ANKARA - The "Democratic Solution and Freedom March", which has reached Ankara, has called for "Parliament to take responsibility for the lifting of the absolute isolation, the negotiated solution of the Kurdish issue and the democratisation of Turkey as a historical duty".
The "Democratic Solution and Freedom March", which started on 16 December in Amed (Diyarbakır) under the leadership of the Democratic Institutions Platform following the call for peace made by intellectuals in Istanbul, reached Ankara after Amed, Riha (Urfa), Dîlok (Antep), Adana and Mersin. The marchers, including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, arrived in front of the Parliament gate. Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş, MPs and representatives of civil society organisations joined the marchers in front of the Çankaya Gate of the Parliament. As the statement was not allowed here, hundreds of people made a statement in front of the parliament.
Speaking here, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar commemorated journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan who were murdered as a result of Turkey's attack. Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar then read the joint text.
The text included the following: "The absolute isolation regime that started on Mr Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı after the government suspended the will for a democratic solution in Turkey is still continuing today in the most intense way. The isolation, which means the suspension of international law, human rights and national law, is a testament to the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue and Turkey's move away from democracy, law and justice. With the isolation, the law has been suspended in Turkey. The parallelism between the absolute isolation imposed against Mr Öcalan and the authoritarianisation in Turkey is the political preferences of the government. Absolute isolation, which means lawlessness and rejection of democratic solution, is proof that the government is based on its political preferences, not on ensuring a just life. İmralı isolation is the source of authoritarianism and social polarisation.
DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM
Lawlessness and injustice is the biggest political blow to the hope of the peoples of Turkey to live together. The values that hold societies together and keep them alive are democracy, justice and the rule of law. A government loses its social legitimacy as it moves away from the values that enable social segments to live together. The isolation, which is not in accordance with any rule, law or norm, is above all deepening the insolvency of the Kurdish issue. While the centuries-old order in the Middle East is changing, chaos and confusion have become dominant in the region, the only real way for Turkey to stay away from problems is through the implementation of the law, justice and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Internal peace against this state of chaos and confusion can only be achieved through law, democracy and freedoms. The experience of living together for another hundred years can only be built around these values. Any practice that is not based on these values is the greatest evil done to the peoples of Turkey.
The first and essential step to solve the crisis at the foundation of democracy, the rule of law and the peace process is to lift the absolute isolation.
In this context, we call for the immediate lifting of the absolute isolation of Mr Abdullah Öcalan and the provision of the ground to play his role for peace and solution under free conditions. The lifting of the Imrali isolation is of vital importance for social peace and reconciliation on the basis of the brotherhood of peoples, equality and justice. We call on the government to end the absolute isolation and to take the path of law and democracy. We warn the government not to move away from law and democratic negotiations at home in the face of conjunctural and uncertain developments in the Middle East. We call on opposition parties and civil society organisations to fulfil their historical responsibility to lift the absolute isolation. Remaining silent against absolute isolation means endorsing unlawfulness, war and the move away from democracy. Today, to oppose absolute isolation is to oppose unlawfulness, to defend peace and democracy. No one should forget that social reconciliation and peace are based on ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms. Intellectuals, writers and scientists face a historical responsibility for the democratic coexistence of the peoples of Turkey. Regardless of one's opinion, it is our common denominator to demand the application of the law. Everyone should move their pen and speak out against the absolute isolation in which this common denominator is openly and flagrantly violated.
RAISE YOUR VOICE AGAINST ISOLATION
Finally, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, where the sovereignty of the people is manifested, has a historical duty to take responsibility for the lifting of the absolute isolation, the negotiated solution of the Kurdish issue and the democratisation of Turkey. We say that everyone who wants peace and democracy must raise their voice against isolation; we reiterate our call to everyone to ensure that the absolute isolation is lifted for a democratic, just and rule of law-based country."