In a recent address to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party parliamentary group co-chair Saruhan Oluç vehemently criticised the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for its ongoing practice of appointing trustees to Kurdish municipalities in place of elected officials. He argued that this policy is a direct continuation of the Turkish state’s century-long oppression of the Kurdish population.
Oluç highlighted the historical parallels between the current trustee appointments and past oppressive measures, stating:
“Look, this is a map of the provinces where the 1925 Eastern Reform Plan was implemented – the red provinces… This map is a map of the provinces where General Inspectorates were implemented from 1927 to 1935… This map is a map of the provinces where the State of Emergency Governorship was implemented from 1987 to 2002… Do you know what these red provinces are? They are the provinces where you have appointed trustees to from 2016 up to today. It is the same map.”
He stressed that the AKP’s recent actions, including the appointment of trustees in Siirt (Sêrt), Hakkari (Colemêrg), Mardin (Mêrdîn), Batman (Êlih) and Halfeti (Xelfetî), reflect an unchanging mentality of Kurdish hostility:
“From the Eastern Reform Plan up to today, there has not been the slightest change in your mentality. There has not been the slightest change in your hostility to the Kurds.”
Oluç accused the AKP government of undermining social peace, equality and justice through these undemocratic practices:
“If you continue with this mentality, you cannot provide social peace. You cannot provide social equality. You cannot provide social justice. You will continue to live with the disgrace of this.”
He further contended that the government’s actions are divisive, addressing the AKP directly:
“Your administration is trying to divide this country… You are implementing double justice. You are implementing hostile law. You are saying to the Kurds living in that region… ‘You can participate in the elections and vote, but you cannot govern.'”
Oluç concluded by reaffirming the DEM Party’s refusal to accept these measures and accused the AKP of attempting to institutionalise a divisive regime:
“We will never accept this. You are a divisive administration. And you are trying to institutionalise a divisive regime. The trustee appointments to Kurdish municipalities will not allow you to institutionalise your regime.”
