BDP says government ‘working together with parallel state'

ANKARA

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş speaks during his party’s group meeting at Parliament in Ankara, Feb 11. DHA photo

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has claimed the right of his party to have its own “parallel state,” criticizing the government for both accusing such a structure of orchestrating the Dec. 17 graft probe and saying that no investigation will be launched into the issue.

“Haven’t you been confessing the existence of a parallel state since Dec. 17? If it is a crime, why is there not an investigation? If it is not [a crime], we want a parallel state too,” Demirtaş said Feb. 11 during his party’s group meeting at Parliament in Ankara. 

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly accused the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen of using the police and judiciary to damage the government with the graft investigations.

“Do you know why there is no investigation? Because they are working together with the parallel structure,” Demirtaş said.

He also accused the government of trying to play the victim by constantly blaming external forces.
“The era during which you collected votes by playing the victim is over. You are not the victim anymore, you are the oppressor himself,” he said. 

Peace process on the brink of breaking off

Demirtaş also touched on the peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), launched over a year ago, warning that the process was at the point of breaking off and urging for more pressure on the government. 

“We are working in earnest trying to prevent the process from coming to its end. If you don’t want war, you should demand a solution and put pressure on the government,” he said. 

He particularly slammed the government for failing to elaborate a legal framework for the return of PKK militants, questioning the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) “real intentions.” 

“The PKK has been waiting outside the borders for a year. Are they going to stay there forever? Won’t they descend from the mountains? Negotiations are ongoing. Sixteen visits have been made to [jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan]. Where is the law for that?” Demirtaş asked. 

“Our patience is running out,” he added.