DAY 156
Jordi preparing the meal.
Alex and Ismahan talking in the afternoon. Later, that evening, the elections were planned. They were both candidates for the position of the "March Coordinator". MC had a voice in the CMFA voting structure and Ismahan was supposed to be the voice representing regular marcher's will.
Late evening Skype meeting with Stephan, Sebastian, Edgard and Olga. Ismahan, who was to be choosen by the marchers on the ground was to win the elections with ease. In the last moment the opinion of Edgard (Brazil, CMFA International Coordinator) questioned her right to candidate as she refused to put her name on the official CMFA inquiry to enter Turkey. That was something that astonished everyone but Edgard pushed hard his opinion. By many it was seen as totally unfair and rightless. As a consequence of this move Alex became the MC, and the chances to go to Turkey were finally burried. Soon after Juan, Jordi and Lucas left the group; later on Ismahan, Lisa, Malika and me joined them in Istanbul. The project lost part of its spirit, integirty and internal trust. Eleven days later from the group that counted 11 dedicated people on the ground left only 3 - Anna, the founder, Alex (new March Coordinator) and Denis, one of the most dedicated marchers.
On this day we also had the chance to put our names on the list whch was to be attached to the permission application for Turkish administration. Initially some marchers, including me, agreed to enroll but later on we refused. Uncertain and unclear situation of the permission process caused a risk not being let to Turkey if the application failed...and we still wanted to keep the chance to enter it, even without openly waving CMFA flags. We were also asking ourselves a question: how people who will join the march later, already in Turkey, can join CMFA if they are not on the list?
Anyway because of the list issue Ismahan was moved away from the voting.
Stephan, legal adviser of the march, spoke from Berlin. Despite of marcher's majority will, CMFA official course was not to take risks. That meant that despite of the "we go to Aleppo" message pesented by Anna in the Manifesto the march was never meant to get there and "Aleppo" was only symbolic aim from the very beginning. Anyone who left the main marching group (for example eventually to cross Syrian border) was officially legally deprived of using CMFA flags and logos. "Ordnung muss sein" is a German proverbial expression which translates as "there must be order."
Malika strongly disapponted by the decisions. Since the beginning of the march she was strongly supporting the idea to go through Turkey. Since Greece the fear against going there was stronger and stronger among the CMFA decision takers. She offered her help in the permission obtaining process but her proposal was refused by Edgard, the international coordinator. Later on the process was unclear and finally failed..
Alex (Germany) was elected for the March Coordinator, gaining one voice in the decision taking process. Since the beginning he agreed to enter Turkey only officially, with the permission of Turkish government. Strongly opposed to the idea of going to Turkey as civil marchers, without waving CMFA flags and logos.
