Call to MHP from DEM Party Co-Chair Hatimoğulları: It needs to use its sanction power

Expressing that there are reservations in the public regarding the process, the DEM Party Co-Chair stated, "The CHP base is skeptical about the solution process due to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) operation, and our base is skeptical due to developments in Rojava." Hatimoğulları emphasized that for the process to have public support, the release of Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ, and others in similar situations must be ensured. Stating that the AKP and MHP approach the process differently, Hatimoğulları said, "The AKP remains hesitant regarding the 'right to hope'. The MHP proposes many things, but they are not implemented. The MHP needs to use its sanction power." While reminding that they are persistent regarding the 'right to hope', Hatimoğulları added, "The AKP's base is anxious about this issue. I believe that the AKP can convince its base of whatever it wants. It holds the power to legislate. I do not think there is any issue it cannot convince its base of."

Stating that positive progress in Syria will also positively affect Turkey, Hatimoğulları said, "The government and pro-government media are trying to force us into a suit they tailored themselves. The government is avoiding responsibility by placing all burdens on the DEM Party. What have you done during this process? We do not accept the state of trying to pacify DEM. How can we remain silent when Kurds are being massacred in Rojava?"

DEM Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları answered questions from Şirin Payzın on T24 regarding the "Terror-Free Turkey" process. Making important assessments regarding developments in northern Syria, the DEM Party Co-Chair stated that it was the Damascus government that did not comply with the March 10 Agreement. Emphasizing that the people in northern Syria are trying to continue their daily lives even in the shadow of war, Hatimoğulları said, "Who would benefit from a Kurdish-Arab war? Anyone who wants to keep the Shara [administration] there wants a Kurdish-Arab war. Kurds truly want an integration process."

The highlights from Tülay Hatimoğulları's statements are as follows:

"Tom Barrack's statement is important in this respect. It is important that this call is made to all segments while the ceasefire has not been fully broken. This call must be implemented. The Syrian government refrained from implementing the March 10 Agreement. It was portrayed as if the SDF was not complying with it. An attack was carried out on Aleppo between January 4-6. The parties that did not comply with the agreement are the Damascus administration and HTS." 

These statements are being made, that is true. But they must be backed up. Syria is in great need of this. We visited Rojava. We met with the components of the April 26 conference. The common view of all of them is that the Damascus administration is the one not complying with the agreement. Mazlum Abdi is sincere about complying with the agreement. Because the current government in Turkey supports the Damascus administration, they are creating disinformation in the public eye. 

"I see that Turkey is supporting the attacks against the Kurdish people."

The Shara administration has no alternative to offer regarding integration. They say the PKK did not allow it. First of all, the PKK has disbanded itself. There is misinformation on this subject. The pro-government press is commenting and showing things that did not happen as if they did. Who would benefit from a Kurdish-Arab war? Anyone who wants to keep the Shara there wants a Kurdish-Arab war. Kurds truly want an integration process.

Both the government and Hakan Fidan's statements label all Kurds in Syria as 'terrorists.' They say, 'clean that place out inch by inch.' They describe Rojava as if everyone there is armed 24/7. People there are trying to maintain their normal lives. They are trying to do this amidst the hardships of war, yet there are children there trying to go to school. Unfortunately, I see Turkey in a position of supporting the Damascus administration's attacks on the Kurdish people. This creates a deep fracture among Kurds. 

As the DEM Party, we do not want the current process to break down. I would have liked not to use the word 'but.' We are a party that struggles for the peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue. Therefore, this process must never break down. There has been a change in rhetoric in the statements made by the Foreign Minister, the Minister of National Defense, the government spokesperson, and their partners in Turkey. You journalists notice this better. 

"What needs to be done is to support the integration process"

The rhetoric that brackets all Kurds in Syria as 'terrorists' points to genocide. Erdoğan's rhetoric of 'let us separate the Kurds in Syria from the terrorists' is to appease the Kurds in Turkey. They cannot convince the Kurds by having government spokespeople and journalists close to them praise Damascus. The state of supporting the operation creates a fracture among Kurds. While Kurds are being massacred in Rojava, how are we going to talk about Turkey's internal peace here? What will Turkey's Kurds say to us then?

The commission has been saying for a while that we have finished or are about to finish our report. The government is monitoring developments in Syria. We were constantly warning them not to evaluate developments in Turkey by looking through the lens of Damascus. We were anticipating this. What needs to be done is to support the peace there and the integration process in the new era.

