TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC OPINION
Statement on the arrest of 19 members of the BDP on 7 June 2012
The so-called “KCK operations” which unlawfully and politically target our party and which were started by the AKP Government after it had been defeated in the 2009 local election by our party, continue.
As is well known in the public opinion, as a result of unlawful and political operations, 6 Members of Parliaments, 32 mayors, hundreds of chairs and members of city councils and municipal councils, staff of municipalities and more than 7000 members of our party have been detained. The more extensive parts of these operations target our local governances. These operations aim to immobilise and destroy our party which has established new democratic, participatory, ecological and anti-sexist local governance model instead of the traditional classical local governance methods.
The latest episode in the political genocide operations was directed at our mayors, city and district offices and members of our party in Van by the AKP, on 7 June 2012. In the extent of this operation 19 members of our party including Mayor of Van Bekir Kaya, Mayor of Edremit Nezahat Gunes, Mayor of Baskale Hecer Sariha, Mayor of Muradiye Izzet Celik, Mayor of Ozalp Murat Durmaz, Former chair of BDP Baskale office Dervis Polat, Chair of BDP Muradiye Office Sirin Yildiz and BDP chair of Van Provincial Chairmanship Cuneyt Canis were taken into custody. After being held for 3 days in custody, Bekir Kaya, Ihsan Guler and Cuneyt Canis were brought before the court towards the morning and imprisoned in the Van Court House.
It is clear why this raid was carried out just after the BDP 2nd Ecological and Local Governance conference had taken place between June 1st and June 3rd. In spite of all the oppressive, dictatorial and fascist operations, our party’s decision at the conference to put the Democratic Autonomy model and democratic resistance into practice created fear and panic and this is the main reason for the latest operation.
Despite all the oppressive measures of the AKP Government, the BDP municipalities and local governances will continue their struggle for democracy, freedom, equality, justice and peace within the framework of the Van people’s resistance for the last three days, determined and assured. The resistance of the people of Van shows that the AKP’s clampdown on our municipalities cannot be successful and the municipal services will be provided for the people of Van. We declare before public opinion that our people will protect their municipalities and we will continue our legitimate struggle both at the national and international level.
İdris BALUKEN
BDP vice Co-President
Responsible for Local Governances