DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan: We want to state that we are now expecting concrete steps instead of words

The first DEM Party Group Meeting of the 5th legislative year of the 28th term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) was held. Speaking at his party's group meeting, DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan said, "Another school, another knife attack. 8 students, 3 of them in serious condition, were injured in this attack. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured students. We also convey our wishes for the well-being of their families. We have said it before, and I will say it again. A school used to be a place where children felt the safest, and it needs to be that way now as well.

The attack that took place today has once again revealed how fragile this sense of security has become. Necessary measures in schools need to be re-evaluated. Along with these attacks, this has emerged as a major task before us. However, taking security measures alone is not enough.

A sufficient number of psychological counselors should be assigned to every school. We said it in a group before, and we repeat it again. I hope it is heard. Permanent, preventive programs against violence and peer bullying among children must be implemented. These programs should be established together with education unions, families, students, and experts. Developing protective and preventive policies for children is the primary duty of everyone who bears this vital responsibility," he said.

"Even our teams are no longer on the field, they have become part of a game played at the table"

Stating that the Hakkari representative of the Turkish Football Federation was also present at the group meeting, Bakırhan said, "The Turkish Football Federation has referred 448 managers, including those from major clubs, to disciplinary action in the last 5 years for betting. Think about it, nearly 400-500 people from the Turkish Football Federation are being referred to disciplinary action for betting. We all witnessed the President of the Central Referee Board being arrested in a forgery investigation. We are facing a disgrace that reveals how rent-seeking has infiltrated the nation's jersey, joy, and passion for football. People want to believe in the jersey of the team they support, the referee's whistle, and the cleanliness of the game. But today we see that even our teams are no longer on the field, they have become part of a game played at the table," he said.

"No one has the right to constantly postpone the expectations of society"

Stating that they are going through an important process that millions of people have longed for for years, Bakırhan said, "Today, we are working together to open the door to a future for which we have paid heavy prices. We dream of a country where young people do not lose their lives and mothers do not bury their children. We want to build a country together where everyone can live freely with their identity, language, and faith. We know the magnitude of this responsibility. That is exactly why we say that no one has the right to consume the hope for peace in uncertainty or to constantly postpone the expectations of society," he declared.

"We want to state that we are now expecting concrete steps instead of words"

Reminding that the framework law passed through Parliament with a historic vote of 467, Bakırhan stated that a Coordination Board was formed within the scope of the framework law and said:

"4 sub-commissions were formed within this board; there is no need to name them. But we now want to see the work and results of these established commissions. There is a saying in Kurdish: 'One concrete step is better than a thousand words.' We also want to state that we are now expecting concrete steps instead of words. In this context, we say that the effective work of the Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Board is of historic importance for the successful completion of the process. This board should start working as soon as possible under the coordination of Öcalan. What historical experience teaches us is this: the scales of peace have two pans. If weapons are laid down in one pan, law must be placed in the other. Because disarmament is an issue with a legal equivalent. Barriers cannot be placed in front of the recognition of democratic rights and the provision of legal guarantees. If termination is placed in one pan, law, legal guarantee, and politics must be placed in the other.

A scale with a load on only one pan does not work correctly, it does not weigh correctly. If responsibility is requested, the conditions under which that responsibility can be fulfilled must also be created. This is the mathematics of peace. If responsibility is requested, its conditions must be created. Advancing the peace process will also pave the way for a real brotherhood contract. The climate of peace that will emerge with the establishment of democracy and the rule of law will also open the door to a social contract. That is, step produces step in return. Every response produces new trust. As trust increases, more difficult issues can become discussable.

Öcalan's conditions for free work, meetings, and communication must be provided; the way must be paved for him to establish regular contact with the relevant parties. Turkey is not where it was 2 years ago, we know this too. Very difficult moments have been passed, very heavy thresholds have been crossed. It is time to act not with the fears of the past, but by trusting the experience gained in these 2 years. There is a task before Parliament that cannot be postponed.

The monitoring commission envisaged by the framework law should be established as soon as possible and start its work. Parliament should monitor the implementation, take the points that are failing onto its agenda, meet with the parties, and take action for the necessary legal regulations. We call on all parties to take responsibility in this historic process."