People's Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan answered journalists questions after his party's weekly group meeting. Bakırhan said that they had applied to the Ministry of Justice to meet Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan before Newroz. 

 

REPLY TO MINISTER TUNÇ

 

Asked about Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç's statement, "The right to hope is not an issue in our legislation and laws," Bakırhan said, "There are decisions made by international courts on this issue, there is an ECtHR judgement. I think this issue is beyond the Minister of Justice. If he is going to apply universal international rules, there is such a thing as the right to hope. This is not an issue we have invented or produced. If there is to be a solution, if there is to be peace, if a new and democratic ground is to be created, the right to hope and these conspiracy cases in prisons should also be reviewed."

 

"Who is our interlocutor?" Bakırhan asked, "Let's not have to answer to an AKP official minister every day. There is also the right to hope, the right to hope is a right. The right to hope is an international, universal right that is decided by universal law, decided by the ECtHR. If this process is to work, if there is to be a solution, there must be hope, there must be the right to hope. Will people stay in prison forever?"

 

Reacting to the statements of Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, Bakırhan said, "Where is the Minister of Justice in this process, what does this answer contribute to this process? There is no isolation! Do we believe this, has Mr Öcalan met with his lawyers and family for 4 years? Shame on you! Who is standing where must clarify a little bit."