Ocalan: Boycotting parliament right decision

Government promises not enough, concrete steps needed before 15 July to avoid deeper crisis, said Ocalan

During the weekly meeting with his lawyers, last Friday, Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan commented the current situation stressing that “we are witnessing a conspiracy not just against Hatip Dicle. We are witnessing something darker, inside the AKP as well”.
Ocalan also voiced support for BDP’s decision and held ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) responsible for YSK’s ruling against Dicle.
Talking about the meeting he had with Turkish officials “speaking on behalf of the government” on 14 June, Ocalan confirmed that “We spoke about many issues. The CHP has expressed curiosity about the content of these talks. It is important to tell the public opinion about these talks”.
Stressing the importance of the meetings, Ocalan added that “We have reached a certain stage. The discussion phase has ended. There is no issue left to discuss. Now it is time for the government to take a decision on the issues we have discussed. That’s why I called the Turkish parliament to hold an emergency session. If the parliament and government declare that they are in favour of a democratic solution then we will enter a practical phase.”

Ocalan warned if Turkish government will not respond before July 15 the negotiations will fail and a crisis will deepen in Turkey.

“We now have to options” Ocalan said. “A democratic constitutional solution or a revolutionary people’s war. As for the first road, it is necessary to put into practice the solution to the Kurdish question. The government knows what it should do in order to get this started. As for the second road, clearly if no practical steps are taken the people will start their revolutionary war”.

Commenting the decision by the Election Board on Hatip Dicle, Ocalan stated that “This is a dark conspiracy against Diyarbakir. This decision is not only against Dicle or Diyarbakir but Kurdish people” he said.

Ocalan said he respects the boycott decision of the elected MPs and insisted that they will go to parliament only if Turkish government steps up to give Hatip Dicle’s electoral rights and his parliamentary seat back.

The Supreme Election Council (YSK) announced Tuesday that Hatip Dicle, who was elected as an independent representative from Diyarbakir city, could not take a seat in the newly elected parliament. He was supported by Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) which won 36 seats in the 550-member parliament. The remaining 35 MPs announced that they will boycott the new parliament after the decision of YSK.

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