CHP Chairman Özgür Özel responds to reactions over separate declaration

"If signing a declaration would stop the arrival of martyrs, I would sign 5 thousand declarations a day. We sign a declaration, they hang the flag, Erdoğan engages in propaganda, and everyone forgets until the next martyr. We are objecting so that it is not forgotten," said Özgür Özel, who also gave a harsh response to the statements made by AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik. Özel stated the following:

"For 20 years, the Justice and Development Party has put this country through something. When they arrived, there were 3 martyrs a year. Now, we have 6 in one night, 6 in another. We are giving martyrs. We hang huge flags on poor houses, on houses without plaster or paint, sometimes even on houses without windows. Then we publish a declaration in Parliament. Then the President puts his hand on our martyr's coffin and uses the microphone in his other hand to engage in politics, and the matter is closed until the next martyr. 

I am no longer here for this, we are no longer here for this. When the news of martyrs came one after another, we said this: 'Let the Minister of National Defense come and inform the Parliament. Then let us talk together about whether we will sign a declaration, whether we will take a joint stance, whether we will fix the mistakes and errors, and whether we will take initiative so that no more martyrs arrive.' The answer was, 'You sign the declaration.' There is no such thing. If signing a declaration would stop the arrival of martyrs, I would sign 5 thousand declarations a day. We sign a declaration, they hang the flag, Erdoğan engages in propaganda, and everyone forgets until the next martyr. We are objecting so that it is not forgotten.

"WE WILL NOT PROVIDE LEGITIMACY TO A GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES MISTAKES"

We waited today at 11:00. The Parliament opened. There was a minister in Parliament, Mehmet Şimşek. It was asked, 'Will the government be informed?' He said, 'No.' And now completely different things are being discussed in Parliament. We want to ask:

The Claw-Lock operation has been going on for 20 months. What were the goals, and have the goals been reached? If they were reached, why are we still there? If they were not reached, what is the reason for not reaching the goals? How many of our soldiers are in the Claw-Lock operation zone? Are there any martyrs other than the ones announced in the Claw-Lock operation zone? Or are some of our martyrs in the hands of the terrorist organization? Or is a group of our soldiers, whose status we do not know, perhaps in the hands of the terrorist organization?

We expect them to answer these questions. And for the future, we want to ask about the discussions held in the military field to ensure that no new martyrs arrive.

It is said that sometimes we cannot even deliver food to the soldiers. It is said that sometimes even when we are withdrawing our martyrs from the region, the lives of their fellow soldiers are put in danger. Asking for these questions to be answered is not a crime, it is not a mistake; it is our right, it is our duty.

From now on, we say this: We will not meet on the same A4 paper with a government that makes mistakes and does not answer questions, and we will not grant it legitimacy.

Let them answer the questions and we will do whatever is required of us. However, with a rote understanding, they think the main opposition party will sign with them no matter what we do. We will not sign, we did not sign that text. They condemn terrorism in that text. In the text we published, we explicitly denounce it.

A spokesperson from another political party said, 'What was in this text that you did not sign?' What was in it that you signed? What is the difference from the previous one that you signed? Is there a difference between the previous martyr and today's martyr? What has changed from that day to this day that you signed? Instead of signing that declaration, instead of doing much more effective opposition with us, why are you aligning behind the government?

Why are you giving strength to the government, why are you giving them breath? Are they giving strength to this country? Are they solving these problems? Therefore, from now on, those who expect rote opposition from the Republican People's Party, those who expect support for the government whenever the government wants, should not expect it at all.

We will continue to defend the rights of the righteous, the oppressed, the victim, and the martyr's family in this country. Those who maintain their power with rote politics should sit down and think about their own situation from now on. The stance of the Republican People's Party is clear, its situation is clear.

"IF YOU ARE INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE BRIEFING, I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY"

(Ömer Çelik's statements) Ömer Çelik has become accustomed to very easy politics. Because his routine was broken today, he is confused about what to say. Mr. Ömer, look at the declaration we signed, and look at the declaration your group signed. If it is about standing tall against terrorism, it is in our declaration.

What surprises you is that we, as the main opposition, have not easily lined up behind you. What surprises you is that we have reminded you of your responsibility. 

What surprises you is that we are asking for information from the Minister of National Defense today. If you are in such a state of incapacity that you cannot provide that briefing, I have nothing to say to Ömer Çelik. Ömer Çelik should think about what comes next himself. The Republican People's Party will not have the slightest problem, concession, or deficiency regarding the fight against terrorism. But supporting the armed forces while fighting terrorism is one thing; not questioning the government that makes mistakes is another. From now on, there is no such thing."