Kurdistan Observer

Published in daily Milliyet in Turkey on Oct 21, 2002 

Unfortunately, it’s not happening without any negative events towards us in each of the elections. In 1995 and 1999 HADEP had entered the elections, in spite of hard conditions we had quite hopeful results. The last time, our vote was around 5 %. HADEP was in a situation to enter the November 3 elections however when in the parliament the decision of the elections were passed, the Prime Minister claimed that HADEP’s enter to the parliament will be risky and made heavy accusations against us and an anti HADEP front was created against us. After that speech, our court case was brought to agenda again.

There is no need to tension in Turkey. On the contrary we want peace and ease. We believe that the Constructional Court will not close down our party but in case of any possibility we withdrew HADEP from the elections. We are participating to the elections from the lists of DEHAP.

In 1997

No. It is the first time we are entering to the elections under the roof of DEHAP.

That was rejected. There isn’t any obstacles in front of DEHAP to take part in the elections. We had already begun to electoral works.

The elections would be canceled, there wasn’t any other way. A political party can not be alone removed from the voting paper. DEHAP finished its organizing in 63 provinces, despite this, Public Prosecutor’s move created a paradox and a negative impact over the voters. All of them remained behind. We are working in all over Turkey.

Before the electoral works began, our percentage was around 8-9 %. Since September 28, I am traveling continuously, we are very comfortable in this election. We want to decrease the 10 % threshold for the sake of democracy, it is no longer a problem for us. Have a look to 3 coalition parties who didn’t want to decrease the 10 % national threshold, according to polls it is clear that they won’t be able to pass this threshold. If we enter to the parliament, we will either abolish threshold or draw it to a reasonable proportion, we will change the Laws of Political Parties and Elections. We will end the hegemony of the leaders. Our problem is not the threshold, more than it whether or not there would be fair elections. In South East anybody didn’t stand against us and say "where are you going?"

So far there isn’t. We hadn’t been able to go many villages in 1999, even we had unfortunate times that we were fired shots bullets in our convoys. We can also go to all over Turkey like other parties. I hope and wish this nice atmosphere continues until the end of the elections and the same positive atmosphere reflects to poll boxes as well. If we are believing in to will of people and respect to democracy, this is what it should be.

Yes. For example I as the Chairman of HADEP was in prison in1999. Many of our friends were arrested. Our party cadres and members were deprived of any possibilities for the elections in all over Turkey. Now, all of us are working. If it goes on like this, I believe we can easily pass the threshold. In South East, East and in metropolitan cities like Istanbul our votes will increase.

210 thousand

1 million

Look, let me give an example from 1999; last time we couldn’t get the votes we expected from rural areas. While our party received 65 % of all votes in Kiziltepe ( of Mardin Province ) city center, we could only receive 1800 of 48 000 votes, which means only 3 %. They were saying to our voters " do not vote for HADEP". Where were the votes going? In 1995 to Welfare Party ( RP ) and in 1999 to Virtue Party ( FP ) as a reaction to pressures against HADEP. Where as we won 70 % in Diyarbakir city center, due to decrease in villages this percentage fell down to 48 %. I just came to Istanbul from the ( Kurdish ) region, there is wonderful attention to DEHAP, we will receive our real votes this time.

We can make 10-0 ( There are 10 seats in parliament from Diyarbakir 

We said many times; neither HADEP nor DEHAP, from whose lists we enter the elections, are not parties who are organized in ethnically bases. We are not a Kurdish Party, we are a party of Turkey who wants to hug 70 million people. Of course, the Kurds too as the citizens of this county are people whom we want to hug as well. We accept that there are different people who are belonging to different cultures, who speak different languages and who have different belief. This is our richness. When evaluating in a logical way, this situation is the power of Turkey. What a pity, we misinterpret this and deny all the sub identities. The fire burns down where it falls; in South East there were conflicts for years, but the pains were suffered not only there but also all over of Turkey. In my opinion, the Kurdish Question is not only HADEP’s or DEHAP’s but it is the problem of all parties who call themselves " Party of Turkey". If we are seen as a Kurdish Party only for our sensitivity to the Kurdish Question, aren’t these parties in a seperatist position as parties of Turkey who remain very indifferent to this issue? Everybody who calls himself as a citizen of this country should be sensitive in these matters.

The parliament recently took in very important steps in the frame work European Union Adoption Laws, which were also related to the Kurdish Question. The conflicts stopped in the ( Kurdish ) Region and Turkey began to breath comfortably. We weren’t able to travel before, we weren’t able to go out at nights in Diyarbakir but now I came to Van from Hakkari at night, there was no problem.

