PM Davutoğlu asserts ‘whoever digs ditches will be buried in them'

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, addressing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies at a Parliament meeting on Wednesday, firmly stated that those digging ditches will be buried in them and the government is resolute in fighting against terror until the very end. "While we are saying that locals in the region should get breathing space, they continue to threaten the people by digging ditches. … They are trying to paralyze the region by digging ditches, which began after the Oct. 6-7 incidents. Whoever digs ditches will be buried in them," Davutoğlu asserted. Davutoğlu once again criticized the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for supporting those who dig ditches and for not standing up against terror.

Addressing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies at a Parliament meeting, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu firmly stated that those digging ditches will be buried in them and the government is resolute in fighting against terror until the very end.

"While we are saying that locals in the region should get breathing space, they continue to threaten the people by digging ditches. … They are trying to paralyze the region by digging ditches, which began after the Oct. 6-7 incidents. Whoever digs ditches will be buried in them," Davutoğlu asserted.Davutoğlu once again criticized the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for supporting those who dig ditches and for not standing up against terror. "The HDP did not stand up against terror and could not defend politics. This society seeks its future in politics. Yet, they [the HDP] say they lean their backs on mountains [referring to the Qandil Mountains, the stronghold of the PKK terrorist organization]. The HDP will not be the object [of reconciliation discussions] as long as it remains under the shadow of weapons directed at politics," Davutoğlu said. He also slammed the HDP for not learning its lesson from the outcome of the Nov. 1 elections and still proceeding with an attitude that shows support for terror.

Reiterating that the dug ditches will be filled, Davutoğlu said the Turkish state will not be brought down to its knees by terrorists. "Everyone who possesses reason and a conscience should know for sure that traitors will be defeated," Davutoğlu argued.

İlhami Işık, a Kurdish writer renowned for his analysis on the Kurdish issue, spoke to Daily Sabah and rebuked the HDP. "Ditches, bombs, violence and mines… They all point to one thing: Death. Politics is the art of keeping people alive. Instead of doing this, the HDP presents an attitude that invites people to death," Işık said. Labeling it as a fascistic approach, Işık asserted that one should not encourage people to carry out activities leading to death.

Underscoring that killing people, exploding bombs and digging ditches have nothing to do with being a Kurd, Işık suggested that Davutoğlu's remarks are accurate.

'THEY WOULD HAVE CALLED IT DICTATORSHIP'After the deadly Paris attacks, French and Belgian authorities declared a state of emergency and daily life in their respective countries came to a halt as security forces clamped down on terrorists. The Turkish government drew attention to how French and Belgian media outlets and societies reacted to the decisions. Prime Minister Davutoğlu again underscored the unified attitude of French and Belgian societies at the group meeting. "In the wake of the Ankara attacks, uncensored media footage went out in the first minute. [Yet] the French media did not release any footage that would have been terror propaganda," Davutoğlu said, adding that France banned all demonstrations while there were campaigns against the government in Turkey after the Ankara attacks. "If we had done it, they would have called it a dictatorship," he further asserted.

Speaking to Daily Sabah on the issue, Star daily columnist Ahmet Taşgetiren criticized the West for its double standards over terror precautions. "Turkey is sensitive on terror issues just like every other country and there are terrorist attacks around the world. [Yet] double standards come into play when the West is tested with such attacks," Taşgetiren said.

Arguing that Turkey could not explain its fight against terror well, Taşgetiren said that Ankara's measures taken in order to provide security were questioned while the West considers everything it does legitimate. "Even soldiers can patrol the streets in Europe. Davutoğlu's criticism exposes this double standard. I hope the West shows the same attitude when Turkey and other countries take such measures," Taşgetiren said.