Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) co-chair İdil Uğurlu commented on Turkey’s domestic political agenda. Uğurlu said that the supression of society was not seperated from the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Island.
According to Naci Kaya’s report published on Mesopotamia Agency, Uğurlu stated that the structural crisis of the capitalist system became more apparent as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and said that while some countries could afford the cost of the pandemic, for some countries such as Turkey the outbreak has deepened the crisis in education, health care and labour conditions.
Uğulu said that the current ruling governing party in Turkey exposed workers to poverty, hunger and the pandemic.
The Co-chair also said that the ruling governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) party, who protected the rich and priviliged while ignoring the rest of the society, kept up the pretense that they were succeeding controlling the Covid pandemic, and stated that research shared by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality revealed that the data shared by Turkish Health Ministry was false.
Stating that one of the reasons for the current situation was the AKP government was turning the health system into economic opportunities for speculaters, Uğurlu also pointed out that the ruling party was failing to manage during the Covid pandemic.
Regarding the worsening economy of Turkey, Uğurlu drew attention to the crisis in the economy and said that considering the rising levels of poverty in Turkey, that the minimum wage should be at the very least be raised to four thousand Turkish lira (TL) and added that the budget of the country was being wasted and spent on war policies by the ruling AKP party.
Reform discourse
The ruling AKP party in Turkey launched discussions about reform regarding the judicial processes in Turkey in recent times. Uğurlu stated that following the reform discourse, hundreds of people have been detained through operations across the country and added, “Many doors have been smashed in the night. So, it would be a fantasy to expect that those reform sentiments would ensure any improvements in favour of democratic opposition or the rule of law.”
Mafia member Çakıcı’s threats
Uğurlu drew attention to Alaattin Çakıcı’s threats against the Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the resignation of Bülent Arınç and stated that following the statements made by Arınç, the Nationalist Movement PArty (MHP) leader, Devlet Bahçeli’s move revealed who was really the main actor in terms of government moves.
And that Çakıcı’s threats against Kılıçdaroğlu should be considered in this context of who controls the government.
It has become clear that Erdogan, who claims to be a ‘one-man’ president, cannot do anything without the approval of MHP and Çakıcı. AKP members noticed Bahçeli’s move very well. Following that, Arınç had to resign. Turkey has nothing to do with universal law anymore. This is absolutely clear.”
Uğurlu also underlined the fact that the AKP was not an independent decision maker anymore and stated that after AKP had clashed with the Fethullah Gülen movement, that they have been brought under the control and mindset of MHP and Çakıcı, adding that AKP’s followers should take note and be aware of it.
Isolation and its reflections
Stating that just as the isolation imposed on imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan was increasing, so too was the supression on society increased, Uğurlu said, “The ruling government ,that tries to solve the Kurdish question through security policies, only deepens the isolation of us all. Because the only actor for solving the question is Abdullah Öcalan. For this reason, the isolation that is imposed on Öcalan is related directly to the anti democratic raids against workers, women and the attacks on ecology and nature. Everyone knows this fact now.”
Hunger Strikes
Political prisoners in Turkey’s jails launched a series of hunger strike actions on November 27th to protest against the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and the violations of rights taking place in Turkey’s prisons. Uğurlu commented on the hunger strikes and said that the actions were important for the freedom of the whole society.
Uğurlu also expressed that society should adopt and support these strategies for their own freedom too.
“The freedom of society is related to the freedom of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. They are not seperate. Is the isolation imposed only on İmralı? No.”
“Now, Turkey has become an open-air prison. Now, all society is living under isolation. The supression of workers, Human Rights bar associations, non-govermental organisations etc are not seperate from the isolation imposed on İmralı Island Prison.” she added.
Uğurlu pointed out that the hunger strikes were not related to problems of the prisoners alone but that it was also society’s problem and that they should be widely supported.
Finally, the co-chair said, “If the aim is to make progress in coming into line with international law and for a permanent peace, we do not need to send messages to the European Union or to Joe Biden. The key for that is sitting in İmralı. The power for a solution is at İmralı.”
