The 4th Ordinary Congress of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) started at the Chamber of Civil Engineers of the Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB). Tuncer Bakırhan, Co-Chair of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), who attended the congress, said: “I would like to express that I am very happy and honoured to be together with the comrades of Hasan Ocak, Polen Ünlü and Ezgi Saadet. On this occasion, I also commemorate with respect and gratitude the 33 dream travellers whose lives were taken away in Suruç.”

Stating that there is a systemic crisis in the world and in Turkey, Bakırhan pointed out that the capitalist imperialist system could no longer sustain itself and said: “There is a serious crisis. In order to cover this crisis and to get a bigger share of the cake, they are trying to keep themselves alive through conflicts and wars all over the world, especially in the Middle East.”

Commenting on the attacks launched by Turkey against North and East Syria on 23 October, Tuncer Bakırhan said the following:

“These attacks do not help anyone. Hospitals are bombed and this is presented as a victory. We warn the government; this is not a solution. On the one hand, imperial hegemonic powers want to design the region. On the other hand, we are faced with the denialist policies of nation states. We neither support the system that hegemons are trying to build nor do we support nation states. As in Rojava, we dream of a system where peoples and women can live together freely. I would like to state that we will struggle to expand and keep this source of hope alive.

We are all watching and following up some debates in Turkey. The AKP and especially the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahçeli, and their officials keep making calls every day. Of course, there are many reasons for these discussions. The most important reason is our unity and struggle here today. I can count many reasons. If we list the internal and external reasons, it could take an hour, but I would like to briefly state that the sum of all of them is the unresolved Kurdish question and that the Kurdish question has reached a point where the current understanding in Turkey can no longer be maintained. The main reason is the Kurdish issue. Therefore, the most important way out of this crisis and chaos is to solve the Kurdish issue through democratic means. Look, the Kurdish question has seen 42 Prime Ministers and 13 Presidents. It has seen many interior and foreign ministers and bureaucrats. Most importantly, it has become an issue that has caused 3 trillion dollars to be wasted. This amount, which the labourers and the oppressed can live on humanely, has rained down on the Kurds as cannons and bullets.

Therefore, one of the most important stances we will take in these discussions is to advocate and fight for a solution to this question through democratic means, negotiations and dialogue, leaving aside this understanding that poisons the economy, politics and life of this country. Those who govern the country need to make a decision. Are we going to enter the second century with shackles on the feet of the peoples and labourers of Turkey or are we going to enter the second century of the Republic with a solution and a democratic republic? Those who initiated the debate must find an answer to this question. They should share the answers they have found with our peoples.

We are saying that the historical Kurdish and Turkish relations must find democratic ground. As the Kurd wins, the Turk wins. The peoples of Turkey win. Kurdish labourers win as the Turks win. We do not expect peace and a solution from anyone. It is our unity in this hall that will bring peace and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question. Therefore, we have the task of socialising peace in spite of those who instrumentalise this issue for political ends. I believe that we will get results by bringing our alliances together from Samsun to Hatay in order to socialise peace.

The other day, Mr Öcalan and our MP Ömer Öcalan had a meeting. Mr Öcalan stated that he would undertake any role for a solution if a legal basis was established. We say to the government that the chief negotiator of this issue is Mr Öcalan. Open the doors of İmralı so that Mr Öcalan's thoughts can meet with the people. We are in a very troubled process. We believe and trust in ourselves.”