ISTANBUL - Speaking at the 13th Women's Conference of the HDK, Kurdish politician Sebahat Tuncel said, “The Kurdish problem is solved with the interlocutors and we have said that Mr. Ocalan is the interlocutor in the solution of the Kurdish problem. This is a critical process and we cannot leave it at the mercy of the state. We cannot trust them, but we must trust our own political programme.”

 

The 13th Women's Conference of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) was held at Sancaktepe Kadir Topbas Culture and Art Centre with the slogan “We walk with hope, grow with rebellion, win with resistance”.   “Jin, jiyan, azadi” banner in 6 different languages was hung in the hall where the conference was held. Also, “Labour is ours, body and identity are ours,” “Aşîtî bî berxedana jinan tê” and “Stop violence, not contracts” banners were also displayed.

 

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tulay Hatimogullari, political party representatives and HDK delegates attended the conference.

 

Sebahat Tuncel: HDK should be enlarged in the new period 

 

Kurdish politician Sebahat Tuncel, who was the first co-spokesperson of the HDK in 2011, recalled the founding process of the HDK and said: "When we founded the HDK, we said we would politicise the social and socialise the political. In the new period, we say that there is a need to enlarge the " 

 

Sebahat said, "At this stage, we are facing a new situation; is there a process or not? But the main thing is that we have said for years that the Kurdish problem can be solved with the interlocutors and that Mr Öcalan is the interlocutor in the solution of the Kurdish problem. 

 

And the state has recognised this interlocutor with recent events. Is there a process? It seems not, but even if there is not, we have responsibilities. Yes, the government has monopolised this process today, so much so that Bahçeli came and told Mr Öcalan to come and speak in the parliament.

 

This is an important thing, but how will this go and how will the peoples of Turkey evaluate it? This is a critical process and we cannot leave it to the mercy of the state. 

 

We are the ones who have been paying the price on this issue for years. It is precisely at this point that the idea of HDK is very important. This peace is our peace and we should not be afraid of it. The government may have started this for the purpose of liquidation and because of the squeeze in the Middle East, but what is important for us is our programme. Either we will find a way or we will open a way. Therefore, we cannot trust them, but we must trust our own political programme. "

 

‘We will create new life’

 

Sebahat continued her speech as follows: ‘The male capitalist system makes life difficult for women. The exploitation of women is at an unbearable point; massacres of women have reached the point of female genocide. We say Edi bese. 

 

The struggle for freedom will rise with women's cry for freedom. Those who want to stop this system must come together. The HDK Women's Conference is taking place at a historical turning point. If we want to overcome this period and promise peace to the peoples, we need to raise the women's struggle. 

 

We are tired of beating our knees; we will ask for an account of what has been inflicted on us. We will build the future together. We have many friends in the dungeon whose voices are not reflected outside. We need to remember them more. They resisted in Kobanê and succeeded. Salute to those who resisted. We can also succeed. We will create a new life.’

 

The conference continues closed to the press.