Tülay Hatimoğulları: The message from Imrali is a message of peace and resolution

DEM Party co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları attended the vigil launched in Suruç (Pirsûs), in the province of Urfa (Riha) against the attacks targeting Northern and Eastern Syria. The action, which continued on its 12th day, was also attended by DBP co-chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, ESP co-chair Murat Çepni and many representatives of political parties and civil society organizations.

Tülay Hatimoğulları told the people at the vigil: “We came here, to Suruç, to hold a march and convey our feelings of solidarity and our messages of support to Kobanê. Unfortunately, we have encountered obstacles that reflect the current political climate in Turkey. Nevertheless, we carried out our march in the company of our ciizens, shopkeepers, women, and young people. From here, we extend our greetings to Kobanê. As long as there are continuing threats against Kobanê and Northern and Eastern Syria, we, as the sisters and brothers of the Kurdish people, as the forces of democracy in Turkey, and as the peoples of Turkey, will continue to show our solidarity. The deposed government in Syria has been replaced by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. They are trying to establish a new order. However, no alternative that ignores the Kurdish people, the Arab Alevi community, or any other oppressed and disregarded population can flourish there.”

Hatimoğulları added: “Since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011, the Kurdish people have put their status into practice in Rojava. In Kobanê, in Northern and Eastern Syria, the Kurdish people have established the Autonomous Administration. I want to address the people of Turkey from here, from the Syrian border, from the Rojava border: Rojava is not the region portrayed by the mainstream media or by the media aligned with the Turkish government. Rojava is a place where women take part in governance, where there is a co-presidency system and equal representation. It is a territory where a social contract has been implemented that acknowledges different peoples and faiths. It has also organized a strong legal and defensive struggle against Al Nusra, Al Qaeda, and their offshoots.”

‘The message from Imralı is a message of peace and resolution’
Hatimoğulları continued: “We met with the delegation that visited Mr. Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali. Our delegation conveys Mr. Öcalan’s greetings to you. He is being held under severe isolation in Imrali. The DEM Party delegation has published a statement consisting of seven points. Following this announcement, our delegation began meeting with political parties represented in Parliament. A comprehensive statement will be made after these meetings.

We know very well that the message from Imralı is a message of peace and resolution. As has been emphasized in the past, there will be no resolution through conflict or war; rather, a resolution can be reached in cooperation with Imrali on a democratic basis. We will all follow this process together with great hope and excitement. If a meeting is taking place at Imrali today, it is thanks to the resistance and determination you, our people, have displayed. My greatest request is that we never abandon our democratic struggle until the situation in Rojava becomes clear and until a certain stage in the Imrali talks is reached.”