BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the repentance draft law recently announced by Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and the response of the terrorist group PKK/KADEK to it. A summary of his column is as follows:
Spokesmen from the terrorist PKK/KADEK have responded to the government’s repentance draft law earlier than expected. They charged that the bill announced by Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu amounted to a ‘declaration of war.’ They also stated a number of new requests, which in sum were as follows: Instead of the government’s plan, a general amnesty should be granted in a way that covers imprisoned terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan, including giving him the right to enter politics. Concerning Kurdish-language education and broadcasting, Kurdish education in primary schools should be offered. Local administrations should be strengthened, and health and cultural services should be in the control of local administrations.
Before this response was issued, Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) leader Tuncer Bakirhan told a press conference that the draft law was insufficient and that he had requested a general amnesty and the return of political rights. The PKK/KADEK spokesmen also alleged that Turkey was planning to reach an agreement with neighboring countries and to suppress Kurdish actions in Iraq. They stated that they should be waging a ‘war of honor’ against this approach, but that they would wait until September for an agreement.
This situation shows that the government will face requests and pressure for a general amnesty. Its reform packages won’t be considered sufficient. Soon a request for a general amnesty from the European Union countries won’t be any surprise. At this point the Justice and Development Party (AKP) should make its political stance clear. The government might not respond to the PKK/KADEK but what will it say when the EU asks for the same things?
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared three ‘red lines’: no fundamentalism, racism or separation. Actually, all of these things are now being practiced in Turkey. For this reason, the government should make its political stance clear.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION