[TURKEY] The PKK & The Election

[Retroliser]

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The PKK & The Election ​

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@Zak

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Today saw The Grand Vizier of The Provisional Government, Olağan Bilgelik, give a surprise speech regarding the elections that will be held in the beginning of 2013. Of particular note was his inclusion of The PKK, The Kurdistan Workers' Party, which has, since 1984, engaged in a prolonged campaign of violence against The Turkish State. This is what the Ottoman Vizier said on the matter of whether The PKK, the political wing of the Kurdish movement, would be able to have representatives stand for election."

The shot of the newscaster was replaced by a recording of the five foot two inch tall politician, flanked by two bodyguards that towered over him, standing at a podium.

"Citizens of Turkey," Olağan began solemnly. "As you are no doubt aware, the south eastern section of our nation has been a land dominated by violence. Kurdish separatists began an armed revolt in 1984, which, over the past 28 years, has claimed over 40,000 lives. At the present time, Turkey recognises The PKK as a terrorist organisation. This stance is also taken by scores of nations across the globe. However, I, along with the cabinet, have come to the conclusion that with the dissolution of The Republic, and the return of The Ottoman Monarchy, it is an opportunity to clean out Turkey's metaphorical closet. After all, The Republic collapsed when it placed the skeleton of genocide within it. It would be a shame if we did not take the opportunity to try a new approach, since trying to find a peaceful solution to this problem will not be considered a sign of weakness or defeat for us.

As such, I have put forward a simple list of demands which, if The PKK agree to, will allow them to be fully rehabilitated as a legal political entity within Turkey. The demands are as follows:

1. Any and all members of The PKK, and/or connected entities, that have engaged in acts of violence against Turkey will be surrendered for trial. Acts of violence refers to murder, kidnapping or any other physical acts of that nature, the act of sympathising with The PKK is not punishable, as stated under Article 32 of The Constitution.
2. Any and all members of The PKK, and/or connected entities, that have engaged in illicit acts in support of The PKK will be surrendered for trial. There have been a number of claims that The PKK has been the recipient of funds received through the trafficking of narcotics, or actively been involved with the production or trafficking of narcotics. If these claims are true, then The PKK is to cease such activities immediately and willingly hand over any of its members that have been involved with such acts, and assist unconditionally in any investigations related to them.
3. All connected organisations to The PKK that engage in military activity, such as The Kurdistan National Liberty Army (ARGK), are to be disbanded with immediate effect and all weapons in their possession shall be surrendered. As an act of goodwill, the surrendering of weapons will be performed under the conditions of a weapons amnesty. No questions will be asked as to how they were obtained or whether they have been used.

Now, I am sure that members of The PKK, who are watching, will be scoffing and thinking: 'What are you doing in return? You're asking us to basically destroy everything that we've achieved over almost 30 years!'"

The Grand Vizier leaned forward, his elbow resting on the podium so he could move closer to the camera.

"Well, I have three things that we've done, or will do, as acts of goodwill to show that we're serious about peace.

1. Turkey shall, once all demands have been met, rescind the claim that The PKK is a terrorist organisation, and make a formal plea to all nations that recognise The PKK as a terrorist organisation to do the same.
2. The former head of The PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on İmralı island since 1999, has been given a full, free, absolute and unconditional pardon by The Sultan, after agreeing to The Cabinet's decision to begin a peace process with The PKK. Öcalan was sentenced to death for the 'crimes' of treason and separatism for believing in the idea of a Kurdish state. Under Article 32 of The Constitution, his actions are perfectly legal and we have decided to retroactively apply this to him and all political prisoners in Turkey, regardless of whether they are PKK-affiliated or not.

I, and The Cabinet, are hopeful that this will bring an end to 28 years of violence in Turkey, and allow The PKK to wash the blood from its hands and engage in Turkish politics as an equal. Thank you for your time."

The shot then returned to the studio.

"Olağan Bilgelik, Grand Vizier of Turkey, announcing the presentation of an olive branch to The PKK. As well as announcing the release of PKK ideological father, Abdullah Öcalan.

(Abdullah Öcalan, 1997)​

Captured in Kenya by The Republican National Intelligence Organisation, with possible help by The CIA, on the 15th of February, 1999, he was sent back to Turkey where he was sentenced to death for the crimes of treason and separatism. However, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished in 2002. Since then, his imprisonment has been a source of controversy, due to human rights organisations accusing the former Republican government of abusing Abdullah's human rights by having him in solitary confinement round the clock as the only prisoner on İmralı island for years. In addition to this, his legal team's attempts to appeal his sentence, due to it being performed by a military, instead of a civil court, have been repeatedly denied. Finally, all access to Abdullah himself had been cut off. Over 700 requests to see him by his lawyers have been denied by The Republican Government. Now though, he is a free man with not a single stain on his criminal record."