Page 221 - America's Failure to Perceive the PKK

ing up the country, with its Leninist and communist ideology and
underhanded and bloody tactics, and will never abandon those objec-
tives. If people wish to move toward a genuine and lasting solution,
this has to be done through education. There simply is no other way.

Ever since then, the PKK has somehow infiltrated our cities, and
its leaders have made their voices heard in a most effective manner,
while Öcalan has been praised to the rafters by some of the country's
"White Turks." Turkey is now perhaps facing a greater danger than

ever before. It is these threats we shall be looking at in this chapter.

S Secret moves toward "democratic

autonomy"

Looking at the period from the official declaration of the Solution
Process up to the present day when armed conflict once again flared
up, great changes have taken place in Turkey in both political terms

and in terms of perception management. It needs to be made clear
that these changes are not at all positive for Turkey.

During this period, some writers were quite keen to legitimize
talks with Öcalan. Letters from Öcalan were read by circles close to
the PKK under the heading of "Mr. Öcalan's demands," and this came
to be regarded as perfectly normal. Öcalan was easily able to criticize
the government, either explicitly or in more guarded language, and
these all came to be perceived of as natural consequences of the peace
process.

In addition, some leftist writers, politicians and bureaucrats went
so far as to say, "It is a good thing that Öcalan exists," and even found

themselves capable of demanding that Öcalan be released, first in
guarded terms and then openly. Some journalists went to Qandil and
began depicting the bloody terrorists who had been ambushing Turk-
ish troops for years as popular heroes instead.

Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya) 219