Tan: PKK's armed struggle over; democratic, political struggle beginning

The 25th edition of a meeting titled “Covering Turkey” was organized on Thursday by the Medialog Platform, an industry advocacy group connected to the İstanbul-based Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV). The ongoing settlement process was launched by the Turkish government in October 2012 with the PKK terrorist organization to resolve decades-old Kurdish question of the country.

Attending the meeting, BDP deputy Tan responded to questions of both domestic and foreign journalists regarding the settlement process. Making a summary of the settlement process from the beginning to make the meeting more easily understood for foreign journalists, Tan stated: “On Sept. 26, 2012, [the PKK's jailed leader Abdullah] Öcalan sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and reportedly stated in the letter that ‘the whole Middle East is being reshaped and the Kurdish issue constitutes the most important part of this reshaping process. If Turkey cannot solve the problem within its own dynamics, both you and I will be liquidated. Therefore, we should do something in order to solve this problem as soon as possible.' Following this letter, National Intelligence Organization [MİT] Undersecretary Hakan Fidan visited Öcalan in prison several times on the orders of the prime minister and the process started. The parties have agreed on the withdrawal of the PKK from Turkish land and the Turkish government in return will recognize and improve the rights of Kurds in the new democratic constitution. This is a summary of the whole process.”

Stating that the PKK will keep its pledge withdrawing without hesitation, Tan stated, however, that the BDP has some concern over whether Erdoğan will keep his pledge. He stated: “Yes, the PKK will withdraw in three or four months from Turkish lands. It is certain. Most of the Kurdish people in Turkey, including myself, believe the armed struggle of the PKK is over and that a democratic and political struggle will start instead.” He added that the PKK cannot continue its military struggle as there is a reshaping process going on in the Middle East and it is very difficult for an armed organization like the PKK to keep up an armed struggle as countries in the Middle East and the world also don't want this. Therefore, continuing its struggle through democratic and political means is more advantageous for the organization.

Tan stated: “The most risky point in the process is the Turkish government's desire to complete the process by just giving some minor rights to Kurds, but they should know that the Kurds are not idiots.”

Listing the reasons why the Turkish government launched settlement process in 2012 after fighting with the PKK for over 30 years, Tan stated: “One of the leading reasons is the position of Syria. The PKK is in cooperation with Iran and the Baath Party. Until the PKK comes into play, the Bashar al-Assad regime will not be overthrown. Another reason is that oil reserves were recently found in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Last year, $10 million of oil was produced while $17 million of oil has been produced this year and $108 million of oil is expected to be produced in the region in 10 years' time. Turkey didn't want to lose its chance of having a say on this oil resource because of the PKK in the region.” He added: “Another reason is of course the Kurds' armed struggle for over 30 years. The Kurdish question has reached such a point that its resolution cannot be postponed any longer. Another reason is that the prime minister wants to receive the support of the BDP to bring a presidential system to Turkey as all the opposition parties in Parliament oppose to establishment of presidential system in Turkey.”