Although people are hungry and unemployment, they demand peace; a poor woman with her 7 months old baby came to me and said "I want peace and brotherhood", because she doesn’t want to go back to past! Everybody living in Turkey and all the politicians have to hear this voice. Death penalty was abolished, it made an important contribution to social peace and opened the path through the European Union process. The rights of education and broadcast in mother tongue are very important steps. Emergency Rule ( OHAL ) is abolishing too, the Village Guard System should be lifted and state should provide returning of forcibly migrated people.

We say, "just practice the law". European Court of Human Rights has made a decision, which says that there wasn’t a fair trial... Compensation was paid to them, this is all. Before, the way to hold a retrial to have a new judgment was closed, now after the last European Union Adoption Laws, it was made possible to do that [to hold a new trial]. However the implantation was postponed for one year in order not to release the MPs. If there is a judgment, they will be released immediately...

In year 2005

No. I didn’t hear.

No. In the most trouble times, we defended the Kurdish Question and paid price. People in the region know this struggle very well. I wish, the other parties too, had defended the problems of South East like us. We don’t consider any party as a competitor to us. The chairman of TKP became candidate from Diyarbakir. AKP, CHP, ANAP, they are all working but their expectation was DEHAP’s being prevented from the elections and to share our votes. They are praying for our not passing the threshold. We will enter the parliament and in most of the cities in the region, we will give no seat to other parties. We are very determined

Sheikhness, aghaness and feudalism are not as strong as before. The understanding of "Master Sheikh came, let me go and kiss his clothes, not only my vote but also my children be sacrifice" collapsed. There is an enormous change in region; familial ties and the traditional impact of Muslim conservative circles will turn towards to different political parties and candidates. Yet, the overwhelming people power took part on DEHAP’s side now.

It will make a very important contribution. We see the future of Turkey within the European Union. Our first job will be getting a date  for candidacy process ) in Copenhagen.

How do you evaluate the developments in North Iraq? What do you think about the Kurdish Parliament and the possible attack against Iraq?

We don’t believe that external intervenes are beneficial. We don’t approve the Saddam administration, to confirm his regime means forgetting the massacre of 5 000 Kurds in Halabja. Iraq is not the matter of this day, again it is not the first time that the matter of the ( Kurdish ) parliament is coming to the agenda. These groups were given passports in Ozal time and good relations were created with them. Today, this situation is exaggerated and being used as a means of elections; blustering speeches are being made, by saying that "there is a Kurdish State being established, it separates us as well, we won’t allow it"

No. I know the region very well. It doesn’t happen, it is an unnecessary fear. We don’t want war, the Saddam regime must be removed by Iraq’s own domestic dynamics. If there will be a new formation, a democratic administration or a federation doesn’t harm Turkey. It doesn’t mean a separated Kurdish state. A solution within territorial integrity of Iraq, a structure like Germany who has a centered government might be established. Such a solution is much better that Saddam regime. Our Kurdish citizens living in Turkey are not in favor of a separated state. They do not have ideas like separation and independence. They demand their democratic rights within territorial integrity of Turkey. The persons in the mountains are not coming down by making long speeches!

Believe me, DEHAP’s entering the parliament will add colour to the parliament. Let nobody worry about us. Representatives of DEHAP will work for the economical development of the country and a Turkey without any prohibitions. They will be the true defenders of the secular, democratic republic. Sometimes, some officials make statements on behalf of the state, mentioning that, "there are 5 000 armed PKK militants waiting and they are a potential threat for the security". This is a correct evaluation, that is true that 5 000 militants are existing; [ 500 of them are inside of our borders, others in North Iraq ] but we must solve this problem.

The solution is that the parliament should take in courageous steps. Fearing or hesitating can not solve the essential problems of Turkey

In our opinion, the legal arrangements should be prepared to provide disarming of those people. It can not be provided by long blustering speeches. When a legal arrangement is made, that is possible that the youth carrying arms in the mountains can come as well. This is possible. The heavy penalties prevent them to come, and the confessing law is not a solution. There can be a General Amnesty.

We are not making pro Kurdishness, we are participating to elections with the representatives addressing to all Turkey. We are the party who has given the largest place to women. We have 103 women candidates, most of whom are in very top ranks, only in Diyarbakir we have 3 women candidates who are in electable ranks. We must change our view to woman.