ANKARA - HDP making a statement regarding the transportation of refugees to the borders, stating that AKP is trying to taking their revenge on the refugees, said: "The government will be responsible for the possible deaths and tragedies in their dangerous journeys."
Peoples' Democratic PArty (HDP) Migrant and Refugees Commission Spokesperson Gülsüm Ağaoğlu made a written statement regarding the decision of the government officials that the refugees will not be prevented from crossing to Europe by land and sea after the attack against the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
'REFUGEES HAVE BECOME A BARGAINING CHIP'
The press statement made by Migrant and Refugees Commission Spokesperson Gülsüm Ağaoğlu is as follows:
"The government is responsible for the tragedy in Idlib, not the refugees
The government is once again using the refugees as a bargaining chip following the losses in Idlib on February 27. AKP who told that they can no longer hold the refugees and that they will open the borders, once again showed that they are using the refugees as a political tool and a weapon.
As a result of this attitude of the AKP, refugees were transported to various districts of İstanbul and human traffickers got involved in the transportation.Refugees began to head towards the borders of Greece and Bulgaria in extremely unhealthy and dangerous conditions both by land and sea.
Due to the measures intensified at the borders by Greece and Bulgaria, refugees, mostly Syrian and Afghanistan, were imprisoned between the borders in the winter conditions and some refugees were directed to use the sea for passage with inflatable boats, even though it is extremely dangerous.
AKP is trying to take their revenge from the refugees for the tragedy took place in Idlib, which was caused by their own sins and in this sense, they are committing a new crime. AKP must abandon these crimes against the refugees and take precautions against the refugee deaths in the Aegean sea and fulfill its political responsibility.
This government will be responsible for possible deaths and tragedies that will occur in this dangerous journey of refugees who have been turned into a vehicle of blackmail and threat to the EU. We call on the AKP government to fulfill its political and humanitarian responsibilities to refugees.