DİYARBAKIR - Protesting the fact that a 'memorial forest' to be created in the Kırıklar Mountain of Diyarbakır, political party represantatives in the city said: "Another step for denial. We will not consent."

 

A 'memorial forest' will be created for MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli on the historically important Kırklar Mountain, which is located on the hill overlooking the Tigris River passing through Diyarbakır's Sur district. Metropolitan Municipality trustee Governor Münir Karaloğlu and the Provincial Directorate of Forestry have allocated 210 decares of land for the "Devlet Bahçeli Memorial Forest" as announced by the MHP Diyarbakır Provincial Directorate. Known for his hatred for Kurds and targeting the representatives of the Kurds in every one of his speeches, the fact that the forest will be named after Bahçeli stirred outcry in the city. Political parties in the city evaluated the decision to give to name the forest after MHP member Bahçeli, whose vote rate did not exceed 1% in the city, to the forest area, as "activating a policy of hostility".

 

HDP: THIS IS AN INSULT TO KURDS

 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakir Provincial Co-Chair Zeyat Ceylan stated that Bahçeli was hostile to the Kurds and evaluated tha fact that a  place of historical importance for the city to be named after him was "a great insult to the Kurdish people". Noting that Bahçeli and his party have no representation in the city, Ceylan said, "They name somewhere in Diyarbakır after someone like Bahçeli , the homeland of Kurdish politics and the center of peace politics. What does Bahçeli have to do with Diyarbakır? What has he done for Diyarbakır? How come somewhere in Diyarbakır is being named after him? People of Diyarbakır will never accept that. AKP -MHP has ne legitimacy in neither Kurdistan nor anywhere else in Turkey. This is something only could be done by a trustee, and it is. The people will change that name the first chance they get."

 

 

PIA: THIS MUST BE PROTESTED

 

Ahmet Kaya, Deputy Chair of the People and Freedom Party (PIA), said that Bahçeli did not serve the Kurdish people at all. Noting that Bahçeli is someone who cannot travel alone in Diyarbakır, Kaya said, "Even if he does, no one would welcome him. There is a clear meaning of naming somewhere in Diyarbakır after someone like him. They want us to see that they can bring the hater right in front of us. They want us to see that they can name somewhere with historical importance after someone who does not recognize our identity and who insults us everyday. There are songs about that mountain. This is a message. They want to frustrate the people. Everyone should protest this. We have to take action against it."

 

KKP: ANOTHER STEP FOR DENIAL

 

Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP) Chair Sinan Çiftyürek who told that it was another step for the denial of the Kurds, said: "It is both wrong and provocative to name Kırklar Mountain after a person who symbolyzes Turkish nationalism.  The people of Diyarbakır won't accept that. It must be named after someone the Kurdish people love and respect. To impose this name is to pave the way for a new chaotic period. No one should expect us to consent to this."

 

PAK: CONTINUATION OF THE TRUSTEE POLICY

 

Vahit Aba, Deputy Chair of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), pointed out that Bahçeli, who had no representation, wanted to maintain his presence in the city through this. Pointing out that this situation is related to the policy of trustees, Aba said, "This is unacceptable. Someone who came to the municipality on behalf of the state is making a memorial forest in the name of Bahçeli. This is hostility against Kurdistan."