Erkmen: When the people's will is not respected, we call it fascism
DEM Party politician Celalettin Erkmen said: "If the will that comes out of the ballot box is not respected, this is called fascism."
ANF
URFA
Sunday, 1 December 2024
Celalettin Erkmen, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Riha (Urfa) Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor candidate in the 31 March 2024 local elections, talked to ANF about the usurpation of the will of the people and the people’s struggle against it.
The gains of the Kurdish people have been usurped since 2016. How do you evaluate the trustee coup?
Trustees were appointed to cities democratically and freely won through people’s vote. An undemocratic attitude against the will of the Kurdish people has developed. However, it has now become clear that the trustees are used to usurping the vote and will of the people not only in the Kurdistan territory but also in Turkey. The AKP-MHP alliance acts so recklessly that it does not respect any will other than its own. This is a model of colonialism. They say, ‘Either you will accept me or I will appoint my own civil servant and ignore the will of the people.’ A trustee has been appointed to Esenyurt in Istanbul. The council members there are still on duty. In fact, according to the law, the municipal council must convene and elect a deputy mayor from among themselves. However, in Kurdistan, they do not even accept council members to the municipality. In fact, they use this practice without a decision to dissolve the municipal council. This attitude does not exist even in the most undemocratic states.
The current system, the ‘Republic’, is not sufficient to hold and govern the people of Turkey together; therefore, it needs to be democratized. The Republic needs to be democratized in all of its aspects, from education to health, from agricultural problems to local governments. The establishment of democracy is also possible by ensuring permanent peace in this country. We have also been saying this in the recent process: the people have declared that Mr. Öcalan is the most important figure for achieving permanent peace in this country.
There are efforts to force the government to step back and withdraw the trustees. How can this be achieved?
The method is the same all over the world. It is possible to achieve this with a broad popular movement against fascism defending its own will. Of course, this also depends on the unity of power between the circles. I believe that those who are marginalized, isolated and ignored in this society should form a very strong alliance. This alliance should voice civil disobedience and democratic demands, the understanding of the social state, equal and honorable unity. This should be their slogan. In this sense, we and civil society organizations have very important duties. Trustees are not legitimate. Therefore, our people should defend their own will and those they have elected.
You have been in politics for many years, and you have held many different positions in Urfa. We have recently seen a new concept being developed against the people there. What do you attribute this to?
This concept has been developed for a long time, and it is not just a situation related to today. Moreover, the government lost many places in this area because of their mentality. Even though they try to intimidate the people with undemocratic methods, in the end they lose. People come out and take to the streets more strongly to protest. The system can no longer govern Urfa. They are trying to govern with pressure and dirty tricks. Halfeti is the most obvious example of this. In fact, some of our friends were arrested because they showed a democratic reaction against this anti-democratic operation. The same understanding is behind the operation carried out in the past few days.
Kayapınar (Peyas) co-mayor Cengiz Dündar was also among those detained.
They are changing their system here and there. Maybe this is a new beginning. They thought the protest against the trustees would last a few days, but the protest is getting stronger and more widespread. Maybe our friend's detention is a new tactic. The people of Amed will protect their will and our co-mayor. Of course, any undemocratic step taken will be met with a public reaction in this region. The people no longer accept being governed by an arbitrary understanding. The system is trying to govern the country as if it were a branch of their party by politicizing both the law and the police. There is nothing much they can do after this. Their fate will be like the fate of ANAP and DYP in previous periods. Our people will wipe out fascism.
DEM Party politician Celalettin Erkmen said: "If the will that comes out of the ballot box is not respected, this is called fascism."
ANF
URFA
Sunday, 1 December 2024
Celalettin Erkmen, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Riha (Urfa) Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor candidate in the 31 March 2024 local elections, talked to ANF about the usurpation of the will of the people and the people’s struggle against it.
The gains of the Kurdish people have been usurped since 2016. How do you evaluate the trustee coup?
Trustees were appointed to cities democratically and freely won through people’s vote. An undemocratic attitude against the will of the Kurdish people has developed. However, it has now become clear that the trustees are used to usurping the vote and will of the people not only in the Kurdistan territory but also in Turkey. The AKP-MHP alliance acts so recklessly that it does not respect any will other than its own. This is a model of colonialism. They say, ‘Either you will accept me or I will appoint my own civil servant and ignore the will of the people.’ A trustee has been appointed to Esenyurt in Istanbul. The council members there are still on duty. In fact, according to the law, the municipal council must convene and elect a deputy mayor from among themselves. However, in Kurdistan, they do not even accept council members to the municipality. In fact, they use this practice without a decision to dissolve the municipal council. This attitude does not exist even in the most undemocratic states.
The current system, the ‘Republic’, is not sufficient to hold and govern the people of Turkey together; therefore, it needs to be democratized. The Republic needs to be democratized in all of its aspects, from education to health, from agricultural problems to local governments. The establishment of democracy is also possible by ensuring permanent peace in this country. We have also been saying this in the recent process: the people have declared that Mr. Öcalan is the most important figure for achieving permanent peace in this country.
There are efforts to force the government to step back and withdraw the trustees. How can this be achieved?
The method is the same all over the world. It is possible to achieve this with a broad popular movement against fascism defending its own will. Of course, this also depends on the unity of power between the circles. I believe that those who are marginalized, isolated and ignored in this society should form a very strong alliance. This alliance should voice civil disobedience and democratic demands, the understanding of the social state, equal and honorable unity. This should be their slogan. In this sense, we and civil society organizations have very important duties. Trustees are not legitimate. Therefore, our people should defend their own will and those they have elected.
You have been in politics for many years, and you have held many different positions in Urfa. We have recently seen a new concept being developed against the people there. What do you attribute this to?
This concept has been developed for a long time, and it is not just a situation related to today. Moreover, the government lost many places in this area because of their mentality. Even though they try to intimidate the people with undemocratic methods, in the end they lose. People come out and take to the streets more strongly to protest. The system can no longer govern Urfa. They are trying to govern with pressure and dirty tricks. Halfeti is the most obvious example of this. In fact, some of our friends were arrested because they showed a democratic reaction against this anti-democratic operation. The same understanding is behind the operation carried out in the past few days.
Kayapınar (Peyas) co-mayor Cengiz Dündar was also among those detained.
They are changing their system here and there. Maybe this is a new beginning. They thought the protest against the trustees would last a few days, but the protest is getting stronger and more widespread. Maybe our friend's detention is a new tactic. The people of Amed will protect their will and our co-mayor. Of course, any undemocratic step taken will be met with a public reaction in this region. The people no longer accept being governed by an arbitrary understanding. The system is trying to govern the country as if it were a branch of their party by politicizing both the law and the police. There is nothing much they can do after this. Their fate will be like the fate of ANAP and DYP in previous periods. Our people will wipe out fascism.
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