The commission should not prolong the process. We have submitted the written notes expected of us regarding this report. Seven topics were selected, and notes were requested from all parties regarding these. We have submitted ours. The mountain should not bring forth a mouse. What should happen is that issues that provide a remedy for the problem should be addressed. We do not expect this commission to produce solutions to all problems or to solve the entire Kurdish issue. This commission should emerge with the capacity to point to concrete steps, especially regarding the execution law, the enactment of a special law regarding the PKK, local governments, the issue of trustees, and the right to hope. There are issues today that do not require a legislative process. The implementation of ECHR and Constitutional Court rulings. Figen Yüksekdağ, Demirtaş, those arrested in the Kobani case, Çiğdem Mater, Can Atalay, and Osman Kavala must be released in accordance with ECHR rulings. 

"Responsibilities are being placed on the DEM Party"

We believe that all of Turkish politics should know about both our visit to Rojava and the pulse of the region. The Turks here need to understand the situation of the Kurds there. Regarding the humanitarian corridor, we have reached an agreement with the entire opposition, at least with the parties we have spoken to so far. We want a delegation to be formed from Turkey to meet with both the Damascus administration and the political representatives and administration in Rojava. Let field observations be made and the Turkish public be informed. We have not yet had a request for a meeting with the AKP-MHP. We had a request for a meeting with the President, but this has not yet been fulfilled. 

We are in favor of dialogue. The DEM Party conducts its politics with its own intellect. The government and the pro-government media are trying to force us into a mold of their own making. The government is shirking its responsibilities by placing them all on the DEM Party. What have you done during this process? We do not accept the state of pacifying DEM. How can we remain silent when Kurds are being massacred in Rojava? They tell us, 'Rid yourselves of the values that define you, and then you will be as we want you to be.' No, we will not. We have discussed why Bahçeli made his call. International developments and developments in the Middle East remain active. The strategy should be based on brotherhood with the Kurds, not on tactics. 

"There is no reason for the right to hope not to be implemented"

Tuncer Bakırhan had asked, 'Instead of telling us to listen to Öcalan, are you listening to him?' There are some differences between the AKP and the MHP. We are not sure how effective the statements made by the MHP have been within the government. The AKP remains hesitant regarding the right to hope. The MHP proposes many things, and if they are not implemented, one stops and takes notice. The MHP needs to use its power of sanction. Tactics of meddling within DEM or meddling within Kurdish political representatives have been used before. This does not work on us. As DEM, we stand behind Öcalan's call. We are calling on them to comply. There is no reason for the right to hope not to be implemented. This could happen with a report presented by the ECHR. The AKP is worried about its base. I believe that the AKP can convince its base of whatever it wants. It has the power to legislate. I do not think there is any issue it cannot convince its base of. 

They will look at the process in Turkey by looking at the developments in Syria. If the understanding that 'I must serve the peace of that region' becomes established in Turkey's current Syria policy, then Turkey's guarantee is beneficial; but if they say, 'The Levant is right, let them wipe out the Kurds,' then their guarantee has no meaning.

It would be beneficial if a commission consisting of parliamentarians were formed. It is predictable that Turkish intelligence has contact with forces in Syria. Peace in Syria is important for Turkey. We see that the Turkish public is distant from the process. Due to the operations carried out against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and the stance toward Rojava, the process is being approached with suspicion by both the CHP base and our own base.

"The process should not turn into stalling"

In Rojava, women defended rights that will be an example for the Middle East. They defended women's inheritance rights. There was a women's monument there. Against all this, there is HTS. There were Christians there. They say they will govern Syria with the logic of ISIS. There, a large portion of Sunni Arabs are also secular. It is about Arabs and Kurds coming together and having equal representation. In 2025, a women's conference was held in Sulaymaniyah. Afghan women were also there. Those women walked around with masks. The Taliban identifies and kills them because of their faces. Now, are we going to be neighbors with ISIS at our own border, or with Kurds who defend a democratic order?

The right to hope must be implemented. When we went to Imralı, he gave the message that everyone should work for peace in Syria, and that this is also important for Turkey. The Kurdish people want the right to hope to be implemented. Everyone also wants the execution law to be applied to political prisoners as well. Is there a possibility that the President might one day say 'the process is over'? Every possibility exists. We want the positive steps taken in Turkey to also be effective in Syria. I hope President Erdoğan does not take the risk of backing out of the process as he did the first time. 

In an atmosphere where there is so much poverty and hunger, dragging Turkey into a complex process is the greatest harm that can be done to the 'peoples of Turkey.' A return home law is expected; all necessary steps must be taken. I hope we do not return to the dark days of the past. As the DEM Party, we are on the side of conducting this negotiation. We support the process. The process must not turn into stalling."

News Source: 12punto