Turhan Çömez explains how the 'messenger' row began: Striking 'alliance' claim regarding the commission

The commission established in the TBMM as part of the new resolution process conducted with the DEM Party and terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan—which was architected by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli and named the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process by the government—continues its work.

DEM Party Imralı Delegation member Pervin Buldan recently stated in a press release that the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, was very uncomfortable with the language used in the general media. Noting that the terrorist leader had serious criticisms, she said, "Removing these is in the hands of the government," implicitly calling for government intervention.

Buldan, who backtracked on her scandalous remarks, this time had a heated argument with İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez in the TBMM General Assembly. Çömez emphasized that Buldan was acting as a 'messenger' for terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan. The argument between the two became a major topic of discussion.

Turhan Çömez broke his silence regarding the argument. Speaking to Cumhuriyet, Çömez emphasized that the Parliament is a space where views are expressed on behalf of the nation, stating, “This is done on behalf of this nation. I shared my views in Parliament that day with that sense of responsibility and duty.”

“BULDAN BROUGHT ÖCALAN’S ASSESSMENTS TO THE PUBLIC”

Referring to the statements Buldan made on a television channel, Çömez said, “Buldan said she went to Imralı, met with terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan, and conveyed some of his assessments to the public. In my opinion, by acting as his messenger, she brought the murderer of 50 thousand people onto Turkey’s agenda.”

Reacting to Buldan’s statement that “Öcalan is very uncomfortable with the language of the media,” Çömez said, “The murderer of 50 thousand people, the baby killer, the leader of a vile terrorist organization that has martyred our soldiers, police, and teachers, is shaking his finger from Imralı and issuing instructions. It turns out he started watching television a few days ago, was uncomfortable with the criticisms made, and conveyed this to the public through Pervin Buldan,” he said.

"YOU CANNOT SEE JOURNALISTS AS A PROBLEM"

Stating that Buldan targeted the media in her remarks, Çömez noted the following:

“Buldan said that some commentators and reporters in the media making negative comments about the process is a problem. In a country governed by democracy, no one can see journalists who make negative comments about a process as a problem. It is a very significant assessment for someone who is a Deputy Speaker of Parliament to view people in the media who express different opinions as a problem. Moreover, she also says that this problem needs to be solved.”

"THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND INCOMPREHENSIBLE"

Çömez said, “The terrorist leader who makes these assessments is not only the murderer of 50 thousand people, but also a fascist, a despot, and a dictator. He is shaking his finger from prison and viewing journalists who express different opinions as a problem. Pervin Buldan also says that this problem needs to be solved and then places a responsibility on the government. She says, ‘We don’t have the power to do this, let our coalition partner AKP solve it.’ She says, ‘They have the media, they have the judiciary, let them solve it.’ This is unacceptable and incomprehensible,” he stated.

THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF THE 'MESSENGER' ROW IN THE TBMM

Explaining the details of the argument in Parliament, Çömez said:

“In her statement, Buldan complained about the delay in the process and said, ‘The İYİ Party is blocking this process.’ As the İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman, I could not remain silent to those who ignore a free media and tell us to silence dissenters with a fascist attitude. I said in Parliament: ‘You are sitting in Atatürk’s chair. This supreme Parliament was founded on battlefields. You acted as a messenger for the terrorist leader.’ There was no problem up to this point. However, immediately afterward, Pervin Buldan became tense and stood up and interrupted me when I said, ‘The PKK is a vile organization, and its leader is also vile.’ Because she could not tolerate the terrorist leader being called vile.”

Stating that a 15-minute break was given to the session, Çömez said, “After the break, a meeting was held with the group deputy chairmen. I said, ‘I am here to speak on behalf of the nation. Someone who praises the terrorist organization will speak, but the voices of those who call the terrorist organization vile will be silenced. I cannot tolerate this,’” he stated.

ÇÖMEZ’S 'ALLIANCE IN THE COMMISSION' CLAIM

Stating that the attitude in Parliament was remarkable, Çömez said, “That day I saw that the process commission had formed an alliance within itself. My stance against the PKK and separatist elements brought all the groups together. Some expressed their discomfort in high tones, others in low tones. Afterward, when Parliament reopened, I continued my speech,” he said.

Çömez continued his statement with these words:

“We have always said it, and I say it again: ‘All of you, we are one.’ We do politics on behalf of the nation, we struggle on behalf of the nation. No one can silence us, no one can lecture us. No one can destroy the spirit of the Kuvayı Milliye under the roof of this Veteran Parliament.”

"AN AGENDA OUTSIDE THE COMMISSION IS BEING CONDUCTED"

Evaluating Pervin Buldan’s words that “A five-person delegation is planned to go to Imralı,” Çömez said, “CHP’s Murat Emir said, ‘Going to Imralı is not on the commission’s agenda.’ When you look at the commission minutes, this is true. Then there is a conspiracy here. Someone is conducting an agenda outside of the commission meetings attended by 51 people. This confirms that the commission is a superficial structure designed to convince the public,” he said.

"THERE IS A BARGAIN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS"

Drawing attention to the statements of the AKP and the DEM Party, Çömez said, “The AKP spokesperson said, ‘It is wrong for any party to mistake its own agenda for the agenda of the entire process.’ Even this shows the government’s discomfort. The DEM Party spokesperson said, ‘We want the paths for Öcalan to be able to lead to be opened.’ The real agenda is to be able to present the terrorist leader to the public as a leader. One of the PKK leaders in Qandil also said, ‘If Öcalan is not released, no militant will come down from the mountain.’ Then I ask: I thought there was no bargaining? This means there is a bargain behind closed doors,” he stated.

“THEY ARE ALL ONE, WE ARE ONE”

At the end of his statement, Çömez concluded by saying, “There is a total structure against the İYİ Party cadres who have emerged to object to this process of betrayal. I say it again: They are all one, we are one. We will continue to pursue the truth with courage and heart.”