Tuncer Bakırhan: If the SDF receives instructions from Qandil, let them present the evidence

Bakırhan, Swas a guest on the 'Leaders Special' programon SÖZCÜ TV.DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan, regardingthe currentagenda He made striking assessments.

Among the statements made by Bakırhan, the highlights areThe statements made areas follows:

"First of all, let me saythis: Aleppo is a city in Syria. Where differentbeliefsandidentities livea city where they have lived together forcenturies, is a very strategic, very important city.

The SDF is a Syrian organization; it is of Syrianorigin. The Syrian Government is also currently inpower there. Now, if Shara speaks, you understand, you say that he is the head of state in theSyriantransitionprocess. If Mazlum Abdi speaks, you say that he is theleader of the SDF. In other words,Mr. Fidan speaking every time like a minister of Syria, like a minister in the Syrian cabinet, is

trulyconcerning.It is trulyincomprehensible.

Let the officialsfrom the SDF sit down withthe authorities; starting with the Aleppo issue, let themnegotiate what the Kurdswant and what they demand there.present them.

Now, Mr. Fidan has been using aconstantly threatening languageand talking aboutusing force.Is it Turkey that is usingforce in Aleppo, or Hthe government, people are having difficulty understanding that.

Of course, the problem in Aleppo should be resolved. This issue in Syriashould be resolved. Rightnext to us, on our border, it is upsetting us, and we are talking about an issue that is a very important agenda in Turkey and causesdebates.

The solution is very easy. Mr.not as difficult as Fidan describes. There is no need for anyone to be displaced orto migrate.

If Syria is to continue with the traditionshanded down by Assad, then it is already difficult to speak of a solution there. During the Assad era, there was a monolithic administration; this monismaffected Muslims, Kurds, and differentfaiths alike.and it was being imposed on people with different ethnic identitiesas well.

In Syria, there is not yeta settledregime. The character of the regime is not clear: Will it be democratic, will it be inclusive? In its constitution, willKurds, Alevis, Druze, Turkmens; will allnationalities and faithsliving there be includedwe do not know.

Thereis a transitional government and it is being saidunconditionally, "lay down your arms, surrender, and leave theplaces you are in, those places do not belong to you."

In my opinion, instead of this threatening language, what we all, starting with Mr. Fidan, should doThere is something that needs to be done: How can we contribute from Turkey to the resolution of an issue in Syria, if we can make it our agenda, rest assured that we can be of assistance."

THESE ARE REALITADDITI ONALLY"

Actually, February 27 calprocess, in a waythat continues well between Öcalan and the organization.But now, even in an environment where the SDF is not being discussed and we areinvolved in,nothing regarding the SDF has been saidbyÖcalan.at a point where this callconcernsall Kurds in the worldcan it besaid? On the contrary, it is a speed.

Also, they say 'okay'... let it concern the SDF as well. And here Let's put the resolution process on track. People still do not believe, they still do not trust. No steps have been taken yet. Still, those who laid down their arms have returned to their own camps. Can such a thing happen? Turkey

is armto be laid down was highly desired. It wassaid that those who laid down their arms would come and participate in social and political life. But there is nostep taken in that direction.Now, serious and historic steps have been taken unilaterally.

Despite this, something new is now beingsaid: “This also concerns the SDF. Education in the mother tongue in Japanis...it also concerns the Syrian Kurds.

Syria isanother sovereign; another country... Iraq isdifferent. What I mean is this: The February 27 callthat we made, themeetin the discussion, that thisprocess concerns all theKurds in thegeography, such a thing didnot emerge. That is one.

Two; isn't what you call the SDF the PKK? The SDF composed of various names. Nearly half of them are Arabs, Turkmens, Yazidis… It can tell the PKK to lay down its arms.The PKKcan make suggestions. Öcalan’

s worldThese developments naturally have a major impact on the Kurds in Syria as well. That is what I am saying. It may also have an impact on the SDF itself.

While nothing has been done here yet, and the promisesmade have not been fulfilled,a simple special lawwhile not yet resolved; to center Syria, to center the SDF in Syria... "Withdraw from here, get out of there.Line up, all of you. Just because we are Arabs, because we are Sunni, get ready to pass"to say... These are notrealistic.""

"IF THE SDF RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS FROM QANDIL, LET THEM PRESENT THE EVIDENCE. PRESENT THE EVIDENCE"

We are discussing a century-old issue. What did Turkey do in Syria? What are we saying now? What step did we take here? What improvement did we achieve? Which step we took here touched people's lives in a positive sense?

Look, shall I say something? We have nearly two thouswe held a meeting. Never in my lifehave I struggled this much.What are we saying? 'Welcome.' We are gathering, we are explaining thisprocess,we are trying to make it societal.We are working on it. Because we believewe say: There must absolutely be a process in Turkey that is free ofconflict, violence, and weapons. Theprocess shouldbe. Theprocess must be builtupon this. We have nothing to hide.

