Let us raise the stakes too: Invite Assad to Parliament, not the terrorist leader!..

It has been almost a week since MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli dropped his Öcalan bombshell, yet Erdoğan has not uttered a single word on the matter.

Indeed, Tuncer Bakırhan, Co-Chair of the DEM Party—the political extension of the PKK, which Bahçeli declared a legitimate interlocutor alongside the terrorist leader—also said yesterday, "Will this process happen? The President must speak now."

Why is Erdoğan silent?

There are two possibilities: either he does not approve of Bahçeli's proposal, or he is gauging the public's reaction and planning his path accordingly.

Our subject is what Bahçeli might be trying to achieve with his unimaginable, near-impossible proposal, which can be summarized as: "Let the terrorist leader come to Parliament and speak, let him liquidate the PKK. If this happens, let us allow him to benefit from the right to hope."

First, let us examine the final declaration published by the DEM Party Assembly yesterday.

As if there were a "war" in the country rather than terrorism, they commanded: "One of the first and most important steps for peace and a solution to become a genuine option is the lifting of the isolation imposed on Mr. Abdullah Öcalan."

This means that after this "first" step, other "steps" will be demanded. Here are other expressions from the DEM declaration:

"An honorable peace to be achieved in Turkey will also be the peace of the Middle East... Turkey and Kurdistan are located right in the middle of this geography and the multiple equations... The liquidation of the gangs that the AKP-MHP government has placed in the regions it occupies, which have been trying to stifle the gains of the peoples of Rojava, northern and eastern Syria for years, is on the agenda. The occupation and annexation policies towards Southern Kurdistan have entered a serious impasse... As the DEM Party, we are in favor of a solution based on justice, democracy, and the equality of peoples; we defend peace, a democratic constitution, freedom, and a democratic republic."

Like the saying, "My son reads the building, turns and reads again," it is clear they are at the same point.

Does Bahçeli not know this? Of course, he knows.

Then, what could be the reason for Bahçeli shocking the nation with this "extreme point"—as Erdoğan's chief advisor Mehmet Uçum puts it—or this "absurd" proposal, as we put it?

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel commented, "He either wants to ease Erdoğan's hand or block his path by proposing a step that cannot be taken."

Let us also underline Bahçeli's words at the Symposium on the 100th Anniversary of Ziya Gökalp's Death the other day: "We have not entered into any wrong that would make the bones of our dear martyrs ache, and we have not even thought of doing so," and flesh out the possibility that "he wants to block Erdoğan's path."

WHAT IS COOKING IN THE İMRALI KITCHEN?

In the first week of October, Amberin Zaman, a journalist close to the PKK and its patrons, claimed in Al-Monitor that exploratory talks had begun to restart de facto negotiations between the government and İmralı, and that in this context, the terrorist leader had been allowed to speak directly with the terrorists in Qandil, and that Öcalan had told them, "It is time to negotiate laying down arms."

Was there anyone in Ankara to deny this? It was only stated that, upon Aydınlık's inquiry, Ministry of Justice sources denied the allegations that "the terrorist leader was allowed to speak with Qandil by phone."

Let us suffice with asking, "Is the Ministry of Justice aware of every activity of the MIT in İmralı? Even if they were, would they confirm the meeting?" and continue.

After that move by Bahçeli, the following words by Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, leader of HÜDA PAR, another partner of the People's Alliance, did not attract much attention:

"The information we have obtained is this: Some meetings have been held in İmralı. Some state officials have met, they have sent some intermediaries. To make a call to lay down arms. In return for this, he has said some things."

THE NAME ERDOĞAN CANNOT FORGET: ''THE PROJECT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR 15-16 MONTHS''

Let us move on to the statements of another figure: researcher-author, President of the Basic Strategy Research Center, and former MAZLUMDER board member Abdürrahim Temel Semavi.

Semavi has other characteristics as well. He applied for AKP candidacy for Mardin deputy in 2018 and for Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor from the AKP in 2019... He is the person Erdoğan mentioned by name at his 2010 Diyarbakır rally, alongside Musa Anter, Orhan Miroğlu, Şivan Perver, and Ahmet Kaya, saying, "We cannot forget the suffering of Abdürrahim Semavi, who was tortured for 7 years in Diyarbakır Prison." He is also someone alleged to have mediated in the talks between Turkey and the PYD, the Syrian branch of the PKK, in 2013-2014.

This person, in an interview he gave to Barzani media after Bahçeli's move, spoke of a "project prepared by the Turkish government for 15-16 months" and made the following claims in summary:

"[Visits to İmralı] began in June last year. There were also meetings in July. Recently, there were visits three days in a row... We cannot reveal the names in the delegation that went right now. After a while, the state will announce who went and made this visit... I can only say that many people focused on the solution to this problem have been coming and going... Mr. Bahçeli did not say these words alone. These words are not for today. The preparations for this process were made before October 7, 2023... I had clearly stated 2 months ago that both Mr. Bahçeli and Mr. Erdoğan would bring this process to the agenda... Letters were sent. Meetings and phone calls were made. Letters reached the PKK, Rojava, and many other places. Öcalan's thoughts are in those letters. Öcalan wrote those letters himself... I cannot disclose the content of the letters right now. It says, 'Unify your steps against Turkey. Take steps for the process and establish dialogue.' I think a delegation will go back and forth between Qandil and Rojava in the coming days... The recognition of the existence of Kurds in the Constitution, Kurdish education; all of these are in this project. Kurds will be included in the constitution as a 'brotherly and equal nation.' Kurdish will be implemented in schools step by step. The Turkish government will not enter into bargaining while taking steps; it will take steps itself."

