The DEM Party İzmir Provincial Organization held a public meeting at the Tepekule Congress Center as part of the “Peace and Democratic Society Meetings.”
The event was attended by representatives of political parties and democratic organizations, as well as a large number of citizens. The gathering began with a moment of silence, accompanied by the slogans “Şehîd namirin” (Martyrs are immortal) and “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom).
DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları highlighted the historical significance of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” on February 27 and the PKK’s weapon-burning ceremony on July 11.
Hatimoğulları stated that they have negotiated the issue of peace with many circles in Turkey, saying, “Peace will not be handed to us on a silver platter. No one will just come up and say, ‘Let’s make peace.’ If the developments in Turkey and the Middle East — especially in Syria — are forcing a strategic change regarding the resolution of the Kurdish question, then this state, and the PKK, another party to this war and conflict, and the Kurdish people, should sit at the table and talk. We discussed very seriously and deeply how all democratic forces in Turkey can together make the maximum contribution to opening the way for democratization, to resolving the Kurdish question through peaceful and democratic methods, and how we can make peace a social reality.”
“Mr. Öcalan is not only the chief negotiator but also the main actor of this process. We once again emphasize that the commission established in Parliament should meet with him immediately,” she underlined.
The DEM Party Co-Chair summarized the steps that need to be taken in the peace process as follows:
– Enacting a special law that will pave the way for PKK members to participate in democratic politics,
– Putting the execution law that will secure the freedom of political prisoners on the agenda,
– Regulating the local administration law in a democratic manner and abolishing the trustee system.
Hatimoğulları remarked that great sacrifices have been made in the struggle for peace, saying that the ultimate goal is an honorable peace, resolution of the Kurdish question through democratic and peaceful means and ensuring that women in this country are not murdered and can live freely.
“As women, we have not surrendered our hard-won rights and we will not. We women will continue to fight to the end with the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’,” she underlined.
The meeting continued closed to the press.