Nationalist leader in tense visit to Tunceli

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli arrived in the eastern province of Tunceli on Nov. 28 for a tense visit, as protests erupted in the city against the MHP head.

Bahçeli gave a speech in front of the governor's office, recalling the remarks of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who had claimed Bahçeli would not be able to repeat his hard-line arguments on the "Dersim debate," referring to the historic name of Tunceli, if he met directly with residents of the province.

"Here I am in Tunceli. I am with the distinguished descents of the Turkish nation," Bahçeli said.

He repeated his argument that no good can come from bringing up what happened in the past in the present day, describing the incidents in 1937-1938 in Tunceli as a "riot" and saying a legitimate state is supposed to defeat the dangers against it.

Police intervened quelled crowds that had gathered on the streets to protest Bahçeli's visit, while many businesses in Tunceli were closed in protest.