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The discussions and the exchange of words on the issue continued on Wednesday, but this time with the involvement of the MHP and the Republican People's Party (CHP). The DTP, while backing Mayor Baydemir, also underlined they are tired of being in the spotlight all the time and want empathy, but will maintain their policy of constructive opposition. Siirt DTP deputy Osman Özçelik also added that the other parties are trying to use them as a tool.
MHP parliamentary group deputy chairman Mehmet Şandır said Prime Minister Erdoğan is preparing the groundwork for politics based on ethnicity. While talking to reporters in Parliament yesterday, Şandır said Erdoğan and his discourse are encouraging Baydemir. "Diyarbakır is a very important city of Turkey, but Erdoğan is acting like he is the official of another country. Turkey is a state governed by law, and the judicial system should be the venue for Baydemir," Şandır said.
Şandır reiterated Erdoğan's words on Tuesday, urging the DTP to declare the PKK a terrorist organization, and said, "These words mean renouncing wrong actions." "Only after this declaration will we see what has changed and what has not," Şandır added.
Erdoğan also harshly reacted to Baydemir and categorically rejected the claims that there is negative discrimination against the city. In his speech yesterday at his party’s parliamentary group, he said: “No one should try to exploit the people of one city. The municipalities should produce projects instead of producing words.” Erdoğan added that they are against all kinds of politics based on ethnic or religious lines.
Baydemir also claimed “Diyarbakır is a castle and cannot be conquered,” referring to his party’s local administration in the city. Some AK Party deputies evaluated these words as preparation for the local elections in 2009. In the general elections in Kurdish-populated areas, the AK Party took some of the DTP votes; this fact has led to discussions within the DTP.
The CHP also got involved in this fierce discussion. Its deputy chairman, Mustafa Özyürek, said the AK Party does not support the municipalities administered by opposition parties and that it is not right to treat Diyarbakır as a city which lies outside of Turkey. Özyürek said the job of the municipalities is to serve people, not to be castles.
Despite these discussions, the DTP supported Mayor Baydemir. Diyarbakır deputy Akın Birdal said at a parliamentary press conference that Baydemir’s statements should not be considered a challenge, rather statements trying to serve peace.
“Why are we entering into polemics over some words? Baydemir, as the mayor of Diyarbakır, is showing his reaction to the fact that the city cannot get aid. Peace and justice depend on guarding the people from starvation,” Birdal said.
Özçelik said they are tired of being in the spotlight all the time, but will not give up. He said since they entered Parliament, they have been constantly told to “behave.”
“Let’s say we declare the PKK a terrorist organization. What will change? Will those demanding this from us be able to put forth any project to solve the Kurdish problem?” he said.
Özçelik added they entered Parliament to democratically and peacefully solve the Kurdish question. “Turkey should get used to us. We have a different point of view. We want empathy, tolerance and dialogue,” Özçelik stressed.
Today’s Zaman