From: Kurdish National Congress of North America
To: All USA and International media
Contact information: 805-402-6440, Info@kncna.net
Los Angeles, CA, for immediate release: On Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Diyarbakir, Turkey a peaceful march was organized by Peace and Democratic Party (BDP) and Democratic Society Congress (DTK). This march was organized for the freedom of Ocalan and the democratic solution to the Kurdish question. For a year now the AKP government has banned Kurdish rallies and implemented a policy of mass internment of Kurdish political activists, mayors, MPs, lawyers, journalists and human rights workers.
According to reports obtained many roads leading to Diyarbakir from surrounding cities and towns were blocked by police and army to prevent people from participating in the peace march. The protestors were attacked with tear gas bombs, pressurized water, batons, and other means. As a result three deputies from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Batman MP Ayla Akat, Kars MP Mulkiye Birtane and BDP deputy parliamentary group chair Pervin Buldan as well as Diyarbakir Metropolitan Mayor Osman Baydemir were among those injured in the clashes, which lasted several hours. Moreover, many of the wounded and dozens of demonstrators, including journalists, were taken into custody.
During Turkey