Remarkable 'Bahçeli' and 'PKK' remarks from DEM Party's Tuncer Bakırhan: 'We do not have the power to make them lay down arms...'

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan answered questions from Yıldıray Oğur and Elif Çakır on Karar TV's YouTube channel.

Evaluating MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's handshake with DEM Party deputies at the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on October 1, Bakırhan stated that they 'do not have the power to make' the terrorist organization PKK 'lay down its arms'.

Speaking about his party's application to meet with the terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı, Bakırhan said, “Ömer Öcalan went for the first time in four years. We hadn't heard his voice for 4 years. We tried to understand how Mr. Öcalan views this. It was a surprise for us too. It was something that needed to happen.”

"WHAT BAHÇELİ SAID WAS VERY VALUABLE"

Highlights from Bakırhan's statements are as follows:

"You know Turkish politics; it is insults under the guise of criticism. I was surprised when I saw Bahçeli in front of me. What Bahçeli said was very valuable. The President did not get involved in this for a long time.

In the end, we understood; the developments in Syria were something known and anticipated by the government beforehand. There is no path or method left that hasn't been tried. Thousands of our politicians are imprisoned or banned. Both the handshake and the subsequent rhetoric were important. But society is waiting for a roadmap.

"WE DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THEM LAY DOWN ARMS"

In every statement we made, we asked, 'What do they mean by a Turkey without terror?' They are attributing very big roles to the DEM Party. We do not have such power, like making them lay down arms. We are waiting for the Ministry of Justice's response as soon as possible.

There are around three thousand eight hundred people who have served in our management levels. If we include our periphery, there are between eight and ten thousand people imprisoned. If you take 100 people from another party, that party would collapse. Many of our party members, including our co-chairs, are in prison.

"UNTIL TODAY, THE CHP WAS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE"

The ground was not like this before. Until today, the CHP was completely against the resolution of this issue. The MHP was providing the harshest opposition. The ground in Turkey was not like this. The MHP, which made the call, and the party that gave positive messages, Turkey's leading party, the CHP, are there. And most importantly, there is a conflict on our border, in Syria.

HOW DOES DEMİRTAŞ VIEW THE PROCESS?

Demirtaş is us. We are Demirtaş. We are together. Sometimes we have difficulty understanding the discussions held in the public eye. Demirtaş says, "The framework put forward by the DEM Party in the recent process is correct. I agree, I support it.”

"ÖCALAN IS ONE OF THE MOST CORRECT ADDRESSES FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE"

As for Öcalan's power, we don't have anything to put on a scale to weigh how much power he has. But as someone who has been actively involved in politics for 34 years, I say this: Öcalan's power is at a very high level. I think Öcalan is one of the most correct addresses for the resolution of this issue.

"I AGREE WITH BAHÇELİ ON TWO ISSUES..."

I agree with Devlet Bahçeli on two issues. The correct address regarding the interlocutor for the solution is Öcalan. Secondly, what he put forward regarding the issue of isolation is also correct. I agree."

News Source: 12punto