ISTANBUL - The European delegation, which organised a "Round Table" meeting in Istanbul, emphasised that Abdullah Öcalan is a "global leader" and discussed what activities could be carried out to solve the Kurdish issue.

 

As part of the "I want to visit Öcalan" campaign, 39 names from different European countries came to Istanbul and made some contacts. The delegation included human rights activists, parliamentarians, lawyers, journalists, writers, academics and women's rights defenders from Italy, France, India, Germany and Switzerland.

 

Ferat Koçak, Federal Deputy of the Left Party in Germany; Doris Dede, Director of the Association of Women in Exile; Eulalia Reguant i Cura, member of the State Assembly of Catalonia; Roberto Giudici, Foreign Affairs Officer of the Italian Partisan Association; Francesco Cerasani, Middle East Advisor of the S&D (Socialist Group) in the European Parliament, Arita Yoshifu, MP of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Pascale Martin, director of the Feminist Women's Association of France, Gianfranco Fattoroni, MRAP Representative to the United Nations, Carios Martens Bilongo, MP of the Unyielding France Party, Djemila Benhabib, President of the Belgian Secular Collective Movement.

 

ROUND TABLE MEETING

 

One of the aims of the delegation's visit was to meet face-to-face with the Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and to support the "Peace and Democratic Society Process" that is developing to solve the Kurdish issue. Another purpose of the delegation’s visit was to develop internationalist solidarity and common struggle. The delegation met with Asrin Law Office, the Istanbul Provincial Organisation of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and Co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan to exchange views. 

 

The first stop of the delegation was Asrin Law Office. In this meeting, the delegation delivered the petitions demanding a meeting with Abdullah Öcalan to the lawyers of the office. The delegation also held a "Round Table" meeting at a hotel in Taksim yesterday. Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, Sebahat Tuncel from the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) and DEM Party Deputy Co-Chairperson for Foreign Affairs Commission Ebru Günay also attended the meeting called "International meeting for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue and an end to isolation".

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

The agenda of the meeting was shaped by the developments in the context of the Kurdish issue. Issues such as what should be done for the peaceful and democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, ways to develop internationalist struggle and solidarity in this context, what kind of steps can be taken in Europe, what kind of work the members of the delegation can carry out in the countries they are in and how they can contribute to the process were on the agenda. Each member of the delegation spoke for 5 minutes each about the Kurdish freedom struggle, Abdullah Öcalan and Turkey.

 

MESSAGE FROM ÖCALAN TO THE DELEGATION

 

The most important detail of the meeting was the message sent by Abdullah Öcalan. The message, which the members of the delegation were not aware of, was read at the opening of the meeting and came as a surprise. The members of the delegation listened to the message with great attention and applauded it.

 

"(...) I have never considered my personal freedom separately from social freedom. Indeed, I have always maintained that individual liberties cannot find their true meaning in the absence of social emancipation. For this reason, I view your initiative as a meaningful contribution and a courageous call for the shared democratic future of our peoples." was the part that attracted the most attention of the delegation. This section drew the most attention of the delegation members in their presentations.

 

'RECEIVING MESSAGES WAS UNIMAGINABLE'

 

Francesca Ghirra, a member of the Italian Parliament, expressed her surprise at the arrival of the message: "It is very important to listen to Mr Öcalan's message. It was unimaginable to receive a message from İmralı. It is an incredible moment."

 

The members of the delegation pointed out that Öcalan's endeavour to fight for the freedom of the society was very impressive for them and that this endeavour was not only for the Kurdish people but also for all the peoples of the world. The members of the delegation emphasised that they were impressed by Öcalan's "democratic, ecological and women's libertarian" paradigm, that this paradigm is at a level that affects the whole world, and that it is a solution in conditions of war, militarism and fascism.

 

DEFINITION OF 'GLOBAL LEADER'

 

The discussions emphasised the importance of Öcalan's mission for peace, democracy and freedoms. A participant, who is a human rights activist in India and a trainer at the United Nations (UN), pointed out that there is a global leadership problem and said that Abdullah Öcalan should be taken as an example as a "global leader". The participant said that he saw similarities between the ideas of Öcalan and Gandhi and justified this view with the PKK's decision to end the armed struggle.

 

IMPACT OF NORTH AND EAST SYRIA ON INDIA

 

Stating that social movements in India take North and East Syria as a model in the context of self-governance, the participant said: "I follow Öcalan's determinations with excitement. I closely follow the discussions on Jineology and democratic confederalism. Abdullah Öcalan links social freedom to the freedom of women."

 

'BEING A SOCIALIST MOVEMENT IS DECISIVE'

 

The presentations and discussions emphasised the need for a political and legal solution to the Kurdish question. Discussions were held on the democratic solution of the Kurdish question and how to build tomorrow. A participant from France said in the context of these discussions: "NATO's second army could neither defeat the Kurds nor eliminate their ideas. On the contrary, the Kurdish issue has become an issue that will carry it further. It became a problem that everyone embraced. The fact that there is a socialist movement and struggle is decisive in this. We also see this globally. We demand not only the cessation of the conflict but also the construction of democracy."

 

'KURDISH PEOPLE ARE RESISTING AND BUILDING'

 

Turkey's oppression against the Kurds was another topic on the agenda. It was underlined that the political and cultural oppression is aimed at "destroying the Kurdish identity". It was noted that the Kurdish struggle against these oppressions is impressive worldwide.

 

"The Kurdish people are not only resisting, they are also building new things," said a participant from Catalonia, adding that Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" was a strategic and courageous "proposal".

 

'FREEDOM FOR COMRADE APO'

 

A trade unionist from Italy stated that they are closely following the "Peace and Democratic Society Process" and that they are following with interest the "Democratic Confederalism Revolution" of Öcalan, whom he addressed as "Comrade Apo". The trade unionist expressed that he was very impressed by the struggle against capitalism and the nation-state and said: "Freedom for Comrade Apo and all political prisoners."

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

The members of the delegation said that they also have important responsibilities in solving the Kurdish issue and building democracy. It was underlined that the issues of developing the international struggle and increasing the common struggle were also among the agenda of the delegation.

 

Some of the suggestions that came to the fore at the meeting are as follows:

 

* To put democratic pressure on international institutions and organisations such as the ECHR, CPT and the UN to ensure the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. Again, to ensure that governments put pressure on Erdoğan for the freedom of political prisoners.

 

* To bring the Kurdish issue to the UN agenda and to ensure that the UN periodically examines the Kurdish issue, following Abdullah Öcalan's call of 27 February.

 

* Carrying out studies and campaigns in countries to remove the PKK from the "terrorist" list. To put pressure on governments in this regard.

 

* To ensure that the Kurdish issue is taken into consideration as a parameter in the relations that European countries will develop with the Turkish government.

 

* A press conference will be held in Italy on 4 July. Discussions will be held on the contacts in Istanbul and what steps can be taken in the future.

 

* The crisis of democracy in the world should be utilised as an opportunity. This process should be supported and considered as a project for the future.

 

* To work and struggle to make the Kurdish issue more visible in Europe. Carrying out campaigns to ensure the status of the Kurds.

 

* To organise online meetings, joint actions and activities to ensure that the contacts go beyond solidarity and develop as a global struggle.

 

* When the members of the delegation return to their countries, they will tell what kind of a picture there is in Turkey. Again, Abdullah Öcalan's call will be explained to the society and efforts will be made to mobilise the relevant mechanisms in this regard.

 

MA / Diren Yurtsever