Speaking at a rally in Erciş district of Van, HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan recalled the illegal removal of the democratically elected co-mayors in many HDP municipalities. The co-mayors were replaced by State-appointed trustees who followed direct orders from Ankara and run the cities with repressive and aggressive measures.

Buldan talked about “Bekir Kaya, Co-mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality who was dismissed and sent to Istanbul, Silivri Prison. Because Bekir Kaya was an honest mayor. He was the mayor of the people of Van, your mayor. Again, the Mayor of Erciş Municipality, Diba Keskin. She too was dismissed, a woman comrade dismissed and sent to prison. In this city, Diba realised great services. She hired female municipal police. In her place, a trustee was sent and his first act was to dismiss the female municipal police.”

Buldan added: “The AKP government is afraid of the HDP. Afraid of our politics, and for this reason tries to get rid of us with every mean, but we are here and we will win on 31 March.”

Hunger strikers will end the isolation

HDP co-chair Buldan reminded that “today is the 119th day of our beloved MP friend Leyla Güven hunger strike. For 119 days Güven and over 300 people in Turkey and Europe have been on hunger strike, putting their body at risk.

These people are not demanding something illegal or unreachable. They are asking Turkey to comply with its own laws.”

Leyla Güven and the other hunger strikers, said Buldan, are actually demanding the end of isolation which means for Öcalan to have his rights reinstated.