WAN - Calling on the government to abandon the attacks, "We are here, we stand by our will and we will continue until we get results. Just as we did not let them pass yesterday, we will not let them pass today either," say Wan citizens who resist.
The resistance started in front of the municipality building against the attempt to appoint a trustee after the 3 years and 9 months prison sentence given to Wan (Van) Metropolitan Municipality Co-mayor Abdullah Zeydan entered its 4th day. The people who protect their will do not leave the area despite the cold water at night.
Wanans in resistance spoke to our microphone.
One of the citizens who have been resisting for days despite the cold weather is Zehra Akkoyun, 50. Emphasising that they will not allow the appointment of a trustee, Zehra Akkoyun said, "We will not give our municipality. For this, we will continue our vigil not for 3 days, 3 months or even 3 years. If they take the municipality from us today, they will try to take something else tomorrow. Therefore, we must not back down in any way. The people of Wan have shown great resistance so far and will resist even more. We are happy to receive support from neighbouring provinces." Zehra Akkoyun stressed that while there has been talk of a solution for about three months, trustees continue to be appointed to municipalities.
‘WE WILL NOT LET THEM PASS’
Ahmet Bulak, 56, who has been at the vigil since the first day, said, "Our people are a resistant people. As you can see, there is no sleep, everyone has been up for 24 hours. What is being done to the Kurdish people is persecution and insult. On the one hand they say peace, on the other hand they appoint trustees, we do not accept this. We never recognise the trustee. The people are taking an honourable stance. We will continue to resist with the same determination as we resisted after the elections. Just as we did not let them pass yesterday, we will not let them pass today."
Reminding that the Kurdish people have never bowed down despite the previous trustee appointments, Hacı Süleyman Borak sad, "The Kurdish people have torn the shroud of fear and death. They still harbour enmity. If they did not harbour enmity, we would not have been talking about peace for 50 days on the one hand and being subjected to unjust and unlawful behaviour on the other. This is not how peace is made. If the Leader was just, he would treat everyone equally. We are locals here, they came from Central Asia. We live together in this country, just as everyone has the right to live, so do we. Which nation in the world today is under as much pressure and persecution as the Kurdish people? Their language, culture and will are ignored. Whatever dirty assimilation policy there is, it continues on the Kurdish people. From here I call to Erdoğan; if you are in favour of peace and if you are sincere, give up these dirty policies. Do not prevent the Kurdish People's Leader from making a call to his people and movement. It is Mr Abdullah Öcalan who will ensure peace. I call out again from here; give up your attacks against our municipalities and co-chairs. We are here, we stand by our will and we will continue the vigil until we get results."
PARTICIPATED IN THE VIGIL FROM BITLIS
Berivan Canbey came to Wan from Bedlis (Bitlis) and participated in the vigil. She said: "The injustice that is happening here cannot be accepted anywhere and in any way. We came with great excitement and we saw this excitement here too. Trustee appointments are not the first time, trustees were appointed to many municipalities before. I will be there wherever there is an action against trustee, because trustee is injustice and oppression. Injustice grows even bigger when it is not opposed, so we wanted to respond to this injustice. This resistance must grow. Each counter voice becomes louder when united."