CHP Leader Özgür Özel: “We Are Not a Party to Do Secret Deals with Terrorists”
ozgur ozel
Marking the 11th anniversary of the Soma mining disaster that killed 301 workers in Turkey’s Manisa province, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel visited Soma for commemorations. During his visit, he delivered strong remarks about the recent announcement from the PKK regarding its decision to disband, and responses from the Turkish government.
“Lozan Remarks Are Erdoğan and Bahçeli’s Responsibility”
Asked about PKK’s recent statements referencing the Treaty of Lausanne, Özel firmly distanced himself and his party from the process:
“Every word of that statement is reportedly coordinated with Turkish intelligence (MİT). If the declaration includes controversial remarks about Lozan, the Constitution, and the Republic’s founding, I am not the one to answer. That responsibility lies with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli, who are orchestrating this process. If Öcalan signed it, Erdoğan and Bahçeli’s signatures are stamped beneath like a royal seal.”
“We’ve Always Been Consistent: We Want Peace, Not Terror”
Özel reminded that CHP has held a consistent position for decades:
“We are against terrorism. We want peace—for both Turks and Kurds. We want government funds to serve the people, not fuel violence.”
He accused the government of double standards, saying Erdoğan and Bahçeli once demonized CHP for demanding peace, only to now lead the process themselves:
“Those who called us traitors for saying ‘no more bloodshed’ are today walking hand-in-hand with those very ideas.”
“TBMM Is the Only Legitimate Platform for National Dialogue”
Commenting on potential political reforms or peace negotiations, Özel stated that any process must go through the Turkish Parliament (TBMM):
“No secret backdoor negotiations. No constitutional manipulation. Victims’ families must be heard. Any necessary reforms must be debated transparently and, if needed, put to a referendum.”
“You Celebrate Öcalan But Question CHP for a DEM Councilor?”
Özel criticized the hypocrisy in government rhetoric:
“While Erdoğan and Bahçeli praise Öcalan’s role, they accuse CHP municipalities of wrongdoing simply for having a councilor affiliated with DEM Party. They condemn us while negotiating with the people they once labeled terrorists.”
“PKK Is Öcalan’s Party—They Praise It, Yet Attack Atatürk’s”
Özel slammed what he sees as a distortion of political priorities:
“They glorify the party founded by Abdullah Öcalan but try to undermine the party founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The Turkish people will judge this contradiction.”
“We Didn’t Negotiate with Terrorists—We Advocated Democracy”
Özel emphasized that CHP never engaged in secret talks, but has always stood for equal rights and democratic resolution:
“We never made shady deals. We stood by our people even when we were attacked at funerals, provoked on the streets. We never stepped back.”
Final Word: “We Are Not the Addressee of a Terrorist’s Statement”
Concluding his remarks, Özel reiterated:
“As the party that founded the Republic, we are not the interlocutors of a terrorist group. Let those responsible answer for their own negotiations.”
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