Entries, exits to 8 cities restricted, HDP: No changes in ‘March for Democracy’

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Ahead of the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) "March for Democracy against the Coup" scheduled for today (June 15), entries and exits to eight provinces of Turkey have been restricted.

While the Governor's Offices refer to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as the reason for the restrictions, the restrictions will be in effect in Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kocaeli, Van, Kırklareli, Hakkari, Bitlis and Şırnak.

The march is planned to begin in Edirne and Hakkari provinces and led by Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, respectively.

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

On the other side, the HDP İstanbul Provincial Organization office in Beyoğlu was also blockaded by the police yesterday ahead of the march. Police officers were waiting in Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles (TOMA) and armored police vehicles in the vicinity of the building.

Schedule of the march

Ebru Günay, the Spokesperson and Mardin MP for the HDP, previously announced the schedule of the march as follows:

The march will start in Edirne and Hakkari provinces on June 15.
The group who start to march from the eastern Hakkari province will go along Van, Diyarbakır and Adana provinces and reach the capital city of Ankara on June 19.
The group who start to march from the northwestern Edirne province will go along the Anatolian and European sides of İstanbul. There will be institutional meetings as well as meetings with workers-laborers and people in three regions of İstanbul on June 16-17-18-19.
Setting out from İstanbul on June 19, the group will be in Ankara on June 20.
With two groups coming together in Ankara, a statement for the press will be held to share the demands and expectations of the local people with the public.

HDP: No changes in the schedule

Shortly after entries and exits were restricted in eight cities, HDP Vice Co-Chair Alican Önlü made a statement yesterday (June 14). Slamming the attempts to hinder the march, Önlü said, "As the government is afraid that the democracy march that we have initiated will spread to the whole Turkey, it is trying to manipulate the march with groundless excuses."

Önlü underlined that they would not make any changes in the schedule of the march despite the restrictions, adding that they would announce the second phase of their plan after the march. Önlü said that the restrictions in question were in violation of the Constitution:

"It is a Constitutional right for the citizens to hold a non-violent march, make a statement and use their democratic right.

"We will continue our march without being led astray by the provocation that the government is trying to stir and by protecting public health.

"We will listen to the recommendations of all segments who have objections to the current state of affairs, then we will announce them in Ankara.

"Following our statement in Ankara, there will be, in fact, plans for a second phase. This time, we will start our march not on our own, but with the democracy forces. We will plan our new period based on the recommendations and criticisms of the people."

Demirtaş: HDP will march for the whole Turkey

Behind bars in Edirne Prison since November 4, 2016, HDP former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has also shared a message on his Twitter account.

"The HDP is setting off to bring Edirne and Hakkari together around the belief in democracy and peace," he has said and continued as follows:

"We are going through a difficult and troubling time. However, I know that we can overcome all hardships by joining hands as 82 million people. This event of HDP is a call for the 82 million to join hands. In that sense, no one should use this event as a means of polarization and tension.

"When this event is about to start, I would like to make a special request from everyone: Even if you are not from the HDP, please let your support and prayers be with our friends who set off for peace and fraternity.

"Let us not forget that the HDP will be on the road for the entire Turkey. Do not ever give credit to those trying to cause provocation and tension. I believe that this event will start in peace and end in peace."

Sharing a photo of himself with former HDP Hakkari MP Abdullah Zeydan, who is also held in Edirne Prison, Demirtaş has said, "May god speed my all friends. May god speed Turkey. May god speed peace. Most heartfelt greetings from Edirne to Hakkari, to my all brothers and sisters." (HA/SD)