CHP and Demirtaş remarks at the reconciliation commission

The National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, established in the TBMM as part of the new reconciliation process—which MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli is the architect of and the government calls a "Terror-Free Turkey"—held its 12th meeting today.

In the first session of the meeting, held at the TBMM Ceremony Hall under the chairmanship of TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, representatives from the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), the Dicle Center for Social Research (DİTAM), Rawest Research, the Kurdish Studies Center, and the Ecopolitics Culture and Education Research Foundation (EKEAV) took the floor.

In the second session, the views of representatives from the Ankara Institute, the Socio-Political Field Research Center, the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) will be heard.

As reported by Birgün, Rawest Research Director Roj Esir Girasun stated in the information he presented to the Commission: “The clearest result we saw in our research was this: The sociological change of the Kurds inevitably imposes a solution. In other words, the process we are in today should not be viewed merely as negotiations between the state and the organization. This historical stage we have reached is the natural result of the sociological change of the Kurds, along with regional developments. Essentially, this social change is what is imposing the solution.”

“65 PERCENT OF KURDS WERE AGAINST WEAPONS”

Girasun announced that research conducted before the process began showed that 65 percent of Kurds were firmly opposed to the method of seeking rights through weapons. He stated that 35 percent held different tendencies, with 20 percent being anxious and undecided, and 15 percent supporting the use of weapons.

Girasun continued his remarks as follows:

“In research conducted by both us and other institutions, we see that the public's support for the process is approaching 70 percent. However, the rate of those who think the process is being conducted successfully and who believe it will result in success hovers in the 40–45 percent band. This shows the gap between support for the process and the trust felt toward it. The general public, especially Kurds, is giving a silent but strong approval to the process. But there is a multilateral distrust in everyone. A significant portion of the Kurdish public does not trust that the government will take action; the majority of Turks do not trust or believe it; they do not trust that the terrorist organization PKK will truly lay down its arms.”

“OPPOSITION PUBLIC SEES IT AS AN ELECTION INVESTMENT”

Stating that the opposition Turkish public largely views the process as an election investment, Girasun expressed that the belief that it will bring democratization is low. However, he emphasized that this distrust has not turned into widespread opposition.

Girasun also listed the steps expected to be taken by the state from the perspective of Kurds:

“‘The release of Demirtaş, the abandonment of the trustee practices, and the return of the dismissed mayors.’ The fact that these steps are practical, easy, and under the state's initiative increases expectations.”

“THE FIRST STEP KURDS EXPECT IS THE RELEASE OF DEMİRTAŞ”

Stating that the release of Demirtaş and his colleagues is as critical for their contribution to the process as it is symbolic, Girasun said, “From the very beginning of the process, Demirtaş was influential in how anxious Kurds and opposition segments viewed the process through his unconditional support for Öcalan's call. His release could increase trust in the process. Furthermore, it is not correct to constantly treat Demirtaş and Öcalan separately. Their complementary characteristics contribute to the socialization of the process.”

“OPERATIONS TARGETING THE CHP DAMAGE TRUST”

Stating that operations targeting the CHP and CHP-run municipalities harm the process, Girasun used the following expressions:

“The 'city consensus' operations launched against the CHP as soon as the process began are damaging trust in the process and legal promises both within the government and the opposition, while simultaneously reducing the credibility of the rhetoric of 'strengthening the internal front.' I wish that respected researcher Mehmet Ali Çalışkan, who was arrested within the scope of these operations and has made great contributions to democracy, peace, and civilianization with the research he has conducted for years, were not in prison today; he could have made very valuable contributions to the process and could even have been in the Parliamentary Commission today.”