DEM Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan made a press statement regarding the Central Executive Committee (MYK) meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Ankara on Tuesday. Referring to the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Doğan said that the democratic space in Turkey has narrowed since that date.
Saying that “today is another day of reckoning,” Doğan stated that Turkey is at a new crossroads and added: “It is time to learn from the mistakes of the past and develop a new approach. Turkey is on the threshold of a new path, or rather, we are right at the heart of this threshold.”
Referring to the PKK’s disarmament ceremony held on July 11, Doğan said that this process was a historic step toward peace: “It went down in history as a day none of us will ever forget. It is a day that will always be remembered in history for its various impacts. We would like to thank all parties who pioneered and contributed to the historic steps taken on July 11. We are aware of the responsibility of this historic step, taken toward the democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue through the complete disarmament of weapons. With the dissolution of the PKK and the decisions of the May 12 Congress, the strategy of armed struggle against denial of existence has been replaced, as they themselves have stated, by a democratic political strategy, a program for peace and democratic society, and a comprehensive approach for law. We are in favor of resolving Turkey’s problems through dialogue and negotiation channels, and we are fighting for this. Complete disarmament, ensuring its permanence, and strengthening the democratic political arena require swift action without delay. All necessary mechanisms must be established. As seen in recent statements, the (parliamentary) commission will be established. We welcome this development with satisfaction.”
Doğan emphasized that the parliamentary commission must be inclusive and pluralistic: “All political parties should contribute to this commission. As the DEM Party, we reiterate this call. The commission should work in a way that will yield effective and lasting results.”
Responding to criticism directed at her party, Ayşegül Doğan emphasized that the DEM Party’s position is clear, saying: “We are in favor of negotiation and dialogue. We defend the establishment of equal citizenship rights in Turkey. We have always valued criticism and suggestions. We approach this issue not out of concern for voters or votes, but with a principled stance.”
Stating that the peace and resolution process cannot be placed solely on the shoulders of the DEM Party, Doğan called on all political actors to take responsibility and said, “We all have the right to peace and democracy. You don’t have to be a member of the DEM Party for this, but you need to approach it with a sense of responsibility. Everyone should take a stand in this process.”
Appealing to the entire society, Doğan said: “It is possible to have a Turkey where everyone feels secure under the law. To this end, we are reaching out to women, young people, workers, and all marginalized social groups. Together, we can build the rule of law.”
Ayşegül Doğan also responded to journalists’ questions regarding Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom, stating that the issue was clear from the DEM Party’s perspective. She said: “In the second video message, Öcalan talks about his own situation in relation to the freedom of society and says that when society is free, the individual is also free. That is how I would respond. All anti-democratic practices must end, and the status quo in Imrali must not be maintained. In his video message, he himself stated that some meetings had taken place in Imrali. His statements regarding the discussions directed at him are quite clear. Yes, his physical freedom has been demanded since the very first day in 1999. This is not merely what the organization he founded desires. We encounter this demand on the ground. He has directly answered this question.”
Source: ANF News
