Statement from the DEM Party after the PKK congress: “We will definitely bring the light of peace and brotherhood to these lands”

The DEM Party Central Executive Board released a statement after the 12th PKK Congress. The statement emphasized that the 50-year conflict brought one step closer to the horizon of peace. Bahçeli, Erdoğan and Özel were also thanked. The statement said, “We want Türkiye’s peace to be a hope for the Middle East and an inspiration to the world.”

The PKK announced that the congress will convene on May 5-7 to decide on dissolution and disarmament. However, the organization has not yet made a decision to disband or disarm.

The DEM Party Central Executive Committee (MYK) made a statement on the issue.

In the statement, thanks were given to Abdullah Öcalan, Devlet Bahçeli, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Özgür Özel.

In the statement of the DEM Party Central Executive Board, it was emphasized that the 50-year conflict brought us one step closer to the horizon of peace. It was reminded that this step was a step towards the re-emergence and development of peace and democratic politics that had been longed for for centuries.

The statement, consisting of 8 items, said, “First of all, we remember with deep respect all our people who lost their lives in the long-term conflict process. Decades of bitter experience have shown us all that pain has no color, language or identity. Today, the tears of Turks, Kurds, Circassians, Arabs, Alevis, Sunnis, all identities and beliefs have met in the same sea. We carry our common grief in our hearts; we will protect the memory of all those we have lost as a sacred trust and build our common future.”

The statement stated that as the DEM Party, they made a sacred promise to the people of Mesopotamia and Anatolia, “We will not avoid facing the truth and establishing justice; we will never allow any step that will hurt the souls of those we have lost, any statement that will damage the process, any action that will block the path to peace. We will be the unyielding defenders and carriers of equal citizenship, democratic politics and peace.”

In the DEM Party's statement, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who passed away recently and devoted his life to peace, was also commemorated.

The full statement by the DEM Party Central Executive Board is as follows:

“ A historic threshold: A new dawn of peace and brotherhood

Today, we are witnessing a historic moment in one of the most important and critical thresholds in Türkiye's recent history.

1. With the decisions of the PKK's historic congress, we are one step closer to the horizon of peace after fifty years of conflict. This step is a step towards the re-emergence and development of peace and democratic politics that have been longed for for centuries in the heart of our ancient lands.

2. First of all, we remember with deep respect all our people who lost their lives in the long-term conflict process. Decades of bitter experience have shown us all that pain has no color, language or identity. Today, the tears of Turks, Kurds, Circassians, Arabs, Alevis, Sunnis, all identities and beliefs have met in the same sea. We carry our common grief in our hearts; we will preserve the memory of all those we have lost as a sacred trust and build our common future.

3. Now is the time to put the will to live together and equally before everything else. It is the time to deeply believe in a democratic society, free politics, and universal law, to work and take steps for democratization. Let no young person fall to the ground in the mountains or in the cities. From now on, in this country, let the voice of politics, not denial and weapons, let the voice of democratic and social consensus, not anger, let the voice of unity and equal life rise, not separation.

4. A new page is being opened on the path to an honorable peace and democratic solution. As the DEM Party, we believe that after this historic turning point, all democratic political institutions, especially the Turkish Grand National Assembly, must take responsibility for the solution of the Kurdish issue and the true democratization of Türkiye.

Now the voice of democracy and justice must rise. The historical task before the Assembly for the construction of social peace is too sacred to be overshadowed by any political calculation. Our most fundamental responsibility now is to establish together the legal and institutional groundwork that will transform this historical step into permanent peace.

5. At this historic moment, the assurance of peace will be if the executive power fulfills its historic responsibility to seize the opportunity to establish Türkiye's democratic future.

6. We would like to thank Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, who has undertaken a historic responsibility in the development of this process; the people of Turkey who have paid the price of peace with their lives, children and tears; Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, who has supported the will for a solution, and President Erdoğan, who has embraced this will, and all opposition leaders, including the main opposition leader, Mr. Özgür Özel, who has approached the process positively.

In order for this process to be successful, our political institutions, civil society organizations and most importantly, each of our 85 million citizens have the duty to protect, build and gain peace today. We want Türkiye's peace to be a hope for the Middle East and an inspiration to the world.

7. As the DEM Party, we make a sacred promise to the people of Mesopotamia and Anatolia: We will not avoid facing the truth and establishing justice; we will never allow any step that will hurt the souls of those we have lost, any statement that will damage the process, or any action that will block the path to peace. We will be the unyielding defenders and bearers of equal citizenship, democratic politics, and peace.

8. Today, we carry the weight of a great hope on the one hand, and a deep responsibility imposed by history on the other. This is not an end, but a new beginning. We complete this declaration of will by once again commemorating our beloved companion Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who dedicated his life to peace and the brotherhood of peoples, and whose heart always beat on the side of the oppressed.

We will definitely bring the light of peace and brotherhood to these lands.”

On the other hand, DEM Party İmralı delegation member Pervin Buldan made a statement to Mezopotamya Agency.

Pervin Buldan said the following regarding whether Öcalan attended the congress:

“Probably a technical communication was provided. I don’t want to go into too much detail. Because we have a long way to go. I think the statements we will make should be made carefully. I don’t think they should harm the process. Therefore, until this process is completely successful, we have to be careful when making our promises. When we also pay attention to the statements made, it is likely that a more detailed statement will be made in the coming days. The congress has convened, but despite the lack of a fully detailed statement, we expect a detailed statement in the coming days. However, this is an important statement in itself. Therefore, I especially cannot pass by without mentioning Sırrı Süreyya Önder. I wish he had seen it. He had witnessed these days. He has made a lot of efforts. I am currently in Adıyaman to offer my condolences to him. We are once again celebrating his soul. We are dedicating Sırrı to our President.”

Pervin Buldan also reported that President Erdoğan will make a statement on the issue, saying, “They will also make a statement soon. I do not want to make an assessment on this. But I think Mr. President will make a statement soon.”