Murat Çakır
”When it was apparent that the Justice and Development Party (AKP)-Palace Regime had initiated its attack plan, which was implemented step-by-step, and that these attacks would continue to grow, it became a necessity for its European partners to express their ‘deep concern’ – by shedding crocodile tears as usual,” writes Murat Çakır for Yeni Yaşam.
The statements of the Berlin-Brussels-Strasbourg triangle are not addressing the AKP-Palace regime, but the opposition groups and the public whose reactions need to be tempered.
In particular, the reactions from Germany over the decision to unlawfully strip Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğu’s parliamentary status, and the closure of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), shows what might happen in the coming months. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’s response is actually funny: “The federal government expects Turkey to comply with the high democratic standard and the rule of law as a member of the European Council and candidate for European Union”.
It is clear that German imperialism has no expectation of democracy or the rule of law from the ruling class in Turkey and the AKP-Palace regime. If so, they, especially the social democrats, would take steps to fulfil the requirements of a “high democratic standard and rule of law” referred to by Maas regarding the systematic unlawfulness against the HDP as a party since its establishment, as well as against its members, administrators, mayors and parliamentarians.
Maas’s response indicates a taming of the opposition groups and the HDP, saying, “the HDP should set definite boundaries between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK]”. Speaking through the AKP-Palace regime, Maas signals that the close partnership with the regime will continue and the “Kurdish policy” in Germany will harden. It should not be surprising if there are new political attacks on Kurdish institutions in Germany and Europe in the coming weeks.
Germany knows better how to cover its hypocrisy in terms of Turkey. For example, the SPD’s Michael Roth, the federal government’s minister of state for Europe, met with HDP co-chairs and representatives two weeks ago, on 9 March. Roth said that they closely followed anti-democratic practices in Turkey and would not compromise on human rights and democracy.
We know very well how “closely” they follow the developments. Considering the fact that current practices require a certain preparation process even under hostile law conditions and the German authorities are aware of every step of the AKP-Palace regime. We can assume that Roth was aware of what awaited them while meeting with HDP executives. In other words, looking in the eyes of HDP members, he clearly lied.
However, the German state knows very well that the line of struggle that is embodied in the HDP cannot be easily overcome, and this line can strengthen and open new ways for itself. For this reason, they try to tame and affect the struggle. This is the main concern of German imperialism and it is right to be concerned. The determination of the millions who stand with the HDP will enable the party leaders to show the necessary willpower to avoid this game. Just like the previous party closures.
