HDP reveals PKK leader’s draft envisions autonomy

The recognition of “autonomy” is part of a “draft negotiation framework” drawn up by the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in an effort to foster a substantial reconciliation process, according to a leading deputy of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

All matters surrounding fundamental rights have been covered in the “Democratic Solution and Negotiation Draft,” HDP Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder told reporters Dec. 10 when asked to elaborate on the draft’s role alongside “democratic negotiations.”

The content will be made public under the title “democratization,” Önder said.

Both jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and the HDP consider the process so far as a “dialogue” phase, and have urged the government to accelerate the process for a “transition into negotiations.”

The frame put by Öcalan and, most probably, already shared with the government is assumed to have outlined the formation of negotiation conditions and implementing negotiation mechanisms.

The frame includes all required legal and constitutional amendments and also outlines “autonomy,” Önder said, without elaborating.

The frame was handed over by Öcalan to a visiting delegation including Önder on Nov. 29. In addition to Önder, the deputy parliamentary group chairs of the HDP, İdris Baluken and Pervin Buldan, and veteran politician Hatip Dicle, were part of the delegation that visited Öcalan after a long hiatus since the last visit, which took place on Oct. 22.

The same delegation conducted a lengthy meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan as recently as Dec. 8. During the meeting with Akdoğan, thought to have been the longest public meeting...