The Supreme Court's Public Prosecution Office sent the case bill against Democratic Society Party (DTP) to the Constitution Court with the demand of closure of the party. As far as we learned from the press that Prosecution Office also demanded the cancellation of the parliament membership of DTP's deputies and their trial. Meanwhile the closure case against the Right and Freedoms Party still going on.
The most important criterion to evaluate the level of democracy in a country is the opportunity of the citizens to join the political sphere. Political parties are at the top of these opportunities. Due to this reason the constitutional changes that make the closure of the political parties more difficult were passed on 3 October 2001. We evaluated these changes as positive steps in the democratization of Turkey. But the process of the closure of political parties and launching cases for closure goes on. We want an end to these practices.
The solution of Kurdish problem in democratic and peaceful way lies in the political representation of our Kurdish citizens with their own identity and in the elimination of the obstacles that hinder their participation to political sphere with their own identity. However-seven political parties -Halkin Emek Partisi, Demokrasi Partisi, Demokrasi ve Degisim Partisi, Demokratik Kitle Partisi, Özgürlük ve Demokrasi Partisi, Halkin Demokrasi Partisi and Demokratik Halk Partisi- closed because of the Kurdish problem until today. It is clear that the closure of DTP would not contribute to the solution of the problem.
We watch these anti-democratic, authoritarian attempts with anxiety. As defenders of human rights, we think that the culture and the accumulation of democracy will be wounded with every party closed and in institutionalized democratic systems deputies that are elected should lose their seats only with elections.
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT) President Yavuz Önen
Human Rights Association President Hüsnü Öndül