The declaration urged withdrawal of the proposal for the lifting of immunities, and warned; “We are concerned that this constitutional amendment will bring an absolute end to the search for a political solution to the Kurdish issue that has evolved into a conflict again. This would be a heavy blow on the seek for peace.”

The declaration titled “Do not touch the will of people and my voice in Parliament” is supported by all constituents of the HDK (Peoples' Democratic Congress) and DTK (Democratic Society Congress).

The meeting where the declaration was made public was attended by co-chairs of HDK, DTK, DBP and HDP as well as co-mayors of DBP municipalites and representatives of 252 constituents operating under HDK and DTK.

The Turkish version of the historic declaration was read by HDK spokesperson and HDP İzmir MP Ertuğrul Kürkçü, and the Kurdish version by DTK co-chair Leyla Güven.

“DIRECT INTERVENTION ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”

The declaration states the following:

“We are greatly concerned with the Constitutional amendment proposing a regulation to parliamentary immunity, hearings for which have started in the parliament.

The legislative immunity should be a democratic right that aims to ensure first and foremost the right for elected politicians to speak and express opinions. This right transcends the parliamentarians themselves and extends to the people who elected and sent them to the parliament. The members of parliament are the “proxies of the people” and they are responsible for reflecting the will of the people they represent.

Investigations, detentions or arrests of members of parliament for their activities of expressing opinions as required by their political campaign will be, first and foremost, a direct intervention on the will of the people. In this framework; we consider the discussions on immunity turning into tools for political revenge and political punishment a dangerous development.

The severity of the danger shows itself in the continued simultaneous arrests, dismissals, suspensions, punishment and other such measures of mayors and municipal council members from the DBP and preparations to appoint trustees/confiscating the municipality which are hijacking the will of the people.

“THE PROPOSAL WILL CREATE SERIOUS PROBLEMS; ENDS THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTION”

Meanwhile, any proposal that would open the doors for opposition MPs to be subject to legal intervention will create new and serious problems, especially at a time when open concerns and hesitations over the judicial independence and impartiality are being voiced strongly by the higher judicial bodies. A new line will be crossed in designing society through judiciary.

We are also concerned that this constitutional amendment targeting HDP MPs specifically will bring an absolute end to the search for a political solution to the Kurdish issue that has evolved into a conflict again. Unlawful closure of political channels in a period when all of us intensify our search and efforts to end the violence will deal a great blow to seeking peace. It is impossible to understand the insistence on methods that have been tried in the past and have caused the issue to grow. What we need is to carry the discussions that will open the lines of democratic politics.

“THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN IMMEDIATELY”

We demand this proposal that can lead the way to dispel all marginalised communities, particularly the Kurdish people, that have found representation in the HDP be withdrawn immediately. We call on members of parliament to vote “No” on this proposal that will encumber our future with its implications; we demand an immediate end to the political oppression on journalists, academics, NGOs and DBP municipalities and an immediate release and return to duty of the arrested mayors.”