Anti-terror law will pave way for misconduct: CHP leader

ANKARA

The anti-terror bill, which is currently being discussed in parliament will create a non-liability for state officials in taking important decisions, said main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, stating that the legislative bill aims to legalize the state of emergency rule.

“People [state officials] have duties, they have authority but they have no liability. If there is an authority and duty in a state, the person who exercises this authority should have liability. When you take out the liability link from the state, then there will be no state. That is the point that we have reached,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on July 14 in a parliamentary group meeting of his party.

His comments came amid parliament’s discussion of the legislative bill, which stipulates a series of amendments in laws related to security and legislative issues concerning the “fight against terror,” on July 23.

Issued by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) days before the lift of two-year state of emergency rule, the bill aims to tackle security issues that would rise in the absence of the state of emergency.

Kılıçdaroğlu and the opposition have long criticized the state of emergency rule, arguing that the ruling party has used the decrees issued under the rule to bypass the current legislation in a bid to pursue their own interests and further oppress the opposition and dissidents.

“While these injustices were voiced by the former prime minister, they have issued a draft bill to the parliament in order to sustain these injustices,” said Kılıçdaroğlu quoting the former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım’s words, which indicate there might be “unjust regulations.”

“There will be no freedom of travel, there is a restraint on that. There is a restriction for the right to assemble. There is already no right to fair trial and detention periods have also extended. The passports of the spouses of the suspects will also be seized, meaning that collective crime is created,” he said, criticizing the regulations stipulated by the bill.

He said thousands of people have already been dismissed from their official posts “with indiscriminative measures” and the current bill will also grant state officials to dismiss public officers.

“In the past, we could see how many people were dismissed from where, as it had been obliged to be issued in the official gazette. And the decision was made by the cabinet of ministers. Now, we will not be able to see,” he said, adding “injustices could be hidden from the public.”

He said the appeal procedures were “also taken away,” stating that a person who was dismissed “will not be able to file a complaint.”

“Even though the dismissed people prove their rights with evidences, there will be no guarantee that they will return to their jobs. They will be appointed to some other institutions,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Stressing upon the presidential decree, which relates the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) directly to the president, Kılıçdaroğlu said the regulation may pave a way for serious misconduct.

“Let’s assume a company was seized [by the state]. Let’s assume it is a very important company in Turkey. If a trustee was appointed to that company and the trustee steals from that company and takes the money to Switzerland, no one is reliable,” he said.