VAN - Participants of the HDP's September 1, World Peace Day rally in Van stated that they wanted the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

 

Thousands of people attended the September 1 World Peace Day rally organised by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Van yesterday. The messages given at the rally called for an end to the isolation of Öcalan and for the war policies.

 

PEOPLE DEMAND IS TO END OF ISOLATION OF ABDULLAH ÖCALAN

 

Mehmet Yılmaz, who attended the rally, stated that their demand is peace. Yılmaz said: "We want Öcalan to join his people. War will not solve the problems. If the Kurds unite, the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan will end."

 

DEMAND FOR PEACE

 

Another citizen, Şemsettin Kaya, who condemned the isolation, talked about the oppression and conflicts in the Kurdish geography. Kaya said: "The main reason for the war in four parts of Kurdistan is the isolation of the Leader (Öcalan). Why does Barzani have to use the war against the Kurdish people? The Kurdish people must be united. They must fight in an organised manner wherever they are. There is no family in Van that did not give martyrs."

 

Emphasizing that their basic demand is peace, Züleyha Batuk said: "It is persecution against us, we do not accept it. If we are not united, we will be devastated. If we come together, we win. We want the dirty policies on us to be removed."

 

'WE WILL NOT GIVE UP'

 

Stating that they condemn the isolation of Öcalan and mentioning that the body of Hakan Arslan, who lost his life in Sur, was given to his family in a sack 7 years later. I condemn the Turkish state for sending the bones in a sack. No matter what they do, We will never give up seeking justice. The Kurdish people must unite and fight."