The DEM Party is mediating peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The latter has decided to dissolve itself and lay down arms after decades of a devastating war with the Turkish state. A first group of PKK fighters burned their weapons earlier this month.
Mustafa Destici, leader of the Great Unity Party (BBP), on Monday called on all alleged offshoots of the PKK to dissolve themselves, mentioning the DEM Party too.
“Even this DEM Party in Turkey will do so. Because it is also the PKK's party. It will dissolve itself, condemn terrorism, and establish a new party,” he told reporters.
The BBP is part of the ruling People’s Alliance, which includes Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The DEM Party rebuked the Turkish politician for his remarks late Tuesday.
“DEM Party is the name of the struggle for equality, freedom, democracy, justice, and peace of the peoples. It is the will of millions. It is not a mere signboard, nor is it temporary. It has reached this point by paying great costs and through an uninterrupted struggle,” stated the pro-Kurdish party. “The purpose of the DEM Party is clear: to ensure peace and build democracy for 86 million people.”
The party refused to dissolve itself.
“We are not dissolving our party. We are right where we stand, and our march continues with determination. We will never step back,” the party said, advising the BBP leader to be “the voice of people and democracy, not of Kurdish hostility.”
On May 12, the PKK announced its dissolution and intention to disarm after being urged to do so by its founder Abdullah Ocalan who said it was time to take the struggle for Kurdish rights into the political sphere.
The PKK has declared a unilateral ceasefire and on July 11 held a disarmament ceremony had a ceremonial disarmament where 30 fighters, including commanders, burned their weapons.
Erdogan on Monday praised Ocalan for his continued support for peace talks between the PKK and Ankara.
“We are determined to build a terrorism-free future. We are clear about what we will do to reach our goal, how we will achieve it, and where we will ultimately end up,” Erdogan told journalists.
Erdogan also said that they are following the PKK disarmament process, adding that the negotiations to form a parliamentary commission to address the peace process, or what Ankara calls terror-free Turkey, have “reached the final stage. You will soon see progress at the parliamentary level.”
The peace process will be guided by the parliamentary commission. Representatives of the parliamentary bloc of Turkey’s political parties met with the parliament speaker on Friday and the commission is set to be formed within days. The commission has broad political support, except from the ultranationalist Good Party (IYI).
Sezai Temelli, a DEM Party lawmaker, told Rudaw on Tuesday that the parliamentary commission will consist of 35 members and may hold its first meeting in the coming days.
“There may be a meeting on Friday. Even if it is not Friday, it will definitely convene within the next week. Even if parliament goes on recess, the commission will continue its work and fulfill its legal preparation duty until October 1,” he said.
He added that the commission’s main task will be to ensure “legal and political guarantees for the disarmament process.”
Some PKK fighters based in Duhok province told Rudaw earlier this month that they fear reprisals if they return to Turkey, with many opting to remain in the mountains instead.
"In the first phase, regulations will be made regarding the legal and political rights of those who lay down arms. After this stage is completed, new steps can be taken for the continuation of the process,” Temelli noted, adding that the DEM Party delegation, which has held several meetings with Ocalan in jail, will visit him again following the commission meeting.
Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish intelligence chief, has held meetings with several Turkish political parties over the peace talks, including the DEM Party.
Temelli said their meeting with Kalin was positive.
"It was a sincere and important meeting. We won't make statements about its content, but it went positively. The resumption of dialogues is important for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue,” the lawmaker said.
