HDP Co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli, HDK Co-spokesperson Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit, DTK Co-chair Berdan Ozturk and DBP Co-chair Mehmet Aslan held a press conference in Amed and spoke about the developments on Newroz, the ongoing hunger strikes and the deaths in prisons.

“MILLIONS OF PEOPLE GAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE”

The joint statement released after the meeting is as follows:

“Newroz celebrations were held with great masses, without any negativity. Millions of people gave a clear message in Amed, Van, Istanbul and other cities and districts despite all the pressure, tyranny and obstacles.

1.The Kurdish people and all forces of democracy have responded to the government’s insults and claims that we don’t belong on these lands. They all said, ‘We are here, we are determined and we are hopeful. We won’t give up on our struggle for freedom, justice, equality and peace.’

2.They all said, ‘We haven’t bowed down to the AKP-MHP fascism, singularism and policies of denial. We will not.’ They upheld their own political will and gave a clear sign that they will send the trustees back to where they came from on March 31.

3.They shouted out loud and clear that they don’t accept policies of isolation and dismissal, they will not accept them and that they are loyal to the values that make them who they are.

We thank our people who showed the whole country and society the hope, stressed their resolve for the struggle and became Newroz themselves in the celebrations once again. We are grateful.

“THE GOVERNMENT’S IGNORANCE TESTS THE PEOPLE’S PATIENCE”

In the hunger strikes demanding an end to the inhumane and illegal aggravated isolation imposed upon Mr. Ocalan in Imrali for the last 4 years, it has been 139 days since Leyla Guven started and 101 days since the prisons.

This isolation has continued for 4 years, for 1460 days. This isolation continues, despite current laws, the Constitution, and international treaties Turkey is a signatory on. This situation is unacceptable in terms of humanity or the law.

The government, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior and all authorities continue their ignorance. This dismissive attitude is testing the people’s patience to the limit.

We are deeply saddened that 4 lives have been lost in prisons in the last 10 days. 4 prisoners ended their lives to protest the isolation. Another person who self immolated in Germany was unfortunately lost as well.

We as institutions defend life and keeping people alive against death, that goes without saying. Whatever the reason, we do not condone ending one’s own life. All our struggle, all our efforts are geared towards not losing one more life, and resolving issues to achieve complete peace. So, we would like to issue this call for all so such actions don’t  continue: Come join us in the fight against tyranny through defending life.

The government’s attitude towards the lives lost in prisons is unacceptable, in the legal sense, in the religious sense, and in the humane/moral sense. Hiding away the bodies from the families, forcibly burying bodies without the families’ knowledge or consent in an usurpation of the right to burial, and preventing people from performing their religious rituals is a great shame. What is painful and extremely shocking to see is that there are some Ministers who travel from rally to rally to boast about these practices that will go down in history as great shames.

Whatever they do, they cannot avoid responsibility. These authorities are responsible for deaths under state custody.

“SPEAK UP”

Today we call on the public, the people, all citizens who defend democracy and have a conscience, all NGOs, all political parties, associations, trade unions and professional organizations: Speak up, support our efforts to avoid the loss of one more life or any loss of health. Show solidarity. Speak up so today’s events don’t create worse outcomes tomorrow.

We can overcome this process with support from all of society and the people. The family and lawyer visits must be arranged at once, in terms of the law and humane practice.

We call on the government once more: Do not obstruct the exercise of legal and lawful rights, end the absolute and aggravated isolation of the last 4 years.”