Has the second opening stalled? Confusing remarks from Tuncer Bakırhan regarding the process! He gave a date...

While the commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) as part of the new opening process—architected by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli and dubbed 'Terror-Free Turkey' by the government—has held 5 meetings so far, criticisms from the DEM Party toward the government have begun to emerge.

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) held a rally in Van titled Peace and Democratic Society. It was observed that flags bearing the photograph of terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan were unfurled at the rally site.

Speaking at the rally, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan made remarks regarding the process that caused confusion.

Stating that meetings held with terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan have decreased, Bakırhan questioned the reason for this and reacted to the government.

Bakırhan stated the following:

“A door was opened to save Turkey from an environment of chaos and crisis. But isolation is still being applied. The isolation applied to Öcalan is isolation applied to peace. It is for all of us, for the peace hope of 86 million people. This environment of isolation must be lifted as soon as possible, and conditions must be created for Öcalan's working conditions, his conditions for meeting with society, and for him to freely share his ideas with all of Turkey's dynamics. These conditions must be created so that the peace process can reach success.

"MEETINGS HAVE DECREASED SINCE JULY 25"

Since July 25, meetings with Öcalan have almost decreased. Why? Are the doors of İmralı a faucet in your hands? You open it for a month, you close it for a month. Is this how you protect this process? Is this how we will ensure peace? This 'open for a month, close for a month' approach does not serve the peace process. We want to express once again that this approach must be abandoned as soon as possible, and that Öcalan's thoughts, living and working conditions must be improved in a real sense.

“SOME HAVE COME OUT AND ARE ENGAGING IN OPPOSITION TO THE SOLUTION AND ÖCALAN”

Isolation is a great evil done to the hope of our peoples who want peace. Peace requires seriousness, a solution requires courage. We know very well that this seriousness and courage exist in Turkey, and that this experience and history have been lived on these lands. Let us just be a little serious and brave. Some have also come out and are engaging in opposition to the solution and Öcalan morning and night.

I ask them, should this country suffer more pain and tears? What is your problem? Without mumbling, without beating around the bush, without using Öcalan and this process as an excuse, come out and say, 'We are against the peace process, we continue our silence in the face of young people losing their lives.' We invite you to a little sincerity, we invite you to seriousness. Rest assured, if the isolation is lifted, the knot of peace in Turkey and the Middle East will be untied.”

In the continuation of his speech, Bakırhan claimed that the meeting of the opening commission in the TBMM with terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan would be in Turkey's best interest.

“THE COMMISSION SHOULD SPEAK WITH ACTION, NOT WORDS”

“The commission is important, it is valuable, but the commission should speak with action, not words. The commission's actions should now be discussed in society. The commission must build peace. The commission must meet with Öcalan as soon as possible. It must take Öcalan's views on this process and share them with society.

'THE COMMISSION MEETING WITH ÖCALAN IS IN TURKEY'S BEST INTEREST'

The commission meeting with Öcalan is in Turkey's best interest. It is in the best interest of our future, it is in the best interest of democracy. I am also calling out to the political parties in the commission. Our ideas may be different, our thoughts may be different, but we all need to find common ground on peace and the belief in peace. What do the Kurds want? They want democracy, freedom, to be honorable citizens. They want to live together equally. What is wrong with that?”