Reactions against the operation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on March 19 continue. Within the scope of the operation, 51 people were arrested along with IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Among the charges were “urban concencus”, “aiding terror organization” and “corruption”. 

 

Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Ali Kenanoğlu spoke about the operation against IBB and the targeting of the “Urban Consensus”. 

 

Reminding that the “Urban Consensus” was cited as the reason for the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and the appointment of a trustee in his place, Kenanoğlu stated that they saw at that time that the process would expand to IBB and İmamoğlu. Kenanoğlu said, “Critical municipalities in Istanbul with large revenues are being targeted. There is also an assassination against the common line of struggle of the opposition groups and those in favor of democracy on the western side of the country. Because with the 'Urban Consensus', opposition candidates won against the People's Alliance in some cities in Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean and Central Anatolia.” 

 

Stating that the juxtaposition of the opposition has been turned into a “crime”, Kenanoğlu said, “The way the prosecutor handled the Urban Consensus issue is outright racism. In one of its statements, the prosecutor's office said, 'With the Urban Consensus, it is aimed for Kurds to take part in the governments in the western part of the country. Kurds live in the western part of the country. They can run for office, be elected and govern here. This is an intervention in the right to vote and be elected. He says, 'Kurds cannot be elected in the west side, they cannot be candidates, if this happens, it is a crime' and he characterizes this as a crime of 'terrorism'.” 

 

PROVOCATION TO THE PROCESS

 

Stating that the operations, detentions and arrests are a provocation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's “Call for Peace and Democratic Society”, Kenanoğlu said, “How will you consolidate democracy by striking blows against the will of the people? How will you socialize peace? When you look at the process in this sense, it is a provocation by the ruling wing.” 

 

Stating that in 2016, there was a political coup against former Co-Chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, along with MPs and elected mayors, Kenanoğlu emphasized that the current process is a continuation of that period. Kenanoğlu stressed: “At that time, we said, 'If it is not prevented, it will reach Istanbul tomorrow.' Why are all the people living in the western part of Turkey on the streets right now? Because their diplomas have no meaning anymore, they are trying to keep their diplomas. The other one is trying to protect his house, his home. They are trying to protect their workplace. No one's property, property, diploma, future is guaranteed, no one has any security right now. This is why those who yesterday avoided standing side by side with us on the west coast have realized what we are going through today.”

 

'THE ISSUE IS A QUESTION OF DEMOCRACY'

 

Stating that they also took to the streets against the political coup, Kenanoğlu said that not all of the masses were CHP members, but many people who were concerned about the future of the country participated in the protests. Kenanoğlu said, “This is not a matter of CHP or HDP. This is a matter of understanding, a problem of democracy, a problem of mentality. What we have been trying to express for years has now been realized by the masses on the west coast. In this sense, it should be considered as an important opportunity to create a democratic society, to protect the will of the people and to establish a democratic process in Turkey.” 

 

Stating that the masses on the streets should weave a common line of struggle for democracy, peace and especially for the solution of the Kurdish question in this process, Kenanoğlu said, “There is an important opportunity to create a Turkey where we can live in peace, in economic prosperity, in economic prosperity, in peace, in security, in solidarity, shoulder to shoulder.” 

 

MA / Yeşim Tükel