Statement of the Political Bureau of TKP on the Closure of Democratic Society Party

On the “Kurdish Problem”

Everybody is aware of the fact that the closure of Democratic Society Party (DTP) is a “political” decision. Issues related to the Kurdish problem cannot be considered merely in terms of juridical assessments, especially while the threat of a civil war is on the agenda of our country. The decision to close DTP would set our people against each other as it restricts the right to do politics of Kurds.

The so-called “Kurdish initiative”, the title and concrete objectives of which are still indeterminate, declared by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is certainly a part of the plan initiated by the United States, despite all the denials of Erdoğan and his companions. The closure of DTP has been rendered congruent to these plans as well, and the necessary confirmation from Washington has been achieved.
There had been developments which imply that other actors apart from AKP, Republican People’s Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the US also want or agree on the closure of DTP. The armed attack in Tokat, the fact that it was assumed by PKK one day before the decision of the Constitutional Court, and the declarations of leading Kurdish politicians claiming that “DTP does not fulfill its functions” are obvious signs indicating that many different accounts are under consideration. It is apparent that such accounts do not serve the demands of equality of the Kurdish people, the historical legitimacy of which is indisputable.
The time for countering the “dirty”, “unscrupulous” and “clandestine” politics of imperialism, AKP and bourgeois opposition with the candid, principled and honest politics of the people has come long ago. In order to prevent our peoples to slaughter each other, such popular politics shall become dominant especially with regard to the Kurdish issue. It is impossible to develop a policy on behalf of toiling masses, on behalf of the people, by taking the current polarization in relation to the Kurdish problem as given or by getting articulated to this polarization.
In this context;
1. In line with the principles declared on various occasions, the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) will continue to pursue a righteous, revolutionary and decisive policy without separating the Kurdish issue from other problems of the country and the region. In the essence of this policy there lies,
a. The elimination of all legal, political, cultural and ideological causes that discriminate Kurdish people, deny their very existence and purge them from being an equal constituent of the country;
b. In view of the fact that such equality can only be possible under socialism and with the liberation of the working class in Turkey, embracing the Kurdish problem as an important subject of the struggles of toiling masses;
c. Defending Kurdish people’s demands of equality (although experiences have shown the difficulties of this stance), which can be met partially under the present order;
d. Fencing off these demands from the US and EU plans destructive for Turkey and the region, and preventing these to serve the activities carried out for the sake of reactionism and the reinforcement of exploitation;
e. Establishing the unity of all laborers and the poor against the capitalist order, the imperialist plunder and reactionism.
2. TKP summons all revolutionary, patriotic, left-wing forces and the toiling masses of Turkey to pursue an anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist stance before it is too late. Only this stance would prevent hidden negotiations and bloody conflicts. As long as Turkey remains on the axis of the US, controlled by EU, governed by parties like AKP or the like, there will be no peace and serenity for Turks and Kurds!
3. TKP demands military operations carried out under the rubric of “fight against terror” and armed attacks for “peace, as well as all declarations that weaken the trust and sympathy of peoples to each other to be stopped immediately.
4. TKP declares that “blind” violence against people, civilians, and means of public transportation serves to the consolidation of hostilities, and condemns all such acts. TKP summons all elements of the revolutionary movement to take a stand openly against such acts.
5. TKP calls all patriotic people to be on alert and take a stand against attacks and lynching attempts towards Kurds, some of which are directed by the state, some are carried out by organized fascist groups and some are spontaneous. TKP summons all progressive forces to prevent such acts and develop effective means against psychological campaigns aiming at setting peoples at odds.
6. TKP declares that provoking “popular forces” of Turks and Kurds against each other can be accepted under no circumstances; it is a despicable attitude to set peoples at odds through a showdown about which people are superior, bolder or crazier. TKP reminds that, like any other nation, there are goods and bads, rights and wrongs, exploited and the exploiter, oppressors and the oppressed among Turks and Kurds as well.
7. TKP will not participate in any act of political solidarity or platform that do not explicitly separate itself from imperialist plans and reactionary policies, and support the unity of Turks and Kurds in a very clear manner. TKP will not remain silent against any initiative that serves the interests of imperialism, reactionism and the exploiting classes. This is also a manifestation to establish the profoundest and the most advanced comradeship with those who express their will to separate themselves from imperialist plans and reactionism.
8. At this juncture, TKP feels itself obliged to say that, the danger grows bigger as less and less people care about the threat with which the country is faced despite the fact that this point is repeated frequently, and there is very little time left for those who talk about patriotism, fraternity, peace, independence and progressivism to pursue a righteous, courageous and independent stance. TKP will not allow this time to be exhausted.

Communist Party of Turkey
Political Bureau