13 April 2011

Democracy is a regime of opportunities, or it provides the fundamental opportunities for human beings to express themselves. Moreover, democracy is a regime of plurality not majority.

Democracy and terrorism are two concepts, which constantly deny each other and conflict with each other. In other words, democracy conflicts with terrorism vice versa. Therefore real democracy is an antidote of terrorism. But such a conflicting relationship sometimes becomes very complicated when the channels of democracy opens the way for those who may have strong affiliation with groups that are recognized as terrorists. This being said, terrorism in that sense may involve different dynamics. Regardless of country, ethnic or separatist movements always have political wings, which may be represented at the Parliaments in their respected countries. For example, IRA’s political party is Sinn Fein and has several seats at the Northern Ireland Parliament. Similarly in Turkey BDP is in the Parliament and has been representing a section of the community.

Politics and politicians are crucial aspects of democracy. Politicians are respected individuals in democratic societies only when they act as leading individuals in motivating their constituent bodies. On the other hand when they attempt to lead people toward violence, provocation, and intimidating others then these politicians become anybody but respected political figures in democratic societies.

For the last 8 years Turkey had gone through significant change in terms of social, economic, cultural, and political life. In a sense the change has involved a "paradigm shift” in many aspects. One of the considerable shifts is that society in Turkey has succeeded in tolerating ideas and expressions of those ideas, which in the past could not have been handled. In fact, problems, such as Kurdish issue, civil-military relations, relations with the neighboring countries, civil liberties and fundamental rights of the individuals have been openly discussed in different segments of the society.

Political parties in democratic societies can be effective channels to enlist productive, time-efficient, civil, and nonviolent communication between the related societies. Regardless of the problems, such political parties at the least can be legitimate channels of communication. In particular, when problems, involving ethnic origin have emerged, political parties can sometimes be the sole channel in settling down the differences.
There are several examples involving ethnic problems, including Northern Ireland and Bask region. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been active in the Northern Ireland, where the Sinn Fein has been representing both IRA and the Catholic population along with other political parties. The Basque Motherland and Liberty (ETA-Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) have been in action in the Basque region of Spain, where there are several other political parties which have had represented people in Basque region along with Batasuna, representing the base of ETA. In Turkey on the other hand Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) have had affiliation with the PKK.

Although there are some similarities between these three political parties, there are also significant differences in terms of how they have been handling the situations and democratization processes of importance. Sinn Fein have taken the opportunities of peace very seriously and used them to reach out some kind of solution for the well being of both Catholic and Protestant societies in Northern Ireland. On the other hand Batasuna and BDP have acted in similar way in denying any possible pathway to solve the decades old problems. The question as to why Batasuna has done so is another matter that needed to be address; however, here the position of BDP will be discussed with some comparisons.
BDP (formerly known as Democratic Society Party-DTP) has been major point of discussion during the initial stages of "democratic initiative or openness”. Since they have been in the Parliament, they have been considered by many as the legitimate addressee for communicating with the community who have had sympathy with the PKK. But unfortunately time showed that instead of taking advantage of calling the shot, BDP has preferred to transfer that responsibility to Kandil and Ocalan, claiming that they were the legitimate addressee to talk to. That is exactly the opposite of what Sinn Fein has done during the process of having a peaceful solution to the question of Northern Ireland. In fact, Gerry Adams has been the leading figure to reach a conclusion.

Another misleading position of the BDP was that even though the government has attempted to enlist some kind of communication with them they usually preferred to complain about this and that. They, in a sense, tried everything to prove that they were not the point of contact for such efforts.
Normalization versus Marginalization

BDP members, in their manners have tried to use every possible way to marginalize the society whom they claim to represent. Instead of normalizing the social and psychological environment, they have attempted to ignite the feelings of big masses. In fact in some occasions they succeeded in having the results they desired.

But they sometimes miscalculated their reactions. In one instance a member of the BDP, who is also the member of the Turkish Parliament threw or attempted to throw a rock to the police, while another one tried to slap the police officer, who had not reacted against such a heinous act. Such attempts have been characterized by many as unacceptable actions. Although they might have been welcomed by the marginalized groups, such maximal behaviors are considered as fatal mistakes by many.

The recent actions of the BDP and their followers involve organizing what they called "civil disobedience” rallies. As in the previous examples, these activities were nothing but "civil disobedience.” Once again they took another step by using one of the oldest ways of protesting the state decision and turned it to something which had nothing to do with "civil disobedience”. From the actions of those who have participated in these meetings, it can be claimed that their activities can only be characterized as mass violence.

Another current example is the Imams who have organized Friday prayers in those activities. What the BDP and KCK have been trying to do is to take examples from outside, such as Egypt. While they tried to take examples from other countries, most of the time they ended up doing what they believed as the right choice which has involved intimidation of others and threatening the state and the government.

The best choice for BDP, however, is to try to be a political party of the masses not of an organization or of an individual. The political environment can be convenient for those who contribute to the normalization of Turkey. And upcoming election in June 12 2011 has many prospects for the future. Especially new constitution can be a vital opportunity to have broader and in-depth democracy in Turkey. BDP has boycotted September 12 2010 referendum, which has been one of the most fundamental breakthroughs of Turkey’s democracy. BDP has acted exactly as Batasuna in 1978 Constitution Referendum, which has ended Franco era. Not surprisingly since they have chosen to be a maximal, Batasuna and its former forms have been a marginal group in Basque region. On the other hand since Basque National Party in Spain and Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland have chosen to be part of the solution they have been embraced by many among their constituents. 

Instead of being frustrated from not having many people on the streets who might participated in their mass violence, BDP can play a vital role in enlarging and deepening democracy in this country, but of course democracy as in plurality form not for one individual.

Instead of marginal tone, BDP can use a language of peace, but not just by pretending or exploiting the words but in reality; the other options will not help anybody, including BDP, their followers, and those whom BDP have considered as the righteous addressee of Kurdish issue. In today’s Turkey, whoever contributes to the normalization and stability will win in the long run, no matter who is who.