Leader Ocalan: Official authorities must abandon language of threat

A delegation from the DEM Party met with Leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali Prison on October 3. Pervin Buldan revealed the contents of the meeting in a detailed interview with WELAT Agency.

Buldan emphasized that Leader Ocalan clarified that “the progress of this process is linked to political and legal necessities.”

The interview text is as follows:

As the DEM party delegation, you had an important meeting with Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali Prison on October 3. How was his physical and health condition?

Despite his age, Mr. Ocalan was full of vitality, and his health was good. His strong hope for finding a solution remains intact, and this hope is a source of his inner strength, evident in his expressions. As always, he was enthusiastic and full of hope.

What was discussed in your latest meeting? Did Mr. Ocalan give any opinion on the opening of the parliament and its activities?

The meeting was very positive. With the opening of the parliament, a new era has begun. We discussed committee work, developments in the Middle East, and several other topics in detail. Mr. Ocalan pointed out that the process is in a critical stage, requiring simultaneous and reciprocal steps. He warned that failure to take these steps would strengthen forces opposing the process. He did not provide a specific assessment of the parliament’s opening but emphasized the importance of democratic dialogue in politics and society.

Did Mr. Ocalan provide an evaluation regarding the parliamentary committee’s work, and what is his view on the absence of a special committee for Imrali?

Mr. Ocalan sees the formation of the parliamentary committee as highly important and follows its work closely. In each meeting, he requests updates on its activities. He is fully aware that time is passing quickly and stresses the need to make effective use of every moment. Therefore, he considers it necessary for the committee to visit Imrali Prison and meet with him directly. He also noted that the process is in a sensitive stage, and dominant regional and international forces are preparing, calling for the acceleration of the peace process. He added that he has important evaluations and a strong vision that he can present to the committee.

Did Mr. Ocalan comment on developments in North and East Syria and the hostile stance of Turkish authorities toward Rojava?

Mr. Ocalan has consistently provided assessments regarding North and East Syria, and his fundamental vision has not changed. This vision is based on political and societal partnership within the Democratic Nation framework, protecting rights and freedoms, and seeking a third solution. Regarding the Middle East, he offers rational evaluations, considering it a center of crises and potential solutions. He emphasized the need for official authorities to abandon the language of threat, stressing that historical steps have been taken and must be clearly evaluated. He reiterated the importance of a conciliatory language, both for Turkey and Syria.

Mr. Ocalan said, “the progress of the process is linked to political and legal requirements.” What are these requirements?

Discussion of political and legal requirements is not new; Mr. Ocalan highlighted them in his February 27 call for peace and a democratic society. We are now in a historical stage where Leader Ocalan and his movement have taken important steps. Politically significant decisions have been made by the movement, but no concrete political decisions have been issued by the state. Although a parliamentary committee has been formed and is highly important, the current stage requires actual political and legal steps. The committee’s work must serve as a foundation for these steps, as they are essential not only for the process but also for all those seeking peace and democracy.

How does Mr. Ocalan view the role of media, political parties, and civil society organizations in the success of the process? Can he guide them?

Mr. Ocalan and his comrades in Imrali Prison make great efforts to follow the process and its developments. To play his full role, the necessary conditions must first be created for him to work freely. If these conditions are met, he will be able to engage directly in the peace process and democratic solution. He sharply criticized the media, noting that some channels and analysts use hostile language, which he completely rejects. He emphasized that those who use language of hatred do not want peace but aim to fuel hostility.

Your delegation can hold monthly meetings, but what is this linked to?

We can discuss the reasons for the delay in meetings, but the most important thing is to focus on what must be done. We are facing a century-old problem. In this historical context, Mr. Ocalan is the principal actor in the process, and meetings with him must be intensified. Even without our delegation, conditions must be provided to allow him to communicate his views directly to society, political parties, and civil society. It should not be forgotten that Mr. Ocalan, from a room no larger than 12 square meters, is trying to solve an issue spanning 783,562 square kilometers. His pursuit of a solution is not limited to Turkey but covers all regions where Kurds live and the entire Middle East. Therefore, meetings must be held regularly and without delay, and full freedom must be granted, as this is a fundamental condition for any lasting solution.

Until now, no direct activation of the “right to hope” has occurred. How do you explain that?

The “right to hope” is more than just a concept; the basic conditions that ensure Mr. Ocalan’s free life and work must first be activated. While the “right to hope” can be applied within a legal and judicial framework, addressing the issue cannot be confined to this narrow framework. When the main actor in the process is the person concerned, legal evaluations alone are insufficient. If a real solution to the Kurdish issue and an end to a fifty-year conflict is desired, Mr. Ocalan’s situation must be directly activated, whether through the “right to hope” or another framework. Without this, trust in the process will be undermined.

A-H

ANHA