MHP leader suggests martial law

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Bahçeli says no time should be wasted before striking terrorism with an iron fist. AA photo

The most important problem Turkey faces at the moment is “separatist terrorists and their insidious attacks,” Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli said yesterday, calling for the implementation of either martial law or emergency rule.

“Our nation will face very serious consequences if no precautions are taken and if the withdrawal position in the fight against terrorism is not abandoned. No time should be wasted before striking terrorism with an iron fist and rendering its supporters and friends ineffective,” Bahçeli said, speaking at a press conference held at his party’s headquarters in Ankara.

“The government should leave aside its servile and conciliatory politics and comprehend the reality of the Turkish nation. It should collapse the world around those who killed our children,” Bahçeli said.

“The declaration of emergency rule or martial law for a certain part of the country should be seriously taken into consideration, and all necessary preparations for this should be made rapidly,” he said, apparently in reference to southeastern Anatolia, which has recently been the scene of intensified attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The MHP had also recently submitted a motion to lift the legislative immunity of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) lawmakers who was recorded on camera embracing PKK militants. The MHP’s proposal envisages the inclusion of “supporting terrorism and terrorists”, which stipulates under what conditions a lawmaker’s immunity could be lifted.