DEM Party responds to Bahçeli's remarks on 'Imralı's status'

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları made assessments regarding the agenda during her party's TBMM Group Meeting. Addressing various topics ranging from the economy to the problems of youth, and from commission reports to judicial decisions, Hatimoğulları finally announced her party's proposal regarding MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's remarks on the "status gap of Imralı."

"EMPTY POTS, HUNGER, POVERTY"

Drawing attention to the economic picture in her speech, Hatimoğulları said, "This is an agenda of vital importance in Turkey... Empty pots, hunger, poverty, discrimination, inequality... We are fed up with talk of economic reform, new programs, and new models."

Stating that the hunger threshold for a family of four is 43 thousand 415 liras and the poverty threshold is 105 thousand liras, Hatimoğulları said, "In the past, one minimum wage earner could support a family of four; now, four minimum wage earners cannot even provide for a household of four. Even the sum of these falls short of the poverty threshold."

Saying, "Aliens are not governing this country," Hatimoğulları criticized the government with the words, "AKP, you are the ones governing this country. You are the very cause of this great hunger and poverty, and the cause of this hunger and poverty deepening so much."

PROBLEMS FACED BY YOUTH

Touching upon the situation faced by young people, Hatimoğulları said that being young in Turkey means struggling to survive rather than dreaming.

Stating that young people demand secure jobs, fair wages, and for their internship periods to count toward retirement, Hatimoğulları expressed that they are instead met with cheap labor and temporary contracts. She stated that the demand for the right to housing is met with inadequate dormitory conditions and high rent pressure, and that the desire for free universities is accompanied by trustee administrations and disciplinary investigations.

Noting that young people have demands for equality, a safe life, freedom of organization, education in their mother tongue, and peace, Hatimoğulları said these demands are met with various forms of pressure.

CRITICISM OF THE COMMISSION REPORT

Hatimoğulları also made assessments regarding the "National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission" report. Expressing that the report has shortcomings and inadequacies, Hatimoğulları said the language used is based on old clichés.

"You can only deceive yourselves by squeezing the Kurdish issue into the parenthesis of terrorism," said Hatimoğulları, stating that it is unacceptable for the Kurdish issue to be handled solely under the heading of security.

Stating that they submitted a dissenting opinion during the commission process and that their assessments were included in the report, Hatimoğulları noted that some of the legal regulation and democratization headings in the report could be important if their requirements are met.

"PARLIAMENT MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY"

Calling on the TBMM based on the report, Hatimoğulları said there is no need to wait for proposals that do not require a single legal change.

Stating that there is no need for a new regulation to implement the decisions of the ECHR and the Constitutional Court, Hatimoğulları asked why Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ, Osman Kavala, and Can Atalay are still in prison. Touching upon trustee appointments and detention trials, Hatimoğulları stated that there is no point in waiting until after the holiday.

Calling for "the execution law, framework law, and democratization law to be enacted this month," Hatimoğulları said that Parliament must fulfill its responsibility.

RESPONSE TO BAHÇELİ'S "İMRALI'S STATUS" REMARKS

Hatimoğulları announced her party's approach regarding MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's remarks, "How will the status gap of Imralı, which serves a Turkey without terrorism, be closed?"

Stating that for lasting peace, the status of PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan must be recognized through legal regulation and placed under legal protection, Hatimoğulları said, "This process must not remain mere words; legal regulations must be made quickly under the roof of the TBMM."

News Source: 12punto