HDP lawmaker criticizes own party, says PKK should disarm
"The HDP should draw its own policies. That is the issue."
ANKARA, Turkey (Kurdistan24) - A pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) member of the Turkish Parliament said on Friday the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) should unequivocally announce a disarmament for the sake of "a democratic, serious struggle."
Altan Tan who represents Diyarbakir told a Kurdistan24 correspondent in the Turkish capital of Ankara that his party HDP should be able to criticize PKK's "wrongdoings," the way it criticizes the Turkish state and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Tan's remarks came amid an ongoing crackdown on the HDP which has so far seen the last month arrest and subsequent imprisonment of the party's co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas, Figen Yuksekdag and eight other lawmakers as well as hundreds of local officials who the government accuses of collaboration with the outlawed PKK.
"The HDP should draw its own policies. That is the issue," stated Tan.
He reminded of a March 2013 message by PKK's jailed founder Abdullah Ocalan which called for a full withdrawal of guerrilla units to outside Turkish borders.
"Will the Kurds gain their rights through fighting Turkey, or will they do so by making a deal with it? If the latter, then the arms must be silenced," said Tan, adding Turkey would have to recognize Kurdish rights, including an autonomy or federation.
Tan who was initially in 2013 a member of a negotiating team which visited Ocalan for peace talks with the Turkish state, also denounced President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for "viewing the Kurdish issue through solely a security perspective."
"What will happen after you are done with suppressing all elements closely or remotely associated with the PKK? Will the Kurdish issue evaporate? Who will you [talk] to after seeing all these people as suspects, criminals that should be purged," asked Tan in criticism of Turkish authorities.
The HDP MP also said Turkey's government had no solution apart from a military approach to the "Kurdish issue."
Stating that "30 million-strong Kurdish people had no state of their own," Tan questioned Turkey's view on Syrian Kurdistan.
"What does the Republic of Turkey think about Syrian Kurds' right? Autonomy, self-rule, federation, what? No answers!"
On the Kurdistan Region and its role in a future peace between the PKK and Turkey, Tan mentioned domestic problems and said if dialogue could prevail, the region could "contribute a lot" to peace in Turkey.
Editing by Ava Homa
Azad Altun conducted the interview.