Demirtaş says was offered to take place of Öcalan during 'resolution process'

Drawing: Ercan Altuntaş

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Selahattin Demirtaş, ex Co-Chair of People's Democratic Party (HDP), standing trial in the Kobani case, said "I am addressing those who are trying to present us as terrorists, as murderers. We have already been acquitted before history" in the hearing session held in Ankara yesterday (December 1). 

Demirtaş told the court that during the peace process when delegations were going regularly to the İmralı prison, Hakan Fidan, head of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT), wanted to meet with him and he rejected.

"We are an actor in the parliament for a solution"

Demirtaş said that, thereupon, this was communicated in İmralı prison to Abdullah Öcalan, head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), sparking a debate about himself. Demirtaş said, "They should not expect us to step back or to give in. They made an offer for me to take the place of Öcalan. They wanted to fetch out of me a small Öcalan. We are us. Öcalan is Öcalan. Öcalan has the power and the mission to influence politics in the Middle East. And we are actors for a solution as representatives of the people in the parliament."

Demirtaş gave details on how the 'peace process' or the 'resolution process' ended in 2015.

He said, "Some are saying that following the June 7 elections, all of this would not happen to us if 'HDP accepted to form a coalition" or if the party did not declare 'We will not make you the president.'

"Erdoğan made the statement 'I do not recognize the Dolmabahçe commitment' and I had not yet said 'We will not make you the president.' What does it mean to say that the Resolution Process is over, what does it mean to say 'I do not recognize?' Erdoğan was informed about the meeting in Dolmabahçe in detail as far as the sitting arrangement. Therefore we said we do not accept this, it is not over. We went 12 times but he did not accept to meet us. Then going abroad he said 'We have put the Kurdish problem on ice.' The June 7 [2015] elections were over. Davutoğlu [Prime Minister and member of the ruling party, AKP at the time] came and visited our party, we told him that we were ready for a coalition. Not enough, we send Celal Doğan to talk personally to the Palace [the Presidency.] We said "Elections are over, the parliament has formed. Let us restart the process, let us make the new constitution together. Celal Doğan returned and we sat down in my room at the Parliament. Doğan said 'He used unmentionable words talking about you.' Nobody should dare threaten us. I did not bend the knee, and we will not.

"At the times we went to the İmralı prison, a meal would arrive. Öcalan would not hold the spoon before our delegation started to eat. He would tell us, "You are elected people, I am presenting my suggestions.' He would say "If you deem it appropriate.' We did not take instructions from the organization, and we will not. We did not take instructions from the state either, we will not. Our superior is the people. Your court should evaluate release for at least our remaining friends in this foolish case file."

The hearing session will continue today. (AS/PE)