To International Public Opinion

13 January 2012

It is known that nearly 5000 Kurdish Politicians including 6 parliamentarians, 27 mayors, dozens of members of city council and executive members of BDP (Peace and Democracy Party or BDP) have been arrested. Concurrently and periodic police operations are continuing since 14 April 2009. These operations are transformed to political genocide against Kurds. Unfortunately, the police operations widen to Kurdish advocates and journalists. 41 advocates have been in prisons since 25/11/2011. Right after than another police operation is launched against Kurdish journalists. 36 journalists’ houses and offices were concurrently raided by police on 20/12/2011. 36 journalists have been in prisons like advocates. Totally, more than 70 Kurdish journalists are in prisons since April 2009.

It is clear that, police operations against Kurds are managed coordinately by the AKP Government. All the police raids happened just after the PM Erdoğan’s comminatory speeches against Kurdish politicians. Especially after the last modifications on the judicial system under the name of the “judicial reforms”, judges and prosecutors abide by AKP Government. In spite of this reality is criticized by some columnists, AKP Government increases the pressures step by step against media executives. Actually, majority of the media organizations in Turkey are under the control of AKP Government. We experienced this reality in virtue of the Uludere Massacre on 28 December 2011. 35 Kurdish villagers were killed by the Turkish F-16s’ bombardment ever though the victims’ identification was confirmed by the border security units before the bombardment. The AKP Government is continuing to protect the responsible of the massacre. Additionally, government is preventing any news on TVs or newspapers about the Uludere Massacre.

Today, a new police operation is launched against Peace and Democracy Party and NGOs such as Human Rights Association (IHD), Trade Union of Public Workers (KESK). Deputy co-chair and former MP for Van City, Ms. Fatma KURTULAN, deputy co-chair and journalist, Ms. Filiz KOÇALI, former chair of DEHAP, Mr. Tuncer BAKIRHAN, Members of Party Assembly, Mr. Senar ABI, Ms. Yıldız AKTAS and Ms. Gülistan BALKAS, journalist Murat CİFTCİ and at least 35 more BDP members are taken into custody by the ongoing police raids. Two days ago, another police operation was launched against municipalities and provincial chairmanships of BDP which governed by BDP. Additionally some of police raids are realized without any search warrant of the court. Some polices displayed Turkish Flag in the raided BDP buildings. Actually, it is too hard to calculate how many Kurds are in prisons because of the relentless arrestment storm by the AKP Government.

Unfortunately we must inform you that, Turkey is sliding into a chaos because of the AKP Government’s totalitarian regime. Not only Kurdish politicians, but also Turkish democrats, advocates, journalists, thousands of students and NGOs’ members are jailed without any reasonable grounds by the AKP Government. Especially Anti-Terror Law, Turkish Criminal Code and Law of Criminal Procedure allow prosecutors to arrest Kurds and oppositions without any evidence. It’s clear that none of BDP members are accused as being a part of the violence. Only speeches on Kurdish Identity or attending democratic meetings are perceived as terrorist activity by the Turkish Judicial System. Special Authorized Courts keep going of the illegitimate state security courts in Turkey. Therefore, thousands of Kurds are being in prisons. AKP Government trying to criminalize BDP and its members by these arrestments. Nevertheless, AKP Government receives very strong support from member states of the European Union and the United States.

Kurdish People and Turkish democrats are continuing to resist against thuggishly police operations and AKP Government’s totalitarian implementations. We think that, AKP Government browbeats to the progressive Kurdish democratic movement. These pressures will not intimidate our party and Kurdish People.

In the light of these developments, BDP and Kurdish People will re-organize themselves against to the AKP’s barbarianism. We heartily call the international public opinion, all the associate organizations and pro-democracy institutions to take up position against AKP Government’s political massacres and totalitarian ideology. We would like to say that peoples’ freedom history and Kurdish People will not forget any contribution for real democracy in Turkey and solidarity with Kurdish People.

[Signed]

Mr. Selahattin DEMIRTAS

And

Ms. Gültan KISANAK
Co-presidents of BDP

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