HDK: Isolation must be lifted

Speeches at the HDK General Assembly were all marked by the situation in Turkey and North Kurdistan, in particular the hunger strikes.

The 9th Term General Assembly of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) is taking place in Ankara with the motto “Labor, peace, freedom and popular resistance against fascism”. Representatives of many political parties, civil society organisations, unions and democratic mass organizations are attending the meeting.

The attendees include Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Sezai Temelli, Human Rights Association (IHD) co-chair Öztürk Türkdoğan, Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) co-chair Mehmet Bozgeyik Bozgeyik and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) deputy co-chair President Halide Türkoğlu.

Following the opening speeche by HDK co-chairs Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and Onur Hamzaoğlu, speeches by the mentioned representatives focused on the isolation of Öcalan and the hunger strikes demanding an end to the isolation regime.

A banner with the photo of Leyla Güven, on the 67th day of hunger strike, and reading “No to isolation, give voice to the resistance that defends life” was hanged in the hall where the General Assembly meeting is taking place.

“Isolation imposed on Öcalan must be lifted”

Human Rights Association co-chair Öztürk Türkdoğan drew attention to hunger strikes in prisons demanding the removal of the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

“As human rights defenders, we have established a central coordination to follow this process. We listened to these demands. Isolation imposed on Öcalan must be lifted”, said Türkdoğan.

“If the [2015] solution process had continued, democratization would have entered another phase. Instead an authoritarian regime has been built. We're dealing with very strange practices. The spokespersons of the power recently had spoken, saying they had no problems with the Kurdish people. Then why are we here? If the rights of Kurds and other beliefs and ethnic groups were recognized, if they were guaranteed constitutionally, if human rights were accepted, why would these people resist so much, starve their body, why is this war and conflict going on?”

Türkdoğan added: “If the ruling spokespersons speak like this, it would mean the struggle of the Kurdish people in the world had an effect. March 31 elections are a step and a stage in terms of building human rights and democracy. There is a peace struggle that lies ahead of us.”

“Hunger strikers’ demands should be answered”

Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) co-chair Mehmet Bozgeyik spoke about the action of HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven, on hunger strike for 67 days. “Isolation is one of the most unlawful ways of repression. The fact that Leyla Güven's hunger strike demand is not met is to show clearly the attitude of power to isolation. The government should end its isolation practices and address this problem. The demands of prisoners on hunger strike must be met and we must take a common position and struggle against the policies of the government. Together we resisted and will continue to struggle.”

“We received a word from Imrali”

Halide Türkoğlu, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) deputy co-chair, commended Güven's action. “A voice reached us from Imralı Island. We salute Mr. Öcalan. We salute the resistance of Leyla Güven who has opened this way to us.”

Türkoğlu, referring to local elections, said: “There are trustees imposed on the municipalities in Kurdistan while the democratically elected municipal co-mayors are in custody. We will send the trustees back to where they came from.”