In an interview with MA, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Pervin Buldan shared her views regarding the closure case against the HDP and the main agenda of the HDP in the upcoming period, which seems likely to be quite turbulent, given the increasing repression of the party.
The HDP is more than ready to own the turbulent process, Buldan emphasized. “We will make our defense, both legally and politically,” she said.
She added: “An indictment which was rejected by a unanimous vote was then accepted by a unanimous vote. The reason why and how this happens is of course political.
“Now, we naturally have serious preparations ahead of us. Of course, we will not remain silent against this indictment. The process began when the indictment was served upon us. Our preparations continue: I guess we have some two-three months for our defense.”
Buldan stated that despite taking it quite seriously, the closure case is not the main agenda item of the HDP, because it never considered the idea of closure of the party. It continues with its scheduled agenda that involves a country-wide tour and meetings with the peoples of Turkey.
“The closure case might be the main agenda item for Turkey, but it is not the main agenda item of the HDP. Since we never considered closure of the HDP, the best way and method to own this process is to meet with the people,” she said.
She added: “No legal decision in Turkey is ruled by the free will of the judges and the prosecutors. These decisions are made in and instructed from the [presidential] palace.
“So, if such a decision comes from the palace, the HDP will be banned. However, we do not see the HDP as a party whose doors can be simply closed. The HDP is an ideology.
“In the face of this closure case, we have taken to the road in order to give the government the message that with our people from the ‘agora,’ they cannot close down the HDP.
“Throughout the summer until 1 September, our meeting programmes will continue in this regard.”
Starting with the issue of the isolation conditions that have been imposed on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and the ongoing prison hunger strike which has reached its 231st day as of 15 July – which demands an end to this isolation – Buldan stated that the HDP has to be concerned with more than one issue at a time regarding its commitment towards solving the Kurdish question.
“Of course, the isolation is on our agenda. Isolation tops the agenda of the country today. And there is also the hunger strike, but the hunger strike has not yet topped the agenda in Turkey,” she said.
“So we are trying to bring the hunger strike to the agenda, to own the people who went on hunger strike and to make them a part of the agenda of our people
with these public meetings we hold.”
Buldan concluded by sharing her views on the much-discussed ‘alliance debates’ revolving around a possible ‘democracy alliance,’ to be formed with or without the main opposition that forms the People’s Alliance.
According to Buldan, the current opposition in Turkey is even afraid to be cast in the same picture as the HDP. Buldan strongly criticised this attitude. “This lack of courage in the opposition, the approach of the opposition to the HDP will not gain anything for the opposition in the upcoming elections,” she said.
After the last elections, the voters of the HDP had been sharing some criticisms with her and the party. Buldan summarised many of their criticisms, voicing their concerns: “Yes, we have supported the opposition, we voted for the democracy alliance, but is the opposition not capable of owning the HDP when the HDP wakes up with raids and faces a wave of arrests? In this context, a new alliance with the other opposition parties is a matter of debate.”
“Everybody needs to be open and clear,” she emphasized. “Of course, we have our principles. We will prepare a declaration and set forth our principles,” she said, adding: “We say: Democratic progress in this country is only possible with the solution of the Kurdish question.”
