HDP Ankara candidate and İmralı delegation spokesperson Sırrı Süreyya Önder said the state delegation had met Mr Öcalan, but not disclosed any details about the meeting. He said the AKP was uncomfortable with the HDP’s election campaign and was isolating Mr Öcalan as a ‘precaution.’

Önder said: "The government is not happy about the HDP's opposition line and its election campaign, and probably wanted Mr Öcalan to put the brake on the HDP. When he refused they did not want us to learn about this.”

HDP Ankara candidate and İmralı delegation spokesperson Sırrı Süreyya Önder answered ANF's questions regarding the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and the plans of the AKP.

'The HDP campaign and the decision to restart the war led to isolation’

Why has there been a return to isolation?

We came to certain agreements in our talks with the state and government delegation. One of these was that our visits to the island should take place at least once every 2, or 3 weeks at the latest, and that permission would not need to be requested for these visits would not be subject. The government adhered to this agreement until 5 April.  But after the candidate lists had been submitted for the elections and the  HDP's campaign began and gained wide support the AKP adopted this stance.

And when we look at the President’s speeches we see that he is waging a campaign to legitimise a return to war. For the manifesto declared by Mr Öcalan in the Dolmabahçe Accord is something that will break the government’s efforts to introduce absolute power. Therefore, they re-evaluated the process and decided as a first step to re-introduce isolation. Their approach, saying things such as: "Let them lay down their arms, then they can see him,” are a great deception. In the accord we have reached the terms for laying down arms have been agreed.  The main point here was that the next stage of talks was to involve a monitoring body. After that Mr Öcalan was to determine a date for a disarmament congress.

Apparently Mr Öcalan has met the state delegation. Is that the sum of information available?  

They informed us of this, but did not tell us what was discussed. They said they would give details after the elections.

Why do you think they had a meeting but gave no information regarding what was discussed?

They have probably been discomfited by the HDP's election campaign, and wanted Mr Öcalan to apply the brake, or at least to tone down the criticism of the AKP. We know from our last meeting with Mr Öcalan that he had refused to adopt such a stance. I am of the opinion that they did not want us to learn of his rejection of such a request.

Have there been no developments regarding your delegation having a meeting?

No, and our dialogue with the government has been suspended completely. While the government is using hate speech against us, which prepares the ground for attacks, talks cannot be expected. They are deliberately avoiding us.  

‘Election results will be determining’

How will the process of resolution go?

The government is probably hoping that we will not exceed the threshold and intending to carry on talks in a more limited way. But undoubtedly the election results will determine what happens.

'The KCK is being sensible while the AKP is seeking conflict’

There are concerns that the AKP is preparing for conflict. The KCK has issued a statement along these lines. What do you think will happen?

For the last 3 months we have been warning the government about this.  While the KCK is behaving with the greatest sensitivity, the same cannot be said for the government. The ‘Internal Security Law’ was a  preparatory step for such a move.