Elci suggests Basque model for Kurdish question

Elci: We are seriously thinking of a joint state and single citizenship
Serafettin Elci, the leader of the defunct DKP who is trying to form a Liberal
Kurdish Party, speaks in Diyarbakir, suggesting the Basque model as a
solution to the Kurdish question
While describing the political views of the party they are going to form, Elci
says: 'There is no need for anyone to fear us or shy away from us. We are
advocating a joint state and a single citizenship'
 

Nov 30, 2000
Mert Gozde

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Lawyer Serafettin Elci, the leader of the defunct Democratic Masses Party (KDP),
has suggested the Basque model by way of a solution to the Kurdish question. "By
giving the Catalan and Basque regions autonomy, and these regions are different
from each other, the Spain of today has brought to its country an advanced
democracy that is far safer and more peaceful than the oppressive Franco regime,"
he said.

Elci and his colleagues, who are looking to form a new Liberal Kurdish Party,
attended a regional meeting in Diyarbakir last Sunday. The meeting took place in the
Demirok facility, and was attended by almost 750 people and took place without
incident.

Elci, a former housing and public works minister who is expected to be the leader of
the new party, started his address by highlighting the benefits of liberalism.
Maintaining that a statist economy went hand-in-hand with statist intervention in
politics, Elci said that liberalism would benefit the Kurds in both the economic and
political arenas.

Joint state, single citizenship

While defining the political understanding of the party to be formed, Elci said: "There
is no need for anybody to fear us or shy away from us." He continued:

"We are seriously thinking about a joint state and a single citizenship. This is explicit
proof we are not separatist or discriminatory. Everybody should make the best use of
this. However, in contrast to chauvinist and fascist understandings, we do not link
national integrity to a central authoritarian administration. No decentralized model of
administration disrupts national integrity. There are so many examples of this in the
world. In addition, we do not link national unity to racial and cultural unity. If the people
have the will to live side-by-side, if they accept the idea of a joint national identity, this
can only mean national unity. Differences in culture, religion or faith do not constitute a
threat to national integrity. This should be considered. This is the modern
understanding of our time. Those who advocate the opposite want to perpetuate the
fascist understanding of the 1920s and 1930s. These ideas are no longer valid in this
day and age."

'For the good of Turkey'

Elci pointed out the many positive developments in the world and, citing the joint army
to be formed by the European Union, commented: "The entire world now looks upon
the community of mankind as one family. Whenever anyone in whatever corner of the
world is wronged, the world sees this as an assault on a member of its family and
feels it has the right to intervene. In fact, we saw in Kosovo and Bosnia armed
intervention against states that were oppressing their own people. Therefore, an
individual's rights and freedoms are no longer the preserve of any one state, they
have become global issues. These days, the world does not leave the citizens of any
state to the brutality of that state. It intervenes, if necessary with force of arms. It is for
this reason that the EU is forming an army to resolve disputes in specific regions.
[Note: This force is to be known as the European Security and Defense Policy
(ESDP).] You have to pay attention to all this and keep the world awake and
informed. Our aim is to see in Turkey the understanding of what it means to be a
civilized state. We are voicing views that are not just for the benefit of Kurds but for all
of Turkey. Everybody should see it in this light."

Elci also responded to the views of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatist
terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan as printed in the organization's media branch Ozgur
Halk (Free People) when the latter said, "There are those who conduct discriminatory
and primitive nationalist politics."

Addressing Ocalan and HADEP

Accusing Ocalan of having a guilt complex because when he was caught after years
of bloodshed, he "mewed like a kitten and begged for his life," Elci went on:

"To accuse those who are defending the legitimate rights of the people as being
discriminatory and primitive nationalists is not merely an injustice, it is the sign of an
immoral, sick mind."

Elci also accused People's Democracy Party (HADEP) Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun
Celik for speaking with cap in hand to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahceli on the latter's visit to Diyarbakir a couple of months ago. Stating that
the MHP represented "chauvinist Turkish nationalism," Elci said:

"The people of Diyarbakir showed great honor in not allowing the representative of
such mentality [Alparslan Turkes] into the city. Yet the leaders of a movement that
claims to be working for Kurds see nothing wrong in welcoming the leaders of this
party with open arms. An MHP minister [State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay] said only
yesterday that Kurdish TV was an act of treason. To welcome the representatives of
that mentality with open arms dishonors the people of Diyarbakir. The people have to
get this person and this party to account for their actions."

Kurdish education and broadcasting

Touching on the debate opened by the Accession Partnership Document vis-a-vis
Kurdish education and broadcasting rights, Elci said that there was no such problem
as Kurdish broadcasting on their agenda because technology offered the possibility
to do it.

"We are not demanding Kurdish TV and radio broadcasting rights, because the
technology allows us to have it anyway," he remarked. "However, if the state respects
this right, it will demonstrate its respect for human rights. Our core cultural demand is
the right to education. The United Nations Children's Rights Covenant and other
international agreements already give this right to all children. It is neither fair nor
logical to deprive Kurdish children of a right that is afforded children the world over.
The one cultural right we are insisting upon and from which we will not budge is the
right to education."
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com

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