Ahmet Hakan's commentary on Öcalan: He reacts to those calling him a 'baby killer'
Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan reacted to those using the term "baby killer" for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Arguing that the resolution process could be concluded without further loss of life, Hakan stated that a new solution proposal is possible by learning from past failed attempts.
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Following the process initiated by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's call regarding PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan to "dissolve the organization, at the DEM Party group in the Turkish Grand National Assembly," a "commentary" has come from Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan Coşkun.
Coşkun expressed his "views" on the subject in his column in the newspaper under the headline "Three objections to those who sabotage the process by saying 'baby killer'".
In his article, Coşkun used the following expressions: "It is very easy to say the sentence, 'Abdullah Öcalan is a baby killer. No contact should be made with him.' It carries no risk. It brings applause. But there is neither responsibility nor hope in this sentence."
The relevant section of Coşkun's article is as follows:
"OBJECTION ONE: If the will that founded the armed terrorist organization PKK is going to bury this organization in the dusty pages of history... Why shouldn't it be tried? Why should a solution that would be realized without giving new martyrs be opposed? What harm would it do to anyone if the entire country, with its government and opposition, supported this process?
OBJECTION TWO: Okay, this method was tried before. Okay, success was not achieved. Can't a new attempt be made by drawing lessons from tried methods? Is there a rule that every attempt will result in failure? Could the new conjuncture not be giving a chance to a new attempt?
OBJECTION THREE: It is very easy to say the sentence, 'Abdullah Öcalan is a baby killer. No contact should be made with him.' It carries no risk. It brings applause. But there is neither responsibility nor hope in this sentence. What is truly difficult is to take responsibility by facing the reactions that will come. Hope is here. True nationalism is here."