Peace Or Presidency?

Turkey is now in bloodshed after a process that attracted a great deal of support because of hopes that there will no longer be martyrs.
Children are orphaned, people die and parents mourn on a daily basis. But did you notice that most of the families of the martyrs do not pay homage to the homeland? Despite all the threats and pressure, they question Erdoğan. They raise this simple but strong question: There was no blood before June 7; what changed now that blood is being spilled after the election?
A question by military officer Mehmet Alkan, who was slammed because he made critical remarks at the funeral of his brother, still remains unanswered: “What happened so that those who wanted a settlement up until recently now want a war?” The following remarks by a relative of Pvt. Recep Beycur, who was killed in Siirt, still linger in the minds of the people: “You reporters please publish this. The president should be proud of this. He makes brothers enemies to each other. I sent my brother off and now I receive his body. Did he not fear God? May God not bless. His son should become like this. He should give up on making brothers enemies to each other.”
The people do not question martyrdom, a religious status that we have praised throughout history. Given that the people send their sons to the military for an honorable service and that they would not cease loving their country, there should be another reason for this inquiry. It is a grave concern and suspicion that this war is being fought for personal and political goals, not for the homeland. This suspicion is reinforced by the statements of the state authorities, who do not attempt to address this concern that poses a great danger for the security of our homeland.
Take Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu's remark that there would be no chaos if elections had led to a presidential system. Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan admits that they viewed the process as a matter of political support. He said: “The Peoples' Democratic Party's [HDP] slogan that they would not let a presidential system happen provoked Erdoğan.” A pro-Justice and Development Party (AK Party) journalist, Ömer Turan, said: “Before the operations, voter support for the AK Party was at 30-35 percent; now it is around 40-42. It could become 45 percent if the operations are carried out decisively.”
The attempts for peace and settlement to end longstanding bloodshed were a virtuous approach; but it is horrible to establish a connection between this national issue and the dream for a presidential system. The HDP decided to take part in the elections as a party and relied on a slogan that they would not let Erdoğan introduce a presidential system; so when they appeared as a rival to Erdoğan and the AK Party, violence resumed. This is the main source of suspicion.
The İmralı minutes are also more proof that the settlement process, which attracted a great deal of popular attention and support, was in fact all about Erdoğan's ambitions to introduce a presidential system. Erdoğan announced on state-run broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) on Dec. 29, 2012, that they had held talks with İmralı; days after this statement, Pervin Buldan, Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Altan Tan from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) went to İmralı and talked to Abdullah Öcalan; the minutes offer details on what they talked about. Erdoğan was very furious at the exposure of these minutes; he was so furious that 80-year-old Erdoğan Demirören, the boss of the Milliyet daily, which published the minutes, cried during a phone call with Erdoğan, who berated him. Hasan Cemal was also fired from Milliyet for the same reason.
In response to the HDP's slogan that they would not let Erdoğan introduce a presidential system, Erdoğan said there is no Kurdish question. When he lost the election, he restarted military operations. It has now become evident why he was furious at the İmralı minutes -- Öcalan made this promise in return for the fulfillment of the requests of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Despite the fact that the PKK consolidated its power, relied on heavy armament even in urban areas, killed troops and police officers, established its own courts, set up road ambushes and created its own local forces, Erdoğan did not respond to these moves. Moreover, those who raised criticism were declared enemies to peace. Now interim Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç admit the PKK gained more power in this process and that they knew all about what was happening. So they have to answer these questions: Did you ignore this to ensure that the agreement you had over the presidential system would remain? Did you release the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) members because of this deal? Did you rely on a discourse of peace because you believed this was in the best interest of the country or did you want to introduce a presidential system? Is your real goal peace or the presidency?

ABDÜLHAMİT BİLİCİ (Cihan/Today's Zaman)