Peace Initiative: Operations Not the Solution

In a press release on 6 March, the Turkish Peace Parliament Marmara Region Peace Initiative said:

“Instead of working on a constitution which could contribute towards an environment of equality, freedom and peace, reducing the issue to a question of security is threatening the safety of society. We are worried about the possibility that the Turkish Armed Forces will continue ground operations in the future.”

According to Nemciye Alpay from the Peace Parliament, “we have to spread the intense interest in peace in general and the Peace Parliament which exists in the east of Turkey to the west.”

Operations reported on "like score of a match" 

The declaration further warned politicians and the media to avoid language inciting to violence and called on them to be responsible.

“We demand that there be an end to the reporting on the operations which presents them like the scores of a match, and we demand that democratic, political steps be taken for a permanent solution of the Kurdish question.”

All Kurdish demands immediately labelled "separatist" 

The initiative criticised the fact that the current political atmosphere did not allow the consideration of alternative solutions.

“Those who favour a deadlock in the issue are trying to gain legitimacy with violent oppression by increasing nationalism, racism and hostility among the people. At the root of the Kurdish issue is a demand for ‘identity’, i.e. freedom, and the right to democracy. Insincere political mindsets are interpreting and denouncing every humane demand as separatism.”

A pluralist and participatory constitution 

The initiative made the following demands:

• It must be accepted that Turkey was created out of different ethnic groups, beliefs, cultures and identities, and the constitution must thus be based on liberal, pluralist, participatory and multicultural concepts.
• Based on the freedom of thought, belief and expression, the right to free politics and the right to organise must be recognised. The constitution and laws must abolish all social inequalities, starting with gender discrimination.
• All languages used by citizens must be protected in the constitution, must be allowed to teach. The ground must be prepared to open language and literature branches at universities to study these mother tongues.
• Instead of a citizenship based on ethnicity (i.e. “Turkish”), there must be a neutral definition of citizenship.
• Hurdles in the freedom to seek justice must be removed, and a Human Rights Court be established.
• It must be expressed clearly that everyone has the freedom of religion and belief, and that no one will be condemned, accused or discriminated against because of religions beliefs, thoughts and opinions.
• Structures to allow for civilian monitoring of military expenditure must be put into place.
• Religious Education classes at school must be compulsory.
• The Law on Political Parties must be democratised and the electoral threshold must be lowered (from the current 10 percent).

Trade unions and parties of the left, NGOs...

The petition was signed by the following organisations:

Istanbul Chamber of Physicians, Genel-Is Trade Union, the Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSIP), the Say Stop (Dur De) Initiative, the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Labour Party (EMEP), the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), the Migration Association (Göc-Der); the Trade Union of Turkish Cinema Workers (Sine-Sen), the Labour Movement Party (EHP) and the Peace Mothers. (GG/AG)