Gov’t informs opposition parties about cross-border operations, excludes HDP

ANKARA

DHA Photo

The government has informed the opposition parties in parliament about the recent cross-border military operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), though the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was not briefed.

A delegation led by Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül with the participation of Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Hakan Fidan, police chief Celalettin Lekesiz and deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler visited Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu following a meeting at the Prime Ministry with the participation of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on July 27.

The team was also scheduled to visit Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli on the same day, after the Daily News went to press.

The briefing of the opposition parties came after complaints by Kılıçdaroğlu of not being informed by the government about such critical foreign policy and security decisions taken by a temporary government. 

HDP excluded from briefing

Yet, the government did not include the HDP in the briefings by the delegation about the military operations against the PKK and ISIL, as the parties are in deep rift after the suicide bombing in the southeastern border town of Suruç last week.

Following the killing of 32 people in Suruç, HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş had bitterly criticized both Davutoğlu’s government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for turning a blind eye to ISIL’s activities.

The PKK claimed responsibility in the killing of two police officers in the southern town of Ceylanpınar, which further fueled tension between the Kurdish movement and the government, followed by military operations targeting PKK hideouts in northern Iraq.

In one week’s time, more than 800 suspects have been detained in multiple provinces in Turkey in a fresh wave of anti-terror police operations against ISIL and the PKK.

Deputy Prime Minister warns HDP 

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan slammed Kurdish politicians, saying they “push politics through terror and violence.”

Akdoğan tweeted, “Normalization and democratization of politics can be possible through ending terrorizing [politics],” on July 27.

“Confronting identity politics that continue [to be] backed up with an armed struggle will serve for disintegration, not for democracy,” he said. 

Arms and politics cannot go hand-in-hand, Akdoğan said, warning anyone who challenges the law and state will “lose” in the end. 

The most contrarian views can find a place within politics, but imposing those ideas through terrorist groups will only be taking democracy hostage, he said.