HDP Co-Chair Sezai Temelli said that a delegation should visit Imrali as soon as possible.

The HDP co-chair added that the choice is between "isolation and democracy" and that “on 31 March we will sign off a very important success.”

Temelli made an extensive evaluation of the current developments at his party group weekly meeting.

Reminding that “an average of 500 people are charged for insulting President Erdoğan every month”, Temelli

The peace declaration, signed by more than 2500 people, he added, “was criminalised following Erdoğan's instructions. Our beloved teacher Şebnem Korur Fincancı was punished for saying that “Cizre is an important truth”, when speaking about the civilians and children murdered in Cizre.”

Those who want peace are jailed

Temelli continued: “Our beloved and known teacher, Gençay Gürsoy, who has been working for peace for so many years has been punished. Like him, so many people. Why? Because they want peace.”

Yet, added Temelli, “in the days when our professors are sentenced, DAESH mercenaries are released at the Habur Border Gate under condition of judicial control. This is actually exposing the reality of the government's approach to DAESH. This is the mentality of DAESH. Violence and cruelty to those demanding peace and democracy, reward for DAESH mercenaries.”

Temelli also touched upon the European Court of Human Rights ruling on Selahattin Demirtas. “It cannot be ignored. - said the HDP co-chair - Because it is binding. For a country to say ‘We ignore this decision’ means it is on the verge of breaking any remaining link to legality. Fascism and dictatorship exist and replace the state of law when all ties to it are severed.”

‘Isolation or Democracy’

Temelli underlined that “the most important reason for this injustice is isolation. Öcalan is subjected to isolation, so lifting this isolation regime would benefit the whole of Turkey. Today in Turkey the choice is democracy or isolation.

That is why democracy means opposing the isolation, democracy means the destruction of this isolation mentality. We are making calls once again to the whole of Turkey. Come, let's stand side by side against this isolation. This isolation is not only about the Kurdish issue. Yes, the solution of the Kurdish issue passes through Imralı. But this isolation obstructs the path to democracy in Turkey as it is imposed far beyond Kurds. Isolation has been imposed on the whole Turkey society. Let’s put an end to this isolation, let’s end this bullying.”

Leyla Güven on her 48th day of hunger strike

Temelli pointed out that today “Leyla Güven has reached day 48 of her hunger strike. Leyla Güven is our honor. We've been repeating this call for 48 days. We say: Listen to the voice of Leyla Güven on this hunger strike, take the initiative on this issue before it is too late. But unfortunately, there is little social opposition outside the HDP circles. Our friends in Europe, in South Kurdistan, are supporting with actions and hunger strikes. Many of our friends in prisons are on a hunger strike. In many prisons a death fast begun. Mr Öcalan’s lawyers must go to Imrali, otherwise Turkey will face irreparable pain.”

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the HDP co-chair, said the party will be attending the hearing of the trial of Leyla Güven in Diyarbakır.

Journalists in prison

Reminding that the President said on a television channel that ‘No journalist is under arrest’, Temelli said: “More than 200 journalists are imprisoned in Turkey. But that's not enough, so next came the artists. Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen were brought to the office of the prosecutor for expressing their thoughts. In this country, not only journalists, news is also imprisoned. There is such a long list of banned news.”

Roboski massacre

In a few days, reminded Temelli, will be the anniversary of the Roboski massacre.

On 28 December 2011, 34 Turkish citizens were killed as a result of warplanes bombing. “They were killed because they were Kurdish. - said Temelli - Who killed these 34 people, who gave the order, remain secret. Only one culprit appeared, the planes. Yet, the people who demanded justice for Roboski were arrested and put in prison. Our beloved deputy Ferhat Encü is still imprisoned. Roboski monument has been removed. Tahir Elçi, the lawyer of the case, was murdered. The association established by Roboski families was closed with the Decree. Roboski was seen as an inevitable mistake. Even the Chief of General Staff of the period was congratulated. 34 Kurds were killed. If we forget Ferhat Encü, our heart will dry. We will ask the bill for this.”

Syria

More than 500,000 people lost their lives in the war in Syria. More than 6 million Syrians left the country, recalled Temelli, adding: “There is no city that has not been left almost to the ground. There is a business there, the business of reconstruction. Today, they are still dragging Syria into a vortex of war. The debate is around DAESH, whether it has been defeated or not.”

According to the latest reports, there are still 13,000 DAESH mercenaries in Syria, said Temelli adding: “that explains the 280 air strikes that have taken place in the last two weeks. 378 operations against DAESH. Has DAESH been defeated? This US withdrawal is hiding the real issue. All foreign forces should indeed withdraw from Syria, including Turkey. But first of all, it is necessary to save the peoples of Syria from DAESH.”

Out of Afrin

Temelli added that “the issue to solve today is that of Idlib. There is Afrin to solve. And the only way to solve these issues is for Turkey to withdraw from Afrin. The international community and the UN should take the initiative and let the peoples in Syria to work on a political solution. Their job is to support this solution. Everyone has the right, preserving the integrity of their land, to establish a democratic republic in the common country. This is our claim, in this sense we will continue to promote this everywhere.”

Rojava, an example for a different life

Why is Rojava so important? asked Temelli. “Why Rojava is the target? Rojava is the place where the hope for another life was build by people of different identities. Rojava means hope, so they are trying to kill that hope by drowning Rojava. We should never let that happen.”

Local Elections

Temelli then touched upon the local elections scheduled for 31 March 2019.

“All together we can win Şırnak, Hakkari, Van, and Amed, and take them from the hands of fascism. They will try in any possible way to prevent this.

On our part, we must ensure participation in the electoral campaign everywhere from now and to 31 March.

And on 31 March we will sign off a very important success together. Thanks to this success, all our friends who are in prison today will be free. All of our friends, who are far away from home, will be able to return.

This country which is forced to live under isolation will be freed.”