Emergency Motion 1
Turkish Oppression, Kurdish Self-Determination & the Free Ocalan Campaign
“That this Congress notes that;
- Since the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem ?mamo?lu, presidential candidate for the Republican People’s Party (CHP), there continue to be mass protests for democracy.
- Turkish authorities have detained 2,000 people, including students, journalists, and lawyers, and put the entire Executive Board of the teachers’ union under house arrest.
“In contrast, since last year’s Congress motion demanding Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, he has been allowed to meet his family and to discuss potential peace moves, in person, with a delegation from the DEM Party. On 27 February he issued a proposal for peace and democracy, including dissolution of the PKK. The PKK responded positively and called a ceasefire, and the DEM Party delegation has discussed the proposals with opposition parties – to wide support – and with President Erdo?an.
“However, Congress notes that;
- There have been no concrete actions from the Turkish government to allow the process to move forward and Turkiye is still bombing areas in Iraq where the PKK have their bases.
“Congress cautiously welcomes the 10 March agreement between the Autonomous Administration’s Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syria’s Interim President, and the resulting agreements that have preserved the autonomy of the Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods of Aleppo and have protected the Tishreen Dam.
“Congress supports the Kurdish Unity Conference held 26 April in Qamishlo.
“Congress calls on the General Council to;
- Lobby the UK Government to i) support Ocalan’s peace proposals, ii) remove the PKK from its list of terrorist organisations, iii) officially call for Ocalan’s release as a necessary step in moving the peace process forward, and iv) support the united Kurdish parties in their demand for an inclusive, democratic, and decentralised Syria.
- Send support and solidarity to the Turkish Trade Union movement facing oppression.”
Mover: Dundee Trades Union Council
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