WAN – Citizens living in Wan, who are waiting for the state to take steps regarding the process, said: “The PKK did its part with the call and laid down its arms. Now it is the state’s turn. The state must now give the Kurds their rights.”
Following Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” for a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue, the PKK first decided to cease fire and then announced that it had end its activities under the PKK name with its 12th Congress.
The process is one of the most talked about issues on the streets and people are discussing what the government and the state should do and what steps they should take from now on. Citizens we spoke to in Wan (Van) demanded the state to fulfil the requirements for a solution.
FREEDOM OF PRISONERS
Stating that the state should take sincere and necessary steps, Mehmet Dinç said, “Political prisoners should be freed. Something should really be done in the name of peace. They should not deceive us that the peace process has arrived and they should take the necessary steps.”
‘EDUCATION SHOULD BE MULTILINGUAL’
Stating that they do not want war anymore, Sibel Sarıgöl said, “The state still has not taken a concrete step. There are still questions in our minds. We expect the state to take the necessary steps. Kurdish should now be the language of education. They should recognise the existence of Kurds. The promises made must be fulfilled and favourable conditions for peace must be created.”
Pointing out that all peoples should be on equal footing, Rojhat Temel said, “We are Kurds but they forced us to live like Turks. Regardless of language, culture, clothing, they try to make us as Turks. We now want to grow up and live in our own culture. Transparent steps need to be taken by the state in this process. If peace will be good for all people, we will be supporters of peace. We no longer want to live in hostility. Today, if I am despised because of my name, this is not humane. We have always been in favour of peace and equality. The process should be accelerated as soon as possible and the state should take the necessary steps.”
Underlining that they want a place where there is prosperity, Nahide Erdem said, “Peace should come as soon as possible and the state should take appropriate steps. There are those who have been in prison for years. If the conditions of peace are fulfilled, our prisoners will be released. The state needs to listen to what the Kurds say. The weapons have been released. Now it is the next step to be taken by the state.”
‘PROMISES MUST BE KEPT’
İdris Çiftçi underlined that the state should also keep its promises in the process carried out in the name of peace and freedom and that suitable grounds should be created for peace to be permanent, “We want a beautiful and lasting peace. In this 50-year-long war, many lives have been lost. This should not happen anymore. The state needs to take the necessary steps. They call it a solution, but we have not seen a solution yet. PKK did its part with the call and laid down its arms. Now it is the turn of the state. The state must now give Kurds their rights.”
‘WE ARE WAITING FOR THE STATE TO TAKE STEPS’
Zahir Yalçın reminded that Kurds have been tried to be exterminated by the state through persecution and massacres for years and said, “They took us out of our homes and killed us. Mothers should not cry anymore. No one should die. We are defending peace. The important thing is the steps to be taken by the state. They cannot ignore and disregard a race that has spread almost everywhere in the world. We are in favour of peace and tranquility.”
‘THE CALL AROUSED HOPE IN US’
Züleyha Kaya emphasised that the call of Öcalan aroused hope in the people and said, “We believe that the days will come when people will no longer die and live together in peace. Let the promises made for peace be kept and the necessary conditions be provided. The Kurds have taken a step, now it is the state’s turn. If the state takes a steps, peace will be achieved.”
‘THE PROCESS MUST BE RESPONDED TO’
Necati Endakçı said: “The process will come to a conclusion with the state taking the necessary step. We are waiting with hope. No visible step has been taken by the state yet. But these steps need to be taken as soon as possible. Steps should be taken as soon as possible and questions about the process should be answered.”
MA / Özlem Yacan