Ağın: Democratic forces must unite for Turkey's democratisation

Writer and politician Ömer Ağın called for a united struggle to advance Turkey's democratisation, criticising efforts by some left-wing and democratic groups in western Turkey to form alliances around the CHP.

Ağın argued that democratic forces should focus on establishing a common struggle for Turkey’s democratisation rather than engaging in the struggle for power between political parties.

He stated that progress must be made by organising the communal struggle in practice and bringing broader sections of society and democratic organisations into this effort, with their immediate demands taking precedence.

Ağın noted that there is inertia in western Turkey regarding the democratisation process alongside the Kurdish Freedom Movement, and some left, groups are caught in the polarisation between the AKP and other political parties.

He highlighted that the issue is not whether to trust the government, but rather bringing together the demands and aspirations of all sections of society and advancing new demands.

Ağın assessed the impact of Middle East developments on Turkey’s democratisation, stating that efforts by regional powers and international capital to restructure the region are influencing Kurdish rights and the democratic struggle.

He described the Mecca Agreement as a new step in the restructuring of the Middle East, similar to the historical Sykes-Picot Agreement, and noted its influence on the balance of power in the region and Turkey.

Ağın also mentioned that repression against the Kurdish people continues in Syria, Iran, and Iraq, and that these developments are affecting the government’s room for manoeuvre in Turkey.

He stressed that democratic forces should not limit themselves to assessing the current situation but should develop policies suited to changing circumstances, including formulating demands that encompass different sections of society.

Ağın emphasised the importance of defending the Kurdish people’s democratic rights internationally and achieving national democratic unity, calling the initiatives of the Kurdistan National Congress at the United Nations valuable.

He argued that Kurdish national democratic unity must include the broadest sections of Kurdish society and that it should not be confined to socialist organisations alone.

Ağın stated that a new debate on internationalism is taking place, with discussions on peace and democracy being considered alongside the common struggle of peoples, and that the ultimate goal remains socialism.