NEWSDESK, — Firat News Agency (ANF) conducted interviews with some intellectuals who have reacted to the statements of “revenge” made by Turkish President Abdullah Gul following the Çukurca counter-attack carried out by the HPG (People’s Defense Forces).
According to ANF the interviewed intellectuals called for the termination of the isolation of Kurdish national leader Abdullah Ocalan, an immediate end to KCK and military operations and re-initiation of negotiations for peace.
Remarking that it is a great necessity to re-strengthen democracy and the culture of law in Turkey, investigator writer Erdogan Aydın indicated that a dark scene and unethical environment was faced in the media in the current situation.
Aydın also underlined that firstly the state should display a determination and will for a solution to the Kurdish problem in these hard times and added; “Ending the ongoing operations in particular, immediate steps have to be taken for the solution of the problem.”
Prof. Ibrahim Kaboglu emphasized that President Gul should urgently make statements to resolve violence, not to encourage it. “As we witnessed before, violence prone statements have never developed a solution while on the contrary leading to a chaos. Therefore, it is needed to make more careful statements in such days in particular. There is a new constitution on the agenda but even an ideal constitution will not help unless peace is obtained and weapons are laid down in the first place. The second step to be taken afterwards is to form the most ideal constitution to ensure peace in Turkey.” said Kaboglu.
Human Rights Association (IHD) General President Ozturk Tandogan reminded of the 90’s that Turkey went through and said the followings; “Not any authority of the state has the right to make Turkey live the same years once more. Therefore, the current situation in the Kurdish issue needs to leaded by the process of a constitutional solution, negotiations needs to start again and weapons need to be laid down.” Mentioning the attitude of the media, Turkdogan remarked that the press should avoid speeches, publications and acts that may lead to a conflict among peoples.
“Similar statements have been made many times so far but never offered a solution. The President made an unfortunate statement while he should on the contrary call for common sense in such a period. Their duty is to prevent revenge and pain, not to practice them. They need to use every means possible to ensure peace.” said Turgut Kazan, former President of Istanbul Bar Association.
“The state doesn’t take revenge” said human rights defender Şanar Yurdatapan and added that “The way to dialogue needs to be opened and never closed again since revenge is never ending.”