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DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — The three major Kurdish factions in Turkey have officially launched their “No” campaign for the April 16 referendum on constitutional amendments which they say will offer the Turkish president unprecedented powers.The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), and the Freedom and Socialism Party (USP) have jointly called on their supporters to reject the amendments but urged voters to turn out on the referendum day rather than boycott the vote.“Boycotting the referendum will only empower the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and give them a larger share of the votes,” said veteran Kurdish political and HDP lawmaker Altan Tan.“Those who are against the amendments should clearly make their voices heard as well as those who support the amendments. And for that we should all be at the polls on the referendum day,” Tan told Rudaw.On the referendum day, the Turkish electorate will be asked to vote Yes or No to an 18-article reform bill that would shift the existing parliamentary system to an executive presidency, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said will increase stability in the country. His opponents, including the Kurdish parties and the Republican People’s Party (CHP), say the new charter would lead Turkey towards authoritarianism.The Yes campaign is backed by the AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).The draft was endorsed by the parliament in January, with 339 votes in favor – nine more than needed to put the proposals to a public vote.The latest Turkish opinion polls show that nearly 17 percent of voters have yet to decide how they will vote, which has led the government and its media outlets to step up campaigning for a “Yes” vote both in Turkey but also in several European countries including in Germany and Austria where large Turkish communities have voting rights.Erdogan is scheduled to campaign in Germany before the referendum day but his request to lead a rally in Austria, where around 600,000 Turkish citizens live, was rejected.Austria said President Erdogan was not welcome to hold rallies in the country as this could increase friction and hinder integration, according to Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.