DEM Party's 'Öcalan' call: 'Open the doors of İmralı!'

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan is making statements at his party's group meeting.

Highlights from Bakırhan's speech are as follows:

Bakırhan began his speech by commemorating journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were killed in a Turkish SİHA (armed drone) attack. Stating that journalists who reflect the voices of Kurds, laborers, and other segments are being detained, arrested, and killed, Bakırhan said, "Within a 5-year period, a total of 13 journalists have been killed today, primarily in the Kurdistan Regional Government and Rojava, and 7 journalists have been seriously injured. Is this not a crime against humanity? I condemn those who commit this crime against humanity. I also respectfully commemorate all the journalist friends who lost their lives."

'YOU CANNOT COVER UP THE TRUTH'

Stating that the truth is being covered up by killing journalists, Bakırhan said, "No one can cover up the truth by killing journalists. The comrades of Nazım and Cihan will not leave their pens and cameras halfway. What does it mean to kill a journalist? It is not enough; they are also intimidating everyone who stands with their conscience against this crime against humanity. For days now, journalists who criticize this journalist massacre are being detained, and lawsuits are being filed against them. They approach it as if journalists have a duty to write and refine the truth according to their whims. From here, I invite everyone to raise their voices louder and speak more against the journalist massacre."

'NO ONE CAN STOP IT'

Stating that investigations have also been opened against those who made statements regarding the journalists, Bakırhan said, "Investigations were opened into journalists and bar associations who said that these journalists were killed by Turkey's UAVs. 9 people, 7 of whom were journalists, were detained and arrested for saying 'journalists should not be killed.' Those who think they will deter journalists with arrests, detentions, pressure, and persecution are mistaken. If they had given up, journalists would have given up after Apê Musa. Therefore, we will continue to expose this futile crime and hold the government accountable for the journalist massacres. No one will be able to stop journalists from writing and depicting the truth."

MINIMUM WAGE

Now, minimum wage negotiations are ongoing. Instead of alms, give millions of workers wages they can live on like human beings. Give the people their due. We will fight until the minimum wage reaches a level where one can live humanely.

DEVELOPMENTS IN SYRIA

We have entered a new era in Syria. After the regime change, the spotlights of global and regional powers have turned to Iraq. It is clear that there will be an intervention in Iraq next.

The Syrian war showed us this once again. Countries without democracy, without internal peace, and where laborers do not receive their rights and justice are in danger. The road to peace in Syria passes through Damascus and Kobani. The address for a solution is not external intervention, but the people of Syria themselves. Syria belongs to the Syrians.

There is an Arabic proverb. It says that if your joy has ended, it is time to contemplate immediately after. If the mehter march you played in Aleppo has stopped, we call on the government to contemplate the realities in the Middle East in order to consolidate the interior and create a new ground for Kurdish hostility to cover up this economic crisis.

"As we want to establish our internal peace, you are dynamiting the road to peace," said Bakırhan, continuing as follows:

"The head of the MIT went to Syria. Then, the Minister went on a 5-hour journey. This means there is no security problem there. Even when going from here to Van, there are 10 checkpoints. This means Syria is safer than here. Go ahead, Kobani is right next to Suruç. Qamishli is across from Nusaybin. Go ahead and talk... Mr. Kalın, Mr. Fidan, instead of looking at Kobani from a SİHA, go and establish a dialogue. Syria is not your operating table; give up on denial and war."

İMRALI MEETING

If the isolation in İmralı is lifted, peace will be achieved. It is not right to drag out the İmralı meetings. In the eyes of society, this looks like avoiding dialogue. Since the day Mr. Öcalan said, "I will contribute if a ground is provided," this situation has been undermined both inside and outside. Are you in favor of a solution or not? What is your problem? Look at how the bloodshed stopped with Mr. Öcalan's call. Let's remember 2015. Open the door of İmralı and let 2025 be a year of peace. We are aware that we will ensure Turkey's peace by organizing, growing, and strengthening. The DEM Party will be a party that not only talks about problems but also works for their solution. We will be more together with social structures and the oppressed, and we will continue our struggle.