It is not over. Semavi explained more as follows:

"This project is not only aimed at solving the Kurdish issue in Turkey. According to the project, a great alliance will be established with the Middle Eastern Kurds; an alliance will be established with the east, west, south, and north Kurds... The project will be carried out within 5 years. The project will be built step by step until the people of Turkey and the Kurds are ready for the project... Within 5 years, not only those in Qandil but also those living in the diaspora will return, and a path for their return will be opened... Bahçeli's statements that 'those in Qandil should come and surrender' are political. Such steps will not be taken. Bahçeli had also said very harsh words to Erdoğan 10 years ago... These words are not a big problem before us. One day Öcalan will go to the TBMM and speak, he will give his message... The status of Rojava will not be destroyed. Its status will be determined together with Turkey. Öcalan will open this path for them. Within 5 years, there will be no state called Syria in the Middle East, it will not exist in history either; there will be a small state called Syria in Damascus and Latakia. We can say that the Syrian state does not exist."

THERE IS A 60-ITEM LIST

Let us move on to the delusions of someone named İbrahim Halil Baran, known as a "Kurdish nationalist, poet, politician, writer, and founder of the Kurdistan Party (PAKURD)," who fled abroad because he was sentenced to prison in Turkey.

Following Bahçeli's move, he reminded that "I had said 8-9 months ago that Öcalan would come out," and first spoke as follows:

"I tried to share the information I have regarding the new peace process. We try not to share the information we have as much as possible, especially so that it is not sabotaged. We were also surprised when this information reached us. I am talking about a list of 60-something items. With Bahçeli's statement, things have become serious, at least from the perspective of the Turkish state."

Continuing, he claimed that "a new curtain has opened in the Middle East with the October 7 event, that cards have started to be redistributed upon seeing that Israel could turn towards Iran, and that the Turks want to prevent the collapse of the T.C. state by taking the Kurds, the victims of every era, to their side," and voiced the following claims in summary:

"There are 8 items being discussed. It has been agreed that Öcalan will be released at Nevruz... A political ban is expected to be imposed on Öcalan, and it is recommended that he be settled in Erbil in Southern Kurdistan... The second item on the list is that 88 people will not be able to come to Turkey. There is a situation where 34 of them can stay with Öcalan in Southern Kurdistan. There is an agreement to send the others to Norway or Greece. The rest are expected to benefit from the repentance law. This is an agreement made between Öcalan and the Turkish state, not between the PKK and the Turkish state. The sentences of those who received aggravated life imprisonment will be reduced to 20 years, and the sentences of the rest to 18 years, and if they have completed the period, they will be released under judicial control. There is a transition to bilingual administration in municipalities, strengthened local governments, and the teaching of Kurdish up to the 8th grade. Whether it is education in the mother tongue or increasing the number of courses, this is not clear. All Kurdish parties will gather in the Democratic Regions Party and will be recognized as a Kurdish party. Politics on the axis of Öcalan's ideas, that is, 'Turkey-fication'."

THE DECISION FOR DEMİRTAŞ TO REMAIN IN PRISON FOR 22 YEARS

The list announced by İbrahim Halil Baran is not limited to these. According to his claim, it was decided that Selahattin Demirtaş "would remain in prison for 22 years" because "Öcalan and Erdoğan insistently chose him as the scapegoat of the previous process"!..

PYD/YPG PLAN

Baran's claim regarding the PYD/YPG structure in Syria, which appears as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is also terrifying.

Supposedly, the PKK wanted this so-called administration to be officially recognized. Turkey, on the other hand, proposed that the terrorist leader Mazlum Kobani there be removed from office and that the SDF and the FSA merge and be brought under Turkey's control, or if he does not accept this, that he join Assad's army.

İbrahim Halil Baran stated that he knows the name considered to replace Mazlum Kobani, but that he would not say it to avoid causing speculation, and commented, "We are not surprised that Öcalan is also a Misak-ı Millici (National Pact supporter), but what the US and Kobani will say is important. They might say, 'Take Mazlum and the YPG, give us the PKK'."

DIGESTING 'MUSLIMISTAN' AFTER BARZANISTAN

Let us state this much for now.

What is being told here is no different from the plans that the US has put before us for decades through Atlantic Councils, Henry Barkeys, and David L. Phillips, which have been tried many times.

Those plans increased the PKK's bargaining power and ensured that "Barzanistan" was recognized by Ankara.

If it is true; it is understood that before the Israel-US encirclement of Iran, the turn has come for "Muslimistan"—referring to PYD leader Salih Muslim—to be digested by Ankara.

There is no smoke without fire... Even if nothing is happening, something seems to be happening...

What we would say is; could Bahçeli have brought that "extreme point" to the agenda to learn about these and focus the Turkish Nation's attention on this issue in order to prevent these terrifying plans?!

Since the danger is so close, let us raise the stakes too:

Bring Assad to Parliament and let him speak, not the terrorist leader!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 28, 2024