Selahattin Demirtaş: Those Who Support the War Owe Self-Criticism to People

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) imprisoned former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has answered the questions of Yavuz Özcan from the daily Yeni Özgür Politika (New Free Policy).

Commenting on the recent developments in Turkey's politics, Demirtaş has shared his views on criticisms against HDP, Turkey's cross-border military operation into northern Syria and its foreign policy.

Arrested since November 4, 2016, Demirtaş was not released despite a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) verdict of release. Demirtaş is currently behind bars as a convict as the 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice upheld his prison sentence.

In his written interview to Yavuz Özcan via his attorneys, Selahattin Demirtaş has stated the following brief:

'Ballot box will come sooner or later...'

"In an attempt to prevent the HDP from taking to the streets, to prevent them from even leaving the party building and to make them invisible, they are savagely attacking and unlawfully preventing them. Our MPs and party executives are subjected to serious physical assaults. Young people, women, even mothers are arrested and battered everyday.

"However, in this period, I do not think that we should give up just because mass democratic plans are prevented. If the masses are prevented from reaching and uniting with the leader, the leader has to go to the masses.

"On the other side, ballot box and election units had better be kept educated, at the ready and well-organized all the time. That ballot box will come before the people sooner or later.

'War has not saved the AKP'

"The AKP [Justice and Development Party] government and leadership know it very well that they cannot stay in power even for a month without a policy of war. Therefore, war is raison d'être of the AKP. However, war is like a double-edged knife. If you cannot obtain any results, it will cut you in the end.

"AKP is experiencing a deep loneliness and collapse both at home and in the world. It cannot explain this unjust war to anyone, it cannot do it.

"You will see, in a couple of weeks, AKP will start to be widely and strongly criticized from inside. In other words, the war has not saved the AKP. It has caused and triggered new equations in Syria and Rojava, but it has not made Turkey win anything. We can say that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will be removed from Syria by Russians and Americans themselves.

'Responsibility of self-criticism lies with the opposition'

"If the emotional break experienced by the Kurds in these periods leads to ultranationalist arguments, it will not do any good to anyone. Yes, Kurds are outraged, they are rightfully offended and hurt. But, acting with emotions does not always bind up these wounds. When appropriate, we have to make decisions by bringing the wisdom forward.

"However, no one will, of course, forget these days. No one will harden their hearts when the time comes, it happens only once. The responsibility of making self-criticism before the people who demand peace lies with the opposition which stands behind the war.

"If I were in their shoes, I would not underestimate the Kurds. From this very day on, I would take convincing steps in practice to make amends. Otherwise, it can be too late tomorrow. Kurds are not the sharecroppers, tails or supporting piers of anyone. Those who offered their unconditional support for this war owe a self-criticism to the people. When the time comes, Kurds will not recognize the ones who view Kurds as worthy of only war and death.

"Kurds will remember both the opposition and the government who sees meetings and negotiations with all powers of the world as legitimate, but says, 'Terrorists cannot be negotiated with' when it comes to a dialogue with Kurds. And if Kurdish politics keeps on its policy of alliance, it should take this sensitivity of people into account. I do not think that any distance can be covered without eliminating this broken feeling." (AS/SD)