ANKARA - One thousand and 43 names, including intellectuals, writers and politicians, have called for urgent steps to start a "peace and democracy process".

 

One thousand 43 names, including intellectuals, writers, politicians and lawyers, have called for a solution to the Kurdish issue. Publishing a declaration titled "Peace and Democracy for All", they called for urgent steps to be taken for the silence of weapons and the start of a peace and democracy process regarding the Kurdish issue.

 

The declaration read: "Turkey is going through a difficult period. On the one hand, with increasing poverty and lawlessness, there is a government that tries to solve its problems by resorting to violence as its support from the people weakens. Removing elected mayors from office and replacing them with civil servants as trustees, responding to all kinds of peaceful demonstrations with police violence, sending the slightest criticism to prison, trying to solve the Kurdish problem through violence are different aspects of the politics of violence. On the other hand, Turkey is surrounded by a circle of war. The civilian population, women and children suffer the most.

 

PEACE IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER

 

More than ever, we need a peace movement that will lead Turkey out of this climate of violence. Peace means not only the cessation of armed conflicts, but also the elimination of the cause of conflict by finding solutions to the disputes that lead to war. The peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue is an indispensable element of social and political peace. We believe that peace cannot be achieved with weapons. 

 

On the other hand, it would be misleading to see the Kurdish issue only as an issue within Turkey's borders. As long as Turkey does not pursue a peaceful policy on the Kurdish issue and the war and conflict in Syria for the benefit of all the peoples in the region, it is difficult to achieve a real peace on the Kurdish issue in Turkey. 

 

Although the developments since the beginning of October have created expectations of peace, there is no indication that the government is seeking a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. 

 

CALL FOR THE START OF A PEACE PROCESS

 

Therefore, we would like to call for the start of a peace process. This is also a call for democracy, bread, justice, freedom, human rights and the rule of law. We know from experience that the Kurdish issue can only be solved within the framework of democracy and on the basis of human rights. The rights of Kurds can only be protected if the fundamental rights and freedoms of every individual living in Turkey are guaranteed by the rule of law. A participatory democracy can only be achieved by loosening the rigid centralism that stifles local governments. Equal citizenship can only be realised through a pluralist democracy that respects all identities.

 

Peace cannot be realised with the end of the war. Peace must be built and the structures on which it will stand must be established. In this context, we believe that it is important to place peace on the axis of international legal standards on rights and freedoms. 

 

We believe that democratic society-mass organisations have an important role to play in building a lasting peace. Until now, all initiatives on the Kurdish issue have been taken by the state or political actors. However, a peace process initiated by democratic individuals and organisations together with the people will lead to the socialisation of peace, social support for the peace process and the establishment of a culture of peace instead of a culture of violence. Peace is not a concept that covers only the warring parties. It is a social concept that includes the whole society. Therefore, the success of the peace process depends on social support.

 

A DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL LIFE

 

In order for a lasting peace to be built in society, a free, egalitarian and democratic social life must also be ensured. For this, we need a reorganisation of economic distribution in favour of the poor and working people, and the construction of a country where there is no hunger, poverty, unemployment, massacres of women, work murders, infant abuse, education, health and housing problems.

 

WAR IS A CRIME AGAINST PEACE

 

The right to live in peace is a fundamental human right. The Nuremberg Tribunal recognised that war is a crime against peace. The UN General Assembly resolution of 12 November 1984 states that 'all human beings have the sacred right to live in peace'.

 

DECLARATION OF THE CONGRESS ON THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE

 

On 10 December 2010, the declaration adopted at the Congress on the Right to Live in Peace held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, states that individuals, groups and peoples have the right to live in just, sustainable and lasting peace, and underlines that the state is responsible for ensuring and protecting this right. The declaration also mentions the right of peoples and individuals 'not to be regarded as enemies' by the state.

 

Based on these considerations, we, the undersigned, exercise our right to live in peace and call for the immediate steps to be taken for the silence of the weapons and the start of a peace and democracy process in relation to the Kurdish issue.