XVII. WILL PEACEFUL MEANS FOR POLITICAL DEMANDS HAVE AN IMPACT ON ACTS OF VIOLENCE?

Another argument asserted particularly by the PKK supporters is that Kurds have no way but armed struggle for they are not allowed to express their demands through democratic and peaceful means. In both, the Act on Political Parties and the Constitution it is stipulated that parties may not operate against the territorial and national integrity of the State and they may not engage in racial discrimination. In case a party is found to breach said provisions of the Act and the Constitution, it may be banned by the Constitutional Court. But since Turkey is a democratic state under the rule of law, the laws and constitutional provisions that introduce bans on ethnically based political activities might be amended with the approval of the majority of the parliamentarians as indicated in the Constitution. Contrary to some descriptions, no oppressive conditions exist on this issue in Turkey. Turkish Grand National Assembly has adopted such constitutional amendments as lowering of the voting age, allowing political parties to cooperate with trade unions and associations, and removal of the paragraphs at the Preamble praising September 12, 1980 military intervention, and the reduction in sentence terms at Anti-terrorism Act which restricts separatist propaganda, all of which have substantially contributed to the improvement of democratic rights and freedoms. Allowing Kurdish broadcasts and political parties advocating separatism and empowering local administrations to grant autonomy can be brought to the agenda and they may be defended by the parliamentarians who have freedom of speech and immunity.97 While laws and policies are criticized, it should be normal with regard to the rule of law to expect respect for the laws not only by the State but also by the individuals. Therefore, current democratic structure is suitable for improvement of basic rights and freedoms and the assertion that political demands cannot be defended through peaceful and democratic ways does not reflect the reality. Meanwhile, it is highly doubtful that ethnocentric98 pro-Kurdish political movements will receive popular support. Surveys conducted on the citizens of Kurdish descent show that economic and social problems have the utmost priority with a wide margin over cultural and ideological problems (see footnote no. 45). In spite of this reality, pro-Kurdish political movement tries to gain support with ethnocentric approach, e.g. alleging that Kurds are oppressed and exploited by Turks, instead of dealing with such pressing problems as economic underdevelopment, inadequacy of infrastructure, health services, and housing. Marxist-Leninist Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), on the other hand, has to be considered as a terrorist organization even though its name includes the word, "party" as it was founded and has kept itself functional through violence.99

97 Possibly criminal and unconstitutional acts in the Parliament by the former MPs from the banned pro-Kurdish Democracy Party, whose immunity was rescinded by the Parliament and who were tried and convicted, are found within the scope of their freedom of speech by the Court of Cassation thus those acts were not considered in their case.

98 Bedri Baykam, "Etnik Ayrımcılık Irkçılıktır" [Ethnic Discrimination Is Racism], Aydınlık, 9 December 1995.

99 Erciyes University, PKK Reality, pp. 16-25.