Following Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan'a "Call for Peace and Democratic Society", discussions and negotiations on the solution of the Kurdish question continue, but the government has not yet taken any concrete steps in this regard. In the public opinion, it is stated that if the government takes steps without spreading the process over time, it will pave the way for the healthy progress of the process. Citizens we spoke to on the streets of Amed (Diyarbakır) stated that they were waiting for the government to take steps, the first of which is to ensure the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

'THE PROCESS SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT'

 

Noting that Abdullah Öcalan should be taken into consideration for the process to move forward, Recep Çakır said, "First of all, the process should be carried out openly, not behind the scenes. They need to bring out the Kurdish People's Leader. They cannot fool people with just a letter. Because Abdullah Öcalan is a leader who defends his people. If they call it a 'solution process', they should liberate him. Otherwise, if on the one hand they call it a 'process' and on the other hand they keep our leaders in prisons or if a young person is beaten and detained for defending his people and his rights, this will not bring a solution."

 

Noting that the Kurdish people must be recognised and their language must be taken into consideration in order for the process to continue positively, Çakır said, "They must liberate our youth, our youth who are rotting in prison, in order for us to believe in their sincerity. We need to join hands in spite of everything."

 

Rojda Bayıcı wished the Kurdish and Turkish peoples to live in brotherhood and peace and emphasised that the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan must be ensured for the process to proceed positively. Rojda Bayıcı said, "He should be freed so that he can express his ideas freely. Only then can there be developments."

 

'RIGHTS SHOULD BE RECOGNISED FOR KURDS IN THE CONSTITUTION'

 

Stating that the success of the process will be possible only if both sides take mutual steps, Şehmuz Bişar said, "Kurds have always wanted peace, but the response they received has always been war and attacks. On the one hand they say 'peace', on the other hand they continue to attack Rojava. In order for the process to progress positively, they should open the İmralı doors and free Apo, grant all rights to Kurds in the constitution and accept Rojava."

 

Nurten Balaman stated that the initiated process does not give them confidence due to the lack of realisation of the solution processes in the past and said, "The reason for our distrust is that despite all the negotiations, the Kurdish people have been left behind and no promises have been kept. In fact, Kurds need to trust themselves in this process, not others. We want peace as a people."

 

Emphasising that Abdullah Öcalan's call is meaningful, İzzetin Alkış said that they do not want the long Kurdish-Turkish war anymore and stressed that peace should be in these lands. Alkış added, "The rights of Kurds should be recognised. One of them is education in mother tongue. Mutual steps must be taken for peace. Not unilaterally. How can there be peace without lifting the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan and ensuring his freedom? Bahçeli himself invited him to the Parliament."

 

İzamettin Bocan said, "If Turkey is honest, it should take steps now. There must be peace and freedom."

 

MA / Heval Önkol