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BDP’s forced boycott of referendum found to be anti-democratic
“We will boycott the constitutional package. We will tell our people [Kurds] not to leave their homes on the day of the referendum. People in such cities as Batman, Şırnak and many others will spend that day resting at home.
They will not go to the ballot box,” he said during a symposium in İstanbul on a democratic constitution and its role in the settlement of the Kurdish question.
The call was, however, met with harsh criticism by most observers as it means blocking the free will of the public on the referendum.
“I cannot believe that Yıldız made such remarks. If he did, then I think his remarks are highly anti-democratic and irrational,” remarked Berat Özipek, an academic and a member of the Association for Liberal Thinking.
Parliament passed a constitutional amendment package in mid-May. The package introduces new regulations in many areas and also makes structural changes to the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), however, appealed to the Constitutional Court to annul the package. The court is set to decide on whether or not to annul the reform package, a referendum for which is slated for Sept. 12 of this year.
Yıldız also expressed fear that Kurds will vote “yes” on the constitutional amendment package if they are allowed to participate in the referendum. “This opinion is widespread in society. Thus, we have decided not to allow people to go outside on referendum day,” he remarked.
According to Professor Mehmet Altan, a columnist for the Star daily, Yıldız’s remarks were a clear challenge to allowing a referendum in the East and Southeast.
“This shows that there is another ‘will’ in those regions other than the will of the state. Then, the state should realize the existence of this will, and act accordingly,” he said.
Peer pressure to raise objections to moves made by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is widespread for residents of the eastern and southeastern cities, especially among shop owners. Many shop owners are forced to pull down their shutters on the days when a governmental official visits their city or when supporters of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) stage a demonstration there.
According to most analysts, shop owners who refuse to comply with an order to shut down their stores suffer serious damage to their premises. Some shops are even forced to remain closed for 10 or 15 days a month. The pressure on shop owners is bringing their businesses to the brink of bankruptcy.
For most observers, a mass boycott of the referendum in the East and Southeast will result in a loss of support from more than 2.5 million voters.
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