Erdoğan vows to fight terror, criticizes BDP’s attitude
ISTANBUL – Hurriyet – 22.1.2013 – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticized the Kurdish-focused Peace and Democracy Party (BDP)’s approach in the ongoing peace process, vowing to continue operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members who attack the Turkish army.
Erdoğan was reacting to the BDP’s criticism after the Turkish Armed Forces started an operation against the PKK, following the killing of one police officer in a gun attack by suspected members of the PKK on Jan. 16 in the southeastern province of Mardin.
“We have to chase them [the attackers] and give them the necessary response,” he said. “Criticizing the operations against those who have guns in their hands is not part of a peace process.” Erdoğan also criticized the BDP members who were given permission to enter the prison on İmralı island, where they meet with Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the PKK. “We are sending those who are sincere [about contributing to the peace process] … But you are saying the prime minister who sent you to İmralı is dropping bombs on our Kurdish brothers. This is not true. We have opened our hearts to our Kurdish brothers. We are sending bombs to terrorists. Our fight against the terror will continue today and tomorrow,” he said.
BDP getting orders
Erdoğan also criticized the BDP for not having its “own will” in the peace process, implying that the party was taking orders from the PKK. “Politics can be successful by standing against pressure. Have you rented out your own will? If you are going to do politics, do it with your own will. What are you [if you wait for] orders to come from somewhere else?” said Erdoğan, referring to the BDP’s ties with the PKK. Meanwhile, speaking of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris in an execution-style attack, Erdoğan said those who had criticized the Turkish government and state for this incident would be “ashamed” when the incident comes to light.