Tülay Hatimoğulları urges government to act for peace

The “Freedom for Peace” rally, organized under the leadership of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), took place in Mersin on Sunday. 

Speaking at the rally, the co-chair of the DEM Party, Tülay Hatimoğulları, underlined the importance of the meetings held with Abdullah Öcalan and added: “First and foremost, I bring you greetings from Abdullah Öcalan.”

Hatimoğulları said: “The trustee system is a political coup. It usurps the people’s will. It denies people. It strips citizens of their right to vote and to be elected. Akdeniz municipality is ours, and it will remain so.”

Emphasizing the importance of the struggle for peace, Hatimoğulları remarked: “If the Kurdish issue is resolved, democracy will advance in this country, and Turkey will democratize.”

Hatimoğulları condemned that killing of journalists and said: “Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were killed by Turkish drones. Aziz Köylüoğlu has also been murdered, again by a drone. I pay tribute to the memory of all the journalists and press workers who have been killed, and condemn the ongoing arrests.”

Hatimoğulları stated: “Mr. Öcalan sent an important message to the opposition during this period, calling on them to be the voice and force of peace. We now hope that with a call from Mr. Öcalan, progress will be made toward peace. But not by sitting at home and waiting. As the DEM Party, we have held public meetings in 42 different centers. We are organizing rallies. As you can see, we are not waiting for peace to come while sitting at home. In this process, we will trust ourselves and Mr. Öcalan.”

The politician continued: “[…] Mr. Öcalan has been working tirelessly for 26 years in his 12-square-meter cell for today.He says, ‘The conditions should be provided for me to work more comfortably and to meet with everyone.’ We stand behind this demand. In order for the peace process to be seriously discussed, the isolation of Mr. Öcalan must be lifted immediately.”

Hatimoğulları addressed the government, questioning its stance on the ongoing discussions about peace: “[…] While peace is being widely discussed and everyone eagerly awaits a message from Imrali, what is the government doing? What is its solution plan? What is AKP’s plan for a solution ? We expect them to take concrete and credible steps. We have stated this at every opportunity, and we will continue to do so. Mr. Öcalan is preparing for a historic call, and he is doing this for peace. The DEM Party wants peace. The Kurdish people want peace, the Alawites want peace, the opposition wants peace. What does the government want?”