Demirtaþ: We demand negotiations, not operations
Demirtaþ: We demand negotiations, not operations
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaþ visited forty City General Council members who had taken over the hunger strike in Kayapýnar (Diyarbakýr) on Friday, protesting against the isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan as well as the military and political operations.
BDP CO-Chair Demirtaþ stated that the ongoing hunger strike act represented a dignified struggle and should therefore be visited and supported everywhere by tens of thousands of people as an answer to the resistance in prison. The government pressure should be responded by resistance in areas, not only on March 8 and 21 but every day, underlined Demirtaþ and noted that the majority of the Kurdish people don’t feel that they belong in this state.
Demirtaþ said the followings; “The government executives should see that the Kurdish people have emotionally grown away from the state in the current situation, in the face of the government’s attitude after Roboski slaughter, all these political arrests, outdated and unlawful trials and insults directed to our language.”
Demirtaþ also reacted to the accusations of AKP members who say that ‘BDP lives on blood and war’ and pointed out to the steps that BDP has taken so far to build peace. Demirtaþ said the followings; “The government which carries out operations and sheds blood accuses us of living on war and blood. We repeat our call that war and conflict will not lead to a solution and we call on AKP deputies to say several words of peace. Where are the AKP deputies while BDP deputies stage hunger strikes in areas and even in prisons to demand a solution? We should act together to end the ongoing conflict and take steps together to start dialogue and negotiations. We believe in a democratic solution and democratic victory and we demand freedom, not isolation. We demand negotiations, not operations.”
Demirtaþ criticized the AKP government for declaring itself as the hero of peace while remaining silent in the face of Roboski slaughter, thousands of arrests and unrecognizable bodies of young people who die in this war. “Do either fulfill your historical reponsibility and make an effort for peace or fade from the scene”, called Demirtaþ on the government.
Referring to the works performed for the new constitution, Demirtaþ pointed out to the impossibility of a new constitution without ensuring the freedom of expression, the press and right to a fair trial. No development has been lived concerning our demands from the new constitution, noted BDP Co-Chair and reminded of the arrest of students and politicians on the grounds of demanding mother tongue education and expressing that democratic autonomy is the right of Kurds.
“How could we speak freely in this case? By whom and how will the demands of Kurds be reflected to the new constitution as they are prevented from speaking and holding demonstrations to voice their demands freely? On the other hand, there is a great pressure imposed on the press as everyone in the area practices a self-censorship. How could it be possible to make a new constitution in the present situation? Separately, we are not very hopeful about this process when other parties don’t display an intention and sincerity about the new constitution”, added Demirtaþ.
BDP CO-Chair Demirtaþ stated that the ongoing hunger strike act represented a dignified struggle and should therefore be visited and supported everywhere by tens of thousands of people as an answer to the resistance in prison. The government pressure should be responded by resistance in areas, not only on March 8 and 21 but every day, underlined Demirtaþ and noted that the majority of the Kurdish people don’t feel that they belong in this state.
Demirtaþ said the followings; “The government executives should see that the Kurdish people have emotionally grown away from the state in the current situation, in the face of the government’s attitude after Roboski slaughter, all these political arrests, outdated and unlawful trials and insults directed to our language.”
Demirtaþ also reacted to the accusations of AKP members who say that ‘BDP lives on blood and war’ and pointed out to the steps that BDP has taken so far to build peace. Demirtaþ said the followings; “The government which carries out operations and sheds blood accuses us of living on war and blood. We repeat our call that war and conflict will not lead to a solution and we call on AKP deputies to say several words of peace. Where are the AKP deputies while BDP deputies stage hunger strikes in areas and even in prisons to demand a solution? We should act together to end the ongoing conflict and take steps together to start dialogue and negotiations. We believe in a democratic solution and democratic victory and we demand freedom, not isolation. We demand negotiations, not operations.”
Demirtaþ criticized the AKP government for declaring itself as the hero of peace while remaining silent in the face of Roboski slaughter, thousands of arrests and unrecognizable bodies of young people who die in this war. “Do either fulfill your historical reponsibility and make an effort for peace or fade from the scene”, called Demirtaþ on the government.
Referring to the works performed for the new constitution, Demirtaþ pointed out to the impossibility of a new constitution without ensuring the freedom of expression, the press and right to a fair trial. No development has been lived concerning our demands from the new constitution, noted BDP Co-Chair and reminded of the arrest of students and politicians on the grounds of demanding mother tongue education and expressing that democratic autonomy is the right of Kurds.
“How could we speak freely in this case? By whom and how will the demands of Kurds be reflected to the new constitution as they are prevented from speaking and holding demonstrations to voice their demands freely? On the other hand, there is a great pressure imposed on the press as everyone in the area practices a self-censorship. How could it be possible to make a new constitution in the present situation? Separately, we are not very hopeful about this process when other parties don’t display an intention and sincerity about the new constitution”, added Demirtaþ.
