As it is known that the local elections will be held in a short time. Therefore we decide to express our opinions about the Constitution and legal system in which the elections will be held, the current situation of solution regarding main problems, whether the elections will be held in a manner that is suitable to democracy or not, our concerns because of the negative incidents that have been lived.
The Constitution and legal system in Turkey is not based on the democracy’s principles of pluralism and participation and the rule of law. In this regard the system keeps its quality that is anti-democratic, rejects differences subsequently monist and authoritarian.
Prohibitions in the law on political parties, most of the political parties do not get monetary aid from the treasury, the ruling party benefits from all public opportunities. All of these points indicate that there is no democratic election campaign among political parties.
One of the main problems in Turkey is still Kurdish questions. Existence of this problem provides an atmosphere in which there is danger for not having elections according to democratic principles particularly in the East and Southeast region of Turkey.
The judicial system, which is not based on the principle of the rule of law, subsequently practices by the Supreme Councils of Judges and Public Prosecutors and the Supreme Committee of Elections (YSK) show that the elections might not be held in a manner that we wish as in democratic systems.
The reflections of the financial crisis in the world are seen also in our country. This financial crisis has started to affect our country deeply but political parties try to pass off the crisis via palliative measures rather than solutions in favour of workers and the public. Actually political parties palliative measures make poverty worse and encourages corruption. The level of social aid, which is distributed in a mentality of charity, and some groups’ expectation to get profit from these social aids might function as influence on voters.
Anti-democratic practices and allegations that should be taken into consideration seriously in the election process has increased our concerns. You could see our concerns in the following;
1-In accordance with the current laws, the register of voter should be composed by the Supreme Committee of Elections but it has been composed by the Department of the Interior Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs on the basis of register system and subsequently increase in voters and not solving other problems,
2-In accordance with Article 87 of the Law No. 298; rules related with elections should be determined and announced at the beginning of the elections, however; the decision about voters should have an identity card that has identity number has been announced 15 days before the election. Such a late announcement endangered voters’ right to vote. According to law the identity card with number functions just to provide easy communication between the citizen and official institution, but; the Supreme Committee of Elections declared it as obligation to vote in manner that considers the identity card with number as the main issue of being citizen. Announcing such an obligation has turned into an open intervention to right to vote,
3-Despite the principles are defined by the Supreme Committee of Elections within the framework of faithfulness in election, maintaining aid activities, under the name of social aid by public institutions and agencies, to influence the elections,
4-Both the Prime Minister and the Ministers and MPs of the ruling party continue to express statements, which can be regarded as a threat, to citizens to vote for the ruling party,
5-The Supreme Committee of Elections, which should be impartial, and the governors and the district governors that are obliged to implement decisions by the Supreme Committee of Elections acted in a manner that deteriorate the impartiality,
6-The possibility of violations, might be caused by the political power that uses all opportunities of the state, in the East and Southeast Anatolia,
7-Changes in attitudes of civilian authorities and security forces in some cities after the Prime Minister’s statement that AKP would win some cities by all means,
8-Despite official complaints by the Supreme Committee of Elections, such aid activities still go on,
9-Threat against some MPs and officials of some political parties while they were making propaganda in the East and Southeast Anatolia,
10-Media does not broadcast and publish propaganda of all political parties in an equal manner,
11-Not having international monitoring committees, from organizations to which Turkey is a member, party, in the election.
The above mentioned negative facts show that the local elections might be held in an anti-democratic atmosphere subsequently the voters’ choice will not be occurred freely.
Therefore we, the undersigned organizations, will establish committees and monitor the elections in some provinces in which problems might occur. Our committees will prepare reports on the basis of their observations and then we will make them public.
On this opportunity we would like to remind all state institutions and agencies especially the Government once again that the local elections should be held in a manner that is suitable to the democratic principles and the principle of impartiality should be considered and implemented. It should not be forgotten that the voter’s will is the essence of the democracy.
Turkey Peace Assembly
Human Rights Association (İHD)
Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK)
Turkish Medical Association (TTB)
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey
Mazlumder
Halkevleri
Alevi Bektaşi Federasyonu (ABF)
Note: We will monitor the elections in the following cities;
(ADANA, AĞRI, BATMAN, BİNGÖL, BİTLİS, DİYARBAKIR, ELAZIĞ, HAKKÂRİ, IĞDIR, MERSİN, MUŞ, SİİRT, ŞIRNAK, TUNCELİ, URFA, VAN)