HDP co-chair questions gov’t over ‘cleansing’ in curfew towns

DİYARBAKIR – Doğan News Agency

AA Photo

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has questioned comments made by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government asserting military operations would continue until the towns under curfew in Turkey’s southeast were fully “cleansed” of militants, during a joint press conference with the co-leaders of the HDP, the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP). 

“You [the AKP] conduct military operations in Cizre with the attendance of six generals, 36 colonels and 10,000 soldiers against 20 PKK members,” Demirtaş said, referring to the ongoing operations against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in southeastern Şırnak’s Cizre district. 

“Is this your understanding of a cleansing operation?” he questioned, adding the situation only displayed the extent of the government’s helplessness.

Defining the locals in Cizre as “advocates of an honorable, respectful cause,” Demirtaş argued the heart of the matter was people’s willingness to leave freely and humanely. 

Demirtaş also announced the DTK would hold an extraordinary congress on Feb. 26 and 27, 2016, where it will reach important decisions on autonomy. 

“We will hold discussions strengthening the foundations of self-governance and autonomy, and we will take important decisions on furthering our goals in the political arena. We will realize all the decisions we take,” he told reporters.