Unless PKK takes hands off DEHAP…

The news leaked from Kurdish circles, comments and articles on some Kurdish internet sites show that the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) has gone into a period of dissociation. In fact, nobody knows what is really going on with the PKK. Nobody gives accurate information on the issue.

Here is what I understood these comments and articles mean:

Imrali, the Ocalan brothers and their supporters, seek a solution by political means and want to gain democratic rights in Turkey for this aim. They suggest not to display radical behavior at a time when Turkey is due to get the go-ahead to start accession talks with the EU.

The Kandil Mountain group, the name of a militant group holed up in the mountains and a majority of the organization’s Europe branch, favors to continue an armed struggle if needed and for this aims to cooperate with Barzani and determine a policy aiming for an independent Kurdistan.

It is not yet clear which side will win this struggle for power. However, what is clear is that this struggle will become harsher in the following days.

Some circles argue that dissociation of the organization by this way is an advantage to Turkey. However, I don’t think so. Involving these sides in a conflict will bring arms to the stage once again.

Nobody thinks about the innocent people who will lose their lives when these sides start struggling for power.

This dissociation of the PKK has immediately spread to Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP).

Incidents during the Diyarbakir local elections were a clear sign of this spread of dissociation.

Former mayor Feridun Celik was not nominated by his party as a candidate for these elections but he declared himself an independent candidate. This attracted criticism. Celik as an independent candidate is said to be supported by the Imrali group. The DEHAP administration on the other side is claimed to be seeking new names for the party and to broaden its vote capacity.

DEHAP Chairman Tuncer Bakirhan said that dissociation within the PKK did not influence themselves but their electors inevitably were affected by that.

As it seems, the situation is highly complex. The result of the elections will pave the way for new developments concerning the Kurdish problem.

What should be kept in mind is that unless the PKK keeps its hands off the political parties our Kurdish citizens support, a democratic settlement to the Kurdish problem will be much harder to achieve.

Deniz Baykal is confident
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal was the guest of CNN Turk on Tuesday. As usual Baykal seemed confident both of himself and his party.

He believes that CHP is displaying an opposition that should be proud of. He stated that they selected the best candidates for the local elections.

He denied claims about serious disagreements within the party and that CHP is far away from displaying a good opposition and accused the media of such claims.

He noted that each time they leveled criticism at the government they received strong reactions and were accused of damaging the stability.

I have known Deniz Baykal for years. I know that he has not changed his approach on party leadership for years.

I observed him carefully on Tuesday night and saw once again that he has not changed.

CHP has a communication problem within itself and this cannot be overcome by accusing the media.