New tensions testing Turkey's Kurdish reform plan - Feature

Istanbul - The past months had created increased hope that Turkey was on its way to finally implementing a civilian - rather than a military - solution to its decades-long Kurdish problem. But now there are growing concerns that renewed tensions in Turkey's predominately Kurdish south-east could undermine the government's efforts.

Over the summer, Turkey's Interior Minister, Besir Atalay, said in a nationally televised news conference that the government is actively working on a comprehensive plan, one based on democratization and expanded rights.

"We have the intention to take determined, patient and courageous steps," he said.

"This can be seen as a new stage."

On November 13, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government unveiled in a historic debate in parliament parts of this "democratization initiative," which include the easing of restrictions on private Kurdish-language television stations and Kurdish language faculties in universities, as well allowing towns and villages to once again use their original Kurdish names.

"Today is the beginning of a new timeline and a fresh start," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told parliament. "We took a courageous step to resolve chronic issues that constitute an obstacle along Turkey's development, progression and empowerment, and we are very sincere."

Then events arose to put the government's initiative plans to the test.

This past weekend in several cities in the Kurdish region protests were held including one where a 23-year-old university student was killed by a bullet to the back.

The unrest was triggered by reports that conditions had worsened for jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan since he was moved into a new facility on the island prison that his been his home since 1999.

Tensions have been raised further by the Monday ambush of a military vehicle in Turkey's Tokat region in which seven soldiers were killed. Although there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, Turkish press reports have suggested it was the PKK's work.

Meanwhile, Turkey's highest court on Tuesday started hearing a case that could lead to the closure of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the only pro-Kurdish party in parliament. According to prosecutors, the party has violated Turkey's constitution and has acted as a front for the outlawed PKK. An indictment seeks not only the party's closure, but also the banning of some 220 of its members from political life.

The DTP is the latest incarnation of a string of pro-Kurdish parties that were previously closed by court order and observers worry that closing it could further stoke tensions among Turkey's Kurds.

But there is also concern that the party itself is standing in the way of the government's Kurdish reform program.

Although party leaders initially gave the government's initiative their support, they have now distanced themselves from the move, with DTP chairman Ahmet Turk recently calling it "insufficient."

"For us, the 'democratic initiative' is over," Emine Ayna, a top DTP official recently told the Radikal newspaper.

Columnist Yavuz Baydar recently wrote in the English-language daily, Today's Zaman: "Instead of keeping the masses and youth out of the streets, instead of supporting the moves to make life better for its voters, the DTP has lately been in the lead in the escalation of violence."

"It now appears as a party with one single mission: Amnesty for and release of Ocalan. It seems, too, that the diverse rhetoric from the top echelons of the DTP has disappeared, silencing even moderate and venerable figures such as the leader Ahmet Turk."

Despite the new tensions and the possibility of the DTP being shut down, the government has insisted that it will continue with its Kurdish reform programme. But the recent violence in the south-east could make it tougher for the government to push some of these reforms through parliament.

For example, following the recent protests, the government put off a scheduled parliamentary debate over an amendment that would make it harder for prosecutors to jail children who participate in violent demonstrations.

Still, despite the recent hardening of the DTP's rhetoric, observers say that shutting the party down would be a mistake.

"I totally disapprove of their behavior but I oppose the party's closure," says Sahin Alpay, a professor of political science at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University.

"It was such a mistake to close down these Kurdish parties in the past. Had they not been closed down, they would have become much stronger than the armed wing of the Kurdish movement. But what we have here now is the opposite."