DEHAP dissolved, joins Layila Zana’s movement 18.8.2005

DEHAP announced its decision to disband as prosecutors tried to close down the party, accusing it of being a focal point for separatist activities and having ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The constitutional court previously closed down four pro-Kurdish parties, including DEHAP's predecessor.

The party also said on Wednesday that recent remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a visit to the southeastern city of Diyarbakır had raised hopes for a new conciliatory atmosphere.

In its statement DEHAP said the party assembly and the branch presidents of the party had met late on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments. “At this point in time international developments are forcing us to change,” the statement announced.

The statement noted the peace processes currently under way in Spain (regarding ETA) and Britain (regarding the IRA), adding that the prime minister's statements before and during his Diyarbakır visit last Friday had shown that he intended to pursue an alternative path.

The party said the statements the premier made were very important for them, but such words needed to be endorsed by actions if they were to produce any tangible results.

The move was seen by some as an attempt to consolidate pro-Kurdish political movements in order to show a united stance before the government starts to implement policies that aim to resolve the issue through democratic means.

Erdoğan's promise of more democracy:

Erdoğan pledged on Friday that the “Kurdish issue” in Turkey would be resolved with "more democracy" despite a marked increase in violence by PKK activity.

"I want you to know that there will be no going back from the point Turkey has reached. ... We will not allow any regression in the democracy process," Erdoğan said in an emotional speech in Diyarbakır, a key city in Turkey's Southeast.

"We will resolve all the problems with more democracy, more civil rights and more prosperity," he said as he was frequently interrupted by applause from a crowd of some 1,000 people.

Erdogan was seeking to allay concerns that a recent increase in attacks on military and civilian targets blamed on the PKK might prompt Ankara to reintroduce measures that would diminish the freedoms and rights the nation only recently gained.

Keen to boost its bid to join the European Union, Ankara has ended 15 years of emergency rule in the Southeast and allowed the Kurdish language to be taught at private courses and used on public television and radio broadcasts.

The PKK  considered as a terrorist group by Ankara and European Union, has markedly stepped up its violent campaign over the past few months after calling off a five-year unilateral truce in June 2004.

Erdoğan signaled that Ankara would not back down from military measures in the struggle against the PKK. "Terrorism and violence are the worst enemies of this country, and they will never be tolerated," he said, vowing an "all-out unshakeable determination" to counter the violence.

Opposition up in arms at Erdoğan's initiative:

While the statements made by Erdoğan received a positive response internationally, opposition parties were condemning the prime minister for openly apologizing for mistakes committed in the past and his determination to fight terrorism with greater democracy.

Diyarbakır Mayor Osman Baydemir welcomed Erdoğan's promise of a democratic settlement of the Kurdish question. "I hope his pledges will lead to the opening of a new page in Ankara's ties with the Kurds,” Baydemir told NTV.

"A new leaf needs to be turned to ensure that the guns and bombs are silenced. My hopes in this direction were boosted today," he said.

www.turkishdailynews.com.tr   


Kurd Net : The PKK considered as a terrorist group by Ankara and European Union, PKK Fights the Turkish army for the rights of 22 Million Kurds in Turkey.

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