The Turkish army continue to bomb mountains, plains and residential areas in 39 villages in Lice under the guise of a “curfew” with fighter jets and artillery fire. The pillaging and destruction campaign is framed as “cannabis raids” by the government media, while military dispatching reaches a record level, fires take over the district and human rights violations peak in the curfew areas.

Speaking to ANF, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Group Deputy Chairperson İdris Baluken said the attacks launched in Lice by the Turkish army are “part of the collapse plan”. He called on the public to stop the AKP/Palace's operations.

“THE CONCEPT WE ARE FACING IS RUTHLESS”

Baluken said the recent process had shown many atrocities in several cities in Kurdistan and that the operations launched in Lice were implemented under the orders of the AKP government.

“AKP TRYING TO DISBAND THE POLITICAL WILL OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE”

Baluken pointed out that the AKP government especially targeted the people living in the city center and can’t bear the fact that the people protected their living spaces despite all the hardship, oppression and attacks. Remarking that the collapse plan was being implemented against the rural areas again like in the 90s, Baluken continued: “In line with this plan, if the AKP gets results in Lice, they will try to expand this to include many villages in Kurdistan. This shows how the AKP government looks at the will and the social and political demands of the Kurdish people. The AKP government claimed they were victims of February 28 for years, but now in Kurdistan they want to disband the political will of the Kurdish people together with the Ergenekon leftovers.

“The operations in Lice should be regarded as a new level. Because in Lice, either the AKP will get results or the Kurdish people will protect their own will. In this sense, it’s not only the resisting people of Lice, but also democratic circles in all cities of Turkey that should raise a loud voice. The concept we are facing is ruthless! They don’t only pose a threat to human life, they are also destroying nature, burning forests and tearing down houses with construction equipment.”

“THEY CAN’T GET RESULTS IN THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE OF AMED AND LİCE”

Baluken expressed that this wasn’t the first time the district of Lice was facing such an aggression as the people had faced more ruthless attacks in the ‘90s. He emphasized that it was never the people of Lice who ended up the “losing side”. Baluken said the AKP government was trying to absolve the legal proceedings regarding the ‘90s and that they were reassigning the gang structures that carried out the murders back in the day. Baluken continued: “The gains and the historic results of the Lice resistance are apparent. The Palace and the AKP government will never get results against the people of Amed and Lice, like the mind that committed the massacres in the ’90s failed.”

“WE WILL CONTINUE OUR STRUGGLE TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE OF LİCE”

Baluken concluded his words by expressing that a continuous demonstration process has started in Amed and said it was of the utmost importance that the NGOs and all those conscious about human and natural life should speak out against the operations in Lice. Baluken said that as the HDP, they will not stay silent in the face of these massacres and they will continue their struggle together with the people of Lice to the end.