Diyarbakır Bar Association President calls for action following PKK's dissolution decision: 'Legal steps must be taken'

Evaluating the congress decisions of the terrorist organization PKK, which declared a ceasefire on March 1 following the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” made by its leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, Güleç said, “I hope these decisions will lead to peace. They will contribute to a democratic and peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue, which has remained unsolved for centuries.”

Güleç stated the following in his remarks:

“In the period ahead, political struggle methods will take place on a more democratic ground, and democratic paths and methods will be followed. With the organization declaring its dissolution and ending its armed struggle, the legal conditions for this must be established. I assume there is preparation for this. From today on, the hand of politics regarding all social issues has been strengthened on a democratic and legal basis. In fact, the hands of writers, illustrators, journalists, legal professionals, and civil society organizations have also been strengthened.”

Güleç said, “Previously, even the smallest democratic demand was criminalized, labeled with the ‘terror’ tag, and in some way led to criminal investigations, trials, arrests, and heavy sentences. From now on, it is time to discuss the Kurdish issue and all social issues in a more democratic and free environment.”

“Legal regulations must be enacted”

According to the report by MA, Güleç stated that the government must prepare the necessary legal infrastructure regarding those who lay down their arms, saying:

“In this process, necessary regulations must be made for those who lay down their arms. How can these individuals be included in social life? What should be the legal and constitutional foundations for this? These include the penal execution law, the right to hope, the situation of sick prisoners, and the extension of conditional release periods for prisoners eligible for parole through administrative observation decisions. From this point on, all of these must be discussed one by one. If this process proceeds in this way, it is possible for it to evolve into a lasting peace. Otherwise, this process will take much longer.”

“The right to hope must be discussed”

Güleç stated, “I believe the path has been opened for the process of bringing the ‘right to hope’ to the agenda. It might be more logical to discuss it after this point. Because a statement or the congress gathering and declaring its dissolution by a decision does not solve this issue on its own.”

Güleç continued his statement as follows:

“It is also in the statement: Mr. Öcalan’s conditions must change, and he must be able to explain his own ideas, thoughts, and expectations regarding this process. The path must be cleared regarding the role he will play in this process, and his conditions must change. So, this could be a preliminary preparation, a beginning.”

“The place for a solution is Ankara”

Emphasizing that legal regulations must be made during the solution process, Güleç said, “If laws are to be changed—and they must be changed—the place for a solution is still Ankara. All political parties and groups should view this process as a solution process that is in the interest of society rather than their own partisan interests. There is a door being opened to the resolution of a 100-year-old issue.”

“Call to take responsibility”

Concluding his statement with a call to all segments of society, Güleç said:

“I believe this process will contribute to the democratization of Turkey, the rule of law in Turkey, and the independence of the judiciary. Society must also be sensitive about this. This is an issue that transcends parties. It is the threshold of solving a 100-year-old issue. In this respect, I think everyone should approach it responsibly.”

News Source: 12punto