If the Kurds are walking to the borders [in protest] as a result of the pressure, thinking that they will leave if they are not wanted, this shows the situation has reached a boiling point” Gültan Kýþanak, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) co-chair and candidate for parliament said in an interview published today in Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

Police detained 35 people Monday in the southeastern province of Hakkari, including the deputy mayor and other local officials, in connection with ongoing investigations into the Kurdish Communities Union, or KCK.

“Every protest was stopped, tents were removed, the people were advanced upon with vehicles and tear gas and continuous systematic violence was inflicted,” she said. “The scene right now is terrible, with thousands in custody, hundreds injured and one dead. Those who walked to the borders in Hakkari protested this situation.” Kýþanak said underlining that the march was some kind of a first: “It was not even planned. It came from the anger felt at that moment. The dominant psychology is, ‘You see us as the enemy. You treat us as the enemy. If we are not citizens, then we should leave,’” she said.

BDP co-chair underlined that “the practices in the region in the last two months really do prove this idea’s validity. There is a hateful attack, as if they are approaching the enemy.”