‘Nationalism being undermined, separatist plot brewing’
The New Anatolian / Ankara
January 25, 2007

In the wake of incidents implicating the state, a dangerous lynching
campaign has begun to erode the faith of citizens in the state, warned
Devlet Bahceli, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader,
yesterday.

At a press conference, Bahceli stated that Turkey is being left
defenseless against threats from both inside and out. He added that
last week’s murder of journalist Hrant Dink is a scenario aiming to
sow political tension.

Bahceli claimed people’s emotional and human reactions are being
cruelly exploited to blacken the nation’s values and the sensitivity
of the Turkish people and added that the country is passing through a
very dark, dangerous period.

"A new chance for exploitation was made by certain groups waiting for
the signal to condemn Turkey to convict it under an international
plan," charged Bahceli. "Dramas staged in recent days after much
rehearsal showed the concrete signals of hostility and provocative
campaigns targeting Turkey. A risky road strewn with mines stretches
ahead of Turkey."

Stating that the slaying of Dink is, above all, a heinous act that
should be condemned by every citizen who hasn’t lost human dignity,
Bahceli added that the wave of indignation at the murder will be seen
as an ethic and humane reaction, as long as it stays within these
limits.

"Non-Muslim minority Turkish citizens binding their fate and future to
Turkey’s are respectable individuals having equal rights and
responsibilities of Turkish society," said Bahceli. "Alienating or
discriminating against these people just because of their ethnic roots
goes against Turkish nationalism and love of country."

Bahceli stated that groups marching through the streets with banners
and black flags already found the culprit for the murder and convicted
the state by chanting "Murderer state will give account," or "Here’s
the state, here’s the genocide." He explained that following this,
"so-called intellectuals" set up tribunals in their newspaper columns
or on TV screens.

"These people took being the police, prosecutor, judge and executor as
a natural right," said Bahceli. "Through these slogans, Turkish
nationalism and Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301 were equated with
a miserable criminal and they were declared as the instigators behind
the murder."

The MHP leader pointed to the slogan "We’re all Armenian" chanted at
every stage of this "lynching and smear campaign." "Given the
emotional atmosphere, this slogan can be seen as an expression of
solidarity at an individual level," he said. "Yet, everyone should
evaluate as far as their conscience is concerned what this slogan
means to circles claiming that Turkey has undergoing a crucial
transformation."

Bahceli claimed that while Turkish nationality has been presented as
an unfavorable idea, activities are underway to give a legal green
light for political sectarianism.

"These provocations to transform Turkey to a new bilingual,
multinational partnership republic by dividing the nation have reached
a very dangerous level under the political auspices and clemency of
the ruling party," said Bahceli.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress