On February 27, Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan made a "Call for Peace and Democratic Society." Following this, the PKK held its congress and announced that it had "ended its actions." 

 

After Öcalan’s call and the PKK's historic congress decision, eyes turned to how the state would respond. Citizens living in Amed (Diyarbakır), whom we asked about the developments, emphasized that ensuring Öcalan’s physical freedom would be the most important step in terms of “trust.”

 

'LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE'

 

Servet Yıldıztekin, highlighting that the biggest issue in Turkey is the Kurdish issue, stated that both economic and legal problems stem from this issue. He noted that the Kurdish question is a century-old problem and must be solved transparently with the consent of the people and said: "If the rights of Kurds were given, we wouldn’t be talking about this issue today. One of the main sources of these problems is the state. The state must create the right conditions for the people to support this. There was also a peace process between 2013-2015. Not a single drop of blood was shed. Was anyone sad about this? On the contrary, everyone was happy. Ten years later, another opportunity has arisen. We want peace, we want the war to end. My call to the state is; create the appropriate conditions, lift the isolation, and make the necessary legal arrangements. Only then will peace come very quickly."

 

'LEADER APO MUST BE FREE'

 

Necmettin Çolak, emphasizing the need for a lasting peace, said: "Today, the people, Leader Apo, and the PKK are on the same page. But the state is moving very slowly. The state has not taken concrete steps yet. When the state takes a step for peace, it will not only be for us but also what is right for itself. If we, as the Kurdish people, are able to speak our language today and still exist, it is thanks to this leadership (Öcalan) and our martyrs. We learned Turkish through beatings at school. Otherwise, we wouldn't know Turkish. We are Kurds, but we were assimilated. We were denied.” Çolak continued,

“Peace will not come to this country without the freedom of Leader Apo. In addition to Leader Apo, all prisoners, especially the ill prisoners and those whose sentences have been extended, should be released.”

 

WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN?

 

Ramazan Başkan, saying that conflicts must end and mothers’ tears should no longer flow, listed the steps that should be taken for the process to move forward positively: "Kurds should be given education in their mother tongue, all political prisoners should be released, and the state should declare what it will do regarding the rights of the Kurdish people."

 

Mazlum Abiri, drawing attention to the demand for equal citizenship, said: "No mother, regardless of whether they are Turkish, Kurdish, or Circassian, should cry. We want education in our mother tongue. While I learned Turkish in the 3rd grade, a Western student receives education in their native language, Turkish. Yet, the system holds us responsible for the same level of exams."

 

Rıdvan Kızılay emphasized the need for legal arrangements to release prisoners and allow those who were forced to leave the country due to political reasons to return. Kızılay stated that Öcalan’s physical freedom must be ensured: “He should be free so that he can lead his organization and the process can move forward. Without him, no one can do anything. They call him to Parliament but still don’t secure his freedom. The state must now take a step. The process cannot be one-sided.”

 

Mehmet Polat, who takes a cautious approach to the process, said: "If they are sincere, why aren’t they releasing our leader (Öcalan)? To believe in the state, first, all our prisoners must be freed. Then we can say, ‘The state took a step.’ But right now, there’s nothing. The Kurdish people want education in their own language. The state must take a step for peace immediately.”

 

Menduh Çolak, who expressed that the initiated process was a positive step, criticized the language of the government and the media. Çolak said: "Their language is still sharp. They still say, ‘We will end terrorism.’ Which terrorism? The world knows who the ‘terrorists’ are. You ban the language. You kill people every day. How can a society that has risen up for its own identity and land be called ‘terrorist’? I witnessed the JİTEM period, the Hizbulkontra period. I know well who ‘terrorists’ are. The interlocutor of this process is Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. Today, 6 million people are collecting signatures for him, declaring that they see him as their leader."

    

MA / Heval Önkol