DEM Party's 'Qandil' response following Bahçeli's call

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who previously made the call for the terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan to "speak in Parliament," issued a new call during his party's latest group meeting for "DEM to meet with İmralı."

Following Bahçeli's statement, the DEM Party submitted an application to the Ministry of Justice to meet with Öcalan.

In the wake of these developments, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan answered questions from Ruşen Çakır on Medyascope.

Regarding the question, "Bahçeli brought up the issue of party members going to İmralı. We assume it is possible. As another stage of this, could an option like the same parties carrying İmralı's message to Qandil, as happened last time, come to the agenda again?" Bakırhan stated the following:

"We are not going to act as postmen or anything of the sort. We will fulfill whatever responsibility falls upon us on democratic grounds. We will travel from city to city to ensure this issue is socialized and explained to the public, the people, our base, and Turkey. We will touch all people. We have an important responsibility. I think instead of asking me this, you should tell Turkey, which acted as a mediator between the Philippine state and the Moro people, 'Do here what you did there.' We met with a gentleman who is currently a member of parliament and who acted as a mediator in Somalia. For instance, he shared very important experiences there. Now, I think they will find a way for this. It is the great State of Turkey."

ECHOES OF BAHÇELİ'S STATEMENTS WITHIN THE DEM PARTY

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan also spoke about the statements made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli while evaluating recent political developments.

Stating that "there is a large gap, a huge chasm between the government's rhetoric and its practice," Bakırhan emphasized that the current process is not one that Bahçeli "invented on his own," but that it is fundamentally based on "the government's programs and projects regarding the issue."

"WHATEVER BAHÇELİ SAYS, THE OPPOSITE PRACTICE IS IN EFFECT"

Analyzing the relationship between the government and the MHP, the DEM Party Co-Chair assessed, "There may have been a division of roles. But it is certain that there are differences in content, quality, and nuance." Explaining this situation with examples, the DEM Party Co-Chair said, "Bahçeli heaps praise on Ahmet Türk, and a week later he adopts a different stance. Ömer Öcalan goes to İmralı. In other words, whatever Bahçeli says, the opposite practice is in effect."

"THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CLARIFY ITS POSITION FIRST"

Criticizing the government as well, Bakırhan said, "They should clarify their position first. How do they want to solve this problem? We are curious about this. The Turkish public is also curious."

Bakırhan stated, "We are talking about a ground that practices true democracy, accepts the diversity of differences, implements rights and law, is democratic, where trustees are not appointed to people's will, and where people reflect themselves equally and freely along with their differences."

"THERE IS NO OTHER ACTOR WHO CAN SAY ANYTHING ELSE AFTER ÖCALAN'S WORD"

Emphasizing that the DEM Party has no dialogue with Qandil, Bakırhan noted the following:

"I believe this: There is currently no Kurdish actor who can say anything else after Öcalan's word. After all, he is the one who founded the organization. He is the founding leader of the organization. I do not think they would not listen to a person they call 'chief negotiator' or 'leader.' For instance, sometimes they argue in some media outlets that we do not listen to Öcalan. Sometimes they argue that Qandil does not listen. Sometimes it is said that we do not take a Selahattin Demirtaş into account. There is no such world in the Kurdish sphere. The position of the DEM Party is clear: Let this issue be solved through negotiation and dialogue. For the first time, I read a very clear and concrete statement from the KCK on this matter. Pointing to Öcalan, the KCK said, 'The interlocutor is there. The word he says for us is indisputable.'"

News Source: 12punto