LOC21:39
18:39 GMT
ANKARA, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
criticized Friday a proposal made by opposition to issue a general pardon on
Kurdish militants if they lay down their arms, asserting that nobody has the
right for such an amnesty.
"I don't even have the right to issue a general pardon, and nobody can
ignore the tears of fathers and mothers of the soldiers who were killed in the
war against the rebels," Erdogan said in an interview with a local TV station.
leader of opposition Republic People's Party Kemal Kilicdaroglu had
announced before a party rally two days ago that he would adopt a proposal to
issue a pardon on outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) if they put down their
arms.
His announcement outraged ruling Justice and Development Party and the
opposition Nationalists. The latter described the proposal as "reckless."
Erdogan said he would be the first person to oppose the pardon. "I don't
see any party having the right to give this pardon."
Only the Democracy and Peace party, which represents the Kurds in the
Turkish parliament, backed the pardon proposal. "A general pardon will be one
of the major elements for any solution for the Kurdish problem," said the
party.
The armed 26-year-old struggle between the PKK and Turkey has left 45,000
dead people and caused billions of dollars in losses. (end)
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