Davutoğlu: Homeland Security Bill will Help Kurdish Peace Process

• 03.03.2015, 12:02
•  Region,  World

Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Prime Minister of Turkey, stated that the controversial domestic security bill is actually a measure which will facilitate progress in the peace bid, Hurriyet reports.

This statement came at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s weekly parliamentary group meeting, which was held on March 2. During this meeting Davutoğlu referred to both questions in some way combining them together.  Speaking about the Kurdish peace process, Davutoğlu warned against a repeat of deadly pro-Kurdish demonstrations that shook the country in October. Almost 50 died during those protests, which began because of Ankara's refusal to aid the Kurdish defenders of Syrian Kobane.  "The Oct. 6-7 incidents were a provocation initiated just as a new hope emerged. The protection of freedoms and the domestic security reform, which is currently on parliament’s agenda, is a measure taken against the atmosphere of the Oct. 6-7 incidents. It is a measure that will pave the way for the resolution process,"- Turkish Prime Minister said.

So, according to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, the homeland security bill, drafted by the ruling Justice and Development Party, contributes to peace process by giving police wide powers to secure the protection of the Turkish society.  Turkish Prime Minister thinks that there will be a progress in the Kurdish peace process by adopting this bill, which strengthens the authority of regional governors appointed by the central government, while Kurds desire expanded regional autonomy in the southeast.

But the two main stakeholders of the peace process - the Peoples’ Democratic Party and the Kurdistan Communities’ Union do not agree with Prime Minister, although the government has left the door open to amendments of the bill that would be initiated by the opposition parties.

Of course, there is no doubt that the interests of the Kurds have nothing to do here and the Kurds in Turkey will not benefit from this law. The adoption of the bill will only lead the country to authoritarianism and strengthen the pressure on the Kurds.