The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Assembly, including co-chairs Mithat Sancar, Pervin Buldan, and many HDP deputies, came together to discuss the road map going into the next era. The Mesopotamia Agency reports that they discussed the latest attacks against the HDP and the attempted closure of the party, among other topics.
The message of Newroz
HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar started his speech by stating that the message given by the Newroz celebrations was very clear. “People demand freedom, equality and they defend their will. Millions who gathered at the Newroz meetings responded to the state’s attacks on the HDP. They said that ‘we defend our freedom and our will’. This message motivated us.”
Sancar said that human rights and economic issues in Turkey were signs that the government was losing its power more and more each day. “We do not trust them and we never expect anything positive from this government, and we will gain our rights by resisting,” he said
HDP is the people
“There has been an economic crisis in Turkey and the government is responsible for that,” continued Sancar. “However, they are always trying to change the agenda within the country. They try to gain support from citizens through other agendas. They do it by creating conflicts among people, by polarisation, discrimination, tension and war policies.”
Sancard added: “That is why they are attacking the HDP.” He also noted that the people who supported the HDP demand peace and even if the HDP was closed the ideas would remain.
“The HDP will continue on its way,” he said. “We will not let them shut down the HDP. We will continue on our way by enlarging the HDP. Our resistance and determination will trouble them. The HDP will survive because the HDP is the people.”
Road map
Regarding the road map that the HDP will follow in the coming era, he underlined that they will discuss the possible steps that could be taken not only with the Party Assembly but also the people who support them.
“We will have a regional meeting in Mardin next week,” he said. “We invite all people who want to say something to us, non-governmental organisations, professional organisations, opinion leaders, we will listen to their suggestions and discuss with them.”
İstanbul Convention
Sancar also criticised the government for its decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. “The women’s movement gave a great response to the attacks. The government realised that women will continue to resist their decision.”
He also mentioned the stripping of HDP deputy Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu’s seat last week.
“They are attacking anyone who defends human rights in this country, but people never forget what they did,” he said.
Regarding the silence among the European Union and European Council about the closure case of the HDP, Sancar said, “If these institutions continue to remain silent about unlawfulness in Turkey they will be violating their principles. We will continue to remind them of their responsibilities.”
A lawyer cannot prepare such an indictment
Sancar also said that the indictment that has been prepared against them is against law and full of contradictions. “Finally, let me also mention that the lawyers could not have prepared such an indictment. There are simple and ridiculous political statements in it. The indictment for the closure case has not been prepared in the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Cassation. It was prepared at the headquarters of the small partner of power [the Nationalist Movement Party-MHP] and was finalised in the palace of the great partner.”
