A demand from Tuncer Bakırhan that will anger the government: Call for Ekrem İmamoğlu

The “New Beginning for Building Peace” meeting, organized by the Diyarbakır Bar Association and various non-governmental organizations, was held at a hotel. The meeting was attended by DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, Diyarbakır Bar Association President Abdulkadir Güleç, DEM Party deputies, regional bar association presidents, and representatives of various NGOs. The remainder of the meeting continued behind closed doors.

In his speech there, Bakırhan pledged to “weave the process together.” Stating that the obstacles along the way would be removed with the same responsibility and determination, Bakırhan said, “Peace concerns the entire society; while building it, we must include all the dynamics of society in the process.” He said he had drawn attention to the importance of the process that has been ongoing for a year, and stated that the process is continuing and that the formation of a ground for dialogue is valuable.

Tuncer Bakırhan emphasized that the near-absence of conflicts over the past year and the formation of a ground for dialogue are significant achievements. However, he expressed that bolder steps could have been taken during the same period, and that regulations to strengthen rights, law, and local democracy have been delayed. He said they value the commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) but that further steps could have been taken within a year; he noted that there is a “state of stagnation.”

CALL FOR LEGAL REGULATIONS

Bakırhan said that when Parliament opens, regulations regarding transition laws, the Anti-Terror Law, the Turkish Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the strengthening of local governments, the execution law, and the clarification of trial without detention should be brought to the agenda quickly. He noted that these regulations would create the infrastructure for democratic integration; he stated that democratic integration is not assimilation or surrender, but means everyone living as equal citizens.

WARNING ON SYRIA AND THE PROCESS

Stating that developments in Syria should not “block” the resolution process in Turkey, Bakırhan expressed that the dynamics in Syria are different and that a successful process in Turkey would also positively affect the region. He said that the success of the process in Turkey could also bring relief to places like Qamishli, Erbil, and Aleppo.

Bakırhan called for the implementation of the “right to hope” for PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan and said that what is required regarding this issue, which Mr. Bahçeli had previously voiced, should be done. He emphasized that the two main pillars of the process are democracy and peace, and that these two cannot be separated: “There can be no democracy without peace; and there can be no lasting peace without democracy.”

CONCRETE DEMANDS REGARDING DETAINEES

Within the framework of steps to reduce tension in society, Bakırhan listed his priority demands: “Mr. İmamoğlu should be tried without detention. Mr. Selahattin Demirtaş and Ms. Figen Yüksekdağ, along with our friends in prison, should regain their freedom. The detention of elected individuals is incompatible with democracy.” He added that sick prisoners should be released immediately and prisons should be emptied.

MESSAGES REGARDING GLOBAL AND LOCAL POLITICS

Bakırhan stated that the process is continuing despite provocations; he noted that some circles hope for the process to collapse but that this will not be allowed. Emphasizing the importance of democratic processes and the ballot box, he said, “We will not miss this train”; referring to the developments on October 22 and February 27, he said the process must be inclusive.