DEM Party's Bakırhan responds to Minister Tunç's 'video message' remarks: 'Policies of denial must end'

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Dersim Provincial Organization held its 2nd Ordinary Congress at a hotel in the city. Addressing the claims regarding a 'video message' from Öcalan, Bakırhan also responded to Minister Tunç's remarks.

RESPONSE TO MINISTER TUNÇ

Pointing to the statements made by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç regarding İmralı in recent days, Bakırhan stated: "The Minister says, 'A video message is not in accordance with regulations.' A valuable call is to be made for a century-old problem. The Minister says; 'It is not in accordance with regulations for Mr. Öcalan to meet with Turkey, the Kurds, and the Alevis.' As if regulations are being applied in İmralı. Have you left any law or regulation? An unofficial law is being applied there. Are you reminding us of regulations in a place where there are no regulations, Mr. Minister? Mr. Öcalan has not been allowed to meet with his family or lawyers for 4 years. No one has had any news from there for 4 years. They don't even let a bird fly. Even in your own anti-democratic legal system, there is no such regulation. The Minister has suddenly remembered the new regulations and the law. You buried the regulations on the Island in İmralı. Now, in the face of this call to be made, I invite you to be serious and sincere. You need to find a way and method to share Mr. Öcalan's call immediately. Mr. Bahçeli said he should come to Parliament; now you find the rest, Mr. Minister. As if you are applying regulations and the law. You only remember regulations and the law when a call is about to be made. I invite the Minister to be serious," he said.