Director Çetin Urges Politicians to "Stop the War"

Turkish director Sinan Çetin talked about the democratic initiative at the opening cermony of the exhibition "90 documents in the 90th year" on the occasion of the 90th anniversary celebration regarding the opening of the National Turkish Assembly (TBMM). Çetin indicated, "The very children carrying Turkish IDs are dying there", referring to the pre-dominantly Kurdish south-eastern region of Turkey.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Parliament President Mehmet Ali Şahin and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Director Çetin addressed Erdoğan by saying, "You seem to be a little tired, are you really well? Our honourable Prime Minister slept too little; he cannot make anybody happy if he does not make himself happy".

Çetin: "The ones who die carry Turkish IDs"

Çetin had touched the subject of the struggle with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) before. As reported by Ntvmsnbc.com website Çetin said, "All of the children dying there carry Turkish IDs. In this aspect we are killing our own children. Viewed from a western perspective, Turkey looks like country fighting its own nation and throwing bombs on the mountains of its own country. There is no higher power in this country than the parliament. The entire armed and unarmed forces are in your hands. So find a solution, sir. May god help you".

Şahin: Regardless of the identification card...

Later on, Parliament President Şahin rose to speak: "Whoever refers to the Turkish state and the indivisible unity of Turkey regardless of the ID he is carrying, targeting the unity, integrity and the security forces, has to take up the struggle with the security forces", Çetin replied.

Sinan Çetin is an influential Turkish film director, producer and actor. He was awarded with the Golden Orange for his film "Çirkinler de sever" ('The ugly ones love as well'), with the Golden Goblet for his film "Propaganda" and nominated for the Golden St. George Award with his film "Berlin in Berlin". (EÖ/VK)