The Democratic Institutions Platform is working on a rally to be held in Êlih (Batman) on November 17, demanding a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and an end to the trustee appointments. Calling for a rally called “Democracy and Freedom” to be held at Basın Junction at 13.00, the mothers, known in the public with their white muslins that have become a symbol of peace and thay said: “Let's fill the fields, break the isolation and take our municipalities from the trustees.” 

 

'INTERLOCUTOR IS ABDULLAH ÖCALAND'

 

“Because these people took this municipality with the labor they gave together from small to big. They gave their votes to themselves. Imagine today, someone came and landed on your house. Is this something easy and acceptable? This is the most difficult thing,” Mother Nurhan Seçkin said.

 

Recalling Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli's calls in Parliament, Seçkin said: “They said: ‘Mr. Abdullah Öcalan will come to Parliament, we are brothers with the Kurds and we will find a solution to this Kurdish issue.’ We are ready for this before them, we want this more than them. But shortly after these speeches, they appointed trustees to the municipalities. Are they fooling us? We are also defending our rights as a people. From here I call out to Ankara, to the Turkish prime minister and president; Enough is enough, let there be peace and freedom. Today we talk about Israeli oppression and the same is being done to us. The only solution to these problems is Mr. Abdullah Öcalan.”

 

'WE WILL DEFEND PEACE AGAINST OPPRESSION'

 

“As mothers, we don't want war and bloodshed, we want peace instead. There is no salvation for Turks without Kurds. Kurds must be given their rights and justice must be provided. For this, the trustee should pack his bags and get out of our municipality as soon as possible. They are trying to deceive the Kurds. They come out and say that there will be peace and then they persecute. We do not accept this oppression. We will stand against oppression and defend peace until the last drop of our blood,” Mother Meysa Akdağ said.  

 

Noting that the solution to the problems passes through İmralı, Akdağ said: “They know all over the world that Mr. Abdullah Öcalan must be taken as an interlocutor in order to solve all of these problems. As long as Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan does not say OK and does not sit on the podium, this war and this persecution will not end. When the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan is lifted and he is free, then the problems will be solved. I call on the people of Êlih to participate in the rally on October 17th and break the isolation and take back our municipalities.” 

 

'LET'S BE IN THE FIELDS FROM 7 TO 70'

 

Mother Münfide Ağayen said that she will fight against oppression and injustice as long as she is alive and added: “The trustees appointed to the municipalities is an injustice and this injustice must end. Everyone should participate in the demonstration to be held in Êlih on October 17th.” 

 

Mother Huriye Acar stated that the trustees appointed to the municipalities is disregarding the will of the people and said: “This is oppression and a policy to destroy the Kurds. But they should know this well, Kurds will not end. The more they are persecuted, the stronger the Kurds get and the more they struggle against it.” 

 

Drawing attention to the isolation against Abdullah Öcalan, Acar continued as follows: “The isolation is not only on Abdullah Öcalan, there is an isolation on all of us. We condemn the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan and demand an end to it as soon as possible. We do not want deaths to happen. In the face of this, everyone from 7 to 70 should participate in the rally to be held in Êlih. Let's both break the isolation on our leadership and take back our municipalities.” 

 

MA / Heval Önkol