The march to Ankara, organized by the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) under the slogan “We walk to freedom with hope” with 250 women is continuing. Alongside women’s organizations, civil society groups and political party representatives, dismissed co-mayors of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) municipalities were also present. The co-mayors from four cities emphasized that social peace and resolution depend on the recognition of the people’s will and the implementation of the right to hope. The march continues today.
The co-mayors of Dersim, Batman, Mardin and Van highlighted during the women-led march their calls for peace, democratization and freedom. They stressed that ensuring the right to hope, ending the appointment of trustees, securing constitutional guarantees for the mother tongue and collective rights, and achieving the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan are vital steps for moving the process forward.
The right to hope is not a condition, but a necessity
Dersim co-mayor Birsen Orhan stated that one of the main goals of the march is the implementation of the right to hope. Orhan underlined that this step is essential for the process not to stall and to move forward quickly and added: “We no longer see the right to hope as a condition, but as a necessity. There has been a process ongoing for about a year, yet no concrete steps have been taken. The establishment of a commission and the hearing of some institutions are important, but there are thousands of experiences and people who need to be heard. Ultimately, our demand will also include that the main actor of this process must be heard.”
The usurpation of must end
Birsen Orhan also stressed the necessity of securing mother tongue and cultural rights under constitutional protection. Orhan said: “Our collective rights, such as our mother tongue, must be guaranteed by the constitution. One of our main demands is that dismissed co-mayors appointed with trustees return to their duties and that the usurpation of the elected will come to an end. This does not apply only to DEM Party municipalities but to all municipalities whose will has been usurped. In addition, the official recognition of our co-mayorship system is indispensable for women’s representation. Today, the strong participation of young women in particular shows how powerful the hope for peace in the future really is.”
Democracy cannot exist with trustee policies
Batman co-mayor Gülistan Sönük underlined that their demands are clear. Sönük stated that the right to hope must first be implemented and that a commission must meet with Abdullah Öcalan and said: “Our demands are clear. We want the right to hope to be applied and for a meeting to be held with Abdullah Öcalan. In addition, the Kurdish people must be recognized with their language, culture, history and geography. It is contradictory to speak of a democratic Turkey while at the same time usurping the will of the people through trustees. For the government to gain the confidence of society, the trustee policies must immediately end, and local administrations must be returned to those elected by the people.”
Van Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Neslihan Şedal drew attention to the women’s struggle. She emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society is strongly embraced by women and said: “The struggle of women for freedom does not belong only to today; for years, women have been fighting for freedom, justice and equality. Kurdish women in particular defend their mother tongue, their will and their social values. For the freedom of political prisoners and the democratization of society, the most fundamental condition is the freedom of People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan.”
We have a voice in building peace
Neslihan Şedal stated that the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan is not only a personal demand, but also signifies the freedom of peoples and women. She continued: “Mr. Öcalan’s perspective is very clear: for societies to be liberated, women must be liberated. This understanding is today embraced by peoples around the world. As women, we have a voice in building peace. The most essential requirement for this is ensuring the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. We are marching to Ankara for Kurdish to gain status and for the obstacles before it to be removed, for political prisoners to be released, and for the will of the peoples to be respected.”
Kurdish women continue their role for centuries
Mardin Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Devrim Demir drew attention to the role of women in the process and said: “Kurdish women have been the strongest supporters of this process from the very beginning. Despite all forms of pressure and attacks, women have taken on every role in the resistance and lived their lives in this way. Today, with faith and determination, they continue to embrace the process. They are marching to Ankara for a democratic and peaceful life.”
Devrim Demir also highlighted the aims of the march and listed their demands as follows: “We are marching for the right to hope. We are marching for the recognition of all rights and for equal citizenship. We demand peace in unity and togetherness. In this process, the will of the people must be recognized, and trustee policies must come to an end. We march with these demands. We also clearly see the people’s insistence on peace in this process. Our march is a march for freedom. We will surely achieve this freedom.”