HDP Co-Chair Buldan: Our votes increase from 6 to 12 million

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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After its Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was stripped of his MP status and a closure case was filed against the party yesterday evening (March 17), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Central Executive Board had an extraordinary meeting today. HDP Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar addressed the public after the meeting.

Taking the floor first, Pervin Buldan first referred to what the HDP has lived through during its lifetime both on the central and local levels:

"The MPs of our party have been arrested, they are in prison. Our Co-Chairs have been dismissed; trustees have been appointed in their place.

"But, every time, we have overcome the obstacles of every stripe and our party has managed to enter the Parliament powerfully. They have tried to take revenge for this by arresting our MPs.

"There are intellectuals, journalists, human rights defenders and people who want peace and democracy in Turkey's prisons. The children and young people of this country are in Turkey's prisons. Thousands of people are in prison because of a tweet or attendance to a statement."

'No difference with putschists of July 15'

Speaking about the attempted dissolution of the party, Buldan specifically referred to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the AKP's partner in the People's Alliance which has long been calling for the closure of the HDP.

Reminding the public about the military coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Pervin Buldan said, "There has remained no difference between the junior partner [MHP] of the current government, of the AKP, and the ones who dropped bombs on the roof of the Parliament on July 15. This is also called a coup; this means seizing the people's will."

Regarding Gergerlioğlu's expulsion from the Parliament, she said, "Yesterday, we all saw that our MPs are tripped of their MP status with a single word uttered by the AKP, upon an instruction it gave. Gergerlioğlu and our other friends will keep on being the will and MPs of the people."

'Yet another manifestation of coup mindset'

"Yesterday, another development was the decision to close our party. Yet another law of the coup, yet another manifestation of a mindset of coup... HDP has done what is necessary for the future of the peoples' of Turkey. This country's need for social democracy is apparent," HDP Co-Chair Buldan said, briefly adding the following about yesterday:

"Believe me; as of yesterday evening, the number of people voting for us was 6 million, it has increased to 12 million since yesterday. Our vote rate was 12; as of yesterday evening, it has risen to 20 percent."

Referring to the economic hardships, poverty and unemployment faced by the people, Buldan noted that "HDP is the only party that deals with the real agenda of Turkey's peoples and that of society."

In addition to the economic problems, she also touched upon the isolation of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Prison. Saying that his isolation is also a pressing issue on the people's agenda, she underlined that "isolation is a crime against humanity."

"Not letting Öcalan meet her family and attorneys will not contribute to the problems of this country," Buldan noted.

'It will be done to you tomorrow'

Pervin Buldan further stressed that "the issue of closing the HDP should not be an issue only concerning the HDP."

"My call to all forces of democracy is the following: Whatever is done to us today will be done to you tomorrow. Standing up against it together is a responsibility of us all," HDP Co-Chair Buldan underlined.

"We will teach the AKP a lesson at the first ballot box brought before us. It is high time that we acted together and gave the AKP such a picture."

"Our call to the party workers, provincial and district organizations is this: Don't fall into despair. No one should fall into despair. As long as the HDP is here, it will keep on being on the side of our peoples. Newroz is approaching; we will celebrate the Newroz with enthusiasm and a good mood at the weekend," said Buldan in concluding her statement.

Sancar: So many means to do democratic politics

Taking the floor after HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan, HDP Co-Chair Mithat Sancar said that "the starting point of political coups is to institutionalize fascism and ensure that it is completely established."

"The pressure targeting the HDP is a confession of who is the biggest obstacle standing in their way. HDP has shown that it is the biggest force standing in the way of the government's progress," said Sancar.

Referring to the day when several HDP politicians, including former Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, were arrested, he said:

"Since the coup on November 4, 2016, our innumerable friends have been sent to dungeons. They thought that the HDP would end, they thought that it would melt away; but, the exact opposite happened.

"Because the HDP is neither about individual persons nor is it confined to a building. HDP is a strong line of thought. HDP is the people.

"We have so many means to do democratic politics. The support of our people is our greatest wealth, it is our greatest source of morale and belief. We will find ways to bring this belief to the furthest point possible. We will share these ways with the public very soon."

Addressing the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation, which filed the closure case, Mithat Sancar said that "there is one thing that it takes as a basis, which is the will of the Palace," referring to the Presidential Complex of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital Ankara.

"For this reason, what is to be discussed here is not a matter of legality or compliance with the law, it is the quality of the political operation.

"Our people will claim their will at Newroz squares with enthusiasm; our preparations have been completed. Every people will be at those squares with their own folk songs and folk dances. Our walk towards this imminent light together will continue," concluded Sancar. (AÖ/SD)