Final declaration of the Local Administrations Gathering held in Amed on September 18-19 under the slogan “All together towards self-rule” has been released. Announcing the declaration, Mardin co-mayor Ahmet Türk said “Self-rule is an essential need that will contribute to the advancement of democracy in Turkey”.

Ahmet Türk stressed that self-governance is a legitimate and democratic demand, and all the hindrances must be lifted to meet this demand of the people. Co-mayor of Mardin said Kurds, who lived autonomously in their lands for centuries, are facing prohibitions once again today in response to this legitimate demand of theirs. He criticised the state for considering itself to have the authority to determine how the people, communities and faith groups will live.

'90 PERCENT OF THE KURDISH QUESTION IS ABOUT LOCAL ADMINISTRATION'

Commenting on the Kurdish question and lack of a solution, Türk said: “A great hope for peace prevailed in the country for three years since the initiation of the resolution process after the call of Mr. Öcalan in 2013. Everyone believed the process would reach a conclusive step for lasting peace and a new life would blossom eventually. Contrary to the expectations of the society, chaos and conflict were imposed on people as a result of the insistence on not leaving and sharing the power after the June 7 election”.

Türk stated that 90 percent of the Kurdish question was related with the local administration issue which would continue inflicting heavy losses on everyone as long as remained unsolved.

Pointing to similar models practiced in the world that achieved important results, Türk said; “The freshest example was experienced in Rojava right beside us. Independently of the Kurdish question, local administration is an urgent need for this country. The recent spreading of the harsh attitude manifested towards the Kurds to across the country is a concerning development.”

'ÖCALAN MUST BE TALKED TO UNDER FREE CIRCUMSTANCES'

Underlining that self-governance was a democratic right, Türk recalled that many regulations made since the enactment of the 1921 Constitution have judicially guaranteed self-rule by the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

Describing self-rule as a need to contribute the advancement of democracy in Turkey, Ahmet Türk said; “Self–rule is first of all a solution produced by women against the patriarchal mentality and the problems it has caused. It takes the government and the country out of chaos in a democratic and egalitarian manner.”

Türk underlined that, on the other hand, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan must be taken as an interlocutor under free circumstances during the process of resolution and negotiation.

'LEGITIMATE AND DEMOCRATIC DEMAND'

Calling upon the AKP government to respect the self-rule demand raised by the Kurdish people, Mardin Co-mayor Ahmet Türk went on saying: “We consider the self-rule demand as a legitimate and democratic demand. It all constitutes a severe violation of human rights to respond to this legitimate and democratic demand by declaring security zones, imposing curfews and arresting the people. We demand an immediate end to these practices and the release of those arrested.

Following the announcement of the final declaration of the event, the elected started a march towards Sur district where police terror continues.