AMED - Amed citizens embracing the call made by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February said, "Abdullah Öcalan must be free and the Parliament must take steps for the process to move forward."

 

The process that started with Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February continues. The PKK, which declared a ceasefire after the call, decided to end its activities with its 12th Congress held between 5-7 May. Since 1 October, the ruling party has been making promises about the solution of the Kurdish issue, but has not taken any steps so far.

 

Citizens we spoke to on the streets of Amed (Diyarbakır) expressed their support for the "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" and emphasised that in order for the process to proceed positively, the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan must be ensured and constitutional arrangements must be made.

 

'PARLIAMENT SHOULD TAKE A STEP'

 

Underlining that Kurdish demands must be met for peace to be achieved, Ömer Aslan, 19, said, "Something must be legalised. But it cannot be accepted without any legal arrangements. These regulations include education in the mother tongue, Kurdish signboards, in other words, Kurdish should be used in all areas of life and racist approaches should end. At the same time, in order for the process to move forward, Abdullah Öcalan must come to parliament and enter politics. No peace can be signed without his freedom. Abdullah Öcalan went to prison for the Kurdish people, how can there be peace while he is in prison? Therefore, he (Abdullah Öcalan) must be free. Both sides need to take a step. The first step has been taken, now they (the state) need to take a step. The Kurdish people have never wanted war, they have always demanded justice and their rights. Parliament should take steps within the scope of the process."

 

'LET THEM RECOGNISE OUR LANGUAGE FIRST'

 

Noting that they demand a peace in which they can speak their language freely and are given their rights, Perize Akıncı said, "We want our children to be taught Kurdish at school. If equality is ensured, of course no one wants war. Kurds should be recognised in the constitution and given their rights. Then we will support peace. But we have no faith in the state, as if they are deceiving us. They are not sincere. In order for us to believe in the state, it must first recognise our language and give Kurds their rights, then good things will happen."

 

'PEACE WILL NOT COME WITHOUT ÖCALAN'

 

Sadullah Ismail, who expressed his desire for peace, reacted to the fact that Turkey has not taken any steps yet. Stating that Kurds have taken the necessary steps, Ismail said, "All Kurds should be one. We Kurds do not want war, we want peace and our language. But peace cannot come without Öcalan. I hope he will be free."

 

Emphasising that they want peace and mothers should not shed more tears, Veli Derintaş said, "Let the blood stop in the Middle East. People want peace. President Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli should also take steps in this context. In this context, political prisoners should be released and changes should be made in the constitution. Abdullah Öcalan and the DEM Party delegation should come together and carry out the process. No one should die any more."

 

DEMAND FOR FREEDOM OF MOTHER TONGUE

 

Stating that there should be peace and brotherhood, "We Kurds want our rights. Let them give us our rights," Cuma Polat said. 

 

Stating that no more tears should be shed, Kader Ülgen said: "The country should be multilingual and everyone should be able to speak their own language freely."

 

MA / Heval Önkol