Pro-Kurdish parties encourage common sense

Turkey's pro-Kurdish parties have urged people not to fall into the "trap of provocation and violence" in the aftermath of deadly clashes in southeast Turkey.

Clashes between pro- and anti-PKK groups in Turkey's southeastern town of Cizre on Saturday killed three people and injured three others.

"Everybody must be vigilant in the face of the trap set in Cizre," warned Ali Şimşek, the provincial head of Democratic Regions Party or DBP in Diyarbakır on Monday.

"We must be alert and not fall into such traps. Thanks to their common sense, our people have prevented a possible massacre," Şimşek said as he read aloud a press statement on behalf of DBP, Peoples' Democratic Party, and The Democratic Society Congress, a platform that brings together pro-Kurdish groups.

Attempts to sabotage the reconciliation and peace process through intimidation and massacre plots had been thwarted, Şimşek said referring to the effort launched by the Turkish government in early 2013 to settle the Kurdish issue, and secure an end to the decades-long conflict with the PKK.

"The DBP strongly disapproves of such internal conflicts among the Kurdish population, and will respond in a democratic manner to all kinds of provocations and plots that repeatedly aim to lure Kurds into an armed conflict," he added.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also said Sunday that Cizre clashes were "all provocations which were not only aimed at the state, but also intended to cause anger between different political groups."

Davutoğlu advised people to be calm. "We will not tolerate those who want to bring clashes and unrest outside Turkey into our country, especially to the border provinces," he said.