Vildan Atmaca- Medya Cebe / JINHA

WAN - Women from the neighborhood assemblies that have been declaring self-government in Kurdistan explained that their action aims to stop police violence.

Neighborhood assemblies in several areas of the Kurdish city of Van have now declared self-government. The neighborhoods are joining a wave of such declarations across Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey).

Bedriye Karahim is speaker for the neighborhood assembly in the Erek neighborhood in the İpekyolu district. She explained that Turkey's ruling AKP lost the votes of Kurds and as a result, Turkey's general election. This, she said, was the reason that the state started a war in the region. Police have raided and attacked neighborhoods across the region. Security forces have arrested hundreds of Kurdish activists and killed many civilians.

"We're not sheep," said Bedriye. She said that although the names of the ruling parties have changed over the years, "the mindset is the same." The Kurdish people, she said, had survived through wars by these rulling parties.

"Every woman and every Kurd needs to secure his or her own self-defense," she said. She noted that women play a key role in organizing their neighborhoods. "We're inviting everyone from 7 to 70 to defend themselves. We're asking everyone to be one and stand together against the AKP's war for the palace."

Atiye Şen is co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) in the Edremit district. Police and military attacks have especially targeted areas where the AKP was unable to get any votes, she said.

"At this point, the Kurdish people don't trust a President who steals and kills people. As a result, they didn't vote for the AKP," said Atiye. She said that the AKP has tried to get revenge. This has included police violence and displaying the naked dead body of Kurdish woman guerrilla Ekin Wan.

"Our goal in declaring self-defense was to be able to walk in peace on our own streets," said Atiye. "We don't want to wait to hear that the police arbitrarily killed someone again. We're trying to secure our own defense so there won't be armored vehicles waiting at every street. Until this war is over, people will continue declaring self-defense in Northern Kurdistan."

(ht/gc/cm)