Democratic Society Congress, which has been established for the solution of the Kurdish question in 2007 targeting also the democratization goals of Turkey has been on the target since the Peace Process was terminated. DTK consists of more than 800 bodies, including various political parties, labor organizations, belief groups, academics and intellectual circles.

 

We spoke with Peoples' Democratic Party Ağrı MP and DTK Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk on the increasing attacks on DTK. Stating that the increasing attacks towards DTK since the end of the Peace Process, which is a serious interlocutor in the solution of the Kurdish question, is a part of the "destruction plan" of the government, Öztürk emphasized that despite all the pressures, they will continue their work on both the Kurdish question and the national unity of the Kurds.

 

'WE CLAIM AN ORGANIZED SOCIETY'

 

Emphasizing that unless the Kurdish question is solved, no other problems in Turkey would be solved Öztürk said, "Regarding the solution of the Kurdish question DTK has many attempts both in Turkey and Kurdistan. We claim an organized society. The way to solve the Kurdish question is not the security policies, but dialogue and negotiation. Especially in this respect, DTK signed under many significant attempts."

 

'SOLUTION WITHOUT ARMS'

 

"We are at the point of not solution without arms. Because it was seen that this method could not solve the problems, the negotiation process was initiated with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. Our previous co-chairman, Mr. Hatip Dicle, took part in the delegation," said Öztürk adding, "See, if 10 articles described in Dolmabahçe were realized in 2013-2015 and after we would be talking about quite different things today, but they were not realized. They declared again, 'We will kill, exile, arrest, ban your language, we will not recognize the will of the Kurdish people' and put the destruction plan in place."

 

'DTK CONSISTS OF NOT ONLY A SIGNBOARD OR A BUILDING'

 

Underlining that DTK is the most respected institution in the Kurdish region and will not lose, but gain power after these attacks, Öztürk finally said, "Yes, they can bring down a signboard, but DTK consists of not only a signboard or a building. Therefore, attack on DTK means attack on the democracy of Turkey, the people who demand equality, freedom and peace. Our people have never given up on their struggle for the solution of the Kurdish question despite many prices paid and many attacks faced. When they seal DTK, would we give up on struggle? No, we will raise the struggle even more. We will continue our efforts regarding the solution of the Kurdish question and the national unity (of the Kurds). We will not give up on the struggle because they sealed our building or brought down our signboard. The tendencies to target DTK is an attack on the future of the peoples of Turkey.”