HDP Delegation Not Allowed into Dersim

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) delegation has issued a statement after they were prevented from making an examination at forestry areas which were set on fire again in Dersim.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Group Deputy Chair Ayhan Bilgen said that website of the Ministry of Forest didn’t include the fires that were taken under control after having lasted two weeks and restarted on August 26, and crime was committed in the region.

Describing the prevention of the visits as “covering the crime”, Bilgen said, “If you are not guilty, then why don’t you let us enter?”:

“What did we do today? We attempted to extinguish fire without saying anything. They tried to prevent us, which means they tried to cover their crimes”.

Statement by the governorship

In its statement issued following HDP delegation’s visit, Tunceli Governorship said:

“Tunceli has been living its most peaceful days of its history. Thanks to the investments especially in employment, a warm dialogue and communication environment has been set between our State and citizens.

“Some ill-intended circles attempt to disrupt our fight against terrorism on the pretext of fire, and they abuse our citizens’ environmental conscience by means of false news”.

Bilgen: There was no order but still we were prevented

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Ayhan Bilgen remarked:

“It is tried to make look like that Dersim is a very free and secure place, everything is going fine and the problem is us coming here.

“We first tried to pass the closest points to the fire, we were prevented. Then we attempted to pass through Çiçekli area, we were prevented again. Our entrance was prevented even though there was no order or solid decision”.

The figures in the delegation

Following figures were in the 11-person HDP delegation:

Deputy Co-Chairs Alican Önlü, Murat Çepni, Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Ayhan Bilgen, Chief Executive Mahmut Toğrul and MPs Erkan Baş, Hüda Kaya, Meral Danış Beştaş, Erdal Aydemir, Mehmet Tiryaki, Dilşat Cambaz and Kemal Bülbül. (TP/TK)