AMED –Regarding the Gemlik March to be held on November 18, TUAY-DER Co-chairperson Vahap Günay said: "If we want to live in a country and society that supports peace, rights, law and freedoms, we need to understand the importance of the Gemlik March on this level."

 

There has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş, who are held in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, for 32 months. The international campaign, which was launched on October 10 by the friends of the Kurdish people who raised their voices against the absolute isolation policy implemented in Imrali, with the motto "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue", has now spread to more than 100 countries.

 

On the other hand, 78 people, including writers, academics and politicians, gathered in Istanbul on October 28 and published the "Call to Peace" declaration; On October 29, nearly 200 institutions, including political parties, associations and non-governmental organizations in Amed(Diyarbakır), announced the "Call to Freedom" declaration to the public, demanding a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue and the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

 

This time, there will be a march to Gemlik on November 18 with the same demands.

 

Vahap Günay, co-chairperson of the Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Prisoners and Convict Families (TUAY-DER), one of the signatories of the "Call to Freedom", spoke about the importance of the Gemlik March, which he said should be supported by all segments of society that support peace and justice.

 

'THE STATE WANT TO SILENCE THE SOCIETY WITH ISOLATION'

 

Stating that, as non-governmental organizations, they have repeatedly stated that the isolation is a "crime against humanity", TUAY-DER Co-chair Günay said: "The isolation on Mr. Öcalan is not just a process of the last 32 months. In essence, he has been in isolation since his arrest. The AKP-MHP government deepened the isolation. The state  want to silence the society with isolation."

 

TUAY-DER Co-Chairperson also stated that if the isolation ends, the path to peace between peoples will be opened. Günay said: “In fact, not only nearly 200 institutions, but also 2 million people living in this city, in Amed(Diyarbakır), are in favor of lifting the isolation as soon as possible. We signed the text because we believe that the lifting of the isolation will ensure peace between peoples."

 

'THE AIM OF THE STATE IS TO SEPARATE ÖCALAN FROM THE PUBLIC'

 

Stating that the state wants to separate the bond between Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish people through isolation, Günay added: “But everyone needs to know this very well. The aim of the state is to separate Öcalan from the public. We all see that with these practices, the bond between Öcalan and the people cannot be broken and is getting closer day by day. What Mr. Öcalan said it clearly. He expresses everything clearly both in his books and in his writings. There is a need for the war to stop and end as soon as possible, and then create conditions for society to live in peace and brotherhood/sisterhood So, what do those who do not want peace do? They act with the idea that people should fight and we can gain profit from this war because they are afraid of peace.”

 

'GEMLİK MARCH WILL BE OUR STARTING POINT'

 

Drawing attention that the isolation in İmralı has spread to other prisons over the years, 

TUAY-DER Co-chair  Günay said: "Prisons containing dozens of seriously ill prisoners have become uninhabitable. The isolation that affects the entire society in different ways must end. If we want to live in a country and society that favors peace, rights, law and freedom, we need to understand the importance of the Gemlik March on this level. This march will perhaps be our starting point and invite everyone to the march to be held on November 18."