* Photo: HDP
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122 rights organizations, associations, platforms and political parties have released a joint statement and expressed solidarity and support for Kars Provincial Co-Mayors Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Alaca.
Slamming the news targeting the co-mayors, the organizations have declared that they will not stay silent in the face of opposition-run local governments being threatened with appointment of trustees.
'Bilgen and Alaca under systematic attack'
In their joint statement entitled "Local governments belong to the people! Keep your hands off Kars!", the institutions have stated the following:
"While the importance of the role played by local governments in the struggle against the coronavirus pandemic around the world is obvious, the government has been targeting the municipalities that come to the fore with their successful solidarity campaigns one by one.
"After İstanbul, Adana and Mersin municipalities have faced similar threats by the government, the Municipality of Kars is now set as a target by manipulative and deliberate news. Kars is a city where several peoples like Kurds, Turks, Terekeme people, Laz, Azerbaijanis, Locals, Molokans live together. On March 31, 2019, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) took over the Kars Municipality with a debt of 400 million TRY. The Municipal Council consists of members from the HDP, AKP, MHP, CHP and DSP.
"When the coronavirus pandemic has broken out, the local government in Kars has launched an effective solidarity campaign. That is exactly why the Municipality has been targeted by the government. Kars Municipality and Co-Mayors Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Alaca have been under a systematic attack.
'We cannot stay silent in the face of trustee threat'
"Having appointed trustees to several municipalities in an unlawful manner, the government has turned trustees into a way of governing.
"Appointing a trustee means the usurpation of the people's right to vote and to be elected. We are concerned that the perception operations against Kars Municipality will, step by step, pave the way for a dangerous outcome such as the appointment of a trustee.
'We cannot stay silent in the face of attempts to disable local governments in struggle against the outbreak and the use of trustee appointments as a threat against the local governments elected by the people!
"Any failure to take a stand against the attack targeting Kars Municipality, especially Kars Co-Mayors Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Alaca, will lead the attacks against local governments to become more aggravated and widespread, thereby trampling upon the people's will.
'We are calling on all persons and institutions to take a stand against the attacks targeting the Municipality of Kars and to not stay silent."
İmzacı kurumlar
• Adıyaman Associations Federation • Ağrı Associations Federation • Akkay-Der • Association for Promotion of Alevi-Bektashi Culture Narlıdere-İzmir • Amed City Theather • Anatolian Culture and Research Association (AKA-DER) • Life and Consumption in Anatolia Cooperative • Ankara Initiative for Freedom to Thought• Anticapitalist Muslims • Atakent People's Assembly • Ataşehir Solidarity Network • ANYAKAY-DER • Ardahan Hocvan Associations Federation • Association of Soldiers Opposing to Military Coups (ADAM-DER) • AZADÎ Party • Bakur- Kürdistan Democratic Party North (PDK) • Bahçelievler Solidarity Network • Peace Mothers • Batman Mebya-Der • Bitlis Associations Federation • Bodrum Citizen's Initiative 2017 • Progressive Lawyers Group (ÇAĞ) • Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Central Office • Çekmeköy Solidarity Association • Darıca Emekçi Kültür Derneği • Datça Demokrasi Platformu • Demokrasi için Birlik (DİB) • Lawyers for Democracy • Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD) • Democratic Regions Party (DBP) • Democratic Islam Congress (DİK) • Democratic Society Congress (DTK) • Dersim Bar Association • Dersim Associations Federation ( DEDEF) • People of Dersim Kağıthane, Eyüp, Göktürk Culture and Mutual Aid Association • Revolutionary Democratic Culture Associations (DDKD) • Revolutionary Culture and Friendship Association • Revolutionary Party • Dicle Culture Art Association • Divriği Culture Associations • Dialogue Group • Diyarbakır MEBYA-DER • Eastern and Southeastern Associations Federation (DGD) • Düzgün Baba Djemevi • Ecology Association • Elih- Batman Associations Federation • Power of Labor Association • Labor Party (EMEP) • Erzurum Associations Federation • Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) • Fatih Solidarity • Right and Justice Platform • People's Houses • Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) • Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) • No Üsküdar • Iğdır Provincial Associations Federation • Human and Freedom Party (PIA) • İstanbul Amed Associations Federation (AMED FED) • Association for People of Varto in İstanbul • Kadıköy Solidarity Network • Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) • KESK Branches' Platform • Karakoçan Associations Platform • Kars Digor Culture Association • Kars Iğdır Ardahan Beykoz Association • Karşı Art Works • Kartal Solidarity Network • Kartal Lawyers Association • Participatory Lawyers (KAV) • Kavga Socialist Magazine • KAYY-DER Culture Association • Mount Ida İstanbu Solidarity • Koçgiri Culture Association • Köstebek Collective • Kurdistan Democratic Party - Turkey (PDK-T) • Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP) • Justice for Victims Associations • Maltepe Forum • Mardin Associations Federation • MED TUHAD-FED • MED-DER • Mencel Theather • Mezopotamya Ecology Movement • Mezopotamya Cultural Center (MKM) • Muğla Environment Platform (MUÇEP) • Mülkiyeliler Birliği Central Office • Muş Associations Federation • Nurtepe-Güzeltepe Solidarity Networkı • Middle East Cinema Academy Association • Libertarian Democratic Lawyers (ÖDAV) • Libertarian Lawyers Association (ÖHD) Central Office • Pir Sultan Abdal Association • Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association Diyarbakır Branch • Politika Newspaper • Sancaktepe Local Democracy Assembly • Şirvan Associations Federation • Şişli Solidarity Network • Şişli Democracy Assembly • SYKP European Student Initiative • Social Rights Association • Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP) • Socialist Re-Establishment Party (SYKP) • Sultanbeyli Aziz Baba Djemevi • Sur Platform • Syriac Associations Federation • Syriac Women's Association • Tarlabaşı Solidarity Association • Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA) • Social Freedom Party (TÖP) • Tora Ziman • All People of Tokat Culture and Solidarity Association (Tüm-Tok-Der) • ÜNİVDER • Van Associations Platform • Varto Associations Platform • Either Canal or İstanbul Coordination • 78's Initiative • Green Left Party • Citizen's Initiative |
(EMK/SD)
