Kurds hold rallies against DTP closure

NEWS.am
09:57 / 12/12/2009

Hundreds of people are holding rallies in different cities of Turkey
after the Turkish Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the
Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). Around thousand people
organized protest acts in Diyarbakir. The protesters threw Molotov
cocktails at the police. In response, policemen used tear gas and
water cannons.

A peaceful rally in the Turkish city of Hakkari turned into clashes
with police. People threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the law
enforcement officers. Protesters smashed shop-windows and burnt
trash-cans. The local police used water cannons and tear gas to quiet
the protesters. Dozens of people were arrested.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Turkish Constitutional Court decided
to dissolve Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).President of
Constitutional Court Hasim Kilic said that the reason is the DTP’s
cooperation with the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), as well as a threat
to Turkey’s territorial integrity. According to Kilic, DTP leader
Ahmed Turk and his party colleagues lost the right to be engaged in
politics. Moreover, the state forfeits the property and other funds of
the party. The discussion lasted for 8 hours in CC, December 11.

The Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Turkey lodged a claim for DTP
dissolution on November 16, 2007, accusing the party of actions
jeopardizing Turkey’s territorial integrity. The claimant demands that
221 DTP members be deprived of the right to political activities.

L.A.