HDP concludes 'March for Democracy' in Ankara

Pervin Buldan reads out a statement with Mithat Sancar next to her. (Photos: HDP/Twitter)

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The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on Saturday (June 20) concluded its march in protest of the dismissal of its MPs and mayors after arriving in the capital Ankara.

The "March for Democracy Against the Coup" was started from the southeastern and northwestern edges of the country by two groups led by the party's co-chairs Prof. Mithat Sancar and Pervin Buldan.

Amid the Covid-19 epidemic and demonstration bans and entrance restrictions in 16 provinces on the route of the march, the HDP members did not literally march across the country but paid visits to political parties and non-governmental organizations and held several events in 11 provinces.

The eastern group led by Sancar started from Hakkari and arrived in Ankara through Van, Bitlis, Diyarbakır, Urfa, Antep and Adana. The western group led by Buldan started from Edirne and arrived in Ankara after visiting İstanbul and Kocaeli.

Almost all of the party's events were held amid heavy police presence as many party members were detained during the six-day march.

On Saturday, the two groups met and the two co-chairs delivered a joint statement in the parliament's park, again, under heavy police presence. Dozens of party members were let in the park after being searched by the police while many were not allowed.

"We wanted to say 'Enough'"

"With this march, we wanted to say 'Enough' to the government, which chokes the society, tries to silence everyone who doesn't think like it," the statement said.

The co-chairs noted that entries and exits to the provinces on their route were banned "in violation of the of the Constitution and laws" and heavy police presence during the march "created an image of a coup period."

"Sometimes, disrespectful attacks were carried out on our MPs and elected ones by violating the laws and the Constitution," they said.

"Here, we repeat our call once again: We have no choice but to be side by side, shoulder by shoulder, in order to make this country a land of peoples. We will not stop. We will realize the democracy alliance, for which we have raised hopes with the March for Democracy.

"We are ready to take all kinds of responsibilities for the end of violence, the most basic demand and vital need of society, and the realization of social peace. We call for an end to the vicious cycle of conflict and a solution of problems with dialogue.

"If it is desired to provide an environment of peace in Turkey, it will be through democratic politics and negotiations. Everyone should do their part for all steps to be taken for this.

"In this context, we believe that Mr. Öcalan [Abdullah, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)] will make a great contribution. Therefore, it is very important to end the isolation at İmralı [Prison]. The policies of war corrupt the society, blunts conscience. We can only stop this together."

(VK)