Mehmet Çakıcı, leader of the TDP, made strong criticisms while appearing on the Öğle Ajansı program, hosted by Cem Kar and broadcast on Ada TV.
TDP leader Mehmet Çakıcı, who said he had referred Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu to the Prime Ministry Inspection Board that Eroğlu himself had established, said, “If it’s going to inspect irregularities, then let’s see it do so.”
Mehmet Çakıcı claimed that providing Religious Culture and Ethics education was inadvisable for children under the age of 11 and questionable for those aged 11–15.
Rana SARRO
Appearing as a guest on Cem Kar’s Öğlen Ajansı program, Toplumcu Demokrasi Partisi (TDP) leader Mehmet Çakıcı strongly criticized officials over the National Sovereignty Monument erected at the roundabout in front of the Civil Defense Nicosia Regional Directorate building, claiming that the monument was illegal. Mehmet Çakıcı, who said he had referred Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu to the Prime Ministry Inspection Board that Eroğlu himself had established, said, “If it’s going to inspect irregularities, then let’s see it do so.” In strong criticism of the religious education courses that have been in the news in recent days and prompted widespread backlash, Çakıcı also commented on the possibility of TDP and the United Cyprus Party (BKP) joining forces.
“SINCE WHEN WAS ATATÜRK A PAN-TURKIST?” Expressing his criticism of the monument erected at the roundabout in front of the Civil Defense Nicosia Regional Directorate building, Çakıcı said: “Since when was Atatürk a Pan-Turkist? Atatürk was not a man who carried a sword. If you are an Atatürkist, you should act like him.”
“SO, DOES THAT MEAN AN OLIVE BRANCH AND A DOVE SYMBOLIZE WAR, TOO?” Mehmet Çakıcı criticized LTB Mayor Cemal Bulutoğluları for his remarks at the opening ceremony of the National Sovereignty Monument: “If you elected me, we will erect whatever we want on any land belonging to the TRNC; on August 15, I will also put up a statue of Bülent Ecevit at the roundabout ahead.” Çakıcı said, “Then they should put a spear in Ecevit’s statue’s hand, too.” Referring to Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu’s words that the National Sovereignty Monument symbolized peace, Çakıcı criticized him, saying, “If a sword symbolizes peace, then that must mean an olive branch and a dove symbolize war, too.”
“THE MONUMENT IS ILLEGAL” Çakıcı said the National Sovereignty Monument was illegal, claiming that permission to build it had not been obtained from the Department of Town Planning or the Chamber of Architects and Engineers. “What kind of state are you? This is an unauthorized construction, and the mayor is allowing it. He has no right to do this. That means illegal activity is being turned a blind eye to,” he said.
Çakıcı also pointed out that building the monument at the intersection was wrong, asking, “Who owns the road? Can anyone who feels like it build whatever they want in the road without permission?”
A DIG AT THE PRIME MINISTER Mehmet Çakıcı, who said he had referred Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu to the Prime Ministry Inspection Board that Eroğlu himself had established, said, “If it’s going to inspect irregularities, then let’s see it do so.” Çakıcı said that a monument whose composition depicts the Greek Cypriot side with a sword was unsuitable in every respect, including its location, and also spoke about how wrong it was to build such a statue at a time when the two sides were discussing peace.
“WE ARE READY TO UNITE WITH BKP” Çakıcı also discussed the possibility of TDP and BKP coming together and seeking ways to work jointly. “There’s no benefit in staying separate. We had this idea before the elections, too. TDP has always been open to uniting and has always supported unity. It is not in favor of an alliance. But we’re not in a hurry; we’re leaving it to time. In any case, there isn’t an election coming up anytime soon,” he said.
INADVISABLE AND QUESTIONABLE Mehmet Çakıcı said it had been reported that Religious Culture and Ethics, currently offered as an elective in middle schools but set to become compulsory, would be taught to children aged 9–10. He claimed that providing Religious Culture and Ethics education was inadvisable for children under the age of 11 and questionable for those aged 11–15. Çakıcı stressed that people over the age of 15 could receive such education, but that it should be a matter of personal choice.