A carrot each until after the elections

The bill submitted to the Parliament for a solution to the Kurdish issue aims to provide a “legal platform” for the process named the “resolution process.”

It, again, does not contain a comprehensive road map; the measures to be taken are left to the jurisdiction of the Cabinet. Thus, the government has taken the step expected to be taken before the presidential elections but it is not possible to say that this is a “big step.”

The bill is about assuring legal, administrative and penal immunity to those who take part in the resolution process; in fact, it is only a text giving general directives to the government.

In order to follow these directives, separate laws are needed and that means the government aims to hold the “peace card” in its hand for a long time.

For example, it is not possible to follow this directive given to the government in this bill without issuing special laws: “The government takes the necessary measures to provide the participation and harmony to social life for returning members of the organization who have laid down arms.”

Indeed, it is not possible to issue only one law that would include everything that needs to be done to solve such an issue.

To be frank, it is not possible either that everything the sides will talk to each other during this process to be covered by laws.

What is important at this stage and also after this, is whether the government is ready or whether wants Turkey to be truly democratic. 

If the Kurdish issue is to be solved, this, first of all, will be possible with the democratization of the entire country.

We know that the government is not enthusiastic in this matter; that it demonstrates with every opportunity its examples of not tolerating opposing views, and that it is not loyal to the principle of separation of powers.

When I put these facts and the “framework” bill together, I cannot but only think this: The government, rather than trying to solve the issue as soon as possible, is trying to extend a carrot to everybody. 

Our most vital issue is to solve the Kurdish issue

The New York Times has published a new Middle East map where it is presumed that the current situation in Iraq and Syria was not temporary and 14 new states may be born out of the five separate states in the region.

Of course, this is a presumption and a scenario but we cannot say its feet are not touching the ground.
It is not possible for today’s Syria to get together again and form one state. How can a country where more than 160,000 people have died and 9 million people have been forced to flee come together again anyway?

Bashar al-Assad has misled America and Europe, including our rulers: Not only he was not toppled and gone “in three months” he also continues to stand on his feet in the zone he is controlling. It looks as if it is inevitable that a state under the rule of al-Assad dominating the coastal region of today’s Syria will be formed, the one that was mentioned at the end of the first year of the Syrian crisis.

This would also mean Turkey’s south neighbor is changing; it is assessed that a new state will come out of the Kurdish region in Rojava.

There is an “autonomous” region in Iraq’s north. First and foremost the United States and Turkey do not want this autonomous region to turn into an independent state but while nails are being unpegged in the region, it is not much of a result yielding thing to stick in one’s oar.

The Kurds are closer to forming an independent state as they have never been in history.

The other two parts of Iraq looks as if they be separated between Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Shiites. 

In such a picture, it is more important than ever that Turkey ponders on how it will live together in peace with its “own Kurds” and how it will prevent a possible separation?

This issue is more, just more important than becoming a propaganda subject in elections and it is too much of a delicate matter to be made a tool out of.

Let us see; are we going to be able to manage this difficult problem?

If we cannot manage it, it is no longer soothsaying to say that pitch dark days are also waiting for Turkey.