The Peoples Democracy Party (HDP) and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) have launched their local election campaign at a rally in Istanbul attended by thousands of people. The rally was organised organised under the slogan "From Rojava to Gezi we are marching towards a free life with autonomous administrations".

Banners reading "the youngest, most colourful democratic, egalitarian, pacifist, ecologist party supporting rights for women, LGBT and workers and believing in autonomy" and "From Gezi to Lice the resistance continues, the struggle grows" were hung at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall where the rally was held. Photographs of those murdered in Paris, Rojava, Gever and Roboski and posters of Abdullah Öcalan and PKK and Confederalism flags were displayed.

The HDP Co-chairs Sebahat Tuncel and Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Istanbul MP Levent Tüzel received an enthusiastic welcome as they entered the hall. The Co-chairs moved around the hall extending greetings. The rally was also attended by members of the HDP and HDK executive committees BDP administrators, Hubyar Sultan Alevi Cultural Association President Ali Kenanoğlu and SYKP Co-chair Tuncay Yılmaz.

'The sentence is a blow to the peace process'

The first speaker at the rally, BDP Istanbul Provincial Co-chair Arife Çınar, noted that the ratification of the sentence handed down to Sebahat Tuncel, and the failure to release the BDP MPS, in contrast to the release of Mustafa Balbay, was a blow against the peace process. Çınar said those who were responsible for Roboski had not been tried, adding: "Without those responsible for this massacre being held to account it is not possible to discuss peace and fraternity."

The second speaker, HDP Istanbul Provincial Co-chair Şamil Altan, said: "We consider the sentence given to Sebahat Tuncel to be a sentence for all of us. You are right to be frightened of us, because we will destroy this rotten lie of a world and build a new, clean democratic world."

Altan sent his greetings to the political prisoners and drew attention to the revolution in Rojava, adding that they had established a democratic autonomous administration, saying: "We greet the revolutionaries of Rojava and the people who have built a new world".

Altan emphasised that democratic forces had come together to form the HDK, ensuring unity in struggle, adding: "Now we are entering the political arena with the HDP".  Altan called on the oppressed people of Istanbul to unite behind the HDP banner.

Great support for Tuncel

HDP Co-chair and Istanbul MP Sebahat Tuncel stepped forward to speak to great applause.

Tuncel began her address by conveying the greetings of BDP Co-chairs  Gültan Kışanak and Selahattin Demirtaş, then saying: "We are entering a new year. Who won and who lost in 2013?" The workers won, the democratic forces, the Kurdish people's leader Mr Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish people won. Those resisting at Gezi, women, our comrades in prison won."

Tuncel recalled there had been significant developments in 2013, saying: "The plans of those who do not want the people of the Middle East to attain freedom and want to establish a system that suits the interests of the imperialists have been foiled." Tuncel added that the biggest winners of 2013 were the people of Rojava.

'The AKP and the Gülen movement have lost'

Tuncel emphasised that both the AKP government and the Gülen movement were obstructing the peace process, adding that they were destined to lose.

HDP co-chair mentioned the current corruption scandal, saying: "We can see that you have been exploiting the people together. Now you are in conflict and you are trying to ruin Turkey's future. But we willnot allow this to happen. We will declare a democratic republic and autonomous Kurdistan together."

Tuncel emphasised that the families of Roboski resisting fascism had also won in 2013, adding: "Those who are responsible for the deaths of 34 people have lost."

'2014 will be the year of gains'

Tuncel added that the AKP and CHP were responsible for the massacre since they had approved cross border operations. "We will definitely call them to account," she said.

HDP co-chair said that 2013 had begun with the massacre in Paris, and that the peace process had been obstructed, adding: "We will win together in 2014".   
Tuncel commented on her prison sentence, saying that in the event of the judgment being read out in parliament she would lose her status as an MP. This was greeted by loud booing from the thousands in the hall.

Tuncel continued: "Your courts cannot prevent Kurdish women's march to freedom and cannot obstruct our freedom march. This sentence is a futile attempt to halt the Kurdish people's freedom struggle and the fight for freedom of the peoples of Turkey. The HDK will lead this struggle. We will resist and we will win." The hall resounded with the slogans "Kurdistan is proud of you" and "We will empty all the prisons".

Tuncel said: "We will ensure all political prisoners, including Mr Öcalan, are freed." She asked those in the hall if they were prepared for the struggle, to which they replied: "yes!"

HDP co-chair addressed the government, saying: "You cannot cope with us, how will you cope with these people?"

The HDP is the key to a free world

HDP Co-chair Ertuğrul Kürkçü condemned the sentence handed down to Sebahat Tuncel, before saying: "The HDP is the key to a new, free world. The HDP is opposed to capitalism, imperialism and colonialism."

Without mentioning any names, Kürkçü criticised the TKP's (Communist Party of Turkey) Left Front, saying: "If you are looking for a left front, here it is. Is there any other?"
Kürkçü added that the HDP was the party of the impoverished, and that it would unite the revolt of the urban poor with the freedom struggle in Kurdistan. He added that the BDP was the HDP's close ally, and that the BDP would contest elections in Kurdistan while the HDP would contest elections in the West of Turkey. Kürkçü emphasised that victories for Ahmet Türk and Gültan Kışanak would signify a new phase in the struggle, and that the only revolutionary candidate in Istanbul against two Gülenist candidates was Sırrı Süreyya Önder, while in Ankara the only revolutionary candidate against two MHP candidates was Salman Kaya. Kürkçü concluded by saying that in the local elections they would take steps towards a free, democratic, autonomous system.

This was followed by singers Suavi and Ferhat Tunç performing freedom songs with the accompaniment of the thousands in the hall.