ISTANBUL - Speaking at the “One million signatures for peace” meeting, HDK Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş said that they are struggling for a free life. DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları reacted against the massacre of civilians in Tishreen. 

 

Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Women's Assembly came together with women components as part of the “1 million signatures for peace” campaign launched by HDK for the socialization of peace.  The Women's Assembly met at the HDK Headquarters in Beyoğlu with the participation of Tülay Hatimoğulları, Co-Chair of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). 

 

HDK Co-Spokeperson Meral Danış Beştaş made the opening speech of the meeting and drew attention to the attacks on North and East Syria. Meral Danış Beştaş said, “I say that the attacks against civilians are violations and we condemn them. If there is to be peace, women will weave this peace. As women who make up half of the society, we will not be spectators. We all know that women continue the struggle for peace in wars.”

 

Emphasizing that they will fight for a free life as women, Meral Danış Beştaş added, “There is no doubt that efforts to encourage meaningful participation of women in peace and reconciliation processes and to include a gender perspective in negotiations will change a lot. We can write a new story and shape the course of the world through peace.”

 

WAR PROCESSES 

 

Speaking afterwards, DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları reminded that the “One million signatures for peace” campaign had been launched and said that as women they would explain why they needed peace so much today and how the campaign could serve peace. Tülay Hatimoğulları stated that the whole world is on the brink of war and that all segments of society have a responsibility against war. 

 

Tülay Hatimoğulları said, "Today, over 50 thousand women and children have lost their lives in Gaza in the last one year. When we look at the developments in Syria, the geography has turned into a bloodbath. While the global system is re-establishing and repositioning itself, we look at what the peoples here think and what they aim for. Today, of course, we see and witness the struggles of the peoples sprouting here in the wars of division waged by the imperialist powers. Dear women, we do not decide these wars. Today, men and the male-dominated system decide on global wars and regional wars." 

 

Emphasizing that women are on the side of peace against war and that they always produce, “We can see from the Rojava experience what can happen when a political line develops in which women are present, politically and socially active, and when a process develops with a women's libertarian understanding" said Tülay Hatimoğulları.  

 

REACTION ATTACKS AGAINST TISHREEN 

 

Tülay Hatimoğulları stated that while the signature campaign for peace was being carried out, the attacks on the Tishreen dam continue. “We repeat our call from here; we cannot remain silent to the massacre of civilians in Tishreen while the current government in Turkey is saying ‘I am extending the hand of peace’. This is why we want peace. We want an honorable peace to be established on democratic grounds. We will definitely either open a way or find a way for peace. Dear peoples of Turkey, we can often ignore the Kurdish issue. However, when we evaluate the damage caused by the Kurdish issue in this geography in the context of the price paid to the Turkish people and other peoples, workers, laborers and women, we see together how great a price we are paying as a whole," said Tülay Hatimoğulları and added that women have been harassed and raped in wars throughout history, and that they will increase their struggle against harassment and rape.

 

ÖCALAN'S CONDITIONS MUST BE ENSURED

 

Tülay Hatimoğulları stated that if peace is achieved in Turkey, the solution of the Kurdish issue and end of the conflicts that have been going on for 50 years will make a great contribution to Turkey.  Tülay Hatimoğulları said, "We have a duty to draw the best picture of what the peoples of Turkey will gain and what we wmen will gain if the ongoing isolation of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı is completely lifted and all the conditions that Mr Öcalan can now work for peace are provided." 

 

Women will continue to make every effort and work to face the truth and establish peace in this geography said Tülay Hatimoğulları and added, "In this sense, the signature campaign initiated by HDK is very important and valuable. From here I would like to address all the women of Turkey; dear women, in order to live in a democratic country, in order to prevent bloodshed, in order to open the doors to peace and justice, please sign a petition for peace.”