ISTANBUL - DEM Party Istanbul Provincial Co-Chair Murat Kalmaz called for participation in the “Peace Rally for Freedom” to be held in Istanbul on February 2 and stated that the state must take steps to solve the Kurdish issue. 

 

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) decided to organize “Social Peace and Freedom Meetings” in response to the messages from the talks with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Within the scope of the meetings, public meetings, various events and rallies will be organized in more than 40 centers between February 1-16. On February 2, rallies will be held in Istanbul, February 8 in Amed and February 9 in Mersin. 

 

 

The first rally will be organized under the slogan “Peace Rally for Freedom” at Istanbul Esenyurt Square at 13.00pm. DEM Party Istanbul Provincial Co-Chair Murat Kalmaz spoke about the importance and purpose of the rally for which preparations are underway.

 

WORK IN 39 PROVINCES

 

Stating that the work for the rally continues unabated in 39 districts of Istanbul, Kalmaz said that in this context, they called for participation in the rally with leaflets they distributed from house to house and neighborhood to neighborhood. Kalmaz stated that vehicles will be removed from all districts on the day of the rally and said, “We invite all the peoples of Turkey, socialist movements, laborers, women and youth to the peace rally we will organize.”  

 

'THE STATE MUST TAKE STEPS'

 

Reminding that they had organized a series of actions and events such as the Gemlik and Freedom March in the past to ensure the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, Kalmaz said that the isolation in İmralı had deepened the Kurdish issue both in Turkey and in the Middle East. Kalmaz stated that in this sense, as a party, they started a line of resistance against the isolation and attack policies. 

 

Pointing out that a new atmosphere has emerged with the overthrow of the Ba'ath regime in Syria, Kalmaz said, “With the developments in Syria, it is necessary to see that the Kurds are no longer unsolvable, that the Kurdish issue cannot be solved only with the AKP, and that a multi-optional process involving the US and regional states has emerged. The resistance of the Kurdish people and the state's internal blockage, the elimination of Rojava and the failure of the occupation attacks to achieve their goals led Turkey to search for a solution. At the point of solution, talks are being held with the revelation that Mr. Öcalan is the only actor and interlocutor. These talks should not be limited to the government and the state. The entire opposition and public opinion should be included in the discussions. DEM Party held talks with all opposition parties in this regard. We are in a process of playing our role and mission in terms of filling the content of the 7 articles published by Mr. Öcalan. The society needs to be involved in this process and the state needs to take practical steps in order for the situation to become practical.” 

 

'STOP THE ATTACKS ON ROJAVA'

 

Pointing out that in order for Abdullah Öcalan to play his role, isolation policies must be ended and constitutional changes must be made, Kalmaz continued as follows: “As long as the isolation policies on Mr. Öcalan continue and only the delegation is allowed to go to İmralı, this problem cannot be solved. Mr. Öcalan stated in the first meeting that the isolation continues. In order to solve the Kurdish issue, Turkey must recognize the status of Rojava and stop the attacks. A Turkey that recognizes the status of Rojava will also put forward a practice in solving the Kurdish issue. A state reality that accepts these will also bring democratization. When we look at the root causes of all these policies, it is the isolation policy on Mr. Öcalan. This needs to be eliminated.”

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal