'They want to keep the HDP away from both politics and social life'

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"While we are approaching 2023, there is an intention to form a general alliance against the alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). There are two weak links in this possible alliance: İYİ Party and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The ruling party sees these two parties as the weak links. There were operations against the İYİ Party, there still are..."

It is how Prof. Mesut Yeğen comments on the operation launched against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) earlier today (September 25).

Asst. Prof. Cuma Çiçek and journalist Faik Bulut are also of similar opinion. They say the operation might be related to upcoming elections. Journalist Aslı Aydıntaşbaş notes that the operation has no legal basis.

CLICK - Detention warrant against 82 people in 7 provinces

In the early morning hours today, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention warrants against 82 people in 7 provinces as part of an investigation conducted into the "Kobani protests on October 6-12, 2014."

Among the detained are HDP's Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen, Berfin Köse, HDP's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) member Nazmi Gür, HDP's former Central Executive Committee member Can Memiş, former members Alp Altınörs Bircan Yorulmaz and Gülfer Akkaya, former MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Ayla Akat Aka, Emine Ayna, Beyza Üstün and Altan Tan.

Specialized in the Middle Eastern and Kurdish Politics, Prof. Mesut Yeğen, Asst. Prof. Cuma Çiçek and journalists Faik Bulut and Aslı Aydıntaşbaş have spoken to bianet about this recent operation against the HDP.

Prof. Yeğen: It wants nationalist voters around itself

Prof. Mesut Yeğen: "The issue has no legal side to it. I consider it to be part of a political calculation about today. To begin with, the government has had to stop its aggressive politics abroad.

"It needs to start a fire under nationalist masses so that it can keep them around itself in domestic politics. It wants to start this much-needed fire around the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

"For instance, this brings an operation that aims to close the HDP into minds. I do not say that it will certainly happen. Because it can have grave political consequences. The ones who vote for the HDP might get more enraged about it and embrace the party even more.

"While we are approaching 2023, the alliance of the ruling AKP and MHP sees two weak links: İYİ Party and the HDP.

"We do not know for sure what will happen next after this process, but we can see that there are political calculations. This process might be the footsteps of a political order oriented towards 2023. They might also need a new maneuver to keep the nationalist base around themselves."

Asst. Prof. Çiçek: HDP is a de facto closed party

Asst. Prof. Cuma Çiçek: "The HDP is a political party whose co-chairs have been arrested since November 2016, MPs have been arrested and at least 8 thousand members have been arrested.

"In other words, it is a de facto closed party. It is a party which is invisible in the mainstream media. It has been under pressure since 2016. I see these operations as a continuation of this process of pressure.

"It has something to do with elections. And the government is aware of this: In order for the opposition bloc to win, the [main opposition] CHP and İYİ Party must also join this bloc. So, a bloc consisting of the HDP, CHP and İYİ Party... We can also add the Future Party and DEVA Party to this.

"One of the controversial issues between the İYİ Party and CHP is the HDP. In order to hinder such a bloc, the government might want to make these two parties drift apart from the HDP by bringing up the 'Kobane protests.'

'The real issues are covered up'

"As you also know, [jailed former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin] Demirtaş made some statements about forming blocs. These operations are recalled and launched to hinder such a bloc.

"Moreover, Turkey is now going through a pandemic process and economic crisis. AKP's own voters think that the pandemic process cannot be managed properly and the numbers do not reflect the truth.

"In a sense, by launching an operation against the HDP, they might want to cover up the troubles of Turkey, which actually need to be discussed now. There is an intention to cover up the real issues of Turkey."

Aydıntaşbaş: It has no legal basis

Journalist Aslı Aydıntaşbaş: "The alleged incidents happened six years ago and there was also an investigation process about the issue back then. So, it has no legal basis or meaning.

"As elections are not a current issue in the political agenda, I cannot make sense of these operations. No statement has been made so far."

Bulut: It is a part of intimidation policy

Journalist Faik Bulut: "To begin with, it is done to keep the HDP away from both politics and social life. The HDP is already a de facto closed party. The government wants to keep the HDP away from social life, too.

"Secondly, we can define these operations as part of a policy of threat and intimidation. Thirdly, it might be related to personalized anger. It might be the result of HDP's call to not vote for the AKP in both local and general elections. In other words, I see it as retaliation.

"If they wanted it, they could close the HDP. But by not closing the party, they give other countries the message of 'We don't close parties.' But they want to turn it into a party which only has a signboard."

(EMK/SD)

* Photos: Social media