Kani Beko who has been elected as President of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK) at the extraordinary general meeting on 6 April spoke to ANF about the Confederation's approach towards the peace process for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question.

Beko pointed out that the thirty-year-old war in Turkey has claimed the life of 50 thousand people, adding that "the people killed in this war are all citizens of this country. We see that young and old alike ask for peace instead of war now, as we have most recently seen at Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır where more than a million people gathered and voiced their demand for peace and brotherhood. All we need to do now is to listen to the voice raised in Newroz”.

Remarking that the solution process should also be reflected in the parliament and the constitution, Beko said that, “All parties in the parliament should come together to prepare an equalitarian and democratic constitution defending everyone's freedoms”.

"We should side with either war or peace", said Beko and remarked that the left-wing circles and workers should side with peace. “We shall either continue watching people dying or say stop to death. We have a responsibility to shoulder if we want brotherhood. If we are sincere about the slogan about the 'unity of workers and brotherhood of peoples', we should now do what is necessary and to side with peace”, he underlined.

Reminding that Kurds and socialists have been struggling for peace for many years now, Beko pointed out that the current process has been achieved thanks to this struggle, not the request of the AKP government. “Kurdish patriots and socialists have demanded peace for years, this is not something new. I remember the 1 September World Peace Day in İzmir in 1975 when it was again democrats, Kurds and socialist that supported peace. These circles have made contributions to achieve a lasting peace in the country. Now it is time to make contributions to this purpose a reality” he added.

Beko stated that the AKP government should adopt a clearer policy on the peace process and noted that this step would also be of importance in terms of gaining the trust of democratic mass organizations and left-wing parties on the side of public opposition. “The circles which currently have concerns over the peace process should trust the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) whose  power and presence in the parliament is the greatest opportunity in this process. The presence of deputies representing the Kurdish people should be considered important”, he underlined.

Beko said it was important that the Kurdish movement demanded democratization not only for Kurds but for everyone. He told the followings as to the importance of peace for laborers as well, “The establishment of peace will change the agenda to be discussed because the problems of unemployment, economic circumstances and other basic human needs, such as electricity, water, work and bread are the priorities here. Politics is done in order to manage the underground and overground resources in a fair way. Democratization will be for the benefit of not Kurds alone, it will also satisfy the need of 75 million people living in this country. It is important to achieve an equalitarian and libertarian constitution for it will also answer to the unemployed, villagers, workers and tradespeople”.

Beko said that the newly formed general board of DISK will also hold talks about the ways how it can contribute to peace. "Our board of management has never sided with war and they will continue to hold the same attitude", he added.

Beko said on 1 May, Workers Day, they wanted to answer to the 'peace call' voiced in Newroz, adding, “We are of the opinion that the peace should be the primary message to be given on this year's Workers Day. Without laying our economic, social and democratic demands aside, we will give priority to peace”.