13.05.2025 08:40
The Central Executive Board of the DEM Party held a meeting to address the process following the decision of the terrorist organization PKK to disband and lay down arms, and to determine a new roadmap. DEM Party members emphasized that those involved in the process and those who travel to Imralı should be legally protected, while it is planned to revisit political parties based on the outcomes of the meeting.
After the terrorist organization PKK announced that it has disbanded itself and laid down its arms, the DEM Party Central Executive Board convened to discuss the legal regulations regarding the current process, taking into account the events that have occurred since the process began in 2013. It was emphasized that those involved in the process and those who visited İmralı should be legally protected. The meeting also highlighted the need to visit political parties again to gather their suggestions and seek support for legal regulations.
The terrorist organization PKK declared its disbandment and the laying down of arms with the final declaration of its 12th congress held on May 5-7. Following the announcement of this decision to the public, the DEM Party's Central Executive Board gathered at the General Headquarters to address the process and determine a new roadmap.
DEM Party proposes the legalization of a framework that protects the process with a special legal regulation under the initiative of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) and ensures the participation of all political parties, allowing the process to gain a legal basis and status.
"THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGISLATION"
Sources from the DEM Party indicate that before establishing a legal basis, the government could take steps such as acting in accordance with the legislation, complying with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Constitutional Court, releasing prisoners held arbitrarily by Prison Observation and Administration Boards, freeing Gezi prisoner Can Atalay to restore his title as a member of parliament, ending the appointment of trustees to municipalities, and releasing the CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. The sources emphasize that they are not presenting these as conditions.
"LEGAL PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO VISITED İMRALI"
Pointing to the events that occurred after the unsuccessful process that began in 2013, DEM Party sources stress the need to provide legal protection for those involved in the process and those who visited PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı. The DEM Party suggests that judicial packages could come quickly in this process, indicating that there could be multiple packages. Initially, they demand a regulation concerning sick detainees and prisoners, a regulation on execution, a regulation that will end the practices in the Observation and Administration Boards, and a change to the relevant article of the Turkish Penal Code, which has been annulled twice by the Constitutional Court, concerning the punishment of those who commit crimes on behalf of the organization without being a member of a terrorist organization. Party sources believe that the first judicial package expected to come to the TBMM will be postponed until after the Eid al-Adha.
VISITS TO POLITICAL PARTIES WILL BE MADE
On the other hand, it is planned to visit political parties again, as was done after the İmralı visits. It is also stated that these visits will not only provide information about the process but will also seek answers to the question, "What can be done from now on?" In the upcoming period, the DEM Party will focus not only on meetings with political parties but also on both internal and external activities in the Parliament. Additionally, a tour to support legal regulations is also planned.
"EXPECTATION OF A PARDON HAS BEEN CREATED"
Sources from the DEM Party state that the government has created an expectation of a pardon since 2022, which has led to expectations in prisons. They argue that both the opposition and the government should quickly meet the expectations of those in prison with a rapid judicial package.