Democratic mass organizations, which came together at the "Civil society meeting for a solution to the Kurdish issue" meeting on February 24 under the leadership of Amed City Protection and Solidarity Platform, announced the final declaration of the meeting yesterday. In the declaration titled "We must talk about the solution again", a call was made for the solution of the Kurdish issue: "The obstacles that prevent all actors from playing their role in order to establish a permanent solution and peace must be abolished."

 

EREN: OBSTACLES FOR ACTORS MUST BE ABOLISHED

 

Amed Bar Association President Nahit Eren, one of the participants of the meeting, said that they discussed the damage caused by the unresolved Kurdish issue in the country. Eren said: "According to the data we obtained from the meeting, we came to the following conclusion: Yes, it is time to resolve the Kurdish issue in Turkey on a democratic and peaceful basis. We said that calls must be made for this."

 

Emphasizing that the biggest obstacle to democracy is the insolubility of the Kurdish issue, Eren said: "Of course, the ones who will solve the issue are the real actors of the issue. Of course, the state, political power, political parties are the other side of this painful issue. The position of the organization here is also important. We demand that the obstacles in front of the actors be abolished to fulfil their responsibilities due to their position. Because it has been tried in the past. Yes, the influence of Abdullah Ocalan on the organization is known to everyone. In fact, in our call we say that the guns must be silenced. In periods when similar solution processes were revealed, Abdullah Ocalan joined the organization. We have all seen the periods when the calls for the attacks were responded to by the organization, the guns silent, there were withdrawals and ceasefires were declared. First of all, the obstacles in front of such actors must be abolished so that they can play their position and role."

 

WILL TO SOLUTION

 

Emphasizing that they are ready to do their part for a solution, Eren said: "We demand the actors to 'solve this issue.' When the actors reveal their will for a solution, if there is a responsibility that falls on us, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, rights organizations, and if this responsibility requires negotiation, of course we may also have requests for talks. We have not put any obstacles or barriers in front of us on this issue at the moment. But as I said, our demand is primarily for the actors to demonstrate their will for a solution. Both the state, political parties and everyone affected by this issue must reveal their intention in this direction."

 

KORKMAZ: THE PESIMISTIC ATMOSPHERE HAS DISAPPEARED

 

Mahsun Çiya Korkmaz, Co-Chair of the Amed Branch of the Chamber of Civil Engineers, one of the signatories of the announced declaration, stated that non-governmental organizations came together in such a large number for the first time after 2015. Emphasizing that there is hope for a solution, Korkmaz said: "We have seen that the fear and pessimistic atmosphere that was created on the society has completely dissipated. As non-governmental organizations, we are ready to do whatever we can. At the meeting, two issues were emphasized; the responsibility of the actors of the solution process and abolishing the isolation and guaranteeing a democratic constitution."

 

'OCALAN IS THE LEADING ACTOR'

 

Pointing out that leaving the Kurdish issue unresolved has spread to all segments and areas of society, Korkmaz said: "We talked about all the areas that the Kurdish issue affected and the most important of all areas is the economic crisis. We revealed the reasons for the economic crisis. If such a large budget is allocated for the war, you can risk an economic crisis. We revealed that this affects all segments of society. We revealed that the underlying reason for all the issues is the Kurdish issue."

 

Stating that PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan is an important actor in solving the issue, Korkmaz said: "The leading name among the actors is Mr. Ocalan. He is the primary actor who can establish peace and democracy in this country. We can also implement democracy here, on the streets or in the Parliament. You can solve it. But we know that democracy will not develop without establishing peace. In that sense, all obstacles in front of Ocalan must be abolished. We also say this for all other prisoners. Whoever has the slightest benefit in resolving this issue must be included in this process."

 

'MUST MAKE A VOICE WITH COURAGE'

 

Stating that they will not be limited to the final declaration they announced and will hold meetings in cities, Korkmaz said: "Work will continue to abolish the obstacles to the actors on this issue. We have demonstrated that we are ready to carry out all the missions and duties that fall upon civil society for democracy and peace."

 

Stating that other non-governmental organizations should also raise their voices, Korkmaz continued: "We also have institutions in Turkey that approach this issue sincerely. Of course, we are in cooperation with them. But they also need to raise their voices on this issue. This issue is not an issue that can be talked about more quietly. It is an issue that needs to be raised boldly, massively and in a more organized manner. It is not an issue that can only be solved by our shouting or resistance. They should sincerely understand us on this issue. They should look at the issue not tactically, but with a permanent solution.”

 

MA / Eylem Akdağ - Mehmet Güleş