'Botan march' ongoing despite blockade and attack
SİİRT (DİHA)- Kongreya Jinên Azad (Free Women's Congress KJA) has organised a 'Botan March' march from Siirt to Şırnak to retrieve the bodies of slain civilians from where they were killed by state forces in Silopi and Cizre.
Thousands from various cities have left for Siirt to join the march to Şırnak province under the main slogan “Bodies not buried, humanity is dying. Remove the deadly siege.” Buses coming from Amed, Batman, Ağrı, Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Manisa, Mersin, Adana and Bodrum were stopped and blockaded by police forces at two checkpoints set up to hinder the masses from arriving in Siirt for the beginning of the march.
Buses were stopped by police 8 km before Siirt's Kurtalan district, and were allowed to go on after an hour of talks by HDP deputies with the governor. However, buses were stopped by police once again after several minutes, and forced to keep waiting at a stopover site. Police later got on the buses and battered the people inside.
As the obstruction by police forces continue, women have decided to change the route and go to Şırnak over Mardin province.
Speaking here, Ceylan Bağrıyanık, a member of KJA Executive Board Member and İmralı Delegation, said they have faced obstructions of the fascist state at every step they have taken, but vowed to go to Şırnak by overcoming every barricade laid before them.
Thousands have now left the area taking the route to Şırnak over Mardin province.
In the meantime, DBP Siirt co-chair Mehmet Candemir, DBP Batman co-chair Remziye Kaftan, DBP Siirt executive Afif Filiz and KJA activist Nurten Üzümcü have been detained for reacting to the police blockade and ID check imposed on every single person. The detainees have been taken to Batman provincial police directorate.
(nt)
