A notice bearing the signature of scores of journalists, academics and writers was issued on Tuesday condemning attacks carried out against voters and candidates as Turkey heads toward the June 7 general elections. Attacks on and threats against parliamentary candidates was deemed "unacceptable" in the notice signed by 56 prominent intellectuals including the editor-in-chief of Daily Sabah Serdar Karagöz, columnist İhsan Aktaş and Haluk Alkan, an academic at Istanbul University.
The notice, with Turkey on the eve of general elections, stressed that it was the responsibility of all parties to make sure the elections take place within a safe and just environment. Highlighting the significance of legitimate and democratic rivalry, the notice further read: "We who have signed this notice demand that the threats, armed propaganda, attacks on candidates, voters, citizens, campaign vehicles, election offices and politicians should end."
The signatories also called on the outlawed PKK to abandon violence that violates the security of the elections.
"The decision to lay down arms by the PKK, which should take a day, cannot go on for years," urging the militants to give up violence before the elections.
The PKK has recently been accused of forcing locals in the east to vote for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). There are reported incidents in which people in the east have been threatened both verbally and physically ahead of the June elections to vote for the HDP.
