By WLADIMIR VAN WILGENBURG
BRUSSELS, Belgium: In a video message at a Kurdish conference in the European parliament, Nobel Prize winner and South Africa activist Desmond Tutu urged Turkey to release the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan.
Tutu´s video message was addressed to the 7th international conference of the European Union. The two-day conference, which was about the Kurdish question in Turkey, was kicked off on November 17.
Tutu, who apologized for not being at the conference as a result of his retirement, promised the his peace center will continue the work with Kurdish Human Rights Action Group in Africa and called on Turkey to recognize Kurdish rights.
He also praised the government of Erdogan for talking with Öcalan.
“This is great news and we welcome the initiative.” Tutu added that he was also “delighted that Turkey supports peace efforts in Israel and Palestine.”
But despite of this he is worried about increased military activities in Turkey and the policies of the AKP-government towards the Kurds, which he seems to be contrary to the Turkish efforts towards Palestine and Israel.
“We condemn the military activities of both sides and call both the Turkish government and PKK to stop the assaults immediately.”
Tutu urged both sides to sit around the negotiation table for a negotiated settlement. This settlement would also mean the release of the PKK-leader.
Mathew Errol Esau of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre confirmed Tutu wants ´the unconditional release of the PKK-leader and suspension of all military operations´.
He also called for the release of Kurdish politicians who have been “unjustly” arrested and a committee for a new constitution for Turkey. “We need to discuss the way forward,” Esau said.
Asked by Rudaw, if this statement wouldn’t anger Turkey, since they see the PKK as a terrorist organization, Esau said their idea for a solution is similar to the process in South-Africa, where Mandela was first released, after which there was a negotiated settlement.
“This is the way forward in order for a climate of negotiations to start.”
Leading Turkish journalist Cengiz Candar said that although he would release Öcalan himself, if he had the power, releasing him is not realistic.
“Laws need to be amended first, the constitutional process is waiting. This is an enormous burden on the BDP.”
David Romano, Rudaw’s columnist and Assistant Professor of Rhode University, also indicated this was not very realistic to ask from Turkey, suggesting that no Turkish leader would release him since it would be political suicide.
“South Africa is different from Turkey. In Turkey Öcalan is seen as a baby killer. This was not the case with Mandela.”
http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/turkey/3308.html, 21/11/2010