'I'll do everything at Parliament for Circassian people'
İSTANBUL (DİHA) - While the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has started its election campaign, HDP's Circassian deputy candidate for Istanbul, Bülent Uluer, says: "I will represent ecpecially the Circassian people. I will do my best to keep the language, customs and traditions, and weddings of Circassian people".
The HDP list, which include members of ethnic and religious minorities in high numbers, present a portrait of the "other Turkey" not seen in those of the mainstream parties. The party hopes to present its most serious challenge yet against the ruling AKP in Turkey's June election. In addition to both veteran and young figures of the Kurdish political movement, in constituencies where the HDP is likely to win, candidates vary from socialists to pious Muslims, individuals from ethnic and religious minorities, activists from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) groups, and an outspoken conscientious objector.
A candidate at HADEP
The HDP has nominated Circassian citizen Bülent Uluer in Istanbul 1st region to run for 7 June parliamentary elections. Uluer is one of founder cadres of the Dev-Yol (Revolutionary Path). Uluer was born in Inebolu district of Kastamonu and initiated his struggle against system at young age. He was fired from Istanbul University on grounds occupation action and then jailed. He became head of Dev-Genç (Revolutionary Youth) in 1978.
He had to abandon country and live a life of exile. Uluer became deputy candidate in Istanbul at HADEP (People's Democracy Party, a closed Kurdish party) in 1999. But, he could not enter the parliament on grounds of 10 percent election threshold. He was also conducted struggle forming the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP). 63-year-old Bülent Uluer resonds to DİHA's "Why HDP?" question.
'It is important for us to be at parliament'
"As a Circassian, it is important that the Circassian people is at the HDP. Circassian people has also problems like other minorities in the country. One of these matters is lack of education on mother tongue. Circassians were declared as 'traitor' over Circassian Ethem. This is injustice towards our people. Circassian under-40 have begun to lose their culture and languages. They don't know their mother tongue, so it is important for us to be at the parliament," underlines Uluer.
'We can succeed in, as well'
Uluer ads, "A leftist party should conduct its campaign only on the socialist and leftist fractions and sides. It should reach all sides of the society. The HDP has partly succeeded in this. We can succeed in, as well. We will march under this motto. The left in Greece and Spain has taken its success in this way. This motto must be the main slogan. We can succeed in".
HDP's Circassian deputy candidate for Istanbul, Bülent Uluer emphasises he will represent ecpecially the Circassian people and calls, "I will do my best to keep the language, customs and traditions, and weddings of Circassian people. I am calling on peoples to support the HDP".
(nt)
