Phase 1 is OK, time for phase 2 in peace process, says BDP chair

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Selahattin Demirtaş. DHA photo

The first phase of the withdrawal of the members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is now complete and it is time to move on to the next phase, a co-chair of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) has said, adding that Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the PKK, had also declared that the withdrawal was done to a great extent. Selahattin Demirtaş also noted that they are supporting the Gezi protests in the name of freedom.

Demirtaş said now that the initial phase was done, the second phase of introducing regulations for democratization was necessary, so it was now the government’s turn to take action.

“There is no problem with the withdrawal, no interruption. A position for reciprocal tension or conflict does not arise. In Öcalan’s words, the desire expected from the first phase is largely complete. Actually the first phase is complete. Now, it is time to talk about the second phase. It is time for practice,” Demirtaş said.

Demirtaş said the government could introduce a mixed democratization package. “There cannot be [just] one law, but a mixed package that includes practices against human rights in plenty of laws. Some penalties are too high, disproportionate. Periods of detention are implemented arbitrarily. What is right is the lifting of ÖYMs [specially authorized courts] too, but I do not know if the government is taking a step or not,” he said.

A total of 100 articles must be amended to “clear the way,” he said.