Turkey may allow Kurdish candidates barred over PKK-linked convictions to run in June

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish election board may allow some Kurdish candidates barred over PKK-linked convictions to run in June Turkey votes after their objections.

The head of Turkey's Supreme Board of Election (YSK) defended the board's decision to cancel candidacy of several independent applicants, as saying, "it was not a veto, but a cancellation. We did not make a political decision."

The BDP-backed candidates have convictions for links to outlawed PKK militants.

On Monday, YSK decided to cancel candidacy of 12 Kurdish applicants who were willing to run as independent candidates in the June 12 general elections because of their criminal records. After an examination of judicial records, the board ruled that 12 independent candidates, including Hatip Dicle, Leyla Zana, Sebahat Tuncel and Gultan Kisanak, had previous convictions which prevented them from being elected deputies.

Ali Em told reporters, "laws allow those applicants to make an objection in a certain period of time. We will assess their objections at the end of that period."

Last Monday, political parties submitted their candidate lists for June 12 general elections to the Supreme Board of Election. Provincial authorities also notified the board about independent candidates. Eighteen parties, including the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), are set to take part in the elections while six political parties said they will not compete.

Police fired water cannons and tear gas on demonstrators in the mainly Kurdish southeast as they protested at the ruling.

Protesters in Diyarbakir threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police, who responded by firing water cannon and tear gas.

There were also clashes in Van and Yuksekova, near the Iranian border, and at a protest march in Istanbul, World Bulletin reported.