XVIII. CAN THE SEARCH FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM AVOID FURTHER BLOODSHED?

It is natural that political solutions are searched on political platform. Possible cultural and political demands by the citizens of Kurdish descent might be met in democracy and if democracy is found inadequate, they may be met with the enactment through democratic rules. With its multi-party functioning democracy and its social structure improving in the direction of more pluralism and tolerance and with the reflection of that structure on the process of democratic involvement, Turkey may solve the Kurdish problem peacefully and democratically. Mainstream parties with the support of the masses which do not take the sole ethnocentric view also have the programs considering social and cultural aspects of the problem.100 Pro-Kurdish and the follower of the banned Democracy Party (see footnote no. 95), People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) carried out its propaganda and took part in the general elections of December 24, 1995. "Kurdish Culture and Research Foundation" headed by ?erafettin Elçi, former minister and the candidate in the general elections of December 24, 1995 has been legally founded.101 ?erafettin Elçi later, in January 1997, founded a political party, Democratic Mass Party or "Demokratik Kitle Partisi (DKP)" in Turkish. This party which renounces violence but campaigns for the cultural and political rights of Kurds in Turkey can legally and freely function.

With the expression of the problems through democratic channels and the success of the security forces in the fight against terrorism, the PKK which is dependent on violence has got considerably weakened in Turkey. It is the natural element of the democratic policy that masses could see meeting of their demands through democratic ways. The PKK tries to block this natural process with terrorism.

One of the main goals of the PKK is to impede arriving at solutions to current problems within the context of a pluralistic democracy. The PKK, which claims to represent Kurds, has got severe reaction against its acts of violence that have caused the death of thousands of innocent civilians including the elderly, women, and both Kurds and Turks. Attempts to introduce PKK, which with its brutal terror has had its place as a terrorist organization in the collective memory in Turkey, as a political counterpart are unrealistic and unconvincing.

100 "It is possible to solve the problem through the participation of the people in the region without giving concession in principles. For the Southeast, we will put into effect the similar of the general project. Improvements in the cultural aspect should first be endorsed by the State. If it endorses [the improvements], it will be their protector." "Leader of Motherland Party (ANAP), Yılmaz disclosed his projects for the aftermath of December 24 general elections: ‘Unarmed Solution to the Southeast.’", Milliyet, 7 December 1995. "In the declaration of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) the problem in the Southeast has been pointed out in three different sections under the titles as follows: i. CHP will facilitate a democratic solution for the ethnical sensitivities and CHP will solve the Kurdish problem, ii. CHP will carry Turkey toward calmness and internal peace, iii. CHP will tackle the economic imbalance between the regions". "Different Solutions by the Parties to the Kurdish Problem", Siyah-Beyaz, 13 December 1995.

101 Hürriyet, 19 October 1995.