalan also evaluated the previous peace process. He said that even though society was ready in the previous process, politics was not ready for it because the nationalist front was against this process. However, with the step taken by Devlet Bahçeli, who is seen as the leader of the nationalist front, a new process has begun. Of course, Devlet Bahçeli’s move is not a call he made on his own. It is an expression of a decision taken by the deep state.”
Pervin Buldan continued: “During our first meeting, he was preparing the Call for Peace and Democratic Society and gave us a task. He emphasized the importance of the parliament and asked us to visit all political parties. After the first meeting, we visited many parties. The meetings we had were very positive. Everyone expressed their contributions to the process. In the second meeting, when we told Mr. Öcalan that all groups would support the process, he was very happy. He then gave us a second assignment to meet with the Kurdish forces in Southern Kurdistan. Our meetings with the PUK and KDP were also very productive and positive. Then, on February 27, we went to the island with a larger delegation and that historic call was made.”
‘It is necessary to start working quickly to create legal conditions’
Pervin Buldan stated, “Two days before we came here, we had a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Mr. Öcalan had also asked us to have this meeting. There were question marks in everyone’s minds about Erdoğan’s distance from this issue. However, with this meeting, all political parties, especially the president, are now at the center of this issue. In that meeting, we gave a brief summary of the visits we had made. We also expressed our expectations. We discussed with the president the legal preparations to be made, the steps to be taken, the expectations of what should happen. In order for Mr. Öcalan to regain his physical freedom, it is necessary to start working quickly to create legal conditions, especially to create free working conditions.”
‘There will be no losers in peace’
Pervin Buldan said that Öcalan’s health, safety and working conditions should be changed and that steps should be taken quickly: “The way to achieve the peace initiated by Mr. Öcalan is through concrete steps. The realization of the peace process, a period in which an organization that has been at war for 50 years can lay down its arms, cannot be wasted with such blockages. This is of course not acceptable. It would be useful to quickly pass laws and improve Mr. Öcalan’s conditions. After we return from here, there will be a meeting with the Minister of Justice and then we will have another meeting in İmralı. This process is expected to be completed in a few months. In other words, the process is expected to be completely successful by the end of June. This is the case for both Mr. Öcalan and the state authorities. Therefore, the work to be done and the support from Europe will make a great contribution to this. Each country has a lot of work to do on its own front. Every work to be done will bring about a process that will lead to Mr. Öcalan’s physical freedom. A ground is being created in Turkey where Kurdish and Turkish people will live together. Everyone knows that there will be no losers in peace.”
‘It is in our hands to make this process a success’
“It is in our hands to make this process a success,” Pervin Buldan said, adding that the struggle must be increased. Stating that Öcalan’s greatest expectation is from women and youth, Pervin Buldan said, “Mr. Öcalan makes long and detailed evaluations about the violence, murders and massacres that women have suffered. He is very angry about the deaths of children. The murder of Narin Güran was on the agenda in both meetings. He emphasized that democratic socialism would prevent the massacres of women and children. He says that the mentality that carries out the massacres of women and children must be confronted. He believes that a democratic society can prevent this mentality. The call for Peace and Democratic Society was a summary of these ideas. In short, we are all hopeful, we are all closer to peace. Because Mr. Öcalan says ‘I have the will and hope to realize peace’. And we are behind Mr. Öcalan.”