On August 19, the Turkish Ministry of Interior removed the elected mayors of HDP-run metropolitan municipalities of Amed (Diyarbakır), Mardin and Van and appointed the governors of the three cities trustees to the municipalities.

HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) and residents of Amed have been protesting against the seizure of the municipality for 36 days on Lise Avenue close to the municipality building. The demonstration has been joined and supported by numerous political and social groups, organizations, parties and individuals since it began.

Today’s vigil was held again under police blockade with the participation of HDP deputies, TJA activists, Peace Mothers, administrators of 78’ers Initiative and hundreds of people.

78’ers Initiative Spokesperson Celalettin Can pointed out that the Turkish state did not even comply with its Constitution when it came to Kurds whose will has long been ignored.

Stressing that Kurds wanted the solution of the Kurdish question through democratic means, Can said a structure called “deep oligarchy” did not want peace and insisted on war.

According to Can, the appointment of trustees to HDP municipalities is a result of the deadlock related to the Kurdish question.

“On one hand, they call Kurds “our brothers and sisters”, on the other they appoint trustees to their municipalities. So, how will brotherhood and peace be achieved then? What will they do with millions of Kurds?”

Can said AKP was going through a period of collapse, emphasizing that the Turkish government appointed trustees to HDP municipalities in response to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who announced his readiness for peace and voiced his commitment and capability to resolve the issue.