First Statements After Taking Down of Turkey’s Flag

Following the taking down of Turkey’s flag by a child protestor in the southeastern and predominantly Kurdish populated district of Lice, President Gül, PM Erdoğan and PKK leader Öcalan released statements. 

The aforementioned incident took place on the 2nd Air Force Command located in Lice district, Diyarbakır, a predominantly Kurdish populated area also known as the initial foundation of PKK - Kurdistan Workers Party. The incident also took place in the aftermath of the death of 2 protestors on Saturday during a demonstration against the construction of a high security check-point. 

PM Erdoğan: They will pay the price

"They will pay the price, whatever it may be," PM  Erdoğan said. 

"The people on duty there were soldiers, commanders... They will all pay the price after this inspection.
"My Internal Affairs Minister has started the inspection right away. We don’t care that this is a child. If a child shows the dexterity to take our sacred flag, this will surely have a consequence. Whatever the price, those who sent him there, and him, and they will pay it. It is not possible for us to remain silent after an attack against our flag, our sacred because the culprit might be a child.”

Gül: I condemn them

President Abdullah Gül also expressed his condemnation regarding the issue.

"You should know that all these events are steps taken to destroy the process of resolution. These are steps toward provoking the process. We need to stand tall against these provocations directed at the process of resolution,” he said.

"The flag is our common flag, symbol and most significant value. It symbolizes our independence in our nation’s historical journey from pre-eternity to post-eternity, and our common struggle for this. I would like to clearly emphasize that: This and other similar ugly attack and provocations will never attain their aim.

“I invite everyone to act responsibly and refrain from provocative actions and discourse in the problem resolution process."

Öcalan: Both parties should look into the flag issue

"We do not harbor a negative or offensive approach to any nation’s national values and symbols," PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan said about the flag incident in Lice. 

“As an important warning I would like to point out that we do not and cannot harbor a negative or offensive approach to any nation’s national values and symbols. It is crucial that the latest flag provocation that aims to turn Turkey’s public against us be investigated with post-haste by necessary institutions of both sides [Turkish and Kurdish] and shared with all our public.

“Everybody should know that these types of provocations target my analyses of democratic nations that aim for the common future of publics. I salute all fractions that strive toward lasting peace and democratic resolution in this vein. I repeat with gravity the call for everyone to rigorously protect the conflict-less environment and the hope for democratic resolution until lasting peace is obtained.” (PU/BM)