Buldan: We'll continue to resist
ANKARA (DİHA) - Debate in the Turkish parliament on the internal security bill prepared by the AKP government continues while the opposition parties, primarily the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), is strongly opposing the bill.
In yesterday’s sessions on the draft law that lasted until early this morning, HDP deputies staged a protest by holding a sit down action in parliament to prevent the completion of the debate prior to a vote. The parliamentary group co-chair of the HDP, Pervin Buldan, said they will continue the resistance in parliament to prevent the enactment of the bill, adding that the ruling AKP party is insisting on the bill despite strong objections from the opposition. Buldan drew attention to the fact that the bill seriously restricts freedoms and increases the powers of the security forces and the competence of the local governors, which is very likely to be used in an arbitrary way in detentions and arrests. The bill also introduces excessive punishments for exercising basic democratic rights.
Buldan stressed that the bill is designed to prevent the exercise of the democratic rights to protest and to organise, adding that all these are restrictions imposed on basic freedoms. Buldan said the bill will also lead to harassment, rape and violence against women by increasing the power of the security forces in the streets. Buldan emphasised that the security bill is contrary to human rights.
Buldan further stressed that the bill was intended to sustain the dictatorship in the country, adding that the opposition was struggling against the legalisation of the bill within the framework of the interior regulations of parliament. Buldan adds that if the opposition continues to resist the bill, the government will step back and said: “They will either withdraw the proposals or change the articles in the direction of the proposals of the opposition. This law cannot pass as it is now”.
Buldan said the packet must be returned to the commission to be reviewed again with the opposition, and stressed that they will by no means allow the enactment of the bill.
(nt)
