04.02.2025 13:40
In a statement during the group meeting of his party, Tuncer Bakırhan, the co-chair of the DEM Party, said, "Öcalan is preparing to make a historic call in the coming days, and we support it. It could be on February 15 or later. We are also calling on the government to play its role in the historic solution; the ball is now in Erdoğan's court."
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DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan spoke at his party's group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). Stating that terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan will make a historic call in the coming days, Bakırhan said, "It could be on February 15 or later. We are calling on the government to play its role in the historic solution; the ball is now in Erdoğan's court."
Highlights from DEM Party leader Tuncer Bakırhan's statements are as follows: "Millions are waiting for democratization to come, we expect confidence-building steps to be taken. Instead of being distracted, go down in history as a brave leader. We are in favor of an equal life. Our direction and course is the path of peace and democracy. Despite everything, we will continue to walk this path with courage."
WHEN WILL THE CALL COME?
Answering questions after the group meeting and responding to the question of when the "historic call" will come, Bakırhan stated, "It could be on February 15, or it could be later."
"THEY WANT NO ONE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY"
In his speech at the podium, Bakırhan emphasized that meritocracy has been lost in the bureaucracy, saying, "Being an ally is the only valid reason." Bakırhan continued his speech as follows: "We see that more academics have been expelled than ever before. Journalists who write the truth are going to prison. They want no one to show solidarity, but we will raise our voices against the pain and injustice everywhere."
Emphasizing that the practice of appointing trustees to municipalities continues, Bakırhan said, "Regardless of which party they belong to, we will continue to support local administrations." He stated that they are against the pressures applied to the media and that they will be in solidarity with the institutions that are subjected to pressure.
"THE TRUSTEE IS WALKING AROUND WITH HIS NAME TAG IN HIS POCKET"
Tuncer Bakırhan, who said, "The future of this country is solidarity against injustices," made the following remarks regarding the appointment of a trustee to Siirt Municipality: "The trustee is walking around with his name tag in his pocket. We condemn the trustee mentality. The people of Siirt and the people of Turkey do not accept it. The will of the people of Siirt has been disregarded; stealing the hope of a people is a greater theft and lack of conscience than stealing their bread. In fact, what they are punishing is equal service. Siirt, where I am a member of parliament, has suffered everything from this republic. Imagine a city that has spent decades under a state of emergency. I am trying to make the government give up the approach that there are Kurds but no political will. You will respect the will of the Kurds as well."
"THESE DECREES ARE OF NO CONSEQUENCE"
"Whether you like it or not, the appointment of trustees is enmity against the Kurds. It is also the darkest face of modern colonialism. The Kurdish people have fought against racial discrimination at great costs. Just as they buried the dark unsolved murders of the 90s in history, I am sure that the trustee mentality will also be buried in history. This trustee mentality will remain a dark stain on the AKP's record. You will call for disarmament while showing weapons in places where young people and women are present. I call for the exposure of those who carry out this practice. No one should tell us that there is a process and to ignore these trustee practices; no one should say that there is a process and we will slap you, so keep quiet, we can do any unlawful act, stay silent. Those who seize our municipality should know that the will of this people cannot be taken by decree. We are here, we have not knelt, and we will not kneel. These decrees are of no consequence."
"WHAT DOES SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC MEAN?"
Bakırhan, who shared messages regarding Syria, said: "What does the Syrian Arab Republic mean? What are the Kurds, Alawites, and Armenians there? This singularity is a threat to Syria. We warn those who call it an Arab Republic. The future of Syria is not an Arab Republic, but a democratic republic. After the fall of the Assad regime, a new island of violence is being created there. The SMO continues to attack the democratic system there. Everyone should respect this ground created by the peoples in Syria. The violence in Syria must end."
Bakırhan also made evaluations regarding the ongoing 'process', stating: "We want this process to evolve into a peace process. This historic opportunity should not be disrupted by a security-oriented and toxic language. Today, there is a need for social consensus. We are in search of a rational solution to the Kurdish issue through democratic consensus. Peace cannot be achieved by stepping on the neck of the Kurdish people. We reject the mentality that interprets our insistence on peace as weakness. Insisting on peace is possible with a strong will. We have not seen peace as a weakness of the state, nor will we. Peace is protected not in the shadow of violence, blackmail, and threats, but in the light of democracy. What more are we waiting for, how many more young people should fall to the ground? How much more of this country's resources should we transfer to war barons?
You have committed will usurpation for 100 years; we have emerged stronger from every election. We have expanded our struggle for democratic politics. You have emptied our villages, displaced millions. We have not given up our identity and struggle, and we will not. Why is the government not taking steps for democracy and the rule of law? What are they waiting for? What is stopping the government? When will they recognize the equal citizenship rights of the Kurds without expecting anything from anyone? When will they democratize Turkey? This question should be asked to the government by everyone living in this country."
"ÖCALAN IS PREPARING TO MAKE A HISTORIC CALL"
"Öcalan is preparing to make a historic call in the coming days. He will make this historic call in a short time. We attach great importance to this call, we support it, and we stand behind it. We also call on the government to play its role in accordance with this historic call. Mr. Bahçeli is not the head of the executive. The one at the head of the executive, Erdoğan, has a big step to take. The ball is now in Erdoğan's court. Millions are waiting for democratization to come, we expect confidence-building steps to be taken. Instead of being distracted, go down in history as a brave leader. We are in favor of an equal life. Our direction and course is the path of peace and democracy. Despite everything, we will continue to walk this path with courage."
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