THERE can be no democracy in Turkey until the so-called Kurdish question is resolved, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Huseyin Kacmaz warned at yesterday’s Democracy Watch in Nusaybin.

He blasted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its fascist coalition partners for its continued “war policy” and attacks on democracy.

But the Sirnak MP vowed that the struggle would continue, despite the fascist intimidation including the removal of elected HDP mayors and their replacement by government-appointed trustees.

The Democracy Watch entered its 33rd day in Nusaybin in Turkey’s largely Kurdish south-east in protest at the government attacks on the HDP. 

Last month mayors from the municipalities of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van were removed from office and replaced with government-appointed trustees. Around 500 were arrested in police raids.

The move against the HDP comes after Mr Erdogan’s humiliating defeat in the municipal elections, where his party lost control of Ankara and significantly the AKP power base of Istanbul.

It was the first time parties associated with the authoritarian leader had lost Turkey’s biggest city since 1997. 

Mr Kacmaz told those gathered that the government was using all its power against the Kurdish population and democracy in Turkey.

But he said there were cracks in the ruling party which has been hit by a number of high-profile resignations, with the latest figures showing it has also lost hundreds of thousands of members.

“The problems of this country will not end until the Kurdish problem is solved. AKP-MHP government continues with their war policies.

“The act of appointed trustees is unlawful and this unlawfulness is not being done to Kurds alone. It is being done to the democracy of this country and its people…

“HDP has never been silenced and never will be. HDP is the party that will bring peace to the Middle East.”