Değer further argues that the success of the Kurdish initiative depends on a general amnesty.

Former Diyarbakir deputy Değer, who supports the government's recent initiative to resolve the Kurdish problem, despite his party being one of the most ardent opponents to the initiative, is a lone warrior in the CHP.

The CHP leader, Deniz Baykal, strongly opposes the Kurdish initiative, despite having prepared a report on the Kurdish question in 1989. Değer penned a new report with the participation of a team of 250 shortly after the announcement of the government's initiative. Değer, who will refer the report to Baykal this week, asks for radical changes to his party's stance and voices strong demands which are more controversial and progressive than those of the Democratic Society Party (DTP).

Speaking to Today's Zaman at party headquarters, Değer leads the team of progressives and pro-change figures in his party.

Değer, who had to deal with the reactions from his fellow party members when he proposed the opening of a small mosque in the party building, underlines that Turkey is currently struggling with a huge problem, no matter what it is called. He further says: “There is a Kurdish problem in Turkey. It is a fact that there is a problem, no matter what you prefer to call it. Those who have denied this problem now admit to its existence.

Another fact that should be acknowledged is that this is a problem that is not resolvable by military means. It is surprising that political parties fail to admit this fact at a time when even the military agrees with this argument.” Noting that the problem has become even more complicated because of the constant denial, Değer further adds that it is a mistake to think that the demands of the Kurdish people are actually voiced by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

“Local people voice demands for democratization. It is an honor for the people to freely express their identity. There are obstacles and barriers to the enjoyment of identity rights. We cannot ignore this fact just because the PKK makes reference to the same rights and demands. It would be a grave mistake to take a look at the issue from a terrorism perspective. More than 40,000 people have lost their lives because of terrorism in the last three decades. We have thousands of wounded and handicapped, victims of terrorist attacks. This nation has spent $400 billion to fight terror. We can speak of a loss of $1 trillion overall. Obviously, terror costs a high price for all.”

Değer, who expresses support for the government's Kurdish initiative, is asking for the details of the package to be announced. Noting that 49,500 local people were interrogated by the Diyarbakır Police Department between 1987 and 2002, Değer says it is now time for a lasting peace between the state and the people of the region. “I would say nearly 500,000 people harbor negative feelings towards the state. There is a strong and unbreakable wall between the state and the people there. The state views the local people as potential criminals, whereas locals believe that the state is neither just nor fair. This alone points to a huge a problem.”

CHP has responsibility to resolve the problem

Noting that all parties are responsible for resolving the problem, Değer says his party should also take action: “The CHP faces a historic responsibility. The CHP should take the lead and contribute to the solution process. It should consider the recommendations spelled out in the report prepared in 1989 because the CHP is the only party that is able to resolve this problem. Other parties may have to face the negative consequences of their actions, whereas the CHP will possibly not have to deal with any repercussions if it takes action to resolve the problem. The party should act responsibly and do whatever it needs to do. Local people also hold that the problem may be resolved under the leadership of the CHP.”

Asked whether the CHP leader would respond to the prime minister's letter where he asked for Baykal's support, Değer says: “This is a controversial issue. Currently, there is no other party figure making reference to this issue in the CHP. I am carrying this fight all by myself. Even those who have spent time trying to achieve a resolution now prefer reluctance and silence.”

Değer, who was warned by his party about his reaction to Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ's comments in which the general said the region should get rid of the “aghas,” or feudal lords, says: “My response to the chief of general staff does not make my party responsible [for my comments]; I understand this warning; however, a number of aghas and opinion leaders called me, and I had to make their demands known. The state has tried hard to gain their support in its fight against terror.

Now it appears it wants to get rid of them. I do not approve of the agha system; however, limiting their influence in the region would contribute to the expansion of the sphere of influence of the terrorist organization [the PKK].”

Stating that the chief of general staff should not say a single word about the initiative, Değer further says: “Politicians should resolve this problem. An initiative inclusive of the military will not appeal to the local people. Reactions that will jeopardize the initiative should be avoided. The military is a party to this problem. It is the party that carries out the struggle against terrorism. If we disregard the PKK, we should not include the military in the process, either. The military should be left out of this. Politicians should resolve the problem. It is easy to resolve the issue; it only requires determination and will. For this reason, even the PKK wants a resolution because it is unable to recover from its losses. Those who do not want a resolution are those who benefit from the lack of solution.”

