HDP co-chair Sancar: Hopelessness leads to surrender

"Our democracy march was for all social groups that no longer have any air to breathe," explains HDP co-leader Mithat Sancar, saying: "Our march against the walls of fear will continue.”

Mithat Sancar, co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), spoke at Tuesday's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara on current political developments and began his address with an assessment of the "democracy march". "This march was for all social groups that are no longer able to breathe. It was for the youth, for the women, for the workers, for the poor", he said.

Last week, the HDP moved from the West and East of the country to Ankara via several cities and was massively obstructed by security forces during its "democracy march": "We were blocked and encircled. Sometimes there were more security forces' vehicles on the road than our own cars. Wherever we went, everything was done to prevent us from meeting the people. It was probably not clear to everyone that a meeting is not only possible through physical contact. We also meet with the people through our voices, our looks and our hearts."

"Those who claim their rights are declared terrorists"

"We have staged our march above all for the youth, because the future concerns young people in particular. We have marched so that social resources are not invested in war and lobbying, but in the youth," Sancar continued, pointing out that the government fears opposition and the demand for rights, while those who oppose and demand rights are declared "traitors" or "terrorists":

"How can two thirds of the people of a country be branded as terrorists? This is an open admission of fear of the people. For this reason, everything possible is being done to counter all those who take to the streets and raise their objection and reaction. We marched anyway, because the walls of fear must be overcome."

“Fear eats the soul”

"There is a film I like very much, a German film. It's called “Fear eats the soul”. There are few better words to describe the situation of the government and all those who are afraid. When we are afraid, our soul is eaten up, we become soulless and will-less. For this reason, our march against the walls of fear will continue."

Mithat Sancar referred to the march of the bar associations, which was completed on Tuesday after considerable obstruction by the authorities in Ankara, and said: "The lawyers have marched because they reject the iron cage imposed on them." The march of the presidents of 41 bar associations took place from Friday to Tuesday under the slogan "Freedom for the defence" and was directed against a draft law that aims to bring the chambers under state control.

A clear stand in the struggle for dignity

"When we call the government putschist, some people find it very exaggerated. But that is the intention of this government: a coup system. If a government wants to eliminate the will of different social groups, it is a coup. The draft law against the bar associations is also evidence of a putschist understanding. The government spokesmen do not hide this at all. They say quite openly that they want to silence everyone who contradicts them. If they can say that so openly, we must be at least as courageous. All those who are denied self-determination and dignity must openly show their courage. The bar associations have done that. They have taken a clear stand in the struggle for dignity."

"Hopelessness leads to surrender”

The HDP leader again appealed to all sections of society: "Let us all defend ourselves together, let us march for real justice. Our voices will meet. Even if a single person cries out in the darkest darkness, his voice will be heard. There are thousands of ways to oppose the prevailing conditions. For people of dignity, there are many other and very colorful ways outside of obedience and surrender. Hope comes from commitment, hopelessness leads to surrender."