HDP's Buldan: People will reclaim what is theirs on 31 March

"Many of our friends are on hunger strike. They have only one request. Talk to Mr. Öcalan. Such a legitimate demand is ignored. We would like to see family members and lawyers visiting  Mr. Öcalan as soon as possible, so that our friends on hunger strike"

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan and a party delegation opened an election office in the neighborhood of Dicle following their election tour in the center of Şırnak’s Silopi district.

HDP members who reached the neighborhood were followed by a convoy of supporters, greeted with the slogan “Biji berxwedana HDP” [Long live HDP resistance].

The opening ceremony, which was attended by many young people and women, turned into a meeting as thousands of supporters gathered at the site.

Co-mayor candidate Adalet Fidan said: “Silopi has already decided who to support on 31 March and celebrate its success. Silopi has already decided to opt for self-govern.”

The other co-mayor candidate, Süleyman Şavluk, said: “What we want is our people's freedom.” The candidate also commended HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven, who is on hunger strike demanding the end of isolation.

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair and Agri MP Berdan Öztürk said: “Silopi resisted the persecution. They tried to solve the Kurdish problem by destroying cities and burning down villages. Those who want war are aggravating this isolation. The rulers of this country do not mention anything but war. Because they have nothing to say to the peoples. Those on hunger strikes have started their fast for one purpose. The demand Mr. Öcalan’s rights to be respect. They want him to meet with family and lawyers. His voice is the voice of peace. They speak of law, but they do not enforce their own law.”

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Mehmet Arslan also welcomed the hunger strike and said: "Botan is resisting. All of Kurdistan will resist when Silopi resists. We will hold the AKP responsible for a genocide policy against the Kurds' self-rule.”

Buldan: We will write history on 31 March

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan said amid applause and slogans: "Silopi has decided, Şırnak has decided, Idil has decided. Şırnak is preparing to write history once again on 31 March with all its districts and municipalities.”

Recalling the period of the genocidal attacks in Silopi, Buldan said: “After 2015, we spent days in this city when houses were destroyed, lives were lost and there was great suffering. But we never kneeled, we did not bow. Silopi didn't kneel. We have not forgotten the pain. We have not forgotten that Taybet Ana's body remained on the street for a week, we did not forget Pakize, Sêvê and Fatma.”

Buldan added: “These children, this young people did not deserve such a life. The HDP said peace, the government responds with murder. The State-appointed trustees have not only usurped our municipalities, but they have closed your institutions in this city where your identity, your language is kept alive, they dismissed your workers. They used municipalities as police stations.” But this, said Buldan, is about to change as the people will reclaim their municipalities on 31 March.

Isolation must end

Buldan also spoke about the hunger strike resistance, and commended Leyla Güven who has been on a hunger strike for 115 days.

“Like her - said Buldan - many of our friends are on hunger strike. They have only one request. Talk to Mr. Öcalan. Such a legitimate demand is ignored. We would like to see family members and lawyers visiting  Mr. Öcalan as soon as possible, so that our friends who are on hunger strike will not lose their lives.”