Turkish Cypriots are paying far closer attention to developments in Turkey than to the elections in the south.
The government in Turkey is far more decisive for us…
There can be no justification for the coup d’état against the CHP, the intervention that can never be reconciled with democracy, or the suspension of the rule of law.
From bedroom videos to bribery scenarios, from secret witnesses to organised crime operations, from mayors thrown into prison to journalists…
The picture is bleak…
Even terrifying…
The authoritarian regime is closing in on anyone it perceives as a ‘threat’ – be it the police, the prosecutors, the intelligence services or the judges…
This has been rehearsed time and again in the ‘TRNC’.
That is why we are no strangers to what is happening; as is well known, this place has always been a ‘laboratory’…
***
Remember the National Unity Party Congress.
It was not the ‘Prime Minister’ chosen by the members, but the one they did not choose, who was appointed.
The ‘last in line’ in the election suddenly found himself at the helm.
What was done to Akıncı is, of course, fresh in our memories…
The ‘White House’ meeting orchestrated by the Ambassador and the commanders has been inscribed as a disgrace in our political history.
***
Apart from making a call for ‘urgent democracy’, what can we do for Turkey?
Yet, we must also find ways to protect ourselves from this lack of democracy…
Just look…
Whilst the ‘political occupancy rate’ in prisons is reaching its peak… Whilst trustees are taking the place of elected mayors… Whilst diplomas are being revoked…
Now the cancellation of the party congress has become yet another coup.
Soldiers with weapons, water cannons…
A party headquarters is being seized as if under attack…
And this is the party founded by Atatürk…
We must stand firmly by the elected leader of this party…
***
The stock market, the lira, inflation…
Of course, we too will pay the price of all this…
Did you say democracy?
The will of the people?
Judicial independence?
The press, freedom of expression, freedom of thought?
Freedoms?
We are experiencing the repercussions of all of them…
And then there are the spineless ones, of course…
Those devoid of honour…
Puppets…
Everywhere, in every era…
***
I hope Turkey emerges from this darkness…
We need that too…
That is why some say, whilst reading the election results, “nationalism is on the rise in the south”…
I ask:
Which one is more frightening?
The election results in the south?
Or, the shame of democracy in the north?
I know your answer!
Once again in front of Parliament...
Once again, a ‘copy-paste’ understanding of democracy...
Another amendment to the Criminal Code, a reflection of the political mindset in Turkey, is being pushed through Parliament.
The instructions are well known...
Puppets are everywhere, as we’ve said...
We’ll be in front of Parliament again on Monday at 11.00 am.
For press freedom...
For freedom of expression...
For freedom of thought...
So we don’t end up looking exactly the same...
Source: A DEMOCRACY IN RUINS
