DİYARBAKIR - Stating that the economic crisis, war and the use of chemical weapons are not independent of isolation, TUAY-DER Co-Chair Mehmet Gündüz said: "The people of Turkey will be free if they act according to Abdullah Öcalan's philosophy."

 

There has been no news for 19 months from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım, who have been held under heavy isolation conditions for 24 years in İmralı Type F High Security Prison. Öcalan and other prisoners' applications for lawyer and family visits are blocked on the grounds of "disciplinary punishment". In order to end the isolation, demonstrations and rallies are organised in four parts of Kurdistan and in many other countries in protest of the isolation. As the isolation that started in Imrali Prison spread to all prisons and society, the deadlock of the Kurdish question paves the way for an economic, political and social crisis. Evaluating the effects of the isolation on Öcalan, Amed Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Prisoners and Convict Families (TUAY-DER) Co-chair Mehmet Gündüz said that the Kurdish Question can only be resolved by negotiating with Öcalan and that the lifting of the isolation will lead to democracy in Turkey.

 

'WE CANNOT EXPLAIN THE ISOLATION IN TERMS OF LAW'

 

Expressing that the reason for the multiple crisis in Turkey is the isolation, Gündüz said: “During the solution, the eyes of the Kurdish people, Turkey and the world were on Imrali. Mr. Öcalan has been imprisoned in İmralı for 24 years. Due to the prohibition of the visits of the families and lawyers, many people went on hunger strike in prisons which was after 200 days ended in all prisons after Öcalan's call. This practice of AKP-MHP fascism is against the law. Everyone has the right to meet with their family and lawyers, but this right of Mr. Öcalan is violated. It is always forbidden to meet with him on the grounds of disciplinary punishment, and it is not known what the disciplinary punishment is for.”

 

'EQUALITY PRINCIPLE IS REMOVED'

 

Pointing out that the isolation affects not only the prisoners but also the life of the society, Gündüz said: “Today, people are seeking justice. The families of the prisoners demand the release of ill prisoners with sit-in protests for justice. If there were no restrictions and laws were implemented today, those mothers would not go out on the street. Repentance law is imposed on prisoners who have been in prison for 30 years and whose sentence has expire. The persecution of the Kurdish people, the economic crisis, the war and the use of chemical weapons are linked to the isolation. Mr. Öcalan has the right to meet with his family and lawyers, but this right is violated. Laws must be implemented. The law should be applied equally to everyone.”

 

'ISOLATION IS NOT ON THE OPPOSITION'S AGENDA' 

 

Noting that they saw the attitude of the opposition parties when they went to Ankara with the families of the prisoners, Gündüz said: "The opposition parties had no intention of solving the Kurdish problem. The parties act as if there is no Kurdish Question and their only aim is to come to power. They know that they will not be in power if the HDP does not support them. But they still cannot hold talks with HDP. If the opposition parties want to solve the Kurdish Question, there is a way to solve the Kurdish Question. But we could not see a unity among them that could solve the Kurdish Question and the current problems. They say that Kurdish was not allowed to be spoken in prison before, now it is allowed. This is an ancient arguement. It's out of date. The CHP calls itself democrats, but they did not even give an appointment to the families of the prisoners. The only wish of the families was the release of the ill prisoners and the release of the prisoners whose sentence had expired. The opposition parties want to be in power, but they are running away from real issues. Isolation and prisons have not been on their agenda since the isolation began. It is necessary to know well that unless they put this on their agenda, they will not be able to bring democracy to the country even if they are in power.”

 

ONLY ÖCALAN IS THE ADDRESSEE OF THE SOLUTION'

 

Noting that the government has imposed serious restrictions because they are afraid of Öcalan's thoughts and ideas, Gündüz said: "Mr. Öcalan's thoughts and ideas are discussed all over the world, but there is isolation in Turkey. If they act according to Öcalan's philosophy, the people of Turkey will also be liberated. For this reason, the isolation should be lifted and negotiations should restarted because only Öcalan is the addressee of the solution of the Kurdish question. If the AKP-MHP does not end the isolation, if they do not solve the problems through negotiations, they will lose in the elections. Both the Kurdish people and the Turkish people should not accept the isolation because isolation affects the whole society. The current war can only be stopped with Mr. Öcalan.”

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş