The HDP (Peoples Democracy Party) has reacted to the proposal for military action submitted by the government to parliament, saying it is clear that the government’s intention is not to bring peace and fraternity to the region.

The HDP Executive Committee has issued a written statement in response to the proposal for war submitted to parliament yesterday evening by the government.

The HDP said the content of the proposal submitted by the AKP government demonstrated once again that there was no change in the government’s attitude to the problems of the region and the Kurdish people. "The proposed mandate has a hegemonic mentality aiming to make Turkey a regional power, rather than pursuing policies aiming for the formation of democratic regimes in Styria and Iraq based on the equality of peoples.”

The HDP stressed that Turkey had underplayed the threat of ISIS in its proposed mandate.

Care taken not to offend ISIS

The HDP added: "Phrases used in the proposal have been specially chosen so as not to offend ISIS. The HDP emphasised that in order to ‘balance’ ISIS, the PYD had also been described as a ‘terror group’, adding that it was the PYD and YPG that was opposing the attempts at slaughter of the ISIS gangs in Rojava. The statement added that to compare the defence forces of the PKK and PYD which prevented the massacre of Yezidis with the ISIS gangs that carry out atrocities is a clear indication of the warped mentality of the government.   

'AKP concealing its own responsibility’

“In the proposed mandate the phrase, ‘there is an increase in the number of terror groups in Iraq and particularly in Syria’ is an effort to conceal the Turkish government, responsibility for the growth of ISIS and other organisations, such as Al Nusra. The government’s role in supporting these structures over the last 3 years is ignored in the proposed mandate.”

The HDP emphasised that it is clear that the government’s intention is not to bring peace and fraternity to the region, and that the proposed mandate has a hegemonic mentality aiming to make Turkey a regional power, adding: "The Kurdish people in Rojava Kurdistan are friends of Turkey and relatives of Turkish peoples.  The only realistic policy today is the recognition of the democratic autonomous canton administrations in Rojava, and support for the Kurdish people who are fighting against the ISIS gangs. If the government does not want to bear a historic responsibility for massacres, it must strengthen the hand of those who are resisting."

HDP stated that Turkey’s attempts to create ‘security zones’ by invading neighbouring countries and trampling on the wishes of the people is not to the benefit of the people who live there. "The language used in this proposal does not have a mentality that intends to assist the people who are waging a struggle against an inhuman environment", it added.