The member of the Executive Council of the KCK (Community of Kurdistan Societies), Sabri Ok spoke about current issues in a special program on Stêrk TV. Ok made a series of remarks about the presidential and parliamentary elections on 14 May in Turkey.

Ok said: “A group within the AKP wanted to develop moderate Islam through Erdoğan and caused a stir from the Middle East to Africa. They pushed this through with the help of the US and Europe. In order to attack the Kurdish people, organizations like ISIS and al-Nusra were supported, financed and armed. They acted with these organizations to liquidate the PKK and break the will of the Kurdish people. They are all united against the Kurdish people, including Ergenekon, because their interests are the same. The state under the AKP and Erdoğan represents the mentality of the Republic of Turkey. This will either continue, or there will be a rupture in the Republic's oppressive mentality. The international powers have withdrawn their support from the Turkish government. It has nothing left to maintain its power. Therefore, these elections are very important to get rid of the AKP-MHP government and the century of repressive mentality of the Turkish state."

Possible provocations

Ok warned of possible provocations in the run-up to the elections. It is not clear what kind of provocations the government will carry out before the elections, but the likelihood is high, Ok said, adding: "It is obvious that the AKP-MHP government will lose. It is aware of it which is why it is willing to do anything to avoid defeat.”

In response to a question about the Green Left Party (YSP) and the Alliance for Work and Freedom, in which the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) is the largest party, Sabri Ok said: "Who do they think the PKK is? The PKK is an ideological and political movement. Our goal is to do politics. Of course, we support certain people and not others. How much support we give to whom and how much we don't depends on our values, ideology, politics, tactics, strategy and work. So what does the AKP want from the PKK? It wants the PKK not to talk about politics at all. Of course, we do politics, but as an ideological movement we have other tasks and responsibilities. Political, legal, democratic movements are something else. How they work is their responsibility, but our job is to voice our views.”

The sword of Damocles hovers over the HDP

The KCK has always said that there are no rights and no justice for the Kurdish people, said Ok, adding: "The Kurdish people have no status. Of course there are Kurds and they have legitimate rights, but the Turkish state does not recognize that. He did not include them in his constitution. This is also reflected in the policy of repression against the HDP and other democratic parties. The sword of Damocles hovers over the HDP. The reason for this is that it is a party in which democratic, liberal and socialist Turkish and Kurdish forces are represented. Many forces are united in the HDP, and that's a good thing. The closure of the HDP is on the agenda. On the day the lists of candidates are finalized, a decision will be made as to whether the HDP will be dissolved or not. The whole world knows that.”

The decision to run with the Green Left Party is correct

Sabri Ok continued: “The HDP and the Kurdish democratic politicians have experience. Some parties have already been closed, some parties have been dissolved, but the Kurdish people, democratic forces and other communities still exist and even grow in the face of this pressure. The Kurdish people and their friends stand united with the democratic and socialist forces in Turkey and make democratic politics. Elections are coming up and the HDP and the democratic forces will contest them. They will run with the Green Left party against these political attacks on the elections. This is a very correct decision. The Kurdish people and the democratic political movement have learned lessons from the past. Changing their parties and logos is a matter of a day. The HDP will not lose anything in this situation."