Controversies and tension prevailed during the discussion on the protocol on economic and financial cooperation between Turkey and the Pseudo-state, which took place today in the "parliament" in the occupied territories. The debate started with a speech by PKK President Toufan Erhiurman. The People's Party, which decided last week to withdraw from the "parliament", did not participate in today's session.
Erhiurman commented on the fact that the person who signed the protocol agreement is no longer a "prime minister" (p.s.: he means Faiz Suzhouoglu) and that "government" no longer exists either. "We do not accept as legitimate a structure that is the product of intervention. Mr Tatar said it openly," he said, referring to the T/C leader's statements that Ankara had interfered in the past in the politics of the T/C community.
The PKK chairman noted that the protocol may refer to a source of revenue of TL 4.25 billion, but there are debts from 2021 that the pseudo-state will have to repay to Turkey and the amount left at the end will be TL 2.15 billion. He noted that inflation has shot up to 88%.
Stressing that through the protocol, the rights to trade unionism, collective agreements, assemblies and marches are being interfered with, Toufan Erhiurman asked "what does all this have to do with the economy and finances?" "If the religious affairs department gets the rights of the EBKAF, will this bring development to the country?" he asked the question. Commitments have been made to Turkey on issues completely outside the economy and finance, he added.
You have not even read this document, he said, addressing the "government" and even if you have read it, you do not understand it, and if you understand it, you do not give a damn about the country. "A document was signed that provides for a violation of the constitutional order," asking people to explain "the abolition of rights to assemblies and events, what do they have to do with development?"
If collective agreements are abolished, this will increase public finances, he also asked. "You are saying that the way to reduce the external debt, i.e. to Turkey, is not to have the old rights when the collective agreement ends. What you are saying is to stifle the rights."
You will raise taxes and you call this a reform, he asked again.
Argument with Erhan Arikli
When Tufan Erhiurman said, "you should tell us what you signed in our name," the "transport minister" Erhan Arikli replied from the podium "you will know when the time comes" with the opposition leader angrily replying "what did you sign?" and a brief altercation ensued, according to online websites.
Taking the floor after Toufan Erhiurman, Erhan Arikli said it is a "government" of reforms "and these reforms will be carried out one way or another." Addressing the opposition, he said, "if you help us we will thank you, if not, we will do it ourselves." Protocol discussions should be done through the filter of conscience and reason, he added.
The "finance minister", Sunat Atun said that protocols between Turkey and the pseudo-state have been signed for years and that a country (Turkey) using its own internal resources in another "country" (the pseudo-state) also sets some conditions for this, but this is not an imposition, he argued. He took notes reported ok. Atun from Toufan Erhiurman's speech and will respond specifically. This was followed by a second speech by the PKK chairman as well.
The point we are at is a "scorched earth", the economy has hit rock bottom, the "prime minister", Unal Ustel, said in his own speech, saying that he took over this post having received a mandate from the relevant organs of his party. The first reform they will pass, he said, is on local government and they are ready to create joint committees for that.
The microphone that caused tension
The second time he took the podium, Tufan Erthurman interrupted the microphone and it could not be heard. The "chairman" of the "parliament", Zorlu Torre then told him that they would have to put a restriction on speeches according to the "parliament's" by-laws. Irritated, Mr. Erhiurman told him that his duty is to ensure that there is discussion and not to put restrictions.
In a post on social media, CL chairman Kudret Ozersai wrote that the protocol included the phrase that improvements would be made to meetings and decision-making procedures, so it should come as no surprise if restrictions were soon placed on speeches in the "parliament" as well, he noted.
The undemocratic regulations will continue, increasing, he continued, asking when Turkey signs an international agreement, how it would react if a clause was inserted on how the Turkish Grand National Assembly would meet and make its decisions.
Reactions from guilds
According to the GMP, the T/C press today also reported on the reactions of the guilds. The president of El-Sen, a guild of the workers' guild of the "electricity authority", Kubilai Ozkirac said that the main goal of the "protocols" signed with Turkey from the 1980s until today is to give the "authority" to the capital of Turkey, but it was not achieved thanks to the decent attitude of El-Sen.
In a written statement, he noted that even today the guild will not allow the plans of those who "again whet their appetite" to pass, adding that the latest "protocol" includes "imposing regression" on Turkish Cypriots, privatizing ports, abolishing collective bargaining agreements, cutting the rights of "public sector" workers, imprisoning thought and ending the trade union struggle.
"We do not recognize and accept this protocol of annexation and betrayal," he noted, adding that they are ready for mass resistance both as a guild and together with other organizations.
The president of the guild of "municipal employees" (BES), Mustafa Yaltsinkaya said that they will fight against the "protocol" together with other guilds and organizations. "Those who signed this package are clearly betraying their own people. We will resist as always in the streets against this package of destruction that will increase the existing dependence on Ankara in every sense and in every sector," he said."
Source: CNA
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