Democratic Autonomy to be established in Þýrnak and Mardin
Democratic Autonomy to be established in Þýrnak and Mardin
Thousands of people were on the streets in Þýrnak and Mardin and in their districts on Wednesday in the context of a new campaign launched to accelerate the establishment of the Democratic Autonomy. The message given was clear: “The Kurdish people will determine their status without waiting for permission. The Kurdish people will decide on their own”.
Batman City Council has decided to promote the campaign for democratic autonomy first launched by Amed (Diyarbakir) and Mardin City Councils.
Holding a meeting in front of the Democratic Solution Tent in Þýrnak, the Council announced its decision. A statement was read by Asiye Atýlgan, a member of the Democratic and Free Women Movement (DÖKH). “600 delegates from Botan region, including Hakkari, Þýrnak and Siirt, - read the statement - have decided to speed up the campaign for the establishment of the Democratic Autonomy. We believe that this is the way to reach a just and lasting peace. We are calling on our people to support us”, concluded Atýlgan.
Six more meetings were organised to announce the decision and read the declaration of intents in the centres and districts of Þýrnak and Mardin like Cizre, Ýdil, Nusaybin, Uludere and Silopi. Many NGO members, some trade unions, Kurdish Institutions and parties particularly Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) endorsed the meetings attended by thousands of residents.
The democratic autonomy principle requires that local governments be granted autonomy from the centralized system in its affairs regarding education, security and external relations. Significant pilot implementations have been running for months now, in several areas. In neighborhoods, villages and hamlets where they live, Kurds have been setting up their own assemblies by getting organized. Through a 50-village commune in Diyarbakýr, 21 local councils, four district councils and the city council, social, political, economic and cultural autonomy demands are being actualized.
“Village communes” have been set up in Diyarbakýr for the first time. A commune consisting of 50 villages in the Baðlar district in Diyarbakýr is being founded while works continue in other villages in other districts. In villages as part of communes, councils consisting of 11 or 13 members, depending on the village population, are being set up. Every village has spokespersons, one of whom is woman. Such a model is identical with the BDP’s co-chairmanship model.
In Diyarbakýr, nine councils have been set up in the Baðlar district, five in Kayapýnar, four in Sur in addition to three neighborhood councils, which are the smallest administrative unit. Neighborhood councils aim to bring neighbors together, discuss common issues and find solutions, consisting of an average of 20-30 members. Each has two spokespersons, one of whom is woman. Even a disciplinary council exists within a neighborhood council.
Problems, fights and discussions taking place in a neighborhood are directly resolved in the “Neighborhood Justice Commission” rather than official units. For instance, against drugs, prostitution, robbery, or usurps a neighborhood council directly interferes as a dimension of the democratic autonomy model. If warning is not enough, individuals committing the said crimes are exposed in public and are removed from the region.
The city council is the largest body in the region. This has not been formed yet. The goal is to have 450 members in the prospective council. The executive council convenes weekly while the general council meets monthly. The city council covers all and organizes a convention every other year.
The BDP currently is in control of one greater municipality in Diyarbakýr, in addition to seven provincial mayoralties and mayoralties in 51 towns and 40 smaller districts.
Batman City Council has decided to promote the campaign for democratic autonomy first launched by Amed (Diyarbakir) and Mardin City Councils.
Holding a meeting in front of the Democratic Solution Tent in Þýrnak, the Council announced its decision. A statement was read by Asiye Atýlgan, a member of the Democratic and Free Women Movement (DÖKH). “600 delegates from Botan region, including Hakkari, Þýrnak and Siirt, - read the statement - have decided to speed up the campaign for the establishment of the Democratic Autonomy. We believe that this is the way to reach a just and lasting peace. We are calling on our people to support us”, concluded Atýlgan.
Six more meetings were organised to announce the decision and read the declaration of intents in the centres and districts of Þýrnak and Mardin like Cizre, Ýdil, Nusaybin, Uludere and Silopi. Many NGO members, some trade unions, Kurdish Institutions and parties particularly Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) endorsed the meetings attended by thousands of residents.
The democratic autonomy principle requires that local governments be granted autonomy from the centralized system in its affairs regarding education, security and external relations. Significant pilot implementations have been running for months now, in several areas. In neighborhoods, villages and hamlets where they live, Kurds have been setting up their own assemblies by getting organized. Through a 50-village commune in Diyarbakýr, 21 local councils, four district councils and the city council, social, political, economic and cultural autonomy demands are being actualized.
“Village communes” have been set up in Diyarbakýr for the first time. A commune consisting of 50 villages in the Baðlar district in Diyarbakýr is being founded while works continue in other villages in other districts. In villages as part of communes, councils consisting of 11 or 13 members, depending on the village population, are being set up. Every village has spokespersons, one of whom is woman. Such a model is identical with the BDP’s co-chairmanship model.
In Diyarbakýr, nine councils have been set up in the Baðlar district, five in Kayapýnar, four in Sur in addition to three neighborhood councils, which are the smallest administrative unit. Neighborhood councils aim to bring neighbors together, discuss common issues and find solutions, consisting of an average of 20-30 members. Each has two spokespersons, one of whom is woman. Even a disciplinary council exists within a neighborhood council.
Problems, fights and discussions taking place in a neighborhood are directly resolved in the “Neighborhood Justice Commission” rather than official units. For instance, against drugs, prostitution, robbery, or usurps a neighborhood council directly interferes as a dimension of the democratic autonomy model. If warning is not enough, individuals committing the said crimes are exposed in public and are removed from the region.
The city council is the largest body in the region. This has not been formed yet. The goal is to have 450 members in the prospective council. The executive council convenes weekly while the general council meets monthly. The city council covers all and organizes a convention every other year.
The BDP currently is in control of one greater municipality in Diyarbakýr, in addition to seven provincial mayoralties and mayoralties in 51 towns and 40 smaller districts.
