MESOP : CEMIL BAYIK (PKK) – A CLASSICAL POLITICAL LEADER OF 20th CENTURY STYLE ON ELECTIONS IN TURKEY

KCK co-chair Cemil Bayik: Those who do not know how to develop alliances can create neither democracy nor revolution!

06 Feb 2015 – Kudish question – Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) executive committee co-chair Cemil Bayik gave important messages regarding the upcoming elections in Turkey, in a piece published in Kurdish daily newspaper Azadiya Welat recently. Bayik said the results of the general election would determine the future of Turkey and called it the ‘most important general election in Turkey’s history.’ ‘Either the AKP and CHP’s mutual oligarchic party system will continue or there will be a move outside of this system,’ stated Bayik, with this move being the alliance of all revolutionary democratic forces in the country under the banner of the HDP.

Bayik emphasises the role of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and says:

‘A platform that unites Turkey’s revolutionary democracy forces and the Kurdish democratic movement will create important results. The longing of Mahir, Deniz and Ibrahim Kaypakkaya (revolutionary leaders of the Turkish left in the 70s) for the unity of peoples, for fraternity will become a reality in this joint struggle. In this regard the alliance that the HDP are trying to create is exciting. All those responsible for making this happen must take the responsibility of carrying the heritage of these great revolutionaries seriously and play their historic roles.’

Bayik stressed that the HDP may have deficiencies and weaknesses but that it is the party for radical and revolutionary democracy, which includes the left forces in Turkey. Bayik calls this force the left that is outside of the system.

‘The HDP is a movement and party that wants and is intent on ending the current sham that is called a democracy in Turkey and truly democratise the country. Therefore it is not right to ask whether the left should develop an alliance with the HDP or CHP. The stance of leftist, socialist and revolutionary democrats is clear. This is not an imposition, it is what is natural.’ Bayik emphasises the importance of creating an alliance and joint struggle with foremost left democrats and all radical democrats, and adds, ‘Democracy and revolution is a question of alliances.’‘Those who do not know how to develop alliances can neither create democracy nor revolution! Nobody can claim that an alliance with the CHP will bring about democracy. The AKP, which wants to create its own hegemony, cannot be downgraded with the CHP. The most effective democratic alliance is with the HDP.’

Bayik indicates the historical importance of the HDP entering the elections as a party by saying:

‘To enter the election with independent candidates would be treason to the HDP project. It would make the HDP into an ornament of the system. The contention of the HDP as a party is to square up to the system. With the decision to enter elections as a party it has begun a period of democratic struggle against the system. This comes from the belief that the Kurdish question, Alevi question and the problems of the oppressed classes and women will be resolved with a democratic alliance and struggle such as this.’

Reiterating that the Kurdish question will only be solved with the alliance and joint struggle of democracy forces, Bayik says that the decision by the HDP to enter the elections as a party is a political choice that reflects this. Bayik adds that the Kurdish Freedom Movement has always seen the resolution of the Kurdish question as being possible with the alliance and joint struggle of democracy forces and says:

‘The Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullan Öcalan’s struggle and quest in searching for a democratic political solution to the Kurdish question (with state actors) in 1993 and even before in 1988 is one thing; the desire and decision to democratise Turkey and solve the Kurdish question with democracy forces is another thing. But these should not be placed opposite each other. On the contrary they are two approaches that strengthen and complete the struggle to democratise Turkey and resolve all societal problems.’ http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/north-kurdistan/kck-co-chair-cemil-bayik-those-who-do-not-know-how-to-develop-alliances-can-neither-create-democracy-nor-revolution/599-kck-co-chair-cemil-bayik-those-who-do-not-know-how-to-develop-alliances-can-neither-create-democracy-nor-revolution.html