Response to Özgür Özel's 'the real stomach ache is them saying we are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers' remarks: AKP's Ala speaks out

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel said at the parliamentary group meeting, "The crime is disobedience to orders; the real stomach ache is them saying we are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers. They claim this is February 28th-ism. Mustafa Kemal was not involved in February 28th. To those trying to drag the issue back to February 28th, 25 years ago, I say: this is your own intolerance.

If you hold the mindset of 'Fesli Deli Kadir' who said 'I wish the Greeks had won,' let us know.

No harm comes from Mustafa Kemal's soldiers, but we saw what Fetullah Gülen's soldiers did on July 15th. We also saw what you did while saying 'a trap was set for this country.' It is a patriotic duty to stand by those soldiers," he had stated. 

Efkan Ala made an assessment regarding the statement Özel made at the CHP TBMM Group Meeting concerning the lieutenants taking an oath with swords, prior to his visit to Atatürk University in Erzurum.

AKP Deputy Chairman Ala used the following expressions:

"Where there is a uniform, discipline is the fundamental principle and the basic rule. Here, there is actually a method and procedure involved. The place for the investigation and examination of this is the Ministry of National Defense. Therefore, these issues should not be turned into a field for populist rhetoric and propaganda.

Turkey has truly suffered many difficulties in its history regarding these matters. Therefore, institutions must be left alone with their rules, laws, and practices. These issues should not be turned into a subject of populist propaganda. This is very important. Turkey has very significant experiences in its history regarding these matters from which everyone should draw lessons. In that respect, the political sphere should deal with its own work and field, and the security sphere should deal with its own field. We have ensured this in Turkey."

Ala said, "But discipline is everything where there is a uniform. Acting without discipline destroys all the respect and trust in that uniform. In that respect, the authority that should evaluate, examine, and investigate whether this is the case is the Ministry of National Defense. They are doing their work in accordance with the laws, rules, Turkish state traditions, and the traditions of the institutions and organizations, including the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces)."

News Source: AA