While the protests against the trustee appointments to Mêrdîn (Mardin) Metropolitan Municipality, Êlih (Batman) and Xelfetî (Halfeti) municipalities continue. Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Êlih Provincial Co-mayors Songül Korkmaz and Mustafa Mesut Tekik stated that they will defend the people's gains until the end. Referring to the rally held in Êlih on November 17 against trustees and demanding the removal of isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and physical freedom of him, Songül Korkmaz said that the "Democracy and Freedom" messages given in Amed (Diyarbakır) on October 13, in Cologne on November 16 and in Êlih on November 17 were clear. Songül Korkmaz noted that both in the speeches and in the banners opened, clear messages were given that isolation must be ended and that the addressee of the solution is PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

 

'WE WILL PROTECT THE GAINS OF THE PEOPLE'

 

 

Emphasizing that the rally showed the roadmap for the solution against trustee policies, Songül Korkmaz said: "Êlih rally was an opportunity for us to determine the roadmap for the upcoming process. We are now working on how we can better organize and upcoming process. Of course, our struggle is not over and we will announce the new calendar program as soon as possible. 

 

Co-mayor system was targeted with the trustee policy said Songül Korkmaz and added: "A reckless attack was made on women's will. Of course, we have not and will not step back from our gains, our co-mayor system or our equal representation in the face of this. We have achieved each of our gains with great effort and costs and have come to these days. We have thousands of years of women's struggle behind us. If we have come to these days, we have come to these days thanks to the costs of the struggle created by these women. We will not lose any of our gains."

 

'OUR STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE'

 

Co-mayor Mustafa Tekik reminded that the trustee policy was put into effect following the statements made on the Kurdish issue. Recalling that similar policies were followed in previous periods regarding the Kurdish issue. Tekik emphasized that the solution to the Kurdish issue and their struggle against the trustees will continue. 

 

Tekik continued as follows: "Until our municipality co-mayors and municipal council members return to their duties, we will continue our protests and objections both on the democratic level and in all the streets of Êlih. We are calling once again: If peace, democracy and the will of the people are desired to prevail in this country and if they will respect the will of the people, our party is here, Mr. Öcalan is here, and the representatives of Kurdish democratic politics are here. If you say, 'We will suppress you, make you weak-willed, peace will be one-sided, not a single demand will come from you', then there is a people here who will pay any price and fight. We are ready for an honorable peace."

 

MA / Şirvan Şilan Çil