HDP on ‘November 4 Coup’: We are stronger than ever

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Central Executive Board (MYK) issued a written statement in response to the coup on November 4th.

November 4 marks the 5th anniversary of the arrests of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs, Figen Yüksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas, alongside other parliamentarians in 2016. It is also the beginning of an ongoing systematic repression against the HDP.

The statement said, “The political coup carried out 5 years ago, on November 4, 2016, against Turkey’s politics over our party still continues.

Hundreds of our elected leaders, as well as thousands of our fellows and party workers, have been detained as part of the coup, which began with the arrest of dozens of our parliamentarians, including our former Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş. The will of the people was seized on November 4; democratic politics were destroyed through illegal operations, and the freedom of the people was targeted by destroying the desire for equality and peace. The fact that these steps are not legal but political has also been demonstrated by the ECtHR’s ruling directly related to this coup, as well as statements made by government members from time to time.

The coup process began on July 28, 2015, with an order from AKP Chairman Erdoğan that “Immunities should be lifted, they must pay the price,” and has subsequently been deepened by orders from the ruling partners to the courts. There is no legal or judicial procedure; instead, there are government directives and partisan judges and prosecutors lining up to carry them out.”

‘WE TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT LIMITED TO OUR PARTY’

The statement emphasized that “Since November 4, we have been warning everyone that this violation will not be limited to our party alone.”

“Unfortunately, at this point, the usurpation of will has spread beyond our party and municipalities and has included colleges, groups, and non-governmental organizations.

Of course, there were reasons for the attack to start from the HDP. The HDP is the address of organized protest and resistance against fascism in Turkey; it is the most effective social and political power in establishing the common, equal, and free existence of its people. Recognizing that they would be unable to institutionalize fascism in Turkey as long as the HDP survived, the ruling parties targeted us. However, perceiving that its power was under threat, the AKP and its allies not only launched the political coup. After 2015, it destroyed the solution table and implemented its war and collapse plans, increasing Turkey’s political, economic, and social issues.

The process, which began on November 4, is still ongoing today, with the Kobanî Conspiracy Case and the closure case against our party. Those who want to punish the HDP and the people for their failure in the June 7 elections, those who can’t stand the HDP’s politics, believe they can scare us with persecution, oppression, and the judiciary.

We have resisted and continue to resist this blow in every part of life, inside and outside, against this madness that has set Turkey on fire, with the strength we derive from our historical legacy and the support of our people, during the last 5 years. We are more determined and powerful than ever before. The coup plotters are collapsing day by day. They are condemned to fail as a result of the crises they have manufactured. We kept saying that “Fascism will be defeated, not the HDP” and that is exactly what happened; while those who insist on the chaos are left behind, our party stands strong and remains a source of hope for the peoples of Turkey.”

“THOSE RESISTING WILL TRIUMPH”

HDP MYK gave the following message at the end of its statement:

“We will continue to expand our fight against this political coup that was directed at our party in the person of our parliamentarians, who won the right to be represented in the fifth year of the party thanks to the efforts and votes of our people. We have never yielded to elimination and persecution operations against democratic politics. We will triumph, as will our nation and our comrades that are resisting.”