ANKARA – Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party member of the Parliamentary Commission Saruhan Oluc said that civil society organisations and opinion leaders will be invited to the commission and stressed: “We will ensure that the suggestion and ideas of all segments of society are reflected in the commission.”

 

Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan made a historic call on 27 February for the solution of the Kurdish issue, calling on the PKK to dissolve and the state to take political and legal steps. In line with the call, the PKK convened its congress and ended its activities. On 11 July, it destroyed its weapons with a ceremony. Within the scope of the process, the “Commission on National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy” was established in the Parliament. 

 

While the commission is considered by many as an important step, there are calls from all quarters for demands and suggestions regarding the commission. 

 

'AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS A SOLUTION'

 

Saruhan Oluc emphasised that the place for a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue is the Parliament and said: “When we look at it both in terms of social representation and political representation, it is of great importance that most of the parties take part in the commission. This is also of great importance for the socialisation of the issue. Peace can be realised to the extent that it is socialised.”

 

Oluc emphasised that the Parliament should make an effort for the solution of the issue and embrace the process: “The effort, discussions, evaluations and steps to be taken in the Parliament show that this will also have an impact on the society.”

 

DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONING

 

Drawing attention to the 12-article draft presented and accepted in the first meeting of the commission, Oluc said that there were some criticisms about the content of the draft in its first form, and that in line with the criticisms and suggestions made, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus held a special meeting with the coordinators of the parties and rearranged the draft based on the suggestions made, and that the draft was accepted unanimously. 

 

Oluc said: "These different proposals were brought together, and finally, unanimously accepted operating procedures emerged. A very democratic procedure emerged in the commission. Important decisions were taken on issues such as how decisions will be taken, what steps will be taken to take these decisions, how transparency will be ensured."

 

Stating that all parties agreed on the other phrases in the draft, including the name, and that this situation also revealed that the commission was sensitive about commonisation, "It was something like a common bylaw for all of us," he said.  

 

'INTEGRATION LAWS'

 

Oluc noted that the commission will host many discussions, but that the solution to all problems does not pass through this commission alone, and that ultimately a constitutional solution is also needed. Oluc stressed: "Constitutional amendments are needed. But we will not discuss the constitution in the commission. But important laws will be discussed. For example, we will have legal regulation proposals in some areas that we describe as integration laws, covering social integration. There is a need for legal arrangements on how those who destroy weapons will be included in both social and political life from now on." 

 

'CHANGE OF EXECUTION WILL BE DISCUSSED'

 

Drawing attention to the fact that there are problems in many areas and that prisons are at the top of the list, He said: "There are serious problems in prisons. There will of course be discussions and speeches on the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Anti-Terror Law (TMK). We are discussing the issue of trustees. Therefore, there is a need for some discussions and evaluations on the local governments law. We can consider all of these as some democratisation steps both in the field of law and politics."

 

'SOME MEETINGS MAY BE CLOSED'

 

Clarifying the issue that the commission will be conducted in a closed manner, Oluc said: "Some meetings of the commission may be closed. The commission will decide on this. For example, the first meeting will be a meeting where the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior and the head of the Intelligence Organisation will come and present a report to us and provide us with information. This meeting will most probably be closed. In future meetings, if the commission discusses which meetings should be closed and takes such a decision, those meetings may also be closed. But the minutes of other meetings will be open. The press will be able to take these minutes, evaluate them and make news from them. Therefore, from those minutes, it will be seen who defended which views.”

 

'EVERYONE'S OPINION WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE COMMITTEE'

 

Stating that civil society organisations and other social segments would also participate in the commission, Oluc said that this would be a vital step in the socialisation of the solution and peace. Oluc concluded: "We want peace and the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue to be socialised from the very beginning. The commission allowed various non-governmental organisations, universities, experts and opinion leaders to be invited to this commission. The names will be shaped by the suggestions of political parties. They will share their ideas with the commission. Therefore, we will ensure that the suggestions and ideas of all segments of society are reflected in the commission."

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan - Melik Varol