Politicians from pro-Kurdish opposition parties gathered in Van (Wan) on Friday to protest the Turkish government’s recent trustee appointment in Hakkari (Colemêrg), criticising this move as a severe infringement on the democratic rights of the Kurdish people.
The protest was spearheaded by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-chair Keskin Bayındır, accompaned by a huge local support despite a heavy police presence.
During the rally, Bayındır articulated their stance against the trustee policy, which they view as a systematic assault on Kurdish cultural and linguistic heritage. “We are here in Van to oppose the trustee policy that was imposed five days ago, robbing Hakkari’s people of their democratic will,” he explained. He condemned the government’s approach, particularly criticising the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) alliance for promoting conflict over peace.
Hatimoğulları was equally vocal, addressing the crowd with fervour. “Once again, a trustee has been imposed, a process reminiscent of past political oppressions enacted by the AKP and MHP in collusion with the Ergenekon Alliance and JİTEM,” she stated, referring to the ultra-nationalist paramilitary forces within the Turkish state apparatus that had orchestrated past anti-Kurd policies. She urged the gathered crowd and broader Kurdish community to resist the undemocratic practices and support the ongoing struggle for their rights.
Van has witnessed a significant victory for the Kurdish opposition, with all district and central municipalities going to the DEM Party in the 31 March 2024 local elections. The AKP government sought to undermine this success and had contested the election of the mayor on spurious grounds. Subsequently, the local electoral board refused to issue the official certificate of election to the DEM Party candidate. However, after days of sustained protests, the High Election Council intervened and reinstated the certificate.
The event in Van highlighted a deep-seated resistance against the government’s policies in Kurdish regions and reflected a growing sentiment against the AKP’s rule, as Hatimoğulları warned, “Your time has come to leave”. As the demonstration concluded, participants and leaders moved under police escort amidst chants of support from the public, who defied police efforts to silence them with sirens.