Wlike this, we believe this: Just because he said it, we immediately believed it. I am saying that a head of state is saying this fromQandil. OurForeign Minister is alsosaying it. If the SDF is receiving orders from Qandiland they know this, and they are sharing this with the public, then let them present their evidence so that we cansee it too. What kind of thing is this Qandilanyway?

At one point, it was said that they were managing ourdemocratic ground. It was said that they were determiningour candidates.They are linking all the operations conducted against usto that. Fortunately,very much thankfullywe elected our candidatesby setting up ballot boxes... When they say that, we showthe footage of those ballot boxes.Look,tens of thousands of our delegates went to the polls,and elected their ownrepresentatives.

"ACENTURY-OLD ISSUE TO BE RE SOWEREACH"

That is exactly what I am saying. Look, such high-level, counterproductive rhetoric that complicates matters has no contribution to this processthere is no heat. I am saying this:Are Kurds in the MiddleEast influenced byÖcalan? Yes. Öcalan is there.

Isn't Öcalan on theisland? Why is the state pushing us so hard? A state official goes. Look, we brought the February 27 calldidn't we? They say: "This callis for Syria.” If Öcalan’s statementis, and if we are denyingit...

If the state says Öcalan’swordsareif he knows it, isn't he on the island? It is ten kilometers from the Marmara Sea. It is a halfhour journey. Why have we been discussing this for months? I made a callto him, but you did not make a callto this one...

Actually, the day after New Year'sday, or moreprecisely, one day before the new year, we expectthat in the letter Öcalan will write and send, he will make a callto the SDF.

I am at the same point. Rest assured, the most realistic solution, the most corcorrect, not misleading the publicstatements from the party...

Look, I am saying it again: First on the island, Mazlum Abdi as well, in Syria... Look, a hundredyear-old issue we will solve.Let's take Mazlum Abdi or a fewadministrators from the SDF.Let's set up the state's cameras. Let's do this workthe interlocutors conductingit out there. Let the public hear it too.

I have something else tosay.Look, this is fine. Let it go, leta call be made. Let the public hear it too. This Öcalan can say it. Öcalan did not sayhow are we supposed to share with the public through you something that we haven't heard ourselves? Should we mislead the public?

"THE SDF IS SYRIA'S ISSUE"

What does the SDF have to do with Turkey? It is an issue for Syria; let the Syrian State decide on this.

While even Damascus wants the SDF to keep its weapons, what are we in Turkey so worried aboutthatweWhy do they say 'the SDF is not laying down its arms'?

Damascus and the SDF have already discussed and agreed on the organization of weapons into brigades and battalions,with a portion taking part in internal security,andanother portionbeing integrated into the armyto ensure the defense of Syria.They have already reached an agreement on this.

I mean, why does an issue that is not a problem for Damascus or for others become our problem? That is what I amsaying.

When would it become our problem? Ifsomeone attempts to rule Turkey withguns and rifles, we would be the firstto stand against it. Would we stand against it? Of course we would. What does that mean? Turkeybelongs to all of us.

What do you think we are, or what do they think we are? My father, my ancestorshave livedfor centuries in these lands. We are one of the oldest, most ancient peoples of these lands. These lands are ours, they belong to all of us.

Even though they do not count us, do not take us into account, and put us in quotation marks as different, different things... even though they portray us as a threat to Turkey...Can it be accepted to be shown as such? Can such an absurdity exist? We do not accept this.

There is no threat from the SDF to here. It is trying to protect itself against Salafi forces.Well, let me sayit: The SDF is an armed force.let's say Iraq. Who will protect themagainst theseforces? Who is it that massacres Alevis, cuts thebeards ofKurds, kicks them, slaps them, kills them, and attackswomen?

TWill Turkey provide a guarantee for this? Will it say, "Nothing will happen to you"? Is there any guarantee?

If the Salafist's weapon is not a threat toTurkey, why should the Kurd's weapon be?When have the Kurdsever betrayed the Turks?When have theKurds ever betrayed the Turks?Since they came to Anatolia, they havebeen together until today,lived together, and stood together. They fought together in the War of Independence.

If something happened somewhere, what happened? In 1924, when it was said“we are all Turks,”some said, “we areMuslim.”The real problem is there. emerged. Otherwise, Kurds have never come face to face with Turks, nor have they fought them.

"SLEEPING SOUNDLY I WANT PEACE"

I am a person who has been to prison three times. Am I a fan of prison that I would constantly go to prison? I am the one who wants a solution the most, I want democracy. With my children, in a peaceful way, at four o'clock in the morning I want to be able to wake up.without beingdisturbed, I wantto sleep peacefully without being disturbed.

I do not want to be a person sitting in a seat while everyone points fingers at me when I enter Parliament. Did we stick our heads into a bread line? This problem is not verydifficult. Kurds living there in a safe environmentneeds to be overcome. Turkey should be a guarantor country.

"DEMIRTAŞ IS AN IMPORTANT ACTOR"

Selahattin Demirtais a very important actor, just like us, democratic, legal, and as Isaidbefore, but they are being kept inside.

