Resolution commission meets for the seventh time: Former Parliament Speakers make consecutive statements on 'amnesty'

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Commission on National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy has met for its seventh session. Former speakers of the Parliament were also invited to this meeting.

The meeting was attended by former Parliament Speakers Hikmet Çetin, Ömer İzgi, Bülent Arınç, Köksal Toptan, Mehmet Ali Şahin, Cemil Çiçek, İsmet Yılmaz, İsmail Kahraman, Binali Yıldırım, and Mustafa Şentop. It was stated that three former speakers could not attend due to health issues.

"THEY CANNOT WALK AMONG SOCIETY"

According to a report by Birgün, the first person to take the floor was 20th Term Parliament Speaker Hikmet Çetin. Çetin began his speech by congratulating Devlet Bahçeli for supporting the process. Emphasizing that PKK terrorists who have not been involved in crimes should be pardoned, Çetin stated, “It is very difficult to pardon those who have been involved in crimes. They cannot walk among society.”

“THERE IS NO PROBLEM BETWEEN PEOPLES”

Stating that PKK terrorists who are in the mountains and have been involved in crimes should be sent abroad, Çetin said, “They ask me from time to time, ‘Will a Kurdish state be established?’ Turks and Kurds are not like Black and White people in America. Language and culture are shared. Especially in the southern region, hotel owners are Kurds. Terrorism is one thing, the behavior of the people is another. There is no problem between the peoples.”

“A LETTER WAS SENT TO ÖCALAN”

Explaining that he heard that PKK terrorists who laid down their arms wrote a letter to terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan, Çetin stated that he had not seen the content of the letter. He said, “I hope those currently on the island will learn this and disclose it to the public.” Regarding questions about a Kurdish state, he replied, “It could be established, but Turkey would not be a part of it.” He reiterated that PKK terrorists who have not been involved in actions should be pardoned, while those who participated in actions should be tried.

“THE CONSTITUTION CAN ALSO BE AMENDED”

Following Çetin, 21st Parliament Speaker Ömer İzgi took the floor. Expressing that the legal status of individuals who were abducted by the terrorist organization PKK at a young age but did not use weapons should be examined, İzgi said, “This is exactly the primary duty of the TBMM. Listening to those who want to use this special situation for their own interests will disrupt the process. Everyone who commits a crime will definitely serve their sentence.”

Pointing out that the authority to enact laws regarding the process lies with the TBMM, İzgi commented, “If a constitutional amendment is required, it can be done. There is nothing the TBMM cannot do. However, the first three articles of the Constitution and the sixth article, which states ‘Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation,’ cannot be changed.”

ARINÇ: DEM PARTY IS MORE WELL-INTENTIONED THAN ALL OF US IN THIS PROCESS

While emphasizing that the process is progressing in a positive direction, Bülent Arınç pointed out that the ultimate decision-maker in the Presidential Government System is the President. Pointing to the trustee appointments and the Kurdish deputies imprisoned, Arınç said, “The commission's duty is to strengthen the internal front. You cannot set out with empty rhetoric. The point we have reached is to abandon rhetoric. Policies of denial, rejection, and assimilation are our shame. These must now be left behind. The point we have reached is the end of the road. The DEM Party is more well-intentioned than all of us in this process. We were most wary of them, they became pioneers in this business, I appreciate it. We should not look at who said what in the past. We must conclude this process with new methods.”

"THE COMMISSION'S DUTY IS NOT A NEW CONSTITUTION"

Touching upon the debates on judicial independence, Arınç said, “The best constitution is the one that is implemented. The worst constitution is the one that is not implemented. I find it very wrong not to implement the parts that do not suit our interests. The duty of this commission is not to prepare a new constitution.”

"GENERAL AMNESTY IS A NECESSARY NEED"

On the other hand, journalist Hilal Köylü also reported on the statements made by Bülent Arınç at the commission.

Bülent Arınç made the following statements in his remarks:

"No one should push anyone's buttons. Let's not look at 'he said this, he said that.' Is there a social consensus? Yes, there is. I know what the tearful mothers are saying. 90% want terrorism to end.”

Köylü summarized other remarks made by Arınç that would create an agenda with the following sentences:

“Constitutional Court (AYM) and ECHR decisions must be implemented

General amnesty is a necessary need

There is a need for a fair execution regulation

Regulations must be made for those dismissed by Decree-Law (KHK)”

News Source: 12punto