Kobane Case: Turkey’s left-wing alliance calls for unity against political attacks

Turkey’s major left-wing organisations EMEP, EHP, Halkevleri, SMF, TİP and TÖP issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the new wave of detentions executives, former mayors and members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) faced in a dawn raid earlier.

Alliance forces stated, “These attacks against HDP are attacks on our common struggle and the fraternity of peoples. In this context, we call on our peoples and the democratic public to show solidarity with the HDP.”

The statement made by EMEP, EHP, Community Centers, SMF, TİP and TÖP is as follows:

During the morning, a political conspiracy operation was launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against HDP party leaders, mayors who served in previous periods, party members and administrators.

These judicial attacks against the HDP and opposition groups are used as a violent device in the hands of the AKP-MHP government. As it loses power, the government attacks social opposition and democratic politics. The AKP-MHP government is attempting to eliminate the democratic battle ground for social opposition forces, especially the Kurdish people.

No matter the various pretexts and names the operations go by, the common goal is to liquidate democratic politics and the opposition forces. While the AKP-MHP government claims to be establishing a common, equal, and free life for the peoples of Turkey, the opposition are fighting a monist and authoritarian regime.

Those who fear democratic politics use cheap, dark and dangerous political conspiracy to their ends. Those who believe in freedom, equality and peace will continue to stand against these conspiracies.

At a time when the field of democratic struggle is being destroyed by political operations and illegal practices, the forces of democracy will come together and fight harder to nullify the attacks.

As a force of democracy, we pay a great price, we are not afraid, we are not intimidated, and we will not take a step back. We will persist in our democracy march for the democratic, equal, and free future of the peoples of Turkey. These attacks against the HDP are attacks on our common struggle and the brotherhood of peoples. In this context, we call on our peoples and the democratic public to show solidarity with the HDP.