During a rally in Diyarbakır, PM Recep Tayip Erdogan called for unity, claiming that the government doesn’t allow discrimination against Kurds. The police stepped up security for Erdogan. Shops were closed while Erdogan’s convoy passed, in protest against his visit. On another occasion, police took five people into custody.

“We don’t want anyone to become ‘other’. We want to eliminate barriers which harm the sentiment of belonging to this country. We have not and will not discriminate among citizens. As long as the river Euphrates flows, we [Turks and Kurds] will walk together,” Erdogan said, addressing the crowd.

He emphasized the importance of TRT6 -the state channel in Kurdish, which went on air in 2009-, the government’s free coal support to the poor and the controversial reparation scheme for those affected during “the struggle against terrorism”.   

TRT6 broadcast Erdogan’s speech live, simultaneously translating it into Kurdish.

The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), which is powerful in the region, had criticized Erdogan’s planned visit and called for unity against the ruling justice and Development Party (AKP) in upcoming local elections.

The week before the visit, the police had used force against protestors, who gathered to commemorate PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s arrest on Feb. 15th, 1999. Several DTP MP’s were also harassed by the police. In the following days, thousands marched to protest against police violence.

Erdogan has challenged the DTP on several occasions in the two parties' race for Diyarbakır Metropolitan Mayorship. While his party is able to make use of the fact that it is in government, DTP criticizes lack of support and discrimination by Ankara.

The DTP’s candidate in 29 March elections is Osman Baydemir, the current mayor. The AKP has named Diyarbakır MP Kutbettin Arzu as candidate.

In the elections in 2004, Baydemir got 58 percent of the vote, while the AKP’s candidate rested at 35 percent.(AGÜ)