LEADERS FAIL THE TEST |
| ="justify">It was a great opportunity. Remember those slogans they keep repeating about our unity and brotherhood? Those about being against armed groups and the importance of democracy and freedom of expression. Do you remember those politicians who constantly criticized the groups that raid exhibitions, courtrooms and attack people in the name of “patriotism?” These people are the ones who failed the test. Our leaders just failed. They couldn't utilize this opportunity. If they had only attended the funeral of Hrant Dink, they could have proven that they really meant what they said. The entire bureaucracy and all of society would have started to think differently when they saw our leaders bidding farewell to Dink. gn Minister Abdullah Gül and the entire Justice and Development Party (AKP) received the worst mark. I thought rule of law was the most important thing for this president. I used to think freedom of expression was a priority for him. Sezer disappointed us all. The ruling party and especially Erdo?an and Gül are on the top of the list of people who disappointed us. The prime minister should have been in Istanbul yesterday. He should have brought Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi with him after opening the tunnel in Bolu and showed up for a few hours. If this was impossible, he could have sent Gül. The closed parliamentary session on Iraq was in the evening. So they should not give us the excuse of having a busy schedule. What could have been more important than this funeral? Where are the European Union criteria they have been working on for so long? Where is democracy and freedom of expression? Erdo?an and Gül fell victim to nationalist votes. For just a few hundred thousand votes, they betrayed themselves. It appears they never truly believed in these criteria and were just talking. The most positive message from the AKP came from deputy Ömer Çelik. His proposal to drape Dink's casket in a Turkish flag showed that he did not succumb to the nationalists. My congratulations go out to Çelik. Shame on the prime minister and the foreign minister. What about Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal? Wasn't he supposed to be our savior? Wasn't it the CHP that was to protect freedom of expression? Baykal failed the test. Going to Dink's house and extending his condolences was not enough. He should have led the march. I also expected far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli there too. Bahçeli, who constantly says he wants to make far-right youngsters productive members of society, should have utilized this great opportunity. We should have seen him at the march. It would have been a truly great gesture for all. What happened to Mehmet A?ar? Or did he, too, get sacred? Was he, too, afraid to lose the votes of the nationalists? Whatever the reason, this attitude is not befitting of the Leader of True Path Party (DYP), A?ar. I wished in my heart to see Chief of General Staff Gen. Ya?ar Büyükan?t there. Could there have been a more beautiful, more symbolic gesture than that? Could the Turkish Military's condemnation of such events be better exhibited? That would have been a wonderful picture… With President Sezer at the head of the procession, all political party leaders, and the chief of general staff… This would have been the most wonderful picture of Turkey. Could a better message be given both to ourselves and to the whole world? We have missed a very big opportunity…
There are also those who do not hide: There are also politicians who do not want to hide behind the nationalist votes. They are Erkan Mumcu, Zeki Sezer and Murat Karayalç?n. They courageously went out on the squares. They did not hide. They showed they had the heart. My sincere congratulations… They stood behind their views even though they need to be careful and fight for each vote. They did not act like the others. But most important was the behavior of those tens of thousand of people that formed the procession starting from the early morning hours. They demonstrated what kind of a Turkey they wanted to live in. They showed that they long for a Turkey where people are not killed because of their thoughts. In Turkey, politics will not be the same ever again. The current habits will be left behind. It will be the time of leaders who keep their words. | | | « Back | Comments
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