Kurds Calls for Self-Rule in Southeastern Anatolia

DIYARBAKIR — The People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has called for Kurdish self-rule in southeastern Anatolia as heavy fighting between PKK and the Turkish Army continues, Reuters reports.

The call came at the tail end of a summit of the Democratic People’s Congress (DTK), a coalition of non-governmental Kurdish groups. “To form a democratic autonomous region including one or several neighbouring provinces, one needs to take into account their cultural, economic and geographic affinities,” said Hatip Dicle, Leader of Kurdish Democratic People’s Congress.

The group called for dialogue and negotiations and therefore sought the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The DTK also embraced “legitimate insurgency” and called on the people of Turkey to give support to them.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu canceled a planned meeting with the HDP suggesting its politics are rooted in violence, dashing faint hopes of greater parliamentary cooperation amid continued clashes in the southeast.

A written statement released by the Prime Ministry on Dec. 26 noted that “Statements delivered by HDP executives in the last week are a reflection of a shallow political stance that is diametrically opposed to this understanding, is aimed at polarizing the country, is far from minimum political kindness, does not comply with our nation’s ancient culture of living together and appeals to conflict and tension”.

“This resistance will end with victory, and everybody will respect the people’s will. Kurds will from now on be the political will in their own region. During these days when a historical breaking point is emerging, our people will decide whether [to live in] dictatorship or freedom and whether to live under one man’s tyranny or in autonomy,” Demirtas said in a speech delivered at the opening of the DTK conference.

“We have made the decision on that. Turkey’s west should also join this decision that is made and lend support. There will be the reality of Kurdistan in the next century. Perhaps, Kurds will have their own independent state, the federal state, and cantons and autonomous regions as well,” he said.