MHP leader appeals for ‘prudence’ in face of ethnic turmoil, provocations

ANKARA

CİHAN photo

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has joined calls for “common sense” in the face of rising violence and polarization in Turkey, warning that any reaction against violence must not serve to spark an ethnic conflict. 

In a written statement published on Sept. 8, Bahçeli stressed that people “must not be trapped by those who launch provocations and test the waters of Turkish-Kurdish enmity.” 

“Roads should not be paved to ethnic fighting and turmoil,” Bahçeli said, warning that Turkey is on the verge of “civil war” and repeating his call to declare martial law in eastern and southeastern Anatolian provinces, where dozens of members of the security forces have been killed by outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants since July 20.

“One spark will be enough to burn Turkey and crash the country into domestic turmoil,” the MHP head said, cautioning against “provocations.” 

“On this matter, the Nationalist-Ülkücü movement will act carefully and not dance to the tune of anonymous crowds organized by dark masses,” he said. “Ülkücü,” meaning “idealist,” is a term used by many far-right Turks to describe their ideology.

“It is essential that demonstrations to condemn terror, which are otherwise innocent and taking place in a very reasonable way, remain within democratic limits,” Bahçeli added.

In an apparent reference to the wave of attacks targeting buildings of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the MHP leader also described “the stoning of party buildings” as “a development against Turkey.”