HDP: There Is a Negotiation Table, But Its Chairs Are Empty
People’s Democracy Party (HDP) Istanbul Deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder said that the government should establish a monitoring committee or an independent commission concerning the resolution process.
Making statement regarding the present situation of the resolution process together with Group Interim Chairperson İdris Baluken and Pervin Buldan at HDP’s parliamentary group hall, Önder call for the international institutions to observe the process closely and take part.
The government divided
Stating that the government has two wings concerning the resolution process, Önder said, “While one party is the President, the other party is the government; also both parties are fragmented into various pieces. We wish if only, when the President said, ‘there is no negotiation table or party, thus no Kurdish question’, PM Davutoğlu or Mr. Akdoğan or the other members of the resolution committee would have said ‘Dear Mr. President, the issue is not like that. Also, we didn’t agree with the other party on the process as this way’. We waited for one day. Instead they shallowly said, ’It’s just politics, and just before the elections’”.
While Önder mentioned that the politics does not mean hypocrisy and non-virtuousness, he added, “Even the basic moral sentiment assumes the words you said as consistent and serious. Thus, there is a cloven government as a party in the resolution process. We are trying to find the peace within this process.”
Critics against Erdoğan
Criticizing the recent declarations of Erdoğan, Önder defined the behavior of Erdoğan and the government as “kicking the negotiation table”, and he pointed out that the İmrali meetings were locked.
"Cumhurbaşkanının itibarsızlaştırma çabası hükümetin sahip çıkmamasıyla süreç an itibariyle ortada kalmıştır. There is a negotiation table, but its chairs are empty. The president discredited insomuch that, I don't know, who would accept to play a part. From now on, if the government will contact with Öcalan, his status has to settle a legal ground.
“Dear Mr. President says, 'there is no negotiation table’ ‘no parties’. It is definitely not true.
“A new table, as big as at least this table, was made in İmralı. I mean physically. A new table exactly the same dimensions, maybe more or less.”
“This table was made in order to discuss this issue under the titles which were agreed by us and the government in the Dolmabahçe Consensus, by extending this Monitoring Commission and the government delegation and adding new members to our negotiation delegation.”
The government should declare the actions it will take
Emphasizing that Öcalan said if no action is taken the meetings would be pointless, Önder stated that the government should keep its promise and declare the actions it will take.
“We did our part. It’s also true for Öcalan.”
The key points of Önder’s speech:
“They unashamedly accuse us for using illegal methods. Yes, we did illegal things. There were three things we had to do.
“First, we made an effort for the hostage soldiers. We endeavored for surviving that soldiers safe and sound. We, the deputies, did a lot of thing beyond a deputy's duty, we used diplomacy and took the soldiers to their homes safely.
"Secondly, we also used diplomacy for two retained sergeant upon the request of the government. We delivered these two sergeants, who had wedding within a week during that time, unharmed. We wandered on Lice Mountain for three days. And, we brought them together with their lovers.
“Thirdly, Suleiman Shah Operation. The government and the general staff know very well what we did there. How the remained munitions of the army were taken to Turkey. The general staff should explain this issue as well. We carried out quietly.
“We have to give account of our people and the party. Now, the government and PM are responsible for the next step. If they insist on peace, we demand an monitoring delegation which were previously agreed on. (CB/HK)
* Click here to read this article in Turkish.