PKK a threat to both Turkish and Kurdish citizens: PM Yıldırım

ANKARA

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The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) threatens both Turkish and Kurdish people, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has said, while accusing the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) of failing to represent the interest of the Turkish nation.

“There is no problem with the Kurds or Kurdish citizens. But both Kurds and Turks have a problem with the PKK – separatist terror,” Yıldırım said in İzmir at an address to non-governmental organizations on April 12. There is now “tremendous change” in Turkey’s southeastern and eastern provinces, which had been the site of huge clashes between the PKK and Turkish forces, Yıldırım said.

“The effect of intimidation on people has been lifted, the fear has been lifted, the suppression has been lifted. With the Turkish flag in their hands, people are in the street condemning the terrorist organization. That is the real Turkey,” he said.

Yıldırım also criticized the HDP, which generally focuses on the Kurdish issue, for allegedly failing to represent the interests of the public.

“The HDP successfully emerged by saying that they would be the party of all of Turkey, rejecting any nationalism based on ethnicity or regionalism. People believed them, Kurdish people believed it, Turkish people believed it – everybody believed it and supported them because they were talking about the unity of Turkey. It was a new voice,” he said.

“But after June 7 [2015], we saw that the leaders of this party had no will [of their own]. Just after their statements, Kandil [PKK] made a correction. Eventually, they emerged saying ‘Kandil is behind us. Kandil will choke you with spit.’ They harmed the fraternity and honor of this country,” he said.

Yıldırım had previously stated that the 13 percent of the votes that the HDP received in the June 7, 2015, were a result of political pressure from the PKK, noting that the political turmoil in the country might result in manipulations at the ballot.

“Remember what we went through on June 7 [2015 elections] when we could not ensure the safety of the polls and terrorist organizations changed the choices of the nation by use of threats, blackmail and oppression,” Yıldırım said April 10.

In the 2015 elections HDP gained 80 seats in the parliament, preventing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) from gaining a parliamentary majority.

After five months of fruitless efforts to form a coalition government, Turkey went to another general election on Nov. 1, 2015.

“Our effort is to eliminate these separatists, to bring nations together, to bring east and west together,” he said.

Yıldırım also defended the constitutional amendments that will bring extensive changes to the executive system.

“The road to power will be open for those who embrace all of Turkey. But it will be closed for those who says ‘I am a separatist, I am a party of a certain region, I am a party which works for the power of certain ethnic groups.’ This road will be closed to separatism and discrimination,” he said.

“The only way to be a power in the new system is to ensure 50 + 1 percent of the votes,” he said, noting that that would only be possible by receiving votes from every region of the country.

“The power will be encompassing, including all colors in itself. Where is the bad in that?” he argued.