ANKARA - Women marching from Amed to Ankara called on the government to "be a party to peace" and called for political and legal steps to be taken. 

 

The march started by the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) from Amed (Diyarbakır) on 1 October with the slogan "We march to Freedom with Hope" continues in Ankara on its 7th day. Passing through 7 different points and arriving in Ankara, women gathered at Güvenpark in Kızılay in the morning. The women wanted to march from here to the Parliament, but were prevented by a police barricade. 

 

When they were not allowed to march, the women made a statement in Güvenpark. Speaking on behalf of the women who chanted "Azadî, Azadî, Azadîya rebertî", "Mafê hevîye Mafê Gelanê (Right to hope is the right of people)", "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)", "Bijî berxwedana zindana (Long live resistance of dungeons)", Nalin Gezgör started her speech by thanking the women who welcomed them in Ankara. Stating that they are in the capital of Turkey as women who set out from Amed with freedom and hope, Nalin Gezgör said: "We will continue our march until Mr Abdullah Öcalan is free." 

 

Then Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's message to the women in the march was read. The women welcomed the message with great enthusiasm. 

 

Speaking afterwards, TJA activist Sabahat Tuncel stated that they started the march on 1 October and passed through the ancient Kurdish cities and said, "Wherever we are in the world, we are under the pressure of the male-dominated system. That is why we raise women's solidarity by saying 'jin, Jiyan, azadi' wherever we are. We came with the longing for peace. Everywhere we passed, the demand for peace was expressed. Just demanding is not enough. That is why we came to Ankara."

 

'LET'S MAKE PEACE POSSIBLE'

 

Noting that the Kurdish people insist on peace despite all they have been through, Sabahat Tuncel said, "We will present the demands as a file on behalf of TJA. What needs to be done for peace... Not only to the government because peace is not only the duty of the government. It is the duty of all political parties. That is why we call out to all political parties; let's make peace possible this time. The guarantee of peace is first of all the emptying of prisons. Therefore, Imrali Prison must first be emptied and Mr Öcalan must be free. Mr Öcalan said 'the freedom of society is my freedom'. Mr Öcalan's definition of freedom is meaningful. Although he has been in isolation for 27 years, he does not prioritise his own freedom. He prioritises the freedom of the people. We understand this very well and we say that the freedom of Mr Öcalan is the freedom of the people, the freedom of us women." 

 

KOBANI TRIAL

 

Sabahat Tuncel reminded that 6-7 October was the anniversary of the Kobani protests and added: "Once again, we stand with Kobanê against DAESH, against Al-Qaeda, against religious groups. The lawlessness continues, our friends are in prison despite the ECHR judgement. There is no need for an ECHR judgement. If there is to be peace, the way to it is through equality and democracy. It passes through the elimination of conspiracy trials. We once again demand the freedom of our friends.  

 

The solution of the Kurdish issue concerns the whole Middle East. The Kurdish people oppose what the rulers want to do in the Middle East. Today, everyone thinks that Turkey is behind the attacks on Esrefîye and Şexmaqsut. Because it has always been like this until now. We say, be a party to peace. Come and put an end to these policies. If there really is to be peace, we need to be on the side of the demands of the Kurdish people in Syria, not against them. We advocate an integration on the basis of free and equal citizenship. Do you think that Kurds in Turkey will stand still when Kurds in Syria are massacred? That is why we call on Turkey to support the democratic integration process."

 

CALL ON NETANYAHU TO WITHDRAW FROM PHILISTINE 

 

Referring to the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza, Sabahat Tuncel stated that they are with the people in Palestine and said, "Netanyahu should immediately withdraw from Palestinian territories. He must recognise the freedom of the Palestinian people. As women, we also marched for the women in Palestine." 

 

'ÖCALAN'S PROPOSAL MUST BE FOLLOWED'

 

Sabahat Tuncel emphasised that everyone should do their part to build peace and referred to Abdullah Öcalan's message to women and said, "What is negotiating democracy? It is not only about those who get the highest number of votes in the elections. It is opening the way for everyone living in Turkey and Kurdistan to participate in democratic politics. This issue cannot be solved with the policy of extermination and denial. We recommend all circles to follow Mr Öcalan's proposal for democratic, negotiated politics." 

 

Sabahat Tuncel stated that the only step taken by the state so far was the establishment of a commission in the Parliament, but the necessary legal amendments have still not been made. Sabahat Tuncel concluded: "We are waiting for the necessary political and legal steps to be taken for the weapons to be completely buried. The struggle for women will not end like this. We will continue our march. We march with hope. We march to freedom."