Hatip Dicle and Selma Irmak have been elected as the new co-chairs of the DTK (Democratic Society Congress) at the 7th Congress held in the main Kurdish city Amed at weekend under the slogan “We are building Democratic Nation and Free Life”.

The two-days congress of the DTK witnessed an election of the new co-chairs and other executives, as well as the presentation of the DTK Convention, presentation of motions for resolution to the delegation and their approval.

This was followed by the Presentation of a list of names suggested for new co-chairs, the Council of Co-Presidency and other organs of the DTK to the council.

Hatip Dicle and Selma Irmak were elected as the new co-chairs of the DTK by the delegates.

Making the first speech of thanks after the election, Selma Irmak, who spoke Kurdish, vowed that “the march of freedom will continue with commitment to values”, and that they would be the protector of the people who are keeping their freedom march going for dozens of years in these lands in spite of all the difficulty and cruelty they have faced.

“If we are to build a democratic and free society and nation, we need to look at the world from the view of the women”, Irmak said and pointed out that they have come to these days thanks to the effort made by women. Irmak expressed her thanks to all women in Kurdistan which she described as a garden, made up of many peoples and belief groups including Turks, Arabs, Armenians, Syriacs and Alevis.

Referring to the recent developments in the Kurdistan territory, Irmak said “When compared to 10 years before, the current process bears more possibilities as the Kurdish people are establishing their own system and institutions and women are leading the society. Our part in this is to step up our works for the building of democratic nation in North Kurdistan, to bring the belief groups, peoples and identities in four parts of Kurdistan together, and to lay a bridge between four parts.”

Irmak recalled that the congress coincided the anniversary of 6-7 September attacks on Armenians and Greeks, once again strongly condemned the incidents which -she said- remained as a black mark in Turkey's history.

Irmak also offered condolences to the families of 10 workers who died at a construction site in Istanbul two days ago.

Speaking after, Hatip Dicle, who also spoke Kurdish, reminded that he had been arrested as part of the so-called KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) operations 12 days after being elected as the co-chair of the DTK at the congress in 2009.

Dicle said his re-election as DTK co-chair after 4,5 years was an “answer to undemocratic powers” and manifested the confidence in him in person. “The mission of the DTK is to protect the national unity in North Kurdistan. An intense effort needs to be made in order for the establishment of an autonomous administration in North Kurdistan because all martyrs of Kurdistan lands have their eyes on us”, he underlined and noted that assemblies will be formed in order to put direct and radical democracy into practice.

Referring to the ongoing attacks on Kurds in South and West Kurdistan, Dicle stressed that PKK, YPG and peshmerga will defeat ISIS gangs, adding; “The Kurdish Freedom Movement provides assurance for all differences and peoples, and this will continue to be so. We want the process of dialogue initiated by the Kurdish movement to be transformed into negotiations, waiting for the announcement of the road map and believing the state should undergo amendments on a constitutional ground. What necessary should also be done in order for the release of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and all political prisoners.”

Dicle also emphasized that the PKK must be removed from the international list of terrorist organizations, adding that they would also initiate works to ensure this.

He added that they believed they would succeed in the planning of solutions to the problems of the Kurdish people.