MUŞ - Pointing out that civil society organizations should also be included in the legal steps to be taken within the process, Muş Bar Association Chair Kadir Karaçelik said,  "All social layers want to participate in this process. We are ready as well. We believe the process should not be prolonged."

 

The Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has passed its first year. The Kurdish Freedom Movement has taken many steps within the scope of the process. However, the government and the state have not taken any concrete steps, especially legal steps.

 

While Kurds are calling on the government for the process to progress quickly, the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli, in his last statement on Tuesday, also called for legal steps without "delays." The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) side remains silent.

 

Muş Bar Association Chair Kadir Karaçelik stated that civil society organizations should also be involved in the preparation stage of legal regulations. Karaçelik, expressing that the negative aspect of peace has occurred, noted that confidence-building steps should be taken regarding the progress of the process and stated that the society continues to support the process for social peace to be realized. 

 

He said that there is the commission's report and the work of political parties, but there is no concrete timetable, and that a law to be enacted regarding the legal status of PKK members is being discussed, but there is still uncertainty about what kind of law it will be. Karaçelik emphasized that laws should be discussed by legal institutions and said that they do not yet have any data. Addressing trustees (kayyum), political prisoners, and ECHR decisions, Karaçelik stated, “These also need to be eliminated.”

 

Pointing out that in world examples, members of organizations participate in social and political life, Karaçelik said that opening these channels would increase trust. Highlighting the importance of the role of civil society organizations in the process, Karaçelik said, “Unfortunately, civil society is not listened to enough. Despite everything, we try to maintain our hopeful attitude. We express our expectations. In this regard, full support for the social peace process is in place. People want to believe and trust. An unprecedented method is being tried in this process carried out in Turkey. We hope it will be successful.”

 

Emphasizing that the report presented by the Parliamentary Commission did not meet expectations, Karaçelik stated that the situation of the armed organization was addressed incompletely. Highlighting that a lack of addressing the root causes of the Kurdish issue could manifest differently in the future, Karaçelik said, "We are aware that the process will benefit Turkey as a whole. We believe it should be approached with sensitivity." For this reason, Karaçelik said that the knowledge of institutions should be utilized.

 

"People want to implement peace in a meaningful way," said Karaçelik and added: "Society does not want to experience a deadlock again. All segments of society want to participate in this process. We are also ready. As long as we are given a role. We think the process should not be prolonged."