In recent years we have been hearing this phrase a lot.
“This issue is a supra-political matter”
In fact, we hear this phrase most often from politicians.
What are these supra-political issues?
National security
Foreign policy
Work accidents
Terror
Femicide
The Kurdish problem.
The list goes on and on. If they are not ashamed, they will even declare ‘poverty’ and ‘injustice in income distribution’ ‘above politics’.
This language is actually a language that the government wants to create. And unfortunately it has succeeded to a great extent.
Let me give you an example from my own experience.
In 2022, there was an explosion at the TTK mine in Amasra and 42 miners lost their lives. We had a live broadcast connection with an MP of the main opposition party on the channel I was broadcasting at the time.
“Is there evidence that the accident occurred due to negligence or failure to take adequate occupational safety measures?”.
Answer: This is a supra-political issue. Now is not the time for politics.
“Was there enough supervision at the institution?” I ask.
Answer: This is a supra-political issue. Now is not the time for politics.
“What are the families saying. Will those responsible be held accountable?”.
Answer: This is a supra-political issue. Now is not the time for politics.
“I say, ”Okay, thank you" and end the connection.
That's exactly what I'm talking about.
If the occupational murders, the measures not taken, and the Occupational Safety Law, the effective date of which has been repeatedly postponed, is a ‘supra-political’ issue, what is this thing called politics making an issue of?
The same sentence is on everyone's lips these days: “This is a supra-political issue”
And what is that supra-political issue?
Some call it the ‘Kurdish problem’, others call it the ‘terror problem’.
As we know, a new process has started and talks between delegations are ongoing.
When you ask a question about how to solve the problem, the answer is ready: “This is a supra-political issue”
Well then let us ask: Isn't what some call the ‘Kurdish problem’ and others call the ‘terrorism problem’ a political problem?
Is this problem that Turkey has been experiencing for years ‘sociological’?
Weren't the discriminatory policies implemented, what happened in Diyarbakır Prison, the closure of all the parties founded by Kurds one after another ‘political’?
If the issue is political, the solution will also be political.
‘Another phrase often used by those who say ’this issue is above politics‘ is ’this is a state issue.'
What do you mean?
Is there a sphere of ‘state’ where politics has no say?
If we are to accept such a thing, why does politics itself exist?
Let the bureaucrats run the country then.
Whoever says “This is a state issue” about the solution of the Kurdish issue, knows that he does not want a real solution to the issue.
Those who say this are the ones who do not want Turkey's issues such as democracy, law, justice, equality, education and discrimination to be discussed and resolved.
This mindset, which only allows the ‘game of politics’ to be played within the space defined by the established establishment, but excludes politics from the game on fundamental issues, is in fact the very issue itself.
When the opposition surrenders to this, it falls into the position of defending the bribery in the US as a ‘national issue’.
At least I hope they have learned a lesson from this.