News from İmralı: PKK leader Öcalan reveals the two people he wants to meet

DEM Party MP Ömer Öcalan, who met with Abdullah Öcalan at Imralı, said, “He stated that he could manage the PKK’s dissolution congress if the conditions are met. The meetings at Imralı need to continue. There are journalists he wants to request. 5-10 experienced journalists of advanced age… Hasan Cemal, Cengiz Çandar, let me mention these for now. But he also said that working conditions have not yet been established there. He even mentioned and criticized that he cannot meet with the other three companions present there whenever he wants,” he said.

Speaking to Yeni Yaşam newspaper, Ömer Öcalan recounted the details of his meeting with Öcalan at Imralı during the Ramadan Feast. Ömer Öcalan said the following:

“I conveyed to him in some way what has happened since the February 27 Call for Peace and Democratic Society, what has been discussed in the media, and the debates held by certain officials. Regarding the February 27 call made in Istanbul, he asked, 'The international press followed it closely, didn't they?' I conveyed that nearly 300 national and international media outlets followed it closely, that screens were set up in Diyarbakır and Van, and that an emotional atmosphere was created in the first stage. He asked, 'How was Newroz in Rojava, it went well, didn't it? How was it in Iran?' I conveyed that it passed with enthusiasm and the call was embraced in all provinces of the region, especially in Istanbul, Diyarbakır, and Van, as well as in Europe, Rojava, Syria, and Iran.

I stated that I have been following the media and the Kurdish media closely since the call. I conveyed that PKK officials also appear frequently in the media and make assessments, and that the demand for him to lead the congress is frequently emphasized through television channels. It was emphasized that something needs to be done to create security conditions for the congress. Mr. Öcalan also had assessments regarding this.”

“I can manage it if the conditions are met”

He expressed his opinion on the point that he could manage it if the conditions are met. Without going too much into the security issue, he said, “Everyone needs to take their own security,” and noting that this is the Middle East, he stated, “even if someone gives a guarantee, I cannot give a guarantee to anyone regarding security.” He said, “I also made a call in Syria around this time in '93,” and explained that these situations emerged by emphasizing that Turgut Özal, Eşref Bitlis, and Bahtiyar Aydın lost their lives during that process.

Very reactive to the government in Syria

I can say that he is very reactive to the central government in Syria. He harshly criticizes what is being done to the Nusayri Alawites. He said that the killing of women, girls, and children is a massacre using ISIS methods. He took a clear stance against this. He stated that both the Druze and the Nusayri Alawites should establish a system and that these systems should act in coordination with the system established by the Kurds. He said that these three structures should also protect themselves in relation to each other.

He is waiting for journalists

As a family, we want this meeting to continue. The execution law in Turkey should be applied to the family. It is in this legislation. Lawyers need to go to Imralı Island; there are legal needs. Journalists need to go. There are journalists he wants to request. 5-10 experienced journalists of advanced age… Hasan Cemal, Cengiz Çandar, let me mention these for now.

But he also said that working conditions have not yet been established there. He even mentioned and criticized that he cannot meet with the other three companions present there whenever he wants.

The Parliament needs to take responsibility

Mr. Öcalan’s working conditions and Mr. Öcalan’s active participation in this matter are important. That is, who will lead the congress, what will the security conditions be? What will Mr. Öcalan’s working conditions be? We call it a dialogue process, and the Parliament needs to take responsibility during this period. But I am not looking at the developments negatively, let me say that too. Kurds believe in and trust this process with all their might. I told this to the President, saying, “Our people trust and believe in you and the call you made. But there are doubts and suspicions regarding the state.” The reasons for these doubts and suspicions include the experiences in the 2015 process, in 2009, and in '93. In response, Mr. Öcalan said, “The people are in the right place, they are right about this, but I am also determined to carry out this process.”

At this point, we also need to work so that this process is not wasted or interrupted. But there is also such a situation. It is as if the government and the state mechanism are not carrying this situation to the social sphere. This needs to be processed and public opinion needs to be formed. It should not be based solely on the logic injected into society through 10-20 television channels. Therefore, the Parliament, civil society, women, youth, and all segments of society should take responsibility and show a reflex for peace and for the process to result in a solution.

“Everyone will benefit from the democratic system”

Regarding the investigation and developments in Istanbul, he said, “If we can establish the democratic system, the democratic republic, everyone will benefit from this, they will benefit too. We will even save them. We are working to strengthen the democratic ground. There is benefit for everyone in democracy, and if this system is formed, these problems will also disappear.”

…We called the first stage of the process dialogue. We said how peace can be established in the second stage. The third stage is also very important for us. We must proceed from the name of the call. This is the stage of building a democratic society. How will a democratic society be built, how will the work for this be done? This is actually a problem for us too. Because the President also made criticisms regarding the DEM Party to me and offered his own suggestions.

He has criticisms regarding the three-block issue concerning the DEM Party. The President makes those who do much and talk little the leaders, rather than those who talk much and do little. He also has criticisms regarding Syria.

He emphasized, “They need to be cautious, they need to take precautions. They will do ten times what they did to the Nusayri Alawites to you. You need to secure yourself in the diplomatic relations you will develop there.” He supports the Kurds’ diplomatic relations regarding Syria, but assessed that this needs to be guaranteed. Öcalan was both cautious, prudent, and hopeful.

He recounted his experiences in '93 and said, “What won’t they do to you if they do this to their own people; you are not living in Swiss democracy, the DEM Party must see this.” He made assessments regarding this for 30-40 minutes. He does not find the work sufficient. The President emphasizes every time that it is necessary to work; to organize, to be organized.