Genç: The Kurdish question used to solve the rulers, now solves the state mechanism

2020-02-14 17:36:12


	NEWS CENTER-  Yüksel Genç who came to Turkey as a member of the Peace Group evaluated the pains around the Kurdish question in the last 21 years. Yüksel Genç told, "The deadlock in the Kurdish question used to solve the rulers, now solves the state mechanism."

	Over the last 21 years which has passed over Öcalan's imprisonment, there have been profound changes both in Turkey and in the Middle East. TWe have talked with Yüksel Genç, who came to Turkey on October 1 1999 among with the "Peace Group" of 8, who have came from Kandil with the call of Öcalan.

	Genç, who came to ensure peace, was arrested twice and put in prison, answered our questions regarding the agenda of the past years, the international conspiracy and isolation policy towards Öcalan, the solution process that was terminated and the peace that still remains as a remote possibility today.

	You have come to Turkey, as the first Peace Group of 8 people on October 1, 1999 with Öcalan's call as a step in good faith and support for the democratic republic with Öcalan's call  How much of what has happened could be imaginable for you?

	When we first arrived, we knew that the Kurdish question would not be solved that easily and that the state system of Turkey could not go through a peace and democratization process so easily, from what we have experienced. When we arrived we have seen that they have a full luggage regarding the Kurdish question on the side of the state and that the psycological barriers were so high so that it could easily spread all over the society.

	So, this way or that way what we have been guessing occured. However there are enormous steps in the last 21 years as well as incredible clumsiness.

	What is the feeling of all personal and social experiences made most dominant in you? How does it make you feel?

	We have said something so often when we first arrived. If you want to solve the Kurdish question internally, then this is the point we arrived now and there is nothing beyond. Fight 10-20 more years if yu like, that is what you are going to get. In case that you fight for 10-20 years, there will be not be no consequence other than a society who has divided with extremely seperated feelings, a society which is torn and a position that the settlement of peace gets really hard. Unfortunately, the time proved us right, I wish this was not the case.

	Of course, there have been some parts of the society whose beliefs and perspective have changed regarding Mr. Öcalan's efforts of sollution by the introduction with Kurdish political movement. In this regard, a very critical mechanism began to discuss inside the state.

	Personally, when I evaluate everything that has happened all together, I feel sad. I always ask why we have failed. These are the kinds of questions which have seasonal and strategical answers, but what important is that the Kurdish question is now in a point that it can not be solved and the new costs and discussions, which have come as a result of the change of context in the last 21 years, require a new language for sollution.

	What kind of a transformation do you think the operation against Öcalan cause in the Kurdish question?

	It is sure that the Kurdish movement which I have came from 21 years ago have changed a lot. A serious change of paradigms have been observed. Most importantly, Kurdish movement has come to a point that now it is adressed regarding its potential to respond the crises of hegemonic world system in Middle East as an alternative model. Therefore, there are many advantages regarding the relations of the Kurds with the rest of the world, even though the sollution of the Kurdish question has been made harder.

	Do you consider Öcalan to become a more important actor despite the elimination plans against him?

	Of course, a very great actor, in deed. There was a thought that after the plans against Öcalan, the Kurdish movement would come to an end, but there have been 20 years and now Kurdish movement hold a position all around the world. Now it is not only the Kurds supporting the movements, but also various peoples and societies around the world support it, including people who demands freedom, democracy, pride, will, self-empowerment and equality.

	Today there are many local people in America, Russia, Africa and verious parts of Europe, who show solidarity with Kurdish movement. For example, the resistance and freedom idea brought by the women's movement in Rojava affected Afghan women, Asian women, Middle Eastern and African women. That is also true for the ecological movements for which the Kurdish political movement is a new window.

	In 2010, the Deputy Chairman of the AKP of the period, Hüseyin Çelik, said, "We either solve this problem or this problem will solve us" for the Kurdish question. Even though Çelik is out of politics today, at what point of this discourse is AKP government today?

	Actually, Kurdish question always had this power. Over the decades, no political power could have saved itself as long as they did not solve the Kurdish question. AKP is now facing the outcomes of the deadlock of the Kurdish question. The deadlock in the Kurdish question used to solve the rulers, now solves the state mechanism and the regime of Turkey on system level. This is a bigger thing. Codes of genetics have started to dissolve for Turkey. Any power can play, affect and direct such broken codes.

	How much do you think we are close to the peace?

	Sometimes the peace arrives in the moment it seems the furthest. I hope so. Such a political position which is disintegrated that much can not come to a solution so easily. Under the current government and the political mindset, the sollution for the Kurdish question is so far as it has never been. We have seen the the closest and the furthest moments of peace in these 21 years. I believe in and hope so that there is a possibility of peace even though it is at the furthermost point. Is this possible with the mindset of the current political power? If we are realistic, no. But the reality of the system is not just the political power itself. And the Kurdish question does not depend on private subjects. Pragmatism is the biggest motivation. Whoever desires to stay in power introduces themselves to Kurds and the Kurdish question.

	Is there anything you would like to add?

	I want to underline on thing again. The imprisonment and the İmralı isolation of Öcalan has pushed the Kurdish question to a level where it can not be solved. Turkey have become more lonely, but this is an "unvaluable loneliness" as opposed to what once upon a time called by Ahmet Davutoğlu as the "valuable loneliness". This state of no-solution and isolation brings no good to anyone. Kurds know it well how to resist and endure and this way they can spread their voices. When a part of them is broken, they can still move another part. Isolation, is an isolation against the future of the Turkish society itself. No-solution state means no-solution for the society dictated by Turkey politics. I hope this will end.

	MA / Ömer Çelik - Özgür Paksoy