MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Wan (Van)- Thousands from cities of Türkiye and Kurdistan gathered in Van on Wednesday to attend the “March for the Respect of the Will of People” to protest the replacement of the elected mayor of Colemêrg (Hakkari) with a state-appointed trustee. The march, which will last six days, started in Van after a press statement. The aim of the march is to strengthen the struggle against the appointment of the trustee to the municipality in Colemêrg.

On July 3, thousands began to march to the Gürpınar district of Van province by chanting the “Trustee, Go Away” slogan.

The marchers aim to walk 30 kilometers every day

The march, which will last six days until the marchers arrive in Colemêrg, will be held between 08.00-12.00 and 16.00-20.00 every day. The marchers aim to walk 30 kilometers every day. Yesterday, they stayed in the district of Gürpınar and they will march to the Başkale district of Van today. People of all ages, including women and children, have attended the march.

She attends the march with her daughter

Songül Demir came from Tekirdağ to Van with her 12-year-old daughter Nurbanur to attend the march. They are determined to march to Colemêrg arm in arm. “We are here to defend the will of the Kurdish people,” Songül Demir told NuJINHA.

Following the replacement of the elected mayor of Colemêrg with a state-appointed trustee, Songül Demir decided to attend the march. “After the rally in Istanbul, we departed from Tekirdağ. We reached Van city center after a 5-day-journey. As women, we are determined to send the trustee back.”

‘We departed to send the usurpers away’

Speaking about the march, she said, “This march will last days but we do not feel tired. When my daughter did want to come with me and I brought her with me by holding her hand. She cheers me up by saying, ‘You may get tired but I will never get tired’. I told her to stay in Van, but she did not want to. We march and chant slogans together. We do not recognize the trustee appointed against the will of the Kurdish people. We departed to send the usurpers away. We have no intention to leave here without sending them away.”

‘We will take the enthusiasm of our march to the city center’

Songül Demir has attended the march as a woman for “both myself and the future of the Kurdish people. The replacement of the elected mayor with a trustee is the violation of the right to elect and be elected. We are here because we do not accept such practice. The Kurdish people will defend their will. We are here to defend our will. We came from Tekirdağ to demand justice. We will take the enthusiasm of our march to the city center of Colemêrg after six days. I call on all Kurdish people to defend their will.”