The AKP regime seized the HDR-run metropolitan municipalities of Amed (Diyarbakır), Mardin and Van on August 19 by removing the democratically elected mayors and appointing governors as trustees in their place. Protests continue in three cities since.

Crowds have gathered again at the Lise Avenue leading to the municipality building. HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) deputies, Peace Mothers and representatives of the civil society organizations in the city attended the sit-in as well as residents. A German delegation visiting the region also attended the protest today.

Police cordoned off the street leading to the scene of the protest, and threatened the crowd as they sang Kurdish resistance songs.

Today’s press statement was made by HDP Amed MP Feleknas Uca who said the following; “We will send back the trustees. No matter what you do, the Kurdish people will never bow down before your trustees, your attacks and your massacres. They will resist against your attacks like they did in the 90’s. Unlawful practices against the will of the Kurdish people continue. If you do not tolerate the will of the people, they why do you ever hold elections? The fascist AKP-MHP alliance is hostile to the Kurds. We resisted yesterday, we are resisting today and we will resist tomorrow.”

Uca remarked that the Turkish regime has responded Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace by appointing trustees. It is time to resist fascism and atrocity.”