Protest against the usurpation of Bahçesaray Municipality: We are here and we will resist

In the protest against the usurpation of Bahçesaray Municipality, demonstrators said: “The AKP government will not defeat the will of the Kurdish people. We are here, we will resist.”

Masses gathered in Bahçesaray (Miks) district of Van province in protest at the usurpation of the municipality yesterday evening.

Speaking at the demonstration which was attended by hundreds of people, Ayvaz Hazır, Co-Mayor of Bahçesaray Municipality, said: “What they wanted was to subjugate the will of the Kurdish people. Our people should know that we will be here and we will resist. Masters, listen to us well, one day you will leave.”

Co-Mayor Nebahat Benek said, “The AKP government will not defeat the will of the Kurdish people. You cannot intimidate this people with fear and persecution.”

DBP Provincial Co-Chair Cemal Demir said, “Our people will not accept this persecution and injustice. AKP is disrespecting this people. Our people will resist and win. The AKP-MHP uses the judiciary as a stick in an unlawful and forcible way. Our will was usurped with this stick. We call out from here: respect the will of our people. You cannot punish a person for participating in a press statement. We do not recognise this decision.”

DEM Party Van Provincial Co-chair Veysi Dilekçi said: “Bahçesaray is the hometown of Feqiyê Teyran and has never bowed to oppression. Feqî's grandchildren will resist. Our people did not bow down and did not step back, and they will not step back now either. Return the will of our people to its owners immediately.”

Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Abdullah Zeydan said, “On 31 March, our people won all the 14 municipalities in Van despite the AKP candidates using all the means of the state and bullying. Here too, the AKP candidate lost despite all their threats and bullying. We have declared that the trustee system is a system of theft and corruption. Those who attack the will of the people, democracy, justice and law have always lost.”

Zeydan said that the people would surely win and added: “This persecution has been done to the whole of Turkey and everyone should protect democracy.”

DEM Party Van MP Sinan Çiftyürek said, “If you want to ensure internal peace, remove the trustees appointed to municipalities, from Esenyurt to Hakkari, and recognise the will of the people.’

After the statement, the people started a sit-in protest.