Sancar: Opposing the war in Ukraine and supporting the occupation of Afrin is hypocrisy

HDP Co-chair Mithat Sancar pointed out the hypocrisy of the Turkish government on the issue of war at his party’s parliamentary group meeting in Ankara. The actions in Ukraine show once again how war causes destruction and pain, and how important peace is as a lasting goal, the HDP co-chair said in the public part of the meeting:

“For this reason, we must immediately establish a large peace movement against all forms of war policies and militaristic attitudes. As HDP, we are convinced that problems and conflicts in our own country and between states cannot be solved through methods such as war and fighting, but only through negotiations, dialogue and diplomatic efforts. We are against war everywhere. Wherever there is a war, we are part of the struggle for peace.

This applies not only to Turkey, but also to the Middle East and Europe. We position ourselves unreservedly against war and occupation. This is a fundamental principle. To speak out against war in one place and stand behind war in other places is hypocritical. And that’s what the media and the supporters of the government are doing. It is precisely those who never say anything about Turkey’s war policy who use the word peace incessantly today.

Speaking out against occupation and war in Ukraine while supporting the occupation of Afrin and war policies in Libya and other places is hypocrisy. If we really advocate peace, we must advocate in this country to solve the Kurdish question and all other problems through dialogue. We must take a stand against the government’s militaristic war and security policies. The government is the main actor in wars in other regions and tries to appear as a dove of peace when it comes to Ukraine. It should be common knowledge that peace is not one of the government’s intentions and that it has no policy at all in the service of humanity. Instead of acting as a mediator in Ukraine, the government should first abandon its policy of war in its own country and refrain from occupying territory and waging war in the Middle East. Only then is the call for peace sincere and can be supported by us.”