NEWS CENTER – Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley from Cambridge University evaluated Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom as an integral part of the peace process. 

 

The democratic solution of the Kurdish issue is one of the most talked about issues in Turkey, the region and the world recently. At the center of the discussions is the new paradigm developed by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the effects of the PKK’s 12th Congress decision. 

 

Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Cambridge University Political Sociology Expert and representative of the "Peace in Kurdistan Campaign", who visited Kenya's capital Nairobi, where Abdullah Öcalan was kidnapped by international conspiracy as part of the birthday events, spoke to Medya Haber about his impressions in the country and the latest developments.

 

'GREAT INTEREST IN DEMOCRATIC CONFEDERALISM IN KENYA'

 

In the context of the conspiracy, Miley stated that Kenya has a past, a present and a future: "The past, of course, linked up to the fact that Öcalan was abducted in Nairobi. In the present, people are very interested in Öcalan’s ideas about democratic confederalism, particularly in the social justice movement, which has sprung up in the informal settlements around Nairobi, where people are organizing for something like radical democracy against the state, gender emancipation, also ecological sustainability. They're organizing along roughly democratic confederal lines, and they're very interested in Öcalan’s ideas.”

 

Miley said that the political atmosphere was moderate, especially on the opposition side, and that people were organising to build the future and that Abdullah Öcalan's ideas played an important role in this future:  “It's a very interesting place to be, and it's a place where Öcalan's ideas have taken off. As I say, it's a place where there's a history linked up to the fact that Öcalan was abducted there.”

 

'THEY ARE TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT ÖCALAN'S IDEAS'

 

Miley said that Abdullah Öcalan's ideas had taken root in Kenya and that people were now saying that they needed democracy. Miley underlined that people find Abdullah Öcalan's idea of democratic confederalism interesting: "In that respect, they're always looking to learn more about what Öcalan's ideas about democratic confederalism means. They're always asking, how do we go about building democratic confederalism? It's a movement of movements in the social justice centers and the social justice movement. Many people are associated with the Marxist left and different versions of the Marxist left. The young people are increasingly interested in Öcalan's ideas and the ways in which Öcalan's critique of Marxism and his elaboration of democratic confederalism seems to be worthwhile for them in their conditions.”

 

CALL FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

 

Commenting on Abdullah Öcalan's 27 February "Call for Peace and Democratic Society", Miley said: "Öcalan has been calling for peace since 1993. It can remove the excuse for the attacks on the Kurdish people and pave the way for a democratic, peaceful alternative. Therefore, I see this statement as a very positive development. But as I said, it is nothing new."

 

FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN 

 

Recalling words "Only a free man can negotiate" in his conversation with Nelson Mandela's lawyer Judge Essa Moussa, Miley considered Abdullah Öcalan's freedom as an integral part of the peace process. Miley said: "I think that the conditions have somewhat softened. They've allowed for more people to visit him, but he's still in relatively inhumane conditions. In order for the peace process to culminate, I think we need to be moving towards Öcalan's freedom. I think it’s incumbent upon the Turkish state to take the steps necessary to show that they're willing to make a move in favor of peace as well. Öcalan has a vision of a democratic society, of a democratic confederal society that he hopes to build within the democratic society of the Republic of Turkey.”

 

'THE TURKISH STATE SHOULD TAKE STEPS'

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan's vision is based on building a democratic confederal society within the Republic of Turkey, Miley said: "The Turkish state must recognise the historic opportunity before them in the context of Öcalan's call for peace. If this opportunity is missed, we could face another generation of conflict. At the moment, however, the PKK has unilaterally taken the step of dissolution. Nevertheless, it is the Turkish state that must take steps for a lasting and desirable peace.”

 

STANCE OF EU

 

Miley said: “I think that the EU has not been vocal enough with respect to its support for the peace process. It's made some comments in that direction, seeing it as a good step, but nonetheless remains way too deferential towards the Turkish state's point of view, looking at things as internal matters for Turkey, rather than trying to exercise a kind of moral authority to push for a peaceful democratic resolution. I think this has to do with different kinds of investments that they have in the Turkish military apparatus. I think that the UK claims to stand for democracy, claims to stand for peace and democracy, and I think they have, again, a moral obligation to speak out in favor of developments of peace.”

 

WHAT THE UNITED KINGDOM SHOULD DO

 

On the UK's behaviour, Miley said: “I think it would be very useful if they were to stop persecuting under the terrorist legislation, the diaspora community here in Great Britain. That would be one kind of step, but they could also move much beyond their claim right now that things like the freedom of Öcalan being internal matters, or the question of the revocation of the mayor as being internal matters for Turkey, as opposed to pushing for a more coherent democratic position. Their position should be one of support for the peace process, support for some kind of political recognition of the Kurds in the region more generally.”

 

Miley added: “Obviously, the Kurdish forces in Rojava, support for their continuing existence and continuing participation towards a democratic peace in the region, and more generally, for respect for Kurdish rights.”

 

INTEREST IN ÖCALAN IN NAIROBI AND AFRICA

 

"I want to encourage people to think about a future for democratic confederalism beyond the pan-Kurdish horizon that I really believe that Öcalan's vision of democratic confederalism provides a future for humanity, and I see it's taking root in the African context as evidence of precisely that future unfolding," Miley said.