Striking statement on Öcalan from DEM: 'He has a vital duty and role'

Mithat Sancar, a member of the DEM Party's Imralı delegation and a Member of Parliament for Şanlıurfa, made assessments regarding the role of PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan in the disarmament process during a meeting with journalists.

Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by Çetin Arkaş and former BDP MP Gültan Kışanak, Sancar argued that Öcalan would have a "vital duty and role" in the process. Stating that this role must be clarified within an institutional framework, Sancar said, "Mr. Öcalan needs to assume a central role, and this must be done in an open, defined, and announced manner."

Sancar stated that they expect Öcalan to serve on the Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Subcommittee. Noting that the body to decide on this matter is the Monitoring and Evaluation Board, Sancar noted that the role would be determined as a result of the meetings and consultations to be held with Öcalan.

NO DECISION FOR A NEW CALL

Responding to a question about whether a new call for disarmament would be made, Sancar stated that no decision had been taken on this matter yet. Sancar said that such an assessment was not made in the last meeting, but the issue could be addressed in later stages depending on the needs of the process.

Sancar stated that the Monitoring and Evaluation Board has been established and that four separate subcommittees are on the agenda, adding that the Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Subcommittee would have a fundamental function in the execution of the process. He added that there is no decision yet shared with the public regarding the operating style and composition of the board.

Addressing the claims that Öcalan had been moved to a new facility, Sancar said that this information did not reflect the truth. He stated that the meetings are being held in a larger and more comfortable room, but that Öcalan continues to stay in his "old location."

Sancar argued that in the later stages of the process, Öcalan's working and living conditions should be made suitable for the role he will undertake. In this context, he expressed that arrangements such as a secretariat or more colleagues could also come to the agenda.

Stating that sharing all of the meetings with the public would not be compatible with the functioning of the process, Sancar nevertheless expressed that the way should be paved for Öcalan to address the public directly. Sancar stated that the opportunity for direct contact with journalists, academics, politicians, and civil society representatives could be provided.

Touching upon the developments in Syria, Sancar said that they evaluate the point reached with Mazlum Abdi's statements and the preceding meetings as a "democratic integration" model. Sancar stated that the process in Syria cannot be considered separately from the developments in Turkey.

Regarding questions about the number of PKK members who will benefit from the law, Sancar stated that various figures had been conveyed to them, but that since the process has moved to an institutional stage, it would be more appropriate for such statements to be made by the board.

News Source: 12punto