HDP Amed deputy Nursel Aydoğan answered ANF's questions regarding the state terror in Silvan district.

Aydoğan said the people of Silvan will not step back in the face of attacks by the AKP, and called on the Kurdish people to embrace self-rule.

'AKP MAKES AN ATTEMPT ON LOCAL PEOPLE'S LIFE IN SİLVAN'

Aydoğan recalled that the state forces conducted two major operations in Silvan within 10 days, and described the operations as attacks aiming to intimidate the people, force them step back and migrate from their settlements.

Referring to Diyarbakır Governor's statement that the operation was conducted in order to remove the ditches and barricades dug and built up by the local people who have declared self-governance, Aydoğan said the consequences, however, revealed thar this was not the case as both operations greatly harmed the people and damaged their properties. She said Silvan was one of the places where the 'Internal Security Package' was first implemented.

HDP MP for Amed said both operations targeted the lives of local people and aimed to break the tradition of resistance, like the ones in Cizre and Silopi.

Aydoğan stated that over 150 workplaces were demolished in the operations during which security forces also sprayed bullets on the houses of the people, damaged dozens of vehicles, burnt many workplaces to the ground and left some houses unusable.

Noting that the local people, women in the first place, had resisted to the attacks in the first days of the operations, Aydoğan said during the following days, however, the escalating violence and dimension of the attacks didn't enable people to go out and continue their actions.

'CHILDREN DEPRESSED BY POLICE'

Aydoğan said some locals in four neighborhoods have resorted to temporary migration to keep their children away from the state terror that greatly affected them.

HDP MP noted that operations in these neighborhoods were conducted with 1500 police or more military forces, some 50 anti-riot vehicles and a number of other military vehicles, and described the disproportionate force used by security forces against civilians as a state policy.

Highlighting the people's loyalty to their cause and struggle, and their determination to resist, Aydoğan added; "Special operation police are using violence at an incredible level, they are spraying bullets around by shouting Allahuekber, which greatly depresses children."

Aydoğan refuted the reports that some locals left their neighborhoods for fear of suppression, Aydoğan said some houses became unusable during the attacks, and this forced those residents to move to some other neighborhoods or the city center.

Regarding their talks with the locals, HPDP MP for Amed said; "They told us that the state's attack will never be able to intimidate them, just like what happened in Silvan during 90's. They said those expecting them to take a step back against AKP were wrong. Despite everything, they are in high morale."

CALL TO EMBRACE SELF-RULE

Pointing to the Kurdish people's demands and declarations of self-rule, Aydoğan said this self-rule didn't mean not splitting the country but was a project of co-existence.

Aydoğan called on the people to reclaim and embrace self-rule which she described as a practice of advanced and radical democracy.

"The Kurdish people are actualizing radical democracy step by step. This doesn't constitute a crime but the AKP government has traditionally attacked the people that declared self-rule and arrested the municipality co-mayors that stand behind them. Declaration of self-rule or democratic autonomy is a project of co-existence and is of major importance for the future and free life of the Kurdish people. Our people should reclaim and embrace all the areas where self-rule has been declared by locals and is criminalized by the AKP. The project must be put into practice with all its aspects, not based only on self-defense. The self-rule project requires a radical struggle and can be made real if this struggle is waged with determination."

'PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE RESISTING, DOORS TO İMRALI MUST BE OPENED'

Calling on the AKP to end its attacks on the self-rule project, Aydoğan drew attention to the Kurdish people's determination on self-rule, and warned that a violent response to this would mean the continuation of the conflict. She emphasized that the Kurdish people will continue resisting the attacks.

Aydoğan also pointed out that doors to İmralı must be opened and meetings with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan must be held as a step for the solution of the Kurdish question.

She added that alongside a solution, a pluralist and civil constitution must be made and it must recognize democratic autonomy in order for the elimination of the problems related to this issue.