I think it is a greatloss. Figen Yüksekdağ, Selahattin Demirtaş, Nazmi Gfor me and therest of my friends. Iam speaking for them. Rest assured, our most qualified people, those who have thought the most about this issue and who could currently contribute as actors are inside. And despite the ECHR ruling, theyare still inside.

Now, neither I, nor Selahattin Demirtaş, nor Leyla Zana, nor Leyla GGüven, AyşeGökkan... I mean, we do not have a position to say "lay down arms" or "dissolve yourself."We didn't have it yesterday, and we don't have it today. We have no such authority, no such power, and it has nocounterpart.WhyÖcalan? Because he is the founder of the organization. This issue, this issue based on denial

is a matter that he can resolve. He is the one who can address this.present the process is the main actor of the exit. He can say it, he canmake them leave. Hecan have the organization disbanded. He can make a decision and bring it to an end.T

heIt islike this everywhere in theworld. With Mandela, the IRA, Sinn Fein, in Sri Lanka... In our country, too, there is a mediator role. So, it is like thiseverywhere. Conflictand peace processes proceed through such a dialectic. This is the logic of the matter.

Therefore, this is not a strange situation. I repeat: Our issue is not about "who isahead." Our issue is to carry out thisprocess, takesteps, and reach a conclusion. Later on, who is an actor, and who isnot, will be decided by the base and the people.

Selahattin Demirtaş is our companion on this path; is a veryvalued, avery important figure for our entire party and ourcommunity. Figen Yüksekdağ is our co-chair. We are together at every stage of this issue. We arediscussingwe are talking,we are discussing, we are exchanging ideas. Lawyers are going back and forth. There is no problem there.

Our problem is notthe issue of whothe actorson the Kurdish side are.TheKurds are already doing their bestis. The problem is that the state side does not remember its own reasoning."

"İMAMOĞLU IS UNJUSTLYINSIDE"IDE"

İmamoğlu is unjustlyinside. That is, the trialhas not concluded, there is no court ruling. I think as soon as possible İmamoğlu and all other prisoners in the same situation must be released.

The court phase continues, it will beconcluded. After the court reaches its verdict, if there is something that needs to be done, it will be done. But right now, there is an injustice.

The pressures that the Republican People's Party is currently facing, rest assured, wehaveexperienced in the past, sowe are the mostwe understand clearly. These are not acceptable things. In politics, actors through judicial decisions, using the judiciary as a stick to put them in prison and push them out of politics is not the right approach.

On every platform, we are not just talking about Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ; rest assured, if these names were to pass, İmamoğlu would also pahas passed, the Mayor of Şişli has also passed, Ahmet Özer has also passed.

What does this mean? Only democracy for Kurds, law for Kurds, justice for Kurds, is that it?not… Could such a thing be possible? This would meancontradicting our ownstruggle.

We have stated repeatedly that we do not accept the pressures faced by Republican People's Party municipalities.While the Republican People's Party organization was being surrounded,I was the first, along with TTülay Hatimoğulları, our co-chair, and I went, and we broke through that barricade. We were among the first to go to Saraçhane.

Democracy is for everyone. For the Republican People's Party, for its baseas well,and for us. The day aftertomorrow, the day after that, befor parties that might be in a different situation.Trial without detentionis the principle.

Regarding the criticism that the DEM Partydid not showenoughsolidarity with the CHP,he responded.increased. We neverdistinguished. We never separated Mardin Municipality from Esenyurt or Şişli; Ahmet Türk from İmamoğlu atall from oneanother.

I myself have also met with Mr. İmamoğluandI metwith him, I also met with his familyI metwith him. With Can Atalay, and withthe other prisoners as well. Could such a thing be possible? This is ourrealityis a situation contrary to our principles.

We may not have explained it sufficiently, it may not have been reflected to society enough; you may be right about that.

But we were among the first to go to Sarachane,and we were among the first to visit Mr. İmamoğlu.We are a political party that, together with our first co-chair, broke through the barricades to enter the municipal building in Istanbul on the European side.

Certainly not just for ourselves. This would be agreat injustice; it would also be contrary to our understanding of democracy.This is exactly what I mean when I talk about general democracy. There is no difference between İmamoğlu and me or anyone else. The law is for all of us.for itshould be treated equally.

Our visit may have been delayed. We may have been late on that matter. But other actors wentmany times in the past. The co-chairs may have had a busy schedule.

But rest assured, we do notsee this process merely as a “special law” process. We have established the linkbetween this process and democracy from the very beginning. Already, the ruling party and actThe reason we occasionally comeface to face with our counterparts is exactly this.

WHATDIDBAHÇELİ SAY TO BAKIRHAN?

Mr. Bahçeli said something very historical and important thinghe said. Perhaps for the first time on a channel, I amsaying it. He said: “For 40 yearswe have done everything.” We can all evaluate what that “everything” meansamongourselves.

There is nothingwe haven't done. nothing left. But this is the point we have reached. From this point on, continuing with those forty-year-old arguments, tools, equipment, and mindset is of no benefit to anyone.” This is very valuable.

Mr. Bahçeli's assessment is very precious. For forty years, wall our energy is directed toward this issue; primarily economic matters.