Newroz Festivities in Diyarbakır Will Indicate Election Results

DTP candidate for Sur district mayor, Demirbaş thinks this year's spring festivities hold importance because of upcoming elections. He plans to continue providing multilingual local services, if elected. That was why he was dismissed from office.

Tolga Korkut

Democratic Society Party's (DTP) candidate for Diyarbakır's Sur district mayor in coming local elections on March 29 is once again Abdullah Demirbaş. Talking to bianet on tomorrow's Newroz (spring day) celebrations in Diyarbakır, Demirbaş said: "This year festivities are more important because of the elections. The elections are going between the state and Kurds. If they don't harm Newroz enthusiasm with provocations, attendance to the festivities will be an indication of the election results."

Criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for creating tension during the last two years by saying "we'll win Diyarbakır" and trying to establish themselves as the sole address, disregarding the will of Kurds, Demirbaş thinks that DTP candidates aren't just racing against AKP.

"Governors and bureaucrats support AKP's candidates. Recently, there were meetings on urban transformation in Suriçi's Lalebey and Ali Paşa districts. The governorship and the Prime Ministry organize these events. But they turned into a propaganda meeting for AKP's candidates. Their brochures were distributed."

He says the governorship sent letters to citizens, which stated that white goods will be distributed to the poor in April. "In Istanbul or Ankara, a governor can't dare to get involved in elections in such a manner. Bu in Mardin, Diyarbakır or Tunceli it's made possible. We're anxious that the elections would be fraud."

According to Demirbaş, election results would show if the state's approach –love it or leave it- or Kurds' approach –love it, won't leave, want to live in peace and with democracy- is favored.

If elected, Demirbaş plans to continue his efforts to provide municipality services in mother tongue. Upon the Interior Ministry's complaint, the State Council had ruled services in different languages against the Constitution and dismissed Demirbaş as mayor in June 2007.

Is there a difference today? Demirbaş says, "This is a right and a legitimate one. PM himself proved this" and explains: "He approved multilingualism by initiating the state TV broadcasts in Kurdish."

But he recalls that Diyarbakır's Gün TV received a six-day ban recently.

Regarding tomorrow's festivities, "I believe that the people of Diyarbakır will celebrate in a fervid but responsible way. They would avoid any attempts to create conflict to win the elections."(TK/AGÜ)