ISTANBUL - Economist and politician Nesrin Nas said that the government is trying to silence all opposition in parallel with the talks with Abdullah Öcaşan. "The way out of here is for the institutional and social opposition to come together and raise the voice of peace" said Nesrin Nas. 

 

Evaluating the talks held by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party İmralı Delegation with Abdullah Öcalan, Nesrin Nas said, “Turkey cannot live with these problems anymore. Those who govern Turkey need to accept this and put their hats in front of them.”

 

Emphasizing that the root cause of Turkey's problems in terms of democracy and freedoms is the unredolved Kurdish issue and stated that a solution to the Kurdish issue would make a great contribution to Turkey Nesrin Nas said, "Whenever the state and the governments get stuck, they try to take some steps to solve the Kurdish issue, but they do not internalize it very much. We see the same approach not only in solving the Kurdish issue, but in all the crises we face. When we cannot overcome the problem, we start to solve it with violence."

 

Stating that the talks with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı are important, Nesrin Nas emphasized that Devlet Bahçeli's call is remarkable and said, "This did not happen all of a sudden. This call is related to the developments in the Middle East, Israel's settlement in the region, the change of power in the US and most importantly the establishment of an autonomous administration in Northern and Eastern Syria. Erdogan has the goal of 'Misak-ı Milli' borders and from the moment the crisis in Syria started in 2011, Erdogan and his team have done unbelievable things to take Syria under control." 

 

Nesrin Nas noted that while on the one hand the talks are being held with İmralı, on the other hand a complex process is being carried out in which political genocide operations against the opposition are gaining momentum and reminded that the government does not talk about a solution and does not even give a name to the talks. Nesrin Nas said, "The DEM Party delegation has good intentions to democratize Turkey after the talks with İmralı. But against this good intention of the DEM Party, the government's approach has been the appointment of trustees in Kurdish provinces, the investigation of the HDK and the arrest of dozens of its components, the arrest of council members in CHP municipalities and the mayor of Esenyurt over the urban consensus. Rather, the government aims to weaken the opposition, fragment it within itself and create a new space to consolidate its power."

 

ISOLATION MUST HAVE BEEN LIFTED LONG AGO

 

Stressed that civil society and rights organizations have important duties in these processes dominated by attacks and uncertainties, Nesrin Nas reminded that the government is also attacking the Kurds' right to vote and be elected and noted that this situation also harms the opposition. 

 

Nesrin Nas added, "These attacks are carried out in a very prepared and planned manner. There are a number of investigations targeting civil society organizations, bar associations, cultural segments. The government is trying to silence all opposition. Against this, these attacks can be prevented by the institutional opposition and social opposition coming together, putting aside all their differences and raising a strong demand for peace. Not only Kurdish-Turkish peace, but peace for society as a whole must be achieved. In order for us to become a society again, we need to adopt or demand a political language in which the fault lines between us can be eliminated." 

 

Noting that the government want to push all opposition out of politics, Nesrin Nas emphasized that these repressive policies will not only affect the DEM Party. Stating that Turkey needs a social peace more than ever, Nesrin Nas noted that peace can only be possible if everyone feels themselves as equal citizens. Stressing that the isolation system in Turkey must have been abolished a long time ago, Nesrin Nas continued as follows: "Abolishing isolation and releasing ill prisoners are things that must be done legally. But the government is imposing not releasing ill prisoners and not lifting isolation. The Kurdish issue must be taken much more seriously. There is an expectation and hope in society. Turkey can no longer live with these problems. Those who govern Turkey must see and accep this. This country is bigger thatn the power of 3 or 5 people."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal