Deputy slams gov’t over Kurdish issue

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Deputies from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), journalists and human rights activists came together to discuss Turkey’s Kurdish issue in a meeting organized by Human Rights Association (İHD).

BDP’s Istanbul Deputy Sabahat Tuncel criticized Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) policy about the Kurdish issue.

“AKP doesn’t want to solve the Kurdish problem. They do not even want to include Kurds in writing the new constitution,” she said addressing the detentions made under Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) members.

The KCK is the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

İnci Hekimoğlu, a journalist from the daily Taraf, said these detentions are signs which show the fear of government. “They are afraid of losing their power when these people are free.”
Meanwhile Tuncel said that a concrete step taken on the Kurdish problem and will also provide solutions to problems with other minorities. 

“A solution for Kurdish problem is not only good for Kurds but also good for other ethnicities in Turkey,” she said. Tuncel also said they are hopeful with the steady struggle for human rights despite AKP implementations.

On the other hand Sociologist Ferhat Kentel said new constitution should make no distinctions based on ethnicities.

“There should be no ‘Kurd,’ ‘Azeri’ or ‘Circassian’ discourse in the new constitution as well as no ‘Turk,’” he said and added that everybody should stand together despite all their differences instead of highlighting said differences.