Thousands in Turkey join the Justice March to protest years-long injustices

BURCU CANSU

burcucansu@birgun.net / @burcu_cansu

The Justice March has been launched in Turkey with the call of the chair of Turkey’s main opposition party CHP, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and it marked its second day yesterday (June 16). Thousands gathered in Ankara’s Güvenpark on June 15 to support Kılıçdaroğlu, who announced that he will be marching from Ankara to İstanbul to ‘demand justice’.

Crowds in support of the march have grown in a number of cities across the country.

MPs and citizens who have joined Kılıçdaroğlu in Ankara expressed their objections to the growing injustices done by the AKP government and told BirGün their purposes in supporting the march.

Agricultural Engineer Ethem Erdikici: ‘AKP has been discriminating against opposition’

“I felt compelled to stand up because I know about the injustices in Turkey... The country needs justice... AKP has been discriminating against and pressuring those who do not support them... Everyone needs justice. Those who think that they will not be affected by injustice will eventually see that it will.”

Head of CHP Edremit youth branch Çağdaş Alkan: ‘We want justice for everyone‘

“We got on the road in the evening hours and came here with two buses. We are on the road for justice with our chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Today is our second day. We walk 20 km per day. Our only desire is ‘Turkey to be livable.’ We are on the road for a life in peace and in justice. It’s been seen with the referendum that there are unhealthy things going on. Only one person should not be deciding on everything; we want justice for everyone.”

Lalezar Mürşit Pınar: ‘I joined without any hesitation’

“I have joined the march from Etimesgut. I got really happy when I heard about the march. It was already something we expected. I joined without any hesitation. I am here with my friends... Justice is necessary for everyone. That’s why we are here. For everyone, regardless of views, to be equal and have equal rights before the courts, we are ready to march.”

Güner Atmacıoğlu: ‘Something like this was expected'

“Life loses meaning in a place where there is no law. Where there is no justice, love also loses its value. Rights, justie, and rule of law come first... I’ve been walking from Eryaman and I will walk all the way to İstanbul. We must see justice as our crown. When I heard the decision for the march, I had already been fed up. Something like this was expected. Actually, it’s even a little late. Justice did not get lost in just one day. The injustices that grew rapidly after July 15 were already present before that time, too. None of the things that they (AKP government and supporters) have done were just... This was the last straw!”

Veli Kılıç, father of a student of military school jailed after July 15: 'I want to live in my country freely'

“I have come to Ankara from İstanbul and we have been marching since yesterday. I am going to continue as long as my health allows me to. I want justice in our country. I love my country and want to live here freely. And, this will is not just about my son. He has 262 friends (jailed). They are my sons, too, and they are innocent, too. If these kids had taken sides in this fight (July 15 coup), we would have been talking about 250 thousand martyrs not 250. Their general commands them to ‘fire on people’ but they still do not do that. Meanwhile, some people in the crowd were beheading people (soldiers). Two of my son’s friends were beheaded. These kids prevented a calamity… Instead of praising these kids, they (authorities) imprisoned them… Investigations about these kids should be completed and those wanting to return to their school should be accepted to their school. I want my son! I have a question to Ankara: If these children had been yours, would they have been held in prison even for just one night?”

CHP İstanbul MP İlhan Cihaner: ‘It is a turning point’

“Although this decision (to march) has come after the detention of Enis Berberoğlu, it is not only about that particular unjust decision. This march is for all injustices in Turkey. It has turned into a march that stands as a call to protest all injustices… I believe that what the people of Turkey long for the most today is justice. So, we are in a very important turning point… If this march grows further and involves all of society, a very significant dynamic will emerge from it, I think and I hope.”

CHP Ankara MP Murat Emir: ‘Everyone will hear about our demand’

“The march is going well. It is more organized today than it was yesterday… Since it was a decision made suddenly, most of our friends were not prepared (to march)… This is something that had to be done. Because, the trial of a parliamentarian (Enis Berberoğlu) in such unfair and unjust way and his discharge from parliamentary activities was the last straw. Justice is being destroyed through politicization. And, we are now walking to stand as a spark for all in Turkey. We hope that this demand for justice will reach even higher levels by the time we arrive in İstanbul. Even those who haven’t heard about it will hear about it!”

CHP İzmir MP Musa Çam: ‘Erdoğan has been using his 4 months long imprisonment’

“Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had been jailed for reading a poem while he was the mayor of İstanbul. He has been using this for his advantage for years. He spent less than four months in jail. There is no doubt that there have been mistakes but there are people who have been imprisoned for decades because of their views. And, especially after July 15, they have detained and discharged thousands of people... In 1997, we had walked from İstanbul’s Merter district to Ankara for labor rights and freedoms. In 2000, we again held a march for democracy with unions... This is my third march...”

Front-page article of BirGün published on 17 June 2017, Saturday

Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/adalet-e-yuruyenler-umutlari-yeserttiler-165204.html