DÊRSIM – Cizitens attending the commemoration of Ali Haydar Kaytan and Rıza Altun in Dêrsim said that there will be no unilateral peace and the state should take steps. 

 

Ali Haydar Kaytan and Rıza Altun, two of the PKK's leading cadres, were commemorated yesterday in their hometown Dêrsim (Tunceli). Citizens attending the commemoration pointed out that Kaytan and Altun had dedicated their lives to the struggle for freedom.

 

'PHYSICAL FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN MUST BE ENSURED'

 

Mithat Konak, 55, attended the commemoration after travelling for kilometres in his wheelchair due to the police barrier. Stating that Kaytan and Altun dedicated their lives to the struggle for freedom, Konak said, “If it were not for the people who fought this struggle, Kurds would have no name of rights. If the Kurdish people can still struggle on the streets today, it is the result of the relentless struggle of these people. Otherwise there was no Kurds left.”

 

"The PKK is not the cause but the result of what happened," said Konak and added: "It is not the PKK and Abdullah Öcalan who caused the war, but the state itself. The state did the denial and assimilation. The PKK and Abdullah Öcalan extended the hand of peace so that no more blood would be shed.”

 

Stating that the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan should be ensured for a lasting peace, Konak stressedÇ, "Abdullah Öcalan should be able to contact the people. If they are going to take a democratic step and build a democratic life, then they must first ensure the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan."

 

'NO UNILATERAL PEACE'

 

Ferzade Çubuk said, "I am 70 years old, but I am marching against this persecution as vigorously as a youth. Since they did not allow us to enter the centre, we blocked the roads and started marching. We want peace and our rights."

 

Naim Oğlak pointed to the PKK’s congress decisions and said: “But the state still has not changed its approach. It is still causing difficulties against us”. 

 

Noting that the people should organise and struggle for peace, he sadi: “The Kurdish people are behind their leader (Abdullah Öcalan) and his struggle bot in war and peace. We want peace and tranquillity to come to Turkey in this new century.”

 

Zülfü Gülgöz stated that the state does not approach the process sincerely and said, "Today, with this march, we are protecting our martyrs and showing that we do not submit to the persecution. The process being carried out today is one-sided. That is by the PKK. The state is not taking any steps. There cannot be one-sided peace, the state must also take a step and find a solution to the problems of the Kurds."