Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair, Sezai Temelli, was in Amed on Friday as part of his agenda for the 24 June election.

Temelli visited the Peace Mothers Assembly in the province of Bağlar, accompanied by the HDP MPs, candidates and party members.

Temelli said that this electoral campaign has been carried out keeping two struggles in mind, the struggle for peace and the struggle for democracy. “We have said that in this country peace cannot exist without democracy. It is very important for us to visit the Peace Mothers, because they are the ones who shoulder the whole burden of peace and make the voice of peace be heard”.

Peace Mothers at the front of struggle for peace

Temelli remembered and commended the struggle of the Peace Mothers and the meetings of the Saturday Mothers, which begun in the ‘90s.

“There are hundreds of mothers who have lost their children in the war for years, and there are thousands of mothers who have lost their own live in the struggle for peace, like Taybet Ana”, said Temelli.

“We want to make a call together with the Peace Mothers. Together we can stop these policies of war. The Peace Mothers have always been at the forefront of this struggle for peace. The government stubbornly tried not to hear this voice. There is little time left before 24 June - said Temelli - we will go to the polls, we will have peace. And from 25 June we will build a new life together”.

Havva Kiran, speaking on behalf of the Peace Mothers said: “Today is the day to stop blood. The Middle East has become a blood field and is still boiling. We must stop this blood, Turkish and Kurdish mothers hand in hand, together”.

Kiran stated that the 24 June elections are an opportunity for freedom and peace.

Moving polls to prevent people from voting

Replying to journalists asking about the decision of the YSK (Election Commission) to move and merge polls, Temelli said:

"The decision taken by YSK is a wrong one. So far 144 thousand people will be forced to cast their vote far from their original place. The mindset behind it is to make it difficult for people to reach the station polls. It is the mindset of those who want the HDP stay beneath the threshold”.

Temelli confirmed that some 250,000 people from the HDP will guarantee the safety of the vote.

Commenting on some opinion polls putting the HDP at 10.2 percent of the votes, i.e. just above the threshold, Temelli said: “We will make sure that percentage grows. We are working hard. We give voice to women, young people, democratic and labour forces. We will break this threshold”.