Tayip Temel: Committee including Öcalan to begin work soon, he will assign returnees' roles individually

Rastinews — DEM Party Deputy Co-Chair Tayip Temel discussed the "Peace and Democratic Society Process" on a program on Nûçe TV.

Temel said the process had reached a certain stage despite many difficulties and obstacles, and that the steps to come from here would be hard for all sides. He said the process had reached this point through the will of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, adding: "If Leader Öcalan hadn't existed, and if the Kurdish people hadn't had the will to protect themselves through this fire, it would not have been possible for anyone else in the Freedom Movement to take these steps."

Temel said the process would bring gains for both sides: "There has been a ceasefire between the state and the Freedom Movement since February 27, 2025. The war stopped. That was the first stage. The Freedom Movement took the necessary steps, dissolved itself and burned its weapons. No process before had seen such major steps taken. The establishment of the parliamentary commission, the commission's visit to İmralı Island, and the passage of the framework law are also results of the negotiations."

Key points from Tayip Temel's remarks:

"A step needs to be taken today — the KCK is saying this too, that a step must now be taken. Why did it come down to the National Security Council taking a step, and why did it stall? There is actually an approach pushing things in that direction. If you look at statements from Bahçeli and state officials, for instance, you can see the state also needs this process in this period. In the new conjuncture, it can no longer advance or sustain itself without carrying the process forward. Because the Kurdish people were not liquidated. They tore the shroud and could not be liquidated. So the committee that Abdullah Öcalan will be part of will now get to work, conditions will be arranged, and the work will continue. I believe the committee Abdullah Öcalan is part of will begin work soon, and this will be announced. After that, we journalists will go and meet him freely, and direct communication between Abdullah Öcalan and the public will be established."

'Abdullah Öcalan will coordinate the committee'

Temel said Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan would coordinate the committee and that the delegation would begin its work, stating:

"An impressive delegation will be formed, made up of lawyers, Mr. Öcalan, activists, intellectuals and politicians, and Mr. Öcalan will coordinate it and begin the work. Once it is announced, journalists will go too. The negotiations have reached this stage and must now be put into practice. The conditions and circumstances make it necessary for this delegation to begin its work soon and for journalists to go as well. Leader Öcalan's own request is that journalists go and convey his views directly to the public. Based on the discussions and negotiations held, there is no more room for delay on this. Leader Öcalan overcame the deadlock in the process through his foresight and proposals. The Kurdish people are waiting to hear Mr. Öcalan's voice. Mr. Öcalan can also persuade the peoples of Turkey. Mr. Öcalan says: 'I will break down all the perceptions built around me among the peoples of Turkey and present our project.'"

Abdullah Öcalan's conditions

Speaking about Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's conditions, Temel said one of the biggest problems in the process was that no steps had been taken on this front: "At its congress, the Freedom Movement also stated that Mr. Öcalan's conditions need to be improved for a step to be taken. In the talks, we see that the state has set one condition: no step will be taken until weapons are fully eliminated. For that reason, steps such as the release of political prisoners and the return of municipalities seized by trustees must be taken. This situation is creating distrust within Kurdish society. In every meeting, our criticism of state officials has been this: you are preventing society from trusting the process. The statements from Bahçeli, the president and İbrahim Kalın also show that the state needs this process. Despite all the state's policies, the Kurdish people have not abandoned their cause and have preserved their language."

'We too are waiting for the returns'

Temel said DEM Party had also prepared itself for the new period, stating:

"Leader Öcalan's criticism of us was also that we failed to read the period well. We could not bring the struggle and the negotiation to a certain stage. We could have made better use of this process. But we do have preparations under way. Our democratic political movement is of course pursuing the debate on securing the Kurdish people's existence under legal guarantee. But in this process, the debate over 'what did we get, what did we give' is wrong. We shouldn't say 'the state didn't give.' This process is one of construction. The state does not give. Everything happens through strengthening and expanding the struggle. We have preparations under way too — work on developing a communal democratic society in North Kurdistan and Turkey. It will most likely be announced through a congress. We too are waiting for the returns — both of movement members and of people abroad. They will be major dynamics too. Mr. Öcalan says, for those returning, 'I will determine their roles one by one myself.'"

Everyone should do what is within their power

Responding to criticism regarding national rights, Temel continued:

"Mr. Öcalan's goal is for the Kurds to be free. There will be no concessions on Kurdishness. We must believe in our strength and our cause and begin the work. Mr. Öcalan says: 'I am ready to account for 50 years, but I will also ask for an accounting.' After Mr. Öcalan moved to the new house, the secretariat was also strengthened and he continues his work there. Mr. Öcalan is waiting to meet with journalists, activists and academics. The slogan of the process for Mr. Öcalan is construction — the construction of peace and a democratic society. Everyone should do what is within their power."