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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Nov 23 2011
ErdoÄ?an's Dersim remarks create rift within main opposition party
23 November 2011, Wednesday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,
A call by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an on the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) to apologize for the killing of
thousands of people in the Alevi region of Dersim in the 1930s has
created a rift within the CHP, with the party administration accusing
ErdoÄ?an of waging a war against the republic and a local branch having
already apologized.
CHP parliamentary group Deputy Chairman Akif Hamzaçebi was the first
CHP official to respond to ErdoÄ?an and accused him of engaging in
separatism. `The prime minister is spreading hatred, anger and
animosity. He is engaging in separatism. The prime minister has
launched a war against the republic. Next is [Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk,'
he said.
Hamzaçebi added, `Every rebel is a victim in the eyes of ErdoÄ?an,'
accusing the prime minister of `cheap politics.'
CHP Deputy Chairman Gürsel Tekin reacted to ErdoÄ?an's words in a
written statement and also accused ErdoÄ?an of inciting animosity among
people. `I congratulate the prime minister. He put dynamite under the
basis of unity in our nation and country with his language, style and
explanation. He has been successful in creating animosity among the
people. We learned our history, thanks to him. What else is left to
say? What is the next step for the prime minister? What is the end
goal of his campaign?' he said.
However, in an apparently contradictory reaction, CHP Diyarbakır
provincial branch Chairman Muzaffer DeÄ?er said hours after ErdoÄ?an's
call that the prime minister did what the CHP should have done by
apologizing for the Dersim Massacre on behalf of the Turkish state. He
said the CHP administration should also confront its past and
apologize.
ErdoÄ?an on Wednesday offered his apology for the killings of 13,806
people in the southeastern town of Dersim -- now known as Tunceli --
between 1936 and 1939. The apology came after a war of words between
ErdoÄ?an and CHP leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu. ErdoÄ?an called on the CHP
leader to offer apologies as well, as the CHP was at the helm of the
government during the massacre. KılıçdaroÄ?lu has not yet responded to
the prime minister's comment.
Nov 23 2011
ErdoÄ?an's Dersim remarks create rift within main opposition party
23 November 2011, Wednesday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,
A call by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an on the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) to apologize for the killing of
thousands of people in the Alevi region of Dersim in the 1930s has
created a rift within the CHP, with the party administration accusing
ErdoÄ?an of waging a war against the republic and a local branch having
already apologized.
CHP parliamentary group Deputy Chairman Akif Hamzaçebi was the first
CHP official to respond to ErdoÄ?an and accused him of engaging in
separatism. `The prime minister is spreading hatred, anger and
animosity. He is engaging in separatism. The prime minister has
launched a war against the republic. Next is [Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk,'
he said.
Hamzaçebi added, `Every rebel is a victim in the eyes of ErdoÄ?an,'
accusing the prime minister of `cheap politics.'
CHP Deputy Chairman Gürsel Tekin reacted to ErdoÄ?an's words in a
written statement and also accused ErdoÄ?an of inciting animosity among
people. `I congratulate the prime minister. He put dynamite under the
basis of unity in our nation and country with his language, style and
explanation. He has been successful in creating animosity among the
people. We learned our history, thanks to him. What else is left to
say? What is the next step for the prime minister? What is the end
goal of his campaign?' he said.
However, in an apparently contradictory reaction, CHP Diyarbakır
provincial branch Chairman Muzaffer DeÄ?er said hours after ErdoÄ?an's
call that the prime minister did what the CHP should have done by
apologizing for the Dersim Massacre on behalf of the Turkish state. He
said the CHP administration should also confront its past and
apologize.
ErdoÄ?an on Wednesday offered his apology for the killings of 13,806
people in the southeastern town of Dersim -- now known as Tunceli --
between 1936 and 1939. The apology came after a war of words between
ErdoÄ?an and CHP leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu. ErdoÄ?an called on the CHP
leader to offer apologies as well, as the CHP was at the helm of the
government during the massacre. KılıçdaroÄ?lu has not yet responded to
the prime minister's comment.