HDP Co-Chair Sezai Temelli evaluated the developments in the region at a public meeting in Turgutlu, Manisa.

Temelli reminded that “Leyla Güven has been on hunger strike for 51 days. We have to give voice to her demand.”

Temelli added: “We have two options at this point: we either go for isolation or we go for democracy. We can opt for dictatorship or for democracy, repression or democracy. Our choice is democracy.”

The HDP co-chair pointed out that “fascism is building this knit over isolation. Because the main issue of this country is the Kurdish issue. Today, the Kurdish issue is a global issue, and a central issue in Middle East policy. The Kurdish issue is the focal point of the whole issue of Turkey. It is not possible to resolve any issue without resolving the Kurdish issue. On the contrary: as long as the Kurdish issue is not resolved, this war power will continue. Our priority is to solve the Kurdish issue. If we solve the Kurdish issue, we can have a future.”

The HDP, said Temelli “has reached this day through radical democracy. We salute Mr. Öcalan who is the promoter of this idea.”

Talking about the US decision to withdraw from Syria, Temelli said: “We are saying that DAESH is still a danger. International forces, together with the local forces, must continue to fight together to eliminate the DAESH threat in Syria.”

As to the elections to be held on 31 March 2019, Temelli said: “They represent an important opportunity for local democracy. We will once again show that our will cannot be put on hold and under threat.”