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The timing of the latest operations on 26 October against HDP politicians regarding the Kobani Protests, which happened six years ago, brought many questions to mind. Why six years later, and why now?
Hişyar Özsoy — co-spokesperson of the HDP, responsible for foreign affairs, and a deputy in Diyarbakır — spoke to Hawar News about Turkey’s latest operations against Kurds and the political situation of Turkey in the Middle East.
Özsoy stated that the government’s attacks against Kurds have never stopped since the end of the peace process, which was held between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Turkey between 2013 and 2015.
“They want to create a new nationalist order”
Özsoy claimed that the Turkish government wants to push the HDP out of politics completely and do not want any real opposition parties in parliament.
“They want to ensure that there is no HDP in parliament. They want to create a new nationalist order, filled with an Islamic ideology that erases all groups, especially Kurds, from the political arena. They do not want anyone that disturbs the official Turkish state ideology. That is their plan for 2023”, said Özsoy. He also commented on Turkish foreign policies and added that Turkey stands alone in its foreign policies, but is trying to cover it up:
“Turkey is under pressure from Russia regarding policies in Syria and Idlib. Turkey is also in Libya but could not get what they wanted there. Moreover, there is a substantial block against Turkey in Libya. Turkey created significant tension in the East Mediterranean region but had to step back due to international pressure, especially from France and the USA. Turkey acted like it’s going to start a war against Greece but that ended in dialogue. These days media nationalists are raving about the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They hide the failures through these nationalist discourses”, said the HDP spokesperson.
He also underlined the ongoing economic crisis in Turkey, and claimed that Turkey is trying to hide this as well.
“There is a massive economic crisis that is going on here in Turkey. The number of people infected by the coronavirus increases each day, and it will worsen in winter. Under all these conditions, the government needs an enemy to attack in order to consolidate its supporters. This enemy is the HDP — it is a useful tool for them. Another aspect of this fascist approach is the patriarchal suppression of women. They also attack women’s rights and try to criminalise the women’s movement”.
“They attacked the HDP because the HDP was in solidarity with Kobani”
Özsoy also commented on the position of Turkey on Kobani. Over 70 countries supported Kobani during the war with ISIS, said Özsoy. “The whole world knows what Turkey has been doing against the Kurds for years is not a war against terrorism. Turkey was attacking Rojava and occupied Afrin (Efrîn), Ras al-Ayn (Serêkaniyê), and Tell Abiad (Girê Spî). With the latest developments, Turkey is still trying to find a way to attack Kobani”.
Hisyar Özsoy thinks that Turkey is trying to negotiate with Russia to invade Kobani and take advantage of the conflicts in the region.
“There are tensions between Russia and Turkey regarding the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Libya’s developments, and Idlib’s situation. Turkey might try to negotiate with Russia about these to get permission to occupy Kobani. But Turkey has to have permission from the USA as well. However, election day is coming in the USA. Turkey will try to persuade both the USA and Russia to occupy Kobani. ISIS could not occupy Kobani, but Turkey is trying to do what ISIS could not”.
Hişyar Özsoy thinks that there is a link between the latest operations against the HDP and the support that HDP politicians declared for Kobani.
“In the end they attacked the HDP because the HDP was in solidarity with Kobani when ISIS was attacking Kobani. That is the reason why the AKP government is punishing HDP politicians”.
