Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
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Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Baszn Öz<strong>et</strong>i<br />
Southeastern politicians' election <strong>de</strong>bates<br />
• The PKK has been inspired by Britain, which found a solution to the problem of the Irish<br />
Republican Army (IRA), using Sein Fein as a mediator. Ocalan, in a <strong>de</strong>claration on illegal TV<br />
channel-in-exile, MED TV, said that if the Kurdish candidates can participate in the elections<br />
without facing any obstacles, the problem of the mediator would automatically be solved<br />
MUSTAFA<br />
ERDOGAN<br />
Ankara - Turkish Daily News<br />
An agreement reached b<strong>et</strong>ween the parties in the government on a new "election government" to be<br />
established during the next parliamentary term as well as an election date of March, 1999, has activated<br />
politicians interested in southeastern issues.<br />
After the clarification of the election agenda, the Republican People's Party's (CHP) attempts to make an<br />
election alliance with the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) started discussions within Kurdish circles.<br />
Kurdish candidates on the list<br />
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The Kurdish politicians in the CHP and HADEP are trying to become candidates for the approaching<br />
elections. Part of these groups are attempting to approach the CHP administration while others are hoping<br />
to benefit from the existence of a power vacuum in HADEP because of the fact that most of its<br />
administrators are currently in jail. Meanwhile, a group in HADEP's Istanbul branch are preparing to join<br />
the CHP.<br />
On the other hand, the recent resignations of Sedat Yurttas, Sirri Sakik and Ahm<strong>et</strong> Turk's from HADEP's<br />
central administrative board still occupy the core of the discussions within Kurdish circles. The process<br />
which led to their resignations went back to the days when Hatip Dicle was elected as banned Democracy<br />
Party (DEP) chairman. It is known that when Dicle become the party's chairman representing the so-called<br />
"falcon branch" within DEP, he had an argument with Yurttas, Sakik and Turk. The Dicle group had<br />
accused the other si<strong>de</strong> of making soft-liner and reformist politics while Yurttas, Sakik and Turk had<br />
accused .the falcon group of preparing the closure of DEP and making a political solution impossible. Both<br />
groups, having accused the newly established HADEP chairman, Murat Bozlak, of conducting passive<br />
politics, distanced themselves from HADEP.<br />
Meanwhile, reactions are g<strong>et</strong>ting stronger against these groups within HADEP. Partyadministrators<br />
criticizing Sakik, Turk and Yurttas, claim that they fled from their duty and are trying tocompl<strong>et</strong>ely exclu<strong>de</strong><br />
them from engaging in politics in HADEP. There are claims that the three clashed with party administration<br />
because the administration halted the internal party education which previously had resulted in the arrest of<br />
HADEP's leading figures. Yurttas, Turk and Sakik, after the administration's action regarding the<br />
education issue, had ironically criticized the administration, saying that education should fIfSt be given to<br />
partyadministrators.<br />
Background<br />
of Turk, Yurttas and Sakik<br />
Ahm<strong>et</strong> Turk has been in politics for many years. A CHP <strong>de</strong>puty before the 1980 coup, he was reelected in<br />
1989 from the former Social Democratic People's Party (SHP). Turk then established the banned People's<br />
Labor. Party (HEP) with a group of friends and became its first chairman. He continued his political career<br />
in the banned DEP and HADEP parties. Turk, who was a <strong>de</strong>puty candidate from Mardin in the last<br />
elections, could not become a <strong>de</strong>puty because HADEP could not pass the 10 percent country threshold,<br />
although it received a majority of the votes in Mardin. Turk is known, within Kurdish circles, for his<br />
compromising attitu<strong>de</strong> and political experience.<br />
Sedat Yurttas first became <strong>de</strong>puty in 1989 from the former SHP. In the last election, like Turk, although he<br />
received enough votes in Diyarbakir, the country threshold did not permit him to become a <strong>de</strong>puty. Yurttas<br />
is known in HADEP for being critical in his approach.<br />
Sirri Sakik engaged in politics within Kurdish circles both in the SHP and HADEP, and he is perhaps the<br />
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