News:

This morning, (18 May), simultaneous bomb blasts hit the offices of Turkey’s opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in two southern provinces of Adana and Mersin. A total of 6 people were injured during the blasts which damaged the buildings and party offices. (Source: All News Agencies)

Comment:

It seems that the closer Turkey comes to the general elections to be held on 7th of June, it becomes a scene for this kind of provocations containing violence. The last ones were the bombing attacks on the provincial presidencies in two cities today. Before this attack against HDP, 62 attacks took place against HDP localities since the start of the electoral campaigns. A few condemnatory statements have been made on this incident by both government authorities and the HDP wing.

The first statement from the Government regarding the attacks on HDP buildings in Adana and Mersin was given by Minister Ömer Çelik. Çelik condemned the attack and said, “This attack was against HDP, all political parties and the electoral process.” The first reaction from the HDP came from a parliamentary candidate for Mersin, Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat. Fırat said the following, “Despite all provocations, we as the HDP together with our electorate will keep calm. We will not be provoked. We had a meeting in Adana yesterday and will have a meeting in Mersin today. That both explosions were made at the same time shows definitely that they acted according a plan.”

There could be various groups behind this attack. They may have wanted to bring the Government into a difficult situation. But I would like to evaluate this event from a different angle. As HDP parliamentary candidate from Mersin, Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat, has expressed, these attacks might have been conducted in a planned way. In addition, that these two attacks were performed simultaneously is a clear sign that this action was carried out by absolutely professionals. Some of the last opinion polls show that HDP will pass the 10% electoral threshold, while others show that it will remain below it. As we already stated in our previous analyses, if the HDP passes the threshold and thus enters the parliament, this would be disadvantageous for the AKP. Ironically, although there are certain major parties racing against each other at these elections, the true competition is taking place between the AKP and HDP. Therefore, this type of attacks against HDP might increase the votes for the party. Although these attacks have damaged the buildings owned by the party, they have suited its books, and it is very probable that they have ensured the increase of its votes by presenting it as the oppressed one. Because by its nature, the society will take up its position on the side of the oppressed one – in any case. HDP is a strong party in the east and southeast region. However, in order to pass the 10% electoral threshold it is definitely in need of the votes of the Western regions. Therefore, such situations can increase the votes of the parties. Indeed, this was the case for the AKP in the previous elections. Whenever the AKP faced a fall in the rates of votes, it immediately dropped itself into an oppressed position and managed to receive the votes of the people. Therefore, even though these attacks aim at disrupting the atmosphere of the elections, every party knows very well to take advantage of such incidents and thus turn the tables on themselves. As a result, alongside the fact that such incidents show how ugly the electoral system of the capitalist system is, at the same time it is a clear indicator for the incapability, bankruptcy, and the failure in providing for even the safety of life and property of its own citizens.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Yılmaz ÇELİK