Human Rights Association (IHD) President Öztürk Türkdoğan reported that 227 civilians lost their lives within the last three months as a result of the war concept initiated by the AKP ruling. Türkdoğan urged the government to end the operations as an answer to the declaration of “inaction” by the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) on October 10.

IHD President Öztürk Türkdoğan held a press conference at association's headquarters in Ankara, where he spoke about KCK’s declaration of inaction, election security and election observation.

Türkdoğan raised concerns about the security of the elections and said they will be in the field on November 1 together with other NGOs to observe the elections. Recalling that 227 civilians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict between July 27 and October 27, Türkdoğan warned against the worsening of the situation each day.

Remarking that the conflict has been renewed in the wake of the airstrikes ordered by the political ruling against PKK-controlled areas, Türkdoğan recalled KCK's declaration of “inaction” upon the demand of the public opinion, adding; “The conflict is going on due to the stance of the political ruling which doesn't aim a democratic and peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question. The political power, unfortunately, treats the Kurdish question as a problem of ‘terror’ and repeats the mistakes of the past by trusting that it can resolve the issue through security policies.”

'Government should answer KCK’s decision for inaction positively'

Türkdoğan stressed that as human rights activists they see no option other than a peaceful and democratic solution for the Kurdish question, which is in fact the most important problem of Turkey and even the Middle East. He added; “For this reason, we demand that the political power answers KCK's decision of unilateral “inaction” positively, stops military operations, detentions and arrests which are obviously carried out with a political purpose, and that PKK abstains from retaliation actions”.

'HDP and BDP attacked over 400 times'

Türkdoğan went on saying that problems regarding the security of the elections and ballot boxes remain several days ahead of November 1 elections. He noted that as part of the attacks against political parties ongoing since 7 June election, HDP has been targeted 133 times, AKP 8 times, CHP 3 times and DBP 4 times.

IHD President stated that attacks against the HDP and the Kurds continued uninterruptedly between September 6 and 8, while the number of the attacks on HDP and DBP has exceeded over 400 within this year.

'We will be in the field on November 1'

Remarking that the IHD will carry out its works independently on November 1, Türkdoğan said the association will perform independent election observation in 35 provinces, and will observe in 10 provinces jointly with the independent election observation platform formed by Equal Rights Association. “On November 1, IHD Headquarters and all its branches will remain open. We will be in the field with all our members on the election day”, he added.

Commenting on the election security, Türkdoğan said election frauds can be prevented if all the electorates display sensitivity about the ballot box security, the observers affiliated with all political parties take an original signed copy of the ballot box minutes and if the members of the civil society organisations observing the elections are provided convenience.