AKP's Miroğlu and Metiner criticize pro-government media over 'Kurdish' issue: 'They are trying to make Öcalan speak, but...'

AKP MKYK member Orhan Miroğlu, in a post on his social media account quoting an op-ed by former AKP MP Mehmet Metiner in Yeni Şafak, stated, "For Turkey to index its solution energy to İmralı 10 years later, for weapons to be laid down and a new era to begin, is undoubtedly very important in terms of at least shaking things up, but it is incomplete."

'CLOSED TO THE VOICES OF KURDS WITHIN ITS OWN RANKS'

"Turkey must also show the millions of pro-Turkey Kurds who believe in it—let me be blunt—that there is 'another way,' so that disappointments are not experienced again and this trust and sense of belonging, which I mentioned, does not weaken," Miroğlu said, adding, "Unfortunately, I do not see any effort or understanding in this regard. There is almost no one speaking here other than you (Metiner), me, Galip (Ensarioğlu), and Abdurrahman (Kurt)! And even that is in the opposition media rather than the media of the political party we prefer! Try to make Öcalan speak—which is not wrong, it is very right—but be closed to the voices of the Kurds within your own ranks!"

'PRO-TURKEY KURDS'

Miroğlu continued his post on his X account as follows:

"If Öcalan convinces the PKK, we will support it and be happy. But if our issue is to convince the Kurds to support Turkey, we cannot ignore the pro-Turkey Kurds who believe in Turkey and have paid heavy prices for this cause during this process!

What will happen if the process ends with an unhappy ending; isn't this also a possibility? What if what Balbay wrote is true? What if our President, while saying he is not hopeful, is emphasizing that this process could be wasted due to the interlocutors' insistence on not changing? In that case, if they just say 'we will continue the fight against terrorism' (of course we will, that is a separate issue) and put a period there, then God help us.

One must see how effective the alternatives offered to the PKK were, even when it appeared weakest in the Middle East, and how the intellectual and psychological ground in this matter has always worked in its favor. The Öcalan factor is important, but the storm breaking in the ocean called the Middle East is, in my opinion, greater in many respects! Turkey should also work on civil-democratic alternatives that take Kurds as interlocutors; even if a solution is reached at the cost of putting these alternatives on ice, it will remain very fragile and very weak!"

'PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA IS FAILING THE TEST'

Miroğlu's statement received support from former AKP MP Mehmet Metiner. Stating that "the pro-government media is failing the test," Metiner added, "If it weren't for the President (Reis) within our AK Party, there would be no one left to speak out. There is no work being done to create a political rationale on this subject either."

Mehmet Metiner's post on his X account is as follows:

"I agree with what you said, dear Orhan! That is why I emphasize every time that an approach that embraces Kurds must be put into practice urgently.

The pro-government media is failing the test. If it weren't for the President within our AK Party, there would be no one left to speak out. There is no work being done to create a political rationale on this subject either.

We are also disconnected from each other. There is, of course, a burden of responsibility for us acting individually. There is also a burden on us that the DEM Party is the one speaking on behalf of the Kurds. Because we avoid uniting our voices. Yet, we should be the ones speaking and taking the lead on behalf of the Kurds. I hope we remedy this deficiency as soon as possible. You are very valuable in this process. As are our brothers like Galip and Abdurrahman. It is essential that we break this vicious cycle.

If we remain silent when we should speak, our burden increases. If we remain divided during a period when we should come together, we commit a crime. Now is the day to take the lead with courage. It is the day to unite our bodies and our voices. Only then will we see that many things have changed."