The Co-Presidency of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council released a statement,which consists of a message of condolences for those who died in the fire at the hotel in Bolu, Kartalkaya, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of the injured. The statement also draws attention to the fact that it is now important to prevent any attempts at concealment and cover-up.

The KCK statement on Wednesday includes the following:

“Dozens of people were killed and many were injured in a fire that engulfed a hotel in Bolu, Kartalkaya. It was reported that 76 people lost their lives and more than 50 people were injured. We would like to express our deep sorrow and sympathy regarding this tragic event. We wish God’s mercy to those who lost their lives and offer our condolences to their families and relatives. To those injured, we wish a speedy recovery.

It seems to be very clear that this tragedy was the result of negligence. Many such incidents in Turkey have taken place, and in the end, they have always turned out to be the result of negligence. In Turkey, negligence, corruption, the fact that people are left to hunger and poverty, and that generally, survival is made so difficult for them are the result of the state and the government not doing their primary duty – they are not acting to serve the society. To date, the only thing the government has concentrated on and spent on has been the Kurdish genocide and the war against the Kurds. All injustices, anti-democratic practices, corruption, negligence, and stealing have developed as a result of this approach. If pressure is not exerted on the state and a thorough investigation is carried out, it will be revealed that the hotel fire in Bolu is also a result of that very approach.

However, as always, pressure is being exerted and publication bans are being imposed to prevent an independent and accurate investigation and to reveal the true nature of the situation. As usual, in order to cover up the truth and muddy the waters, either the relevant institutions are blaming each other, or a few people are arrested and the case is concluded. Unfortunately, the real reasons and the mentality and politics underlying these reasons are not revealed. We hope that this time the political opposition and the organized institutions of society will take a comprehensive look at this incident, expose the negligence and the real reasons for it, and put forward a renewal and democratization program that will ensure a real correction of these shortcomings in the future.”