Reactions to the appointment of trustees to the municipalities under the administration of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) continue. Protests against the usurpation of will continue. Another reaction to the appointment of trustees to DEM Party municipalities came from Franziska Stier, Secretary General of BastA (Basels Starke Alternative/Basel's Strong Alternative). On 31 March, Franziska Stier, who was in Wan with an international delegation to observe and report on the election process, made evaluations on the trustee appointments.

 

'KAYYUM SYSTEM IS PART OF OPPRESSION OF KURDISH PEOPLE'

 

Franziska Stier stated that the word "trustee" should not be used and said: “There is no trust. Let's say kayyum system. Everybody who fights for democracy and human rights should learn this word, and understand that this is an oppressive tactic against the will of the people. The kayyum system is one part of suppression or oppression of the Kurdish people. I never heard of a kayyum in the western regions of Turkey, so it's part of a two class system of politics and justice. We also know that the kayyum system destroy women organizations and cultural history of the cities, but it's not strategy for peace. It's just a tactic to oppress the people. But we know everywhere in the world that those who saw oppression reap resistance."

 

ATTEMPTS TO DIVIDE THE OPPOSITION

 

Appointment of trustees in DEM Party and CHP municipalities could be seen as a tactic to divide and suppress the opposition said Franziska Stier and added: “We can have a look at the USA, Russia, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Israel; everywhere they try to divide the people. They try to oppress the women, migrants... But the people began to organize everywhere. For example, when Trump was elected, we got a huge amount of new party members. People are looking everywhere in the world what's going on, and when they not agree with this kind of oppression, they start to organize, and they start to speak with each other."

 

'PEOPLE WILL LISTEN TO ÖCALAN'

 

Franziska Stier stated that the AKP is trying to control the people with media, education system and trustees. Demands of the people must be recognised in order to ensure a peace process said Franziska Stier.

 

"There is one main demand; freedom and peace. In a way of self-determination; with own language, with own ethnical culture. What the Kurdish people demand as a human right. But they're in a situation they have to struggle for this. I think Turkey can be a democratic country and fulfill these demands. To start the peace process, you have to do the this on the same level. If you have the political power, the power of police and army, you have to make a step back and give  the other part space to for their demands. And if you have a democracy, it's an absolutely main rule that you respect the will of the people. And of course, one part is the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, because he can start the peace process, and the people would hear about him. They respect him. He's a very important person. In the past, he started the peace process a couple of times. He want the peace the same level like the people in Kurdistan. But to give him a little bit space and oppress on the other side is not starting a peace process," she said.  

 

'THEY FIGHT TOGETHER FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEACE'

 

Ongoing resistances in the municipalities where trustees were appointed are brave said Franziska Stier and said the following about her observations in the Wan resistance: “Watch this in the media is for me, sometimes very hard, because it's shown a huge amount of brutality. They're my sisters and my brothers hurt. I often think, 'You're so brave to struggle in these conditions.' When I was in Van, I saw it with my eyes, and I heard it, I felt it. Everyone was on the street, and everyone had their own part to do there. So that was amazing to see, how is the protest organized. It was very special, with which kind of determination the people go on the streets, despite maybe they normally would not talk to each other. But in this moment, in which they saw our will will be ignored. They come together and fight together for democracy, and for peace. That was impressive.

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MA / Hivda Çelebi