“The most important factor that prevents the opposition from developing and creating a political alternative is their hostility towards Kurds”, writes Suat Bozkus in Yeni Ozgur Politika. The full article, translated by Medya News, is below.
Whenever the (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan-(Devlet) Bahçeli dictatorship gets stuck, they either find new gas, oil or gold deposits, launch a cross-border operation to extend their occupation, or come up with a new reform package. Think about the previous reform packages and democratic promises. They never sought real reform but oppressed people more and more, arresting activists and putting them behind bars. Even this pressure could not silence the opposition groups. The Erdoğan-Bahçeli dictatorship came to power by using unlawfulness and injustice and now it wants to preserve its position by breaking all kinds of democratic rules.
All over the world, reform means improvement, more freedom, less pressure on society, and the release of political prisoners. What happened in our country is the opposite. What they call reform is the slavery of people. On the one hand, arrests and persecution increase, while on the other hand, a “human rights action plan” is announced as if they are making fun of people. The promises given within the plan are not real promises – they are lies. That is the reason that no one took them seriously. Meanwhile, the hunger strikes launched against isolation reached their 100th day. New indictments are coming to the parliament to lift the immunity of the deputies. Erdoğanists continue their illegal attacks to end the resistance of Boğaziçi students.
After their plan to invade Garê failed, there was a significant development in Turkey. For the first time, the opposition parties, which were unquestionably behind Erdogan, started to ask questions. For the first time, they asked the reason for that defeat and loss. The Turkish style of politics, which is mainly based on a war with Kurds, is preparing its end. This politics can not give any hope to anyone, either within or outside the country. That is why the Erdoğan-Bahçeli dictatorship is trying to make all kinds of manoeuvres to preserve their power.
The parties, groups, and circles that constitute the opposition have so far failed to form an official or de facto unity against the dictatorship. For this reason, the Erdogan dictatorship could survive. If the opposition parties are to learn from this, they may come together around a forward-looking program instead of continuing to fight over the past. That is how they can create an alternative to this dictatorship.
The most important factor that prevents the opposition from developing and creating a political alternative is their hostility against Kurds. Today this appears in the form of hostility to the HDP. The hostility against Kurds has not helped anyone for the last 30 years, from the HEP to the DEP. On the contrary, it drowned the country in blood and tears. If the opposition parties are aiming to be a real opposition, they should work to end these tears. They have to find a new way of making politics. It is now time for action rather than rhetoric. Either they will bow to the fascist dictatorship and accept captivity, or they will stand up to put an end to this tyranny. There is no middle way.
The opposition should not be distracted by Erdogan’s plans but should set out with its own “Human rights action plan” to create a new, democratic, peaceful Turkey.
