18 December 2007
The leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), who allegedly evaded military service by forging a medical document, was detained at Esenboğa Airport in Ankara upon his return to Turkey from Düsseldorf on Monday.
“If there is an investigation about me, if my testimony is needed, then the authorities would hear my testimony. We heard about these claims only from the press. It was the press that wrote about this issue [of a legal investigation],” he explained. Demirtaş also told reporters that Turkey’s recent raid on terrorist bases in northern Iraq would not solve the problem. He expressed his opinion that the solution to the Kurdish question should be sought using democratic methods.
Police last month arrested members of an illegal organization that provides fake medical documents to those who want to escape military service, and Demirtaş was allegedly one of their customers. If the claims are proven true, Demirtaş will have to perform his military service. But Demirtaş has repeatedly denied links to the criminal organization and he has said his medical report is genuine.
Demirtaş served 10 years in prison for membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He took over as the leader of the DTP two months ago, replacing Ahmet Türk, who was considered a moderate.
His party is currently faced with charges of nurturing ties with the outlawed PKK and the case, which is currently in the Constitutional Court, may lead to its closure.
EU officials have urged Ankara not to shut down the DTP but have also said that the party must distance itself from the terrorists of the outlawed PKK, who have in the previous month conducted deadly attacks on Turkish security forces and civilians in southeastern Turkey.
Demirtaş also faces criminal charges for his speech on World Peace Day on Sept.1, where he accused the military of employing chemical weapons in an operation to oust PKK terrorists from Uludere, Şırnak, in southeastern Turkey.