Twenty thousand in Van say 'stop military operations'
Twenty thousand in Van say 'stop military operations'
Twenty thousand people marched against military operations yesterday in Van, as well as in Diyarbakir. The march was organized by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). Banned Kurdish politician and co-chair of closed party Democratic Society Party (DTP), Ahmet Turk has addressed the people at the meeting. Many mayors from BDP, peace activists, members and representatives of NGOs, BDP deputies and citizens of Van marched together to say stop the military operations.
Ahmet Turk warned the government and ask them to be honest about the so called "democratic opening" instead of continuing with a policy of destruction and denial of the Kurds. We are ready for dialogue and negotiation as long as the operations and the deaths stop".
The people chanted slogans like: “We are waiting for Mr. Ocalan’s road map”, “Iran is not Republic of Islam but Republic of execution”, “Negotiations instead of operations”, “No silence against deaths in prisons”.
The march has begun under high security measures. People on duty from BDP also took up the security while marchers were passing by the Army House. The mass observed one minute silence for miners who had lost their lives as a result of cave-in in Zonguldak last week.
Then speakers from BDP and Ahmet Turk took the floor at the meeting.
Ahmet Turk underlined Kurds’ effort for peace in his speech. He also remembered the young student who died last week as a result of an ultranationalist attack in Mugla. “Serzan Kurt’s family wanted to donate his organs - said Ahmet Turk - and his father particularly pointed out that the organs might save some saved some Turkish person's life. And he said that, the important thing for us is to save people’s life. This approach shows our effort for peace. Serzan Kurt died because of ultranationalist attack but his father is thinking to donate his organs. This is very significant example of what we have to do to advance. We are going to support peace to save more lives.”
The amendments of Constitution were also mentioned by Turk. Articles 66 and 42 of the Constitution need to be changed said Ahmet Turk in order "to show that Kurds’ demands are being recognized by administration".
In the meantime “Citizens of Turkey are considered as Turks" says article 42 and "No language is allowed other than Turkish” says article 66.
Turk made a call for government one more time to change these two articles.
Ahmet Turk warned the government and ask them to be honest about the so called "democratic opening" instead of continuing with a policy of destruction and denial of the Kurds. We are ready for dialogue and negotiation as long as the operations and the deaths stop".
The people chanted slogans like: “We are waiting for Mr. Ocalan’s road map”, “Iran is not Republic of Islam but Republic of execution”, “Negotiations instead of operations”, “No silence against deaths in prisons”.
The march has begun under high security measures. People on duty from BDP also took up the security while marchers were passing by the Army House. The mass observed one minute silence for miners who had lost their lives as a result of cave-in in Zonguldak last week.
Then speakers from BDP and Ahmet Turk took the floor at the meeting.
Ahmet Turk underlined Kurds’ effort for peace in his speech. He also remembered the young student who died last week as a result of an ultranationalist attack in Mugla. “Serzan Kurt’s family wanted to donate his organs - said Ahmet Turk - and his father particularly pointed out that the organs might save some saved some Turkish person's life. And he said that, the important thing for us is to save people’s life. This approach shows our effort for peace. Serzan Kurt died because of ultranationalist attack but his father is thinking to donate his organs. This is very significant example of what we have to do to advance. We are going to support peace to save more lives.”
The amendments of Constitution were also mentioned by Turk. Articles 66 and 42 of the Constitution need to be changed said Ahmet Turk in order "to show that Kurds’ demands are being recognized by administration".
In the meantime “Citizens of Turkey are considered as Turks" says article 42 and "No language is allowed other than Turkish” says article 66.
Turk made a call for government one more time to change these two articles.
