Turkish government would show off if trucks were loaded with humanitarian aid to Syria: BDP leader

ANKARA

Everybody is aware that the trucks weren’t loaded with aid, Demirtaş said. AA Photo

If the Turkish government was really sending humanitarian aid to Turkmen in Syria in trucks that the police attempted to seize two weeks ago, they would surely “show off” their efforts, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) leader Selahattin Demirtaş has said, expressing skepticism over the government’s account of the episode.

“If the trucks were loaded with aid, they would trumpet them with celebrations and with live broadcasts. Would the Justice and Development Party (AKP) carry aid to Syrians in a hidden way?” Demirtaş asked, addressing BDP lawmakers at Parliament.

“Everybody is aware that the trucks weren’t loaded with aid. The entire world knows they were carrying arms to gangs,” he added, noting that the intelligence organization’s duty was not to “give confidential aid to gangs.”

The Turkish government, which complains about oppression by the Syrian regime, is as guilty as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as it gives support to “others who also suppress the Syrian people,” Demirtaş stated, referring to al-Qaeda groups in Syria.

“It is Turkey’s support that created al-Qaeda,” the BDP co-leader said, claiming that the Turkish government had lent support to extremist groups across the Turkish-Syrian border.

“They didn’t do this in order to establish a power against al-Assad. Their biggest fear was about Kurds [in Syria],” Demirtaş said.

“[The Turkish government], which has supported gangs [in Syria] is aiming to prevent the Kurds from gaining power, but has been hoisted by its own petard,” he added.