Turkish Kurds protest over poll bar

Turkey’s main Kurdish party, the Peace and Democracy party (BDP), threatened in April 2011 to boycott the June 2011 election after 12 independent candidates, including a parliamentary deputy, were barred.

The decision raised tensions in a volatile region and might prove a serious setback to efforts to address Kurdish grievances and end a long conflict between the PKK and security forces.

ESO: Background information: Erdogan shakes up Turkey’s ruling party http://www.europeansources.info/record/erdogan-shakes-up-turkeys-ruling-party/

ESO: Background information: Turkish army wades into Kurdish debate http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-army-wades-into-kurdish-debate/

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