Noting that a large group consisting of 250 people has prepared a new report on the Kurdish issue, Değer says they will refer an executive summary of the report to CHP leader Baykal. “In this report, we call the Kurdish initiative a democratic initiative. We have analyzed the local election results. We have tried to explain why the CHP has lost support in the elections held in the region since 1950. We have further analyzed Baykal's past remarks and statements on the issue as well as his recommendations on the resolution of the question. We have examined the investments made in the region in the last eight decades. We have reserved 150 pages of the 600-page report for political data and [methods for] combating terror,” he says.

The report is fairly progressive and radical

The new Kurdish report prepared by Değer and his colleagues includes proposals and recommendations far more progressive and radical than those proposed by the DTP. Speaking on the content of the report, Değer says: “It is impossible to resolve the issue without a new constitution. Of course, the resolution should not do any harm to the unitary character of the state. However, a new constitution is a definite necessity. A general amnesty should be declared to achieve a lasting reconciliation between the people and the state. The village guard system should be preserved. A common language should be spoken. A language of peace should be offered. … I will refer this report to the party chair; whether they will consider it is a decision for them to make. At the moment, I alone am responsible for the report.” Noting that the government should provide further details on the content of its package, Değer says: “The government has done something good; but it is afraid of giving further details. They first said there is no package at all; now they say the resolution process will be explained and implemented within a package. We have to see the content of this package. The government has committed a tactical mistake. They should have prepared a package and then sent it to the political parties. It is nice to see them hold meetings with the civil society representatives; however, they did not receive a package either. It would have been better if they had prepared a concrete package.”

Değer, who argues that even the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) acknowledged the existence of the problem in the region during its election campaigns where it made reference to the terror issue, adds that Turkish politicians are not brave enough. Noting that the CHP tasted a bitter defeat in the 2007 elections, Değer says: “Local people do not want to vote for the CHP anymore. People do not support our party even though we convince them to vote for our candidates. … However, the CHP was the biggest party in the region in the past. The locals are quite concerned about the party's stance on the recent developments because they are worried that the problem will not be resolved without the involvement and contribution of the CHP. The party will win the support of the local people again if it takes the lead in resolving the problem. The CHP will be the winner of the 2011 elections if it supports the Kurdish initiative.”

Değer holds that the slogans at the soccer game between Diyarbakırspor and Bursaspor by fans chanting “PKK out!” were a provocation, adding that the whole incident was plotted by those opposed to the Kurdish initiative. “Diyarbakırspor is needed in the Super League. I proposed a special bill that would ensure the re-entry of Diyarbakırspor into the league when it failed to stay in the league. As a party, we expressed support for the team. This club makes huge contributions to the region and economy of the city. It serves brotherhood and peace. The coming of the big four to the city alone is a huge event. However, some circles use every opportunity to express their hatred and carry out their evil plans; people plant the Turkish flag in the middle of the field to provoke locals. This flag belongs to all of us. Nobody can claim a monopoly over it. The national anthem belongs to all of us. Evil plans are plotted, and this deteriorates the situation in the region; this is the politicization of soccer. It is not proper to claim a connection between the local people and terrorism. The soccer federation should take care of these provocations; otherwise, games in Diyarbakır will get out of control. This process is dangerous,” he says.

Arguing that the MHP uses the issue of terror to score political points, Değer implies that they should be held responsible for the recent provocations at the soccer games. “The provocations in Bursa are the result of the MHP's unconstructive policies.

Parties failing to embrace Turkey as a whole are committing the greatest discrimination. They alienate the local people. I do not think those who make this mistake are doing any good for the country.”

Değer and his colleagues prove in the report that a package which does not propose a general amnesty will not be successful. “No terrorist made use of the opportunity provided by several laws which offered a partial amnesty. It was announced that nearly 5,000 militants applied to avail themselves of the laws; most of them, however, were Hezbollah militants. Nobody left the PKK terrorist organization. The prisons were emptied by the amnesty laws; however, those who were released from prison rejoined the PKK because they were unable to find jobs. Economic measures should be taken along with the laying down of the PKK's weapons and a general amnesty should be issued accordingly. A resolution will become likely through a general amnesty,” he says.

Değer stresses that Parliament should be the venue where a resolution is devised; he further proposes the creation of a 100-member assembly which would be authorized to develop various alternatives to address the problem. Considering that the initiative is destined to fail if it is executed with only minor changes in the law, Değer believes that an assembly where all parties have an equal number of seats and representatives will have extensive legitimacy to discuss thorny issues, including constitutional amendments.