The Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) organised a mass march in Amed yesterday with the slogan “Women are walking for social peace and democratic solution”. Thousands of women from different cities of Turkey and Kurdishtan gathered in Amed and marched.

 

Women in the march spoke about the process being carried out in the democratic context of the Kurdish issue and their expectations.

 

THE STATE MUST TAKE STEPS 

 

Stating that she is hopeful about the process led by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan Çiğdem Karabulak said: “It is time for democratic politics, not war. In order for the process to progress positively, conditions of Abdullah Öcalan must be ensured and political prisoners must be freed. The state should take a step as soon as possible. So many women have come here and we are shouting our demand for peace.” 

 

PHYSICAL FREEDOM OF OCALAN MUST BE ENSURED

 

Stressing that she participated to the march for the demand of physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, Türkan Yıldız said that political prisoners, specially ill prisoners must be free. “It hurts us when both soldiers and guerrillas lose their lives. When the Kurdish people are united, they can overcome everything. That's why we need to join hands,” she said. 

 

Pointing to the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” and the decisions taken by the PKK in line with the call, “From now on, the ball is in the state’s court. If it utilises the opportunity positively, good things will happen. We mothers are heartbroken. We can’t sleep and we wonder how the process will proceed. When peace comes to this country, justice and peace comes.”

 

'STARTED WITH ONE PERSON AND CONTINUED WITH MILLIONS'

 

Stating that Kurds have been struggling for 50 years, Zehra Akkoyun said: "Our struggle started with one person and continued with millions. The state told us that it wanted peace. This is already our struggle. The problem is not with the Kurdish-Turkish people, the problem is with the state. When we look at the process being carried out, it makes us feel dark inside. Prisoners are still in prison. For peace to be achieved, Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom must be ensured. Our leader and the PKK have taken steps for peace, now it is the state that needs to take steps."

 

Halime Akman stated that Kurds stand on the side of peace, not war, and said, "If Turks want peace as we do, peace will come. But peace cannot be achieved without the freedom of Leader Apo."

 

'PKK HAS DISSOLVED ITSELF, THE STATE MUST TAKE STEPS'

 

Nurhayat Şimşek said: “All prisoners should be released and mothers should not cry anymore. Neither guerrilla mothers nor soldier mothers should cry. The PKK has dissolved itself, not the state should take a step and Abdullah Öcalan should be freed.”

 

Behiye Kırık pointed out that the people imprisoned in prisons should be released: "The state should take a step. Enough is enough now. We want peace, we don't want anything else."

 

Medihe Çakır said: “For 50 years our children have grown up under persecution. Enough is enough, we want peace. Abdullah Öcalan must be free. The state should take a step.”

 

Emphasising that the march is a march for freedom, Aklime Abi said, "Mr Öcalan should be released from prison and the prison doors should be opened. We want peace, peace, and peace.”

 

MA / Heval Onkol