Members of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly are being abducted by people introducing themselves as police officers, and asked to be spies. Since 2018, 15 members abducted in Ankara, 3 in Van and more than 10 in Diyarbakır and İstanbul.  Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Dersim Dağ evaluated the increasing pressure on Youth Assembly members.

 

Stating that the pressures against the members of the Youth Assembly are the continuation of the "special war policies" that were put into effect by the government in 2010 and deepened after the July 15 coup attempt, Dağ said that these policies are similar to the JİTEM practices of the 1990s. Expressing that the political work of young people was marginalized by the government, Dağ drew attention to the fact that kidnappings are carried out, out in public and broad daylight.

 

'THESE ARE JITEM TACTICS'

 

Expressing that the government turns a blind eye to harassment, rape and drug use in the region, Dağ said that the youth of the party have become the target of the government because they also work against these things. Dağ expressed that during their interview with the Youth Assembly members, police officers ask why they try to prevent rape and use of drugs and say you can vandalize anything, if you spy for us we will protect you. Dağ also emphasized that the police officers threatens the youth members with their families or imprisonment if they refuse their offer of spying for them. Dağ said: "These statements show how many young people have been unlawfully arrested so far. All these are JİTEM tactics. The AKP government uses JITEM tactics."

 

'YOUTH WILL DETHRONE THE GOVERNMENT' 

 

Pointing out that one of the most important reasons for the pressure on the youth assembly members is that they frustrate the efforts of the government to create a youth that obeys, Dağ said: "The government knows that the youth who resist against the fascist policies of the government obeys, the society will be taken over. They want to end the democracy and freedom struggle of the youth. They know very well that the youth is acting as pioneers and they are executive, that they are exposing their policies. The youth will dethrone the government. This is why they are targeted." 

 

Stating that no investigation was launched regarding the abduction of at least 28 youth members, Dağ said: "Even though in some cases the people abducting these young people can be identified by merely examining the security footage, no investigation was launched to shed a light on these abductions. And despite the fact that in every case, a criminal complaint was filed at the prosecutor's office. On the contrary, they started investigations against those who were abducted. This indicates that these abductors are instructed by the government."

 

MA / Ergin Çağlar