Intellectuals: Turkish procrastination threatens chances for just, lasting peace

The peace process and democratic society initiative launched by leader Abdullah Ocalan constitutes one of the most important political and intellectual initiatives that addressed conflicts at their roots through a comprehensive approach that transcends military solutions and establishes a democratic path based on dialogue, mutual recognition, and guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of all components.

Based on this vision, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) took a series of practical steps reflecting its serious commitment to the peace process. It announced the dissolution of the party, and a group of leaders and fighters symbolically burned their weapons. It also withdrew its forces from Northern Kurdistan and some areas of Southern Kurdistan, and affirmed its readiness to enter into a comprehensive dialogue in an attempt to create a suitable environment for the success of the peace process.

However, this path faces a systematic policy of procrastination and stalling by the Turkish authorities, who have not responded to these steps with concrete legal and human rights measures, nor have they demonstrated a genuine political will to translate the peace process into practical reality. This has left the process confined to mere statements.

In this context, a number of intellectuals in the city of Tel Tamer in al-Jazira region discussed the reasons for the stalled peace process, emphasizing that reviving the peace process requires clear legal and human rights steps, as well as a sincere political will that opens the door to a serious and comprehensive dialogue leading to a just and sustainable solution.

Nidal Amin, a member of the Tel Tamer Intellectuals Union, pointed out that the absence of political will and the continued policy of procrastination undermine any chance of achieving a just and lasting peace. He stated that the peace project proposed by leader Abdullah Ocalan still represents a historic opportunity that requires a genuine and responsible response from the Turkish authorities.

He added: “The Turkish authorities have not yet taken any concrete steps on the legal and human rights fronts, despite the clarity of the roadmap presented by leader Abdullah Ocalan. The policy of procrastination and offering various pretexts only complicates the situation and prolongs the conflict.”

He explained that the peace process constitutes the true gateway to building a democratic society, as genuine democracy cannot exist without ending the root causes of the conflict and guaranteeing the fundamental rights of all its components.

For her part, intellectual Khadija Asim Ibrahim stated that the peace process launched by leader Abdullah Ocalan is no longer a political option that can be postponed, but rather a historical necessity imposed by the long years of conflict.

She emphasized that the essence of the peace initiative lies not only in ending the conflict but also in building a participatory democratic society. She added: “The Democratic Nation project offers an alternative model to the centralized state and guarantees the participation of all its components. The Turkish authorities’ disregard for this dimension reflects their insistence on security solutions instead of sustainable ones.”

For his part, Mahmoud Amin, a member of the Union of Intellectuals, believes that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has repeatedly presented opportunities for the success of the peace process through its positions and practical steps. However, these opportunities have been squandered due to the lack of a serious response from the Turkish side.

He explained that the peace process's impact is not limited to Turkey alone, but extends to the stability of the entire region. He considered the continuation of the conflict to be having a negative impact on the peoples of the region, making peace a shared interest that transcends political boundaries.

In conclusion, Amin emphasized that the Turkish authorities' insistence on security solutions has proven ineffective over the past years, and that the peace initiative offers a realistic and viable alternative. He stated that ignoring this alternative will only lead to a resurgence of the crisis in more complex forms.

ANHA