Jakob Migenda, Hesen State Director of Germany's Left Party, who was part of the international delegation that applied to the Ministry of Justice on December 3 for a meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, evaluated the meeting with Abdullah Öcalan and the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue. Stating that Turkey has imposed isolation on PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan for more than 25 years, Migenda said that the government is trying to prevent a voice that would be important for the peace process from being heard. 

 

Referring to the meeting with Abdullah Öcalan, Migenda said, “I think it is important that we put international pressure on the government in Turkey and our own governments to find a way to the peace process and to start real negotiations. It is important that people's eyes are turned to this issue.” Migenda stressed that the growing public awareness of the Kurdish issue could be a good sign. 

 

“If it's possible to put also internal pressure on to government to make real negotiations. It can also be possibility. So it's a thing that we all have in our hands to put some pressure there to come to real negotiation processes once more than the others. Because, of course, we can put pressures on our government. We can talk about it here and make some pressure, although we don't have the same power as you have in Kurdistan in Turkey, to put this pressure on the government,” Migenda said. 

 

SHOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KURDISTAN 

 

Migenda stated that it was important not only to put pressure on the government but also to show people what is happening in Kurdistan and that it was important that Abdullah Öcalan was allowed to meet with the delegation of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) after their delegation's visit and application. Migenda said that the meeting was surprising for him, “It's positive for me that we have this meeting now at the end of December again. They were also this meeting with the MHP, which also it tells us that government was sending their precious allies for negotiation. They at least they have to talk with the Kurdish movement, whether it's the DEM party or it's the PKK openly, although we don't know if it's helpful peace process at the end, but it's better than no talks, at least," he said. 

 

'WE HAVE TO RELY ON OUR OWN FORCES'

 

Migenda expressed optimism that a meeting took place after a long period of time, stressing that the complex process in Syria and the SDF's resistance against the Turkish offensive played a role in the meeting. Pointing to Turkey's attacks on North and East Syria, Migenda said, “Turkey can't rush through with all that power in northern Syria.  I think it all has some impacts on the Turkish policies that Erdogan sees that he can't play its game by its own rules, and perhaps have to negotiate for having more stable situations. But I think it's very unclear at the moment, it will also rely effects that will happen ever since next week. How will Syria government develop? What will happen with the US engagement in the Middle East and the Trump administration and so on. It's not quite clear what to give political impacts, which roles they will play in half in the year. And of course, I think we can’t rely on such insecure allies as the US government. We have to rely on our own forces and solidarity and the movement.” 

 

The Kurdish people's right to self-determination, as in North and East Syria, would also help stabilize other regions in the Middle East said Migenda and added, “It can help also other people to build their own society more democratic and more sustainable and more peaceful.” 

 

WAR CRIME 

 

Migenda said that European countries are silent on Turkey's policies due to Turkey's NATO membership and its role in preventing the flow of refugees from the Middle East to Germany, adding that there is uncertainty about the interventions of Turkey and its Syrian National Army (SNA) and what role the Syrian interim government will play. “This is a war crime and have to be prosecuted,” Migenda said about Turkey's attacks in North and East Syria, recalling the International Criminal Court's (ICC) verdicts last year against Putin, Netanyahu and Hamas leaders. “I think it's a good development that makes me optimistic on one day, also people like Erdogan must fear prosecution by the ICC for the war crimes” Migenda said. 

 

MA / Hîvda Çelebi