Maya Heuschmann, Coordinator of the Turkey Section of Amnesty International Switzerland, stated that the Turkish state openly violated the international humanitarian law. Heuschmann underlined that; “The massacre of civilians perpetrated by the Turkish state in Kurdistan is unacceptable. If the presidential system longed by Erdoğan is realized, democracy can never be a matter of discussion in Turkey again.”

Coordinator of the Turkey Section of Amnesty International Switzerland talked to ANF regarding the war waged by Erdoğan and AKP in Kurdistan for the sake of their own ruling, and the dimension of the massacres committed by Turkish military and police forces against civilians.

'TURKISH STATE ONCE AGAIN RESORTS TO REPRESSION AND VIOLENCE'

Heuschmann pointed out that Amnesty International has made an examination on civilian deaths that came after Erdoğan and AKP dragged the country into a renewed conflict by ignoring the peace talks going on for a long time. She underlined that the most attention grabbing point of the information they obtained and the examination they made was the fact that the Turkish state has once again resorted to repression and violence.

'DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE TALKED ABOUT IF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM IS REALIZED'

Heuschmann said it was unacceptable that Erdoğan dragged the country into a war once again after the defeat he suffered in June 7 election, adding that this imposition by Erdoğan had no judicial nor legal aspect. She underlined that democracy can never be a matter of discussion in Turkey again if the presidential system longed by Erdoğan is realized.

'TURKEY VIOLATES THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW'

Remarking that the Turkish state openly violated the International Geneva Convention Humanitarian Law by perpetrating a massacre of civilians in its attacks in the Kurdish region, Heuschmann called for an urgent ending of the state's attacks on civilians.

Heuschmann said international human rights organizations failed to play an effective role in the ongoing war in Kurdistan, adding; "Our basic duty is to research into the right violations committed there, and to present the results to the governments and create awareness towards the incidents taking place. However, Turkish government officials do not pay much regard to the reports we prepare and present to them."

'UN COULD SEND PEACEKEEPING FORCES TO KURDISTAN'

Proposing that the United Nations could act on the matter and send peacekeeping forces to the Kurdish region in Turkey, Heuschmann said; "The UN can act urgently and take some initiatives to stop the war if it wants. Yet, it seems the UN pursues a policy that avoids direct involvement in this process and remains contented with just watching the happenings from outside."

'HDP IS A GREAT CHANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF TURKEY'S PEOPLES'

Noting that human rights defenders who advocate peace against war were shocked and disappointed to see the re-beginning of war in the wake of the long-lasting peace talks, Heuschmann said the HDP's struggle for peace against the impositions of war raised hopes among the defenders of peace.

Likening HDP's march to Cizre to Martin Luther King's freedom march, Heuschmann pointed out that HDP was a great chance for the future of Turkey's peoples.

'EUROPEAN SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD OBSERVE NOVEMBER 1 ELECTIONS'

Referring to the snap election to be held on November 1, Heuschmann emphasized that a new election in the current conflict environment wouldn't be a democratic one as the people didn't have the circumstances to go to polls and reflect their will freely. She underlined that it raised doubts how the security of elections could be ensured now that Erdoğan imposed a new election for the sake of his own ruling.

Calling for the involvement of the European Security Council in the process to act as an observer for November 1 election, Heuschmann added; "We should never give up hope nor struggle for peace."