HDP’s Demirtaş cancels Germany trip, returns to Turkey after Dağlıca attack

ANKARA

CİHAN photo

Selahattin Demirtaş, co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has cancelled an intense program in Germany to return to Turkey after a large-scale militant attack in the southeastern province of Hakkari, on the Iranian and Iraqi border. 

The HDP said in a statement that Demirtaş cancelled all his program abroad and meetings in Germany because of the “painful developments” in Turkey. Demirtaş is expected to arrive in Turkey late afternoon on Sept. 7. 

In his first reaction to the Dağlıca attack, Demirtaş tweeted: “As killing has no justification; leading our people to death has no justification either. Death knells that upset us cannot be our destiny.” 

Expressing his condolences for those who lost their lives in the Dağlıca attack as well as children that have been killed in Cizre in continuing attacks by security forces in the town, Demirtaş said: “We won’t surrender to the war policies of those deem only death proper for the poor children of this people. We should altogether find ways to break this catastrophic cycle instead of spilling out hatred [against each other].” 

The HDP’s co-leader emphasized the need to insist on peace and brotherhood although conditions are very difficult, saying any other way would only deepen the pains. 

A statement from the chief of General Staff early Sept. 7 gave detailed information on how the incident occurred but did not give an exact number of casualties. Unconfirmed reports suggest that around 15 troops were killed in the attack committed by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).