Atalay vows no tolerance of celebrations for surrendering terrorists

Interior Minister Beşir Atalay called a press conference in the Turkish capital on Friday and lambasted the pro-Kurdish party for its “welcome home celebrations” for the PKK members who turned themselves in to Turkish security forces on Monday. Thirty-four PKK members returned to Turkey in a show of support for the government's plans to settle the Kurdish question through democratic means. They were released without any punishment, which was celebrated in boisterous events organized by the DTP and its supporters.

The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), however, launched an investigation into the trial and release of PKK members on Friday. A probe was also launched by the Supreme Court of Appeals Prosecutor's Office on Thursday against the pro-Kurdish party for the celebrations it organized.

The PKK group toured several southeastern cities in a DTP bus and spoke at rallies organized by the pro-Kurdish party. DTP supporters carried PKK flags and chanted slogans in support of the terrorist organization and its jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan. The celebrations were met with harsh criticism by statesmen and politicians, who expressed worry that the DTP's stance could hamper efforts exerted for the solution of the Kurdish question.

“No one should even imagine a recurrence of those shows. We will never give permission or show tolerance,” warned Atalay, who is also the coordinator of the ongoing governmental efforts to settle the Kurdish question through peaceful methods. “The DTP has displayed a very irresponsible attitude by turning the process [of the surrender of PKK members] into a political show. They did it incorrectly. We exerted our best to prevent it. So far we have taken many risks. Our patience is being tried. We are making sacrifices. In spite of everything, the DTP acted irresponsibly,” Atalay said.

The interior minister expressed his concerns that the pro-Kurdish party is attempting to sabotage the ongoing peace process.

“Are they trying to sabotage this process we are working on with great effort and a goodwill? These shows are by no means acceptable, and they disturb us deeply. … The Turkish Republic is a state governed by the rule of law. Everyone is obliged to comply with the principles enshrined in laws. No one has any privilege to act differently. Those who wish to return to their homes after our calls should keep this in mind. I invite everyone to act with common sense at a time when we are going through a very sensitive process,” remarked the minister.

Atalay also asked the Turkish nation not to be provoked by the “undesired scenes” in the Southeast, saying: “We trust our nation's common sense. We will continue walking on our path with the same determination despite all provocations and smear campaigns.”

More harsh criticism against the DTP attitude toward surrendering PKK members came from Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç. He lashed out at the pro-Kurdish party for exaggerating the number of participants in its recent rallies. “The number [of DTP supporters] was reported to be between 15,000 and 17,000. It is not right to claim that the party brought together hundreds of thousands of people. The DTP draws a few thousand people [to its rallies] but has so far been unable to draw more than 15,000 to its rallies, while it claimed to have drawn 1 million people,” he said.

According to Arınç, some DTP deputies were also disturbed by the overexcitement of the pro-Kurdish part over the return of the 34 PKK members.

“I will not give their names. They said they were disturbed, too. When I asked why they do not prevent such scenes, they said they were unable to do [anything]. Some are trying to make Apo [a nickname for Öcalan] a hero by saying that the return home process started with his call. They are trying to prove his power. Some are trying to show that the PKK is still alive,” he added.

TSK still ready to fight against PKK

The strongest warning against the DTP came from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) during a press briefing on Friday. Maj. Gen. Ferit Güler strongly underlined that what has been witnessed since Monday would not be accepted by the General Staff.

“As we expressed on Aug. 25, everyone should refrain from any act that could draw the country into an atmosphere of polarization, division or clashes. Democracies are not defenseless regimes. The developments cannot affect our determination in the fight against terror,” Güler remarked.

Turkey's counterterrorism fight was also discussed during the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Tuesday. The council said any terrorist threat directed at Turkey from northern Iraq will not go without a response, dropping hints that the Turkish military is ready at all times for a cross-border operation into northern Iraq.

A motion was passed in early October to extend by another year the TSK's mandate to launch cross-border military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq.