Today’s headlines: Women speak up for peace

NEWSCENTRE (DIHA) – Women were on the streets in Istanbul to speak up for peace. “We have a word to say, we have power to change” said Women Initiative for Peace, a women organizations formed ‘Peace Spots’ in all around Turkey. Their message was “You cannot succeed if you don’t listen to women” during the activities lasting two years.

They also demanded government to stop military operations in the Region. Women from the organization turned Taksim Plaza into a colorful place by their banners, flags and dresses. White was for peace, purple was for women on the plaza during the mass women meeting. Women read a press statement: “Who wants to see their children to be killed, the forest to be burned, family members to be arrested, neighbors killed each other? We do not want to live in these conditions, not any more. Don’t you think that 26 years are not enough? Stop this bloodshed and make effort for peace.”

In addition Peace Mothers in Diyarbakır made a call on PM R. Tayyip Erdoğan, who will visit Diyarbakır tomorrow for referendum works. Mothers accused Erdoğan for continuing conflicts and deaths in the Region. Sultan Koyun spoke on behalf of Peace Mothers: “You are not welcomed in Diyarbakır since you and soldiers abused the dead bodies, killed children and women, arrested our politicians and beheaded our children. You have to face these crimes you committed in here before you visit here. You made us burst into tears. We condemn you and you are not welcomed here.”
However, Suppressed and Workers Women also made a call for boycott and peace in Istanbul. Women from the organization announced that for peace and stop the conflict they are going to boycott the referendum. Socialist Women Assemblies, Democratic Women Movement, Women from Labor Movement, New Democrat Women, Democratic and Free Women Movement gathered and formed Supressed and Workers Women to make powerful call for boycott. Women asked equality and democracy from government to support amendment of constitution. Otherwise you are not going to take our support, said united women organizations during their meeting.
Boycott works and International Peace Day meetings mingled. People on the street for Peace Day made call for boycott also since no essential change has been made over the constitution, according to their approach. Adıyaman and Şırnak were some of places where the peace and boycott demands have been spoken up by citizens. Meeting and panel were held to explain reason for boycott and peace neccecity in Adıyaman and Şırnak besides other meetings in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, etc.
On the other hand the tension is high in Diyarbakir before Turkish Prime Minister R. Tayyip Erdogan's visit.
Turkish police is on alert and thousands of policemen are transferred to Diyarbakir from neighboring cities and towns according to ANF’s report.
Armored police vehicles are positioned in main junctions of the city and heavily armed special forces were seen in front of government buildings.
Erdogan will visit Diyarbakir tomorrow on the eve of constitutional referendum on 12 September.

A party meeting is planned in Station Square and Erdogan will deliver a speech to AKP supporters.

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) officials said, Erdogan's messages will be very important to show AKP's attitude towards Kurdistan Worker Party's (PKK) ceasefire.
Two Kurds from PKK killed by Turkish army
Two Kurds from PKK were killed in an ambush set by soldiers in Diyadin, a town of Agri province, reported by ANF

Two dead bodies of alleged members of PKK were brought to Diyadin State Hospital then transferred to Trabzon for autopsy.

Locals say, two guerillas were killed in an ambush near Atadami village of Diyadin on Wednesday night.

The village is situated on the skirts of Tendurek Mountain where PKK members are usually active.

With this incident the death toll of Kurds who members of PKK rose to 15 since the ceasefire of PKK on 11 August.

PKK said yesterday, it will obey the ceasefire despite ongoing Turkish military operations against Kurds.


127 NGOs in Diyarbakır announced: The government has to answer the cease-fire

127 NGOs gathered and announced that AKP Administration needs to take a step to answer new cease-fire term in order to build permanent peaceful conditions in the country as well as in the Region. The NGOs also emphasized that September 20 might be the most important historical day for last 26 years if the government develops dialogue conditions to make the peace. Ahmet Turk and Aysel Tuğluk, Co-Chairs of Democratic Society Congress, also appeared in the meeting held by 127 NGOs in Diyarbakır.
Mehmet Emin Aktar, Chair of Diyarbakır Bar Association, addressed the participators: “Kurdish case has to be reached peaceful pace as soon as possible. PM must approach to Kurdish case in humanitarian and peaceful way. Other wise this conflict might continue. PM will be here tomorrow. We need to say that his words would be effective on our people’s vote at the day of referendum. That is why he should be more careful what he will say and what he will ask from Kurdish people. Unlike PM’s current position, we are ready to speak and meet everybody to develop dialogue. We wish PM can do same thing for peace.”
On the other hand, Turk made call on PM Erdoğan to meet PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Turk said that, Mr P.M., you have to meet Öcalan if you want to build peace in this country. Türk spoke during the meeting in Batman, where around 60 thousand people showed up to listen to him. “If peace depends on Abdullah Öcalan, if millions of Kurds beliefs him as well as Kurds on the mountains, he is the most important representative of Kurds. And you should meet Öcalan if you wants to build peace” said Turk when he was addressing the crowd.

(gü)