Vezir Coşkun Parlak, one of the candidates for Hakkari from the Green Left Party (YPS), noted that the state channels more resources into the special war it wages in the city because it is aware of the resistance and resilient hallmark of the city.

Vezir Coşkun Parlak, born in Çukurca, leads the line on the candidate list for Hakkari, where the recent opening of election offices turned into rallies. He moved to Ankara with his family in 1997 as a result of forced migration. What he encountered in the capital city speeded up his politicization process. Since he grew up in a politically minded environment, he has engaged in political struggle with his family. While leading his business life, he did not disregard political activities. He has been involved in the activities of BDP, DBP, HDP, HDK and youth activities for 12 years. He left his job during the peace process and continued his party activities more effectively. He was arrested in 2017 and remained in prison for a year. Before his candidacy, he served as HDP’s Ankara Provincial Co-Chair.

Speaking to ANF, Parlak pointed to the social engineering policies pursued by the state. He said: “The politicized judiciary attempted to close our party. There have been many interventions in political activities in the streets. The goal was to push us into the parliament and to cut our ties to the local struggles. After June 7, they wanted to create a traumatised society by applying the shock doctrine to our people, the Alevis and dissidents.”

‘THE STATE IS ALSO AWARE OF HAKKARI’S IMPORTANCE’

Parlak noted that the state is channelling discretionary funds into the special war in the city because Hakkari is an important city in the history of Kurdistan. He said: “The city has resilient cultural codes and awareness. Even though borders mean nothing to us, I always believed that our party should introduce a special policy for the border cities. In this regard, a framework can be devised through consultation with sociologists and local actors. Hakkari could lead two important projects in this process. First, one of the most important ways to break the isolation in Imrali prison is to organize the path to national unity. Due to its position, Hakkari could play this role in a more powerful way. A second project could promote social peace that will frustrate the policies of isolation and war. It could expand social organization by providing more active participation in the struggle, not by pacifying the grassroots through efforts for peace. In order to do so, unity and solidarity should be increased against those who try to polarize the people of Hakkari. Furthermore, ways and methods could be introduced to find solutions to local problems together with the public, to express them in the parliament and to increase public pressure through various channels.”