In such foggy and misty days, one has to find out the “whys” and the “to what purposes” as well as the “whos” and the “whats.” If a correct cause and effect relationship cannot be established and if who benefits from something cannot be correctly determined, one can hardly escape from being trapped in a game. Yet there are master players who are capable of playing games within a game. In order to not be distracted by the pawns, we need to read the game correctly.
Take the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), for instance. Immediately after the referendum was announced, it declared that it would boycott the ballot box and launch another wave of terrorist attacks. Why? There is, of course, no reasonable justification for it. This is why debates unrelated to the package are triggered, ensuring that the core of the matter is neglected and partisanship can be mobilized. As for the PKK, this organization assumed that when it makes a call to boycott the referendum, the people in the Southeast would quickly yield to this call and the rate of participation in the referendum would be very low.
But they understand now that this will not be the case. People are inquisitive these days. They ask, “Why is this boycott?” Moreover, the opposition to the referendum has created a picture in which the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the PKK have apparently formed an alliance. This is something the CHP and the MHP are not content with. This also created a similar shock for the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the PKK, both of which are going through serious convulsions to save the day.
As you may remember, the PKK started to re-launch its terrorist attacks in late May. The plan was that at a time when there were numerous martyrs, parties and masses that tend to base their policies on Turkish nationalism would step in and an anti-initiative atmosphere would be created; the resulting tension would then wear out the ruling party. This plan was implemented, but some unexpected things happened. Take for instance, the incident that ended up with the killing of four police officers in Dörtyol, Hatay province. Serious suspicions were raised about collaboration among such diverse structures as the PKK, JİTEM -- an illegal formation within the gendarmerie -- and the MHP. A district council member of the MHP had to resign from his party because of his involvement in the incidents.
Concrete evidence was found in attempts to provoke the general public and to incite people during funerals of martyrs.
We realized that some shady networks were trying to pit people against each other. Yet, in appearance, these networks were each other’s enemies. One of the goals of these networks, which serve the same purpose behind the scenes, was to produce policies over the funerals of martyrs. The game was foiled because the people who were caught in the act led to doubts. Moreover, the society was no longer the same. That is, it asked questions after any provocative attack: Haven’t we seen this movie before?
The PKK office then made a new statement and said that they have made the decision to have a “lack of conflict.” Some called it a cease-fire. They further claimed that they did so after “negotiating with the state.” It is not clear what they mean by “the state” or which unit of the state they are in contact with. But they know that these claims will wear the ruling party out as the first party to come to mind will be the political authority. So they follow an insidious method. Indeed some opposition parties rushed to accuse the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) of acting in harmony with the PKK. Is this true? Of course not. But the organization intends to create such an impression and confuse people’s minds. They know that a majority of the people in the region will vote “yes.” Thus they try to create the impression of an alliance in order to trigger reactions in many parts of the country.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “I say this openly: This is despicable slandering. It is a lie made up to affect the period leading up to the referendum.” He is right in using such a harsh tone because, by making it seem that it will say “yes,” the organization, which is completely against the referendum, wants to increase the number of people who will vote “no.” Will the people in this country fall for such a cheap shot? I don’t think so. Everyone has become aware of the kind of relations that exist through the Heron debates and the Reşadiye and Dörtyol attacks.
It is necessary to be ready for all kinds of information pollution and provocations before the referendum. Just look at how a former chief of police, who is being crowned for long fighting against gangs, is coming out and trying to exonerate the Ergenekon gang and leave the state’s judicial and security institutions under suspicion, all the while attempting to create a phobia of religious communities. It’s a plot within a plot. By ignoring documented crimes of the gang and attempting to exonerate them, he goes so far as to deny his own past. He is illustrating how attachment to a squad, jealousy and vengeance can turn into terrifying cooperation.
Turkey is not the same. It does not and will not succumb to information pollution. The masks will come off and we will have a clearer picture of who is fighting to cover up what mistake with what plans and where and what they are doing by giving up their disguise.
