Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will hold the 3rd Ordinary Congress in Ankara on February 11.

HDP Co-chair Serpil Kemalbay held a press conference at the HDP headquarters in Ankara and spoke about the increasingly ongoing arrests ahead of the party congress.

Kemalbay pointed out that the already existing pressure got even more violent amid increasing operations since the launch of the invasion operation against Afrin Canton of Northern Syria on January 20.

Kemalbay recalled that 500 people were detained during the past one week for saying “No war” on social media. “DTK (Democratic Society Congress) Co-chair Leyla Güven was imprisoned for manifesting her stand against war. DBP (Democratic Regions Party) Co-chair Mehmet Aslan was similarly jailed for expressing the demand of our peoples. Deputy Co-chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), a constituent of the HDP, was also jailed during this process.”

Describing the arrest operations as a part of efforts to finish off the HDP and an act targeting those fighting for peace, Kemalbay said; “HDP is the people and you cannot imprison or finish off the people. The freedom struggle of people cannot be stopped. You will not silence the HDP which is the voice of all those silenced.”

Referring to the removal of the parliamentary status of Sirnak MP Ferhat Encu, a relative of Roboski victims, Kemalbay said; “You have massacred democracy, destroyed justice and are ruling the country as a fascist dictatorship. You are not giving an account for any massacre you have committed, and you want to expel those who remind you of your crimes from the parliament. However, Ferhat Encu is the deputy of peoples. He has always been with the peoples and he will continue being with them and raising a voice.”

Kemalbay announced that HDP Co-chair said Istanbul MP Pervin Buldan and 25th term MP Sezai Temelli will stand as co-chair candidates at the congress of the party, which -she said- will be attended by a large number of party members and their friends, and welcome some guests from abroad, including EP Left Group Chairperson, French Communist Party Secretary General, Podemos from Spain and Syriza from Greece, in addition to attendees from Cyprus and Palestine.

Kemalbay stated that co-chairs of 14 provincial branches, 8 district branches, 18 provincial and district administrators and 7 Party Assembly members of the HDP have been detained since January 20. She said this wave of arrests was aimed at preventing attendance in the congress of the party.

She added that HDP offices in many locations have been attacked as a result of the provocative and militarist language used regarding the battle in Afrin.

Kemalbay underlined that fascism will be either institutionalized or defeated in 2018.