ANKARA - Members of the Peoples' Democratic Party paid a visit to non-governmental organizations in Antep, southeast Turkey as part of its campaign “We are the HDP, we are everywhere".

 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) executives and deputies continue to meet different parts of society as part of its "We are the HDP, we are everywhere" campaign. A party delegation consisting of HDP Central Executive Board (MYK) member Turgut Öker, deputies Alican Önlü, Garo Paylan and Tülay Hatimoğulları, who met with the people of Maraş province yesterday, have arrived in the Antep province today.

 

The HDP members exchanged ideas with officials of non-governmental organizations, trade unions and local associations at a meeting held in a hotel in Antep.

 

'A FASCIST EMPIRE'

 

Speaking here, Adana Deputy Tülay Hatimoğulları informed the participants about their campaigns and addressed the economic collapse, poverty, unemployment and women's rights in Turkey.

 

Hatimoğulları said, “The government wants to establish a fascist empire in the country. We know that the government intends to refashion this fascist regime in 2023. They are trying to perpetuate the one-man regime; we are aware of that.”

 

Hatimoğulları raised concern over the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali prison island and called for support to the prison resistance that demands an end to this inhuman treatment.

 

“Not only the Kurds, but the entire people of Turkey pay the price for the deadlock policies concerning the Kurdish issue. We see how wars affect our economy and democracy. It is vital to create a peaceful climate for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question,” she added.

 

Referring to the racist attacks that have increased recently, the HDP deputy said, “We must have an answer to those who attempt to create conflict between peoples.”

 

“The Middle East is the hotbed of bloody conflicts. That is why we have always defended peace and will continue to defend it,” she noted.

 

Pointing to the Kobanê trial, Hatimoğulları continued, “These cases are for political revenge. Our party is persistently criminalized but the peoples will not allow it. The symbol of the HDP is a tree and its roots are very deep. HDP is the party of the peoples, we will not allow our party to be closed down.”

 

'THIS GOVERNMENT IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE'

 

Hatimoğulları expressed that many problems in the country could be resolved if the way was cleared for democratic mass organizations. She noted that democratic mass organizations are very important to her party and emphasized the importance of expanding solidarity and struggle.

 

The deputy recalled the bills introduced by the government to take NGOs under its control, adding, “This is another version of the trustee regime. This government is on the verge of collapse. It attacks everyone who does not obey it. We know that the time to make away with these dark times is near.”

 

NGO representatives who made speeches expressed their satisfaction with the meeting. They said that they expect similar contacts from other opposition parties and stressed that democracy can be brought to the country through a joint struggle.