Kurdistan Söderhamn Solidarity Committee Chairman Benny Gustafsson and board members Per Olof Nordin, Marianne Eriksson and Eva Birath, answered ANF questions on their way to a conference held at the Swedish parliament to discuss human rights violations in Turkey and the imposition of trustees.

Gustafsson said that the people were surprised to learn about the imposition of trustees and the dismissal of mayors in Turkey.

He added that clearly Erdoğan, who suffered a serious defeat on March 31 and then on June 23, considered that he had to increased pressure and attacks because he did not have any more cards to play.

Per Olof Nordin said that Erdoğan was shaken after the second defeat [in the Istanbul elections] and did not accept it.

He added that then, after this defeat, he went after the mayors of Amed, Mardin and Van.

Nordin recalled how some time ago union leaders, former mayors and artists got together and established the Söderhamn Initiative.

Gustafsson stated that they aimed at involving all the parties represented in the municipality within the Initiative and they achieved this to a great extent. But the Conservative Party has not yet answer.

The Initiative launched a campaign in solidarity with the mayors after the appointment of trustees to three major HDP-run cities.

Eva Berith said the campaign has been successfully carried out and that their aim is to involve all municipal executive.

Meetings with Foreign Minister

The Kurdistan Söderhamn Solidarity Committee is also talking with the Swedish Foreign Ministry.  Benny Gustafsson and Marianna Eriksson went to Stockholm and held talks with Foreign officials.

Eriksson said they brought Turkey and violation of rights in Kurdistan to the agenda and said that they demanded Sweden to take a stand.

'We are ashamed of Sweden silence'

Kurdistan Söderhamn Solidarity Committee members all said they wanted Sweden to speak out about rights violation in Turkey. "We are ashamed of this. - said Gustafsson - Sweden is very passive on the issue of the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the removal of the PKK from the list of terrorist organizations."

Working to send a delegation to Turkey

Gustafsson said one of the reason for the silence both in Sweden and the European Union is the deal the EU made with Turkey on asylum seekers and added that they refuse to take a firm stand on Turkey for fear of it sending refugees to Europe.

Gustafsson said that they are working on a delegation from Sweden to send to Turkey to express solidarity to the municipalities of  Amed, Mardin and Van.