JINHA

ANKARA – Three representatives in Turkey’s Parliament, from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), have started a hunger strike in protest of the Turkish state’s broken promise to allow the group of 23 wounded people in a Cizre basement to be evacuated.

Six days ago, as Turkish state forces maintained a heavy assault on the blockaded town of Cizre, a large number were wounded in the attacks. When those outside attempted to get medical access to the wounded, police and military attacks on the house only intensified. Most recently, two ambulances attempted to reach the wounded yesterday with the full knowledge of state officials. However, the ambulances were stopped and the attacks intensified. As of now, five have succumbed to their wounds in the building, which is collapsing under the assault.

Yesterday morning in Turkey’s capital of Ankara, three MPs from the HDP—İdris Baluken, Meral Danış Beştaş and Osman Baydemir—met with Interior Minister Sebahattin Öztürk about the issue. However, they received no results.

The three announced yesterday evening that they have begun a hunger strike, to last until the 23 wounded have been evacuated to the hospital with their safety guaranteed. The three are holding their hunger strike in the Ministry of the Interior.

As the representatives spoke with TV news programs last night, telephone connections were cut on the floor of the Ministry where the hunger strike is taking place.

(he/fk/cm)