The Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) is holding its 13th General Assembly with the slogan “With hope, with resistance, all together to freedom”. Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chairs Tulay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, political party representatives and HDK components attended the assembly held at Dr. Kadir Topbaş Culture and Art Center. 

Streamers with the slogans “Hope, resistance, all together to freedom” and “Jin, jiyan, azadi” in 6 languages including Turkish, Kurdish and Arabic were hung in the assembly hall. 

 

The assembly started with a minute of silence after the council was elected. Before the speeches, a cinevision show on the history and struggle of HDK was shown.

 

'HDK TIME'

 

Speaking first, HDK Co-spokesperson Cengiz Çiçek started his speech by commemorating those who lost their lives in the Kobanê resistance on November 1, World Kobanê Day. Stating that the tension of war continues in the country and the region. Çiçek said, Rojava Revolution can be described as the defense of the Kurdish people to protect their existence and freedom. 

“In its program, HDK states that 'it is the truth that makes the communal democratic life of the oppressed possible' in the face of two dominant poles. From this point of view, the topics that need to be discussed for the new period are also opening up. We must defend the reality of HDK. The reality of the country and the region shows us the importance of the step 'HDK is time'. We are going through a time when world capital and its crisis are deepening. Despite this, the rulers are imposing homelessness and poverty on the peoples. Why do we have to say 'HDK time'? The events in Palestine and Kurdistan show that the peoples are facing dangers. Turkey is not exempt from this,” he said. 

 

IMIRALI ISOLATION

 

Drawing attention to the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali Type F High Security Prison, Çiçek said that the isolation is also aimed at the unity of the peoples. Çiçek said: “That is why we must build a bridge between the peoples. Just resisting is not enough. In the 100 years of the republic, we see that the peoples are always pitted against each other. That is why we must say 'HDK time'. We see the Kurdish problem. Someone said 'détente', a trustee was appointed to Esenyurt. It was called 'solution process' but they made insulting calls to Abdullah Öcalan. It seems that the imposed peace of the rulers is their normal. How can those who insult your values every day bring peace? Socialization of peace and making peoples a party to peace is one of the reasons for the existence of HDK. Peoples' Leader Mr. Ocalan has been trying to solve the Kurdish issue for more than 20 years. While doing this, he also finds a solution for all peoples in a space of 12 square meters. How can isolation be overcome? How can the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan be achieved? The questions are through the united struggle of the peoples.”

 

EMPHASIS ON JOINT STRUGGLE

 

Çiçek continued his words as follows: “We have seen that the idea of the HDK is about to disappear and that the opposition in Turkey has not recovered from its fragmented state due to the decline in the insistence on socialization. HDK is important in the historical alliance. Again, HDK is as necessary as bread and water for those who struggle in these lands. If the politicization of society is still the main goal, we have to focus on the HDK and grow it. There are tremendous resistances all around the world. Turning these into a common power, gathering this struggle, which travels in the capillaries in the veins of life, in the main veins should be one of the things we will do.”

 

Speaking next, HDK Co-Spokesperson Esengül Demir stated that society is under serious pressure. Emphasizing that there is a global hegemony over the peoples, Demir stated the following: “There are tens of hundreds of foci of resistance all over the world. But the fact that they do not see each other delays the solution. We must bring all these foci of struggle together, at least the ones we can reach, and raise them. Therefore, it is possible to do this with an organized and rational mind. We would also like to thank the people of Kobanê who achieved this by fighting against international forces. Kobanê is a hope for the peoples of the world. Therefore, our only goal is to never give up and to resist under all circumstances. I would also like to salute the women and revolutionaries who lost their lives during the struggle. I would also like to send greetings to the prisoners who have been imprisoned for nearly 8 years for saying that it is the right of the peoples. I would like to send my thanks to dear Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.”