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The Ministry of Interior yesterday (August 19) replaced the elected mayors of the mostly Kurdish-populated southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van with trustees on the ground of ongoing terrorism-related investigations against the mayors.
Maja Kocijanic, the EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Kati Piri, the Vice President of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament and the parliament's Turkey rapporteur, have released statements on the replacements of the mayors.
CLICK - Mayors of Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van Removed from Office
Kocijanic: Dismissals risk damaging local democracy
Kocijanic called on the government to repeal the dismissal of mayors and restart a political process for the resolution of the Kurdish question:
"The replacement of Selçuk Mızraklı, Bedia Özgökçe Ertan and Ahmet Türk by state governors is of serious concern as it puts the respect of the democratic outcomes of the 31 March elections into question. Dismissals and detentions of local politicians and appointment of trustees deprive voters of political representation at local level, and seriously risk damaging local democracy.
"While the Turkish government has a legitimate right to fight terrorism, it is also responsible for ensuring this is done in accordance with the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in its Constitution and Turkey's international commitments and not for political reasons applying broad anti-terror or criminal legislation.
"Turkey has to repeal measures inhibiting the functioning of local democracy, in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and with Turkey's commitment to the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
"While the EU has unambiguously and repeatedly condemned violent terrorist attacks in Turkey and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, it also reiterates its call for the urgent resumption of a credible political process to achieve a peaceful and sustainable solution."
Piri: AKP is gaining what it couldn't gain in elections
Piri stated that they stand behind all democratic forces in Turkey:
"The people's will in Turkey is apparently only respected as long as it serves the ruling AKP. These mayors were elected by their constituents less than 5 months ago. What the AKP couldn't gain through elections, it is now gaining by undemocratic and plainly unlawful means.
"The Kurdish people also have fundamental rights. Legitimate and democratic opposition to the government's policies cannot be labelled as terrorism. The S&D Group stands firmly behind all democratic forces in Turkey and urges the government to reverse this unjustified decision.
"This is not the first time that Turkish government replaces democratically elected mayors with trustees. Despite the previous dismissals and the repression that followed, HDP was able to win the elections again 5 months later in these municipalities." (EMK/PT/VK)
