Dehap Leader Bakirhan Defends His Party

ANKARA - Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) leader Tuncer Bakirhan has said that his party was not a subsidiary of any organization or political party.
Bakirhan and his lawyers defended the DEHAP at the closure case against the political party at the Constitutional Court on Thursday.
Replying to questions of journalists following the hearing, Bakirhan said, ''we requested the Constitution Court to reject the closure case against the DEHAP. Closure of a political party will not be a modern approach in a Turkey which has reached the threshold of the European Union (EU). We told the court delegation that Turkey should not be allowed to become a graveyard of banned political parties. A country's conformity with modern, democratic and universal laws depends on right of political parties, individuals and institutions to explain their thoughts and views. The DEHAP has been struggling for a peaceful and democratic Turkey with its all actions, acts and statements so far.''
Advocating that the current system had been trying to resemble the DEHAP with other political parties, Bakirhan said, ''the DEHAP has a different stance. In fact, protecting differences and defending thoughts constitute the real assets of a country. Tolerance to differences will lead well-process of democracy with its institutions. We hope that Turkey will leave the traditional attitude of the past aside, and make a beneficial decision by displaying a realistic attitude in the closure case against the DEHAP.''
When recalled by a journalist, ''the indictment of the closure case says that the DEHAP was the political organ of the terrorist organization of PKK,'' Bakirhan said, ''the DEHAP is not a subsidiary of any organization or political party. This is an initiative stemming from the DEHAP's efforts to resolve the Kurdish problem through democratic methods.''
On March 25, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Nuri Ok explained his views about merits of the case. He requested the court to close down the DEHAP, and ban those who caused closure of the party with their statements and actions, from politics for a five-year period.
Former Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu filed his first lawsuit against DEHAP on March 13, 2003 on charges of ''becoming focal point of actions against principles of democratic republic, equality and rule of law''. The second lawsuit was filed on April 29, 2003 on charges of ''having connection with the terrorist organization of PKK/KADEK and, as a result, becoming focal point of actions against inseparable unity of the state with its country and people.'' Kanadoglu requested the Constitutional Court to close down the political party.
The court has been debating the two cases together.
(UK-AÖ) 08.04.2004