ISTANBUL - Reacting to the appointment of a trustee to Colemêrg, citizens living in Istanbul stated that they will fight against the trustee for a democratic country.
Reactions to the dismissal of Colemêrg Municipality Co-Mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the appointment of a trustee in his place continue to come from all parts of the country and from all walks of life. Citizens reacting to the trustee in Istanbul's Kadıköy district stated that the trustee had an "occupation" policy and emphasized that everyone must oppose this practice.
A citizen named Ali Açıkgöz said that his thoughts do not agree with the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) but that he definitely does not accept the trustee policy and said: "Today, we must put aside all political concerns and stand by the Kurdish people. Because every conscientious and moral person must react to this."
Emphasizing that in this case the will of the people is at stake, the people can vote for whomever they want, but no one has the right to change what the people prefer by force, Açıkgöz said: "This is called immorality everywhere. This is a challenge to the Kurdish people. This is not something specific to Hakkari, we know that this will happen again. Of course, the Kurdish people will stand and resist again, just as they have stood tall for a hundred years. But the trustee issue is not only a issue of the Kurdish people, but of all oppressed peoples. For this reason, everyone who is harmed by this system, regardless of whether they are Turks, Arabs, Persians or Circassians, must unite and stand against it."
'WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE TRUSTEE REGIME'
Gülşen Şahin (61), a stylist and fashion business, said: "We absolutely reject this trustee regime. We, as the people, do not accept it. The votes of the people cannot be usurped. The will of a people chosen cannot be seized. I reject the fact that the person I elected was arrested and my vote was usurped. This trustee regime must be overthrown as soon as possible and a peaceful, democratic and livable country must be built."
'IT IS A POLICY OF BULLYING AND OCCUPATION'
Calling everyone to oppose the trustee system, Şahin said that the AKP government is trying to show itself strong with the trustee policy; but she stated that this is not power, but tyranny and occupation. Şahin said: "It is absolutely unacceptable, the Kurdish people will definitely not surrender their will, because they are an organized people. We also stand by this just struggle."
Reminding that the trustees appointed in the previous period first attacked women's gains, Tuba Yılmaz said: "We know that the trustees appointed to places such as Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van first closed the women's shelter centers of the municipalities, and then the associations in Kurdistan were closed. What is being implemented now is an extension of this colonial mentality. We, women and feminists, will fight against the misogynistic trustee mentality."
'YOUTH MUST UNITE AGAINST THE TRUSTEE SYSTEM'
University student Adnan Özcan said that the trustee policy is implemented against all Turkey people, workers and the oppressed, and underlined that the trustee policy is not a solution. Pointing out the importance of fighting together, Özcan said: "We, as young people, have to unite against the trustee politics as workers, laborers and oppressed people in a way that will reach the level of ownership of the people in Kurdistan. If we achieve this, their attack will undoubtedly have no effect. Trustees are null and void for us. We call on everyone to join the struggle so that the struggle and trustee politics that the Kurdish people are currently in are rendered futile."
'IT IS A BLOW TO THE WILL OF THE SOCIETY'
Stating that the essence of democracy is based on choosing and being elected, Sevgi İnce stated that this right means reaching the consciousness of being free from being a slave. Pointing out that the right to vote and be elected is regulated by the constitution and laws, İnce continued her words as follows: "Therefore, the trustee regime is also a coup against being a democratic and free citizen. The most basic right to vote and be elected and its methods have been determined in accordance with the law. Illegally seizing the will of elected people through these methods also means seizing the will of the voters. As free citizens, we do not accept this. This is the way and method to reach the individual free from servitude. We do not accept these trustees because they are a blow to the free will of the free individual."
'DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK'
Pointing out that appointing trustees has become a regime, İnci continued her words as follows: "This is not just a trustee appointed to the municipality, it is a system ranging from the rector appointed to Boğaziçi University today, to a boss appointed from any sector, or all authority in the family is reduced to a husband. Therefore, today, everyone needs to resist to protect their municipalities, to protect their elected will, and to protect their own lives. If this is not resisted today, Istanbul will be at such a risk. The way the individual participates in the electoral process is at risk. Therefore, democracy and the republic are at risk. That's why everyone needs to take responsibility. Everyone, organized or unorganized, needs to stop this trend. It needs to turn every place into a field of resistance and action."
'I CURSE THIS MENTALITY'
Stating that she rejects the trustee mentality and policy, Fatoş Ekinci said: "I curse the trustee, it is done to intimidate the Kurdish people, but the Kurdish people will never be intimidated. We will not abandon our municipality. If Erdoğan does not want what we choose, we do not want what he chooses. Erdogan says 'My Kurdish citizen' every day on TV programs. What kind of citizenship law is this? I want to call out to Erdoğan; If we are citizens of this country and vote at the ballot box, why are you appointing a trustee to the person we elected? I condemn this mentality and do not accept it."
MA / Esra Solin Dal