Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Southern Kurdistan representative Abit İke spoke to the ANF about the oppression policies recently enacted by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) against the Kurds who had to migrate from Turkey and Northern Kurdistan to Southern Kurdistan for a variety of reasons. İke said the KDP’s oppression developed in parallel with AKP’s oppression.

İke said KDP’s oppression, detention of Northern Kurdistanis especially in Hewlêr, Duhok and Zakho and pushing poeple out of these cities have increased recently and added that they refuse to accept these policies.

“MASOUD BARZANİ WAS INFORMED”

İke said they met with the KDP many times in the past for the solution to the issues but they couldn’t reach a result: “We met with the KDP many times, both as the representation office and as a council of representatives of the Headquarters on how the oppression geared towards Northern Kurdistanis and how any problems that arise may be solved. There has always been pressure on people who came to Southern Kurdistan because they received sentences in Northern Kurdistan or to find a job, but lately that pressure has increased. We personally informed Mr. Masoud Barzani on this issue. No results have come out of the meetings we have held.”

WHO IS GIVING THE ORDER?

İke pointed out that the pressure on Northern Kurdistanis in Southern Kurdistan, and HDP members in particular, has increased and added: “Recently, our vehicles were confiscated. When there were protests, they backed down and said it was something the security did on their own. They also say it’s the security forces’ own decision regarding the pressure on our members. But we told them that the Asayish won’t act this way unless there are orders from the government. What authority does the Asayish have to call our members in for questioning, oppressing our members, making them sign papers or cancelling their residency permits and removing them from Hewlêr? If the Asayish can do these on their own, then where is the government?”

“THE DOORS TO DIALOGUE AND COMMUNICATION ARE CLOSED”

İke said that in the past the doors to dialogue for the solution of problems was open, but they have since been closed and continued: “Most recently we informed the KDP foreign relations office of this situation, but nothing changed. In the past, when there were problems like this we used to hold meetings and attempted to resolve the issue, but in the last couple of months the KDP officials stopped even taking our calls. As all doors to dialogue and communication have closed, we had to speak through the media and make such a statement.”

“END RELATIONSHIP WITH HDP” SIGNATURES!

İke stated that the HDP members called in to the Asayish were forced to sign documents to sever their ties with the HDP, and added: “The Hewlêr Asayish answers our statements with a statement, but they are not the ones we should be talking with. They receive orders, and carry out their duty. Our business is with the ones who give the order. A notice has been sent to the Asayish, it states that Kurds from Northern Kurdistan shouldn’t go to the HDP or attend any of the party’s activities. Our members are forced to sign this notice. We absolutely reject this.”

ATTACKS IN PARALLEL

İke pointed out that the pressure on their party increased significantly after the attack on Shengal on March 3 and stated that the AKP and KDP pressure developed in parallel. He continued: “This started with the attacks of the last couple of months, particularly the March 3 attack on Shengal. Our members who attended a demonstration protesting this attack were detained. One of them is still in custody. KDP’s oppression here develops in parallel with the AKP’s oppression in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey.”

“THESE POLICIES SHOULDN’T BE HEEDED”

HDP Southern Kurdistan Representative Abit İke called on the people of Southern Kurdistan to not heed these policies and said: “We are the third largest party in Turkey. On top of that, we are the largest political party in four parts of Kurdistan. We respect political parties in all parts of Kurdistan, but we do expect the same respect for our party and our members. We state that the people of Southern Kurdistan and all the peoples of Kurdistan should be conscious of these policies.”