MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila writes on the politicization of the PKK and its new moves regarding education in Kurdish. A summary of his column is as follows:
Even as people debate whether demands for education in Kurdish are personal requests or political demands tied to a terrorist agenda, the PKK has announced a new policy. Its new policy on education seems to fall between the old and new stances. A recent speech by Abdullah Ocalan released to the public states that the PKK's ongoing preparations, which have been some time in coming, have reached their final stage, and a new policy will be adopted together with a change in name. This speech should be carefully analyzed. It seems that the PKK, which is didn't make the EU terrorist groups list, is exerting every effort to shed the 'terrorist organization' label by changing its name. It is obvious that these efforts are and will be supported by Europe. By changing its name, the PKK is trying to make everyone forget its past, and record and earn an identity as a political party. It is possible for the PKK to reach this aim in Europe. In Ocalan's announcement, he accuses the US and Greece of selling them off, thus making it known that he stands closer to Europe, and he also sends some messages to the Turkish public. The most striking of those are the ones regarding President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the General Staff. He extends warm signals to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), which is not involved in any corruption or fraud, and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who he describes as the TSK's 'legal representative.' Just after that, he suggests that Turkey should be assessed within the conditions prevalent during the days of the foundation of the Republic, adding however that the 'common denominator' created by the War of Independence should be reinstated as democratic independence under today's circumstances. He also suggests that Turks and Kurds must sit at the negotiating table as two founding partners. This amounts to opposition against the Republic founded by Atatürk, and furthermore a rejection of it. It is clear that the PKK is trying to turn its military defeat into a political victory and has the support of Europe on the issue. This will be the main problem confronting us in the near future. As our EU accession process goes on, this problem will only become clearer and stronger. Turkish political circles must focus on this issue.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION