Demirtaş: Roboski report unacceptable

ANF – Ankara 28.03.2013 – Speaking at the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) parliamentary group meeting, co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş said that the report of the Parliamentary Sub-Commission investigating Roboski massacre was mainly designed to spread propaganda for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Demirtaş criticized the commission for failing to conduct a more particular investigation.

Demirtaş remarked that the report was unacceptable before laws, justice and conscience and served for nothing but being a part of the crime. He pointed out that the AKP majority in the commission led to the re-preparation of the report regardless of all the criticism it received and the statement of opposition BDP deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü presented.

Demirtaş underlined that Roboski massacre was not an incident that could be slid over by the Parliament or any other authority. BDP co-chair stated that the Commission should display a more ethical attitude and shed light on the truth to make a contribution to the advancing process of talks with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Turkish state. The result of the report will show the government’s approach towards the process, he added.

Demirtaş pointed out that the Turkish state asked for an apology from Israel and other countries while denying an apology to its people. Noting that it was important for the state to make an apology to relieve the public conscience in time of talks for a new process, Demirtaş said BDP would not forget the massacre nor let it be forgotten. Referring to recent developments in the process of talks for a solution to the Kurdish question, Demirtaş said Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan’s message indicated the possibility for all peoples to build a new life together. “As the living symbols and representatives of these lands, we should stop seeing each other as enemies”, he added.