ISTANBUL – Citizens participating in the meetings organised within the scope of the “Peace and Democratic Society Process” stated that they trust Abdullah Öcalan and emphasised that they demand equal citizenship. 

 

Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party continues to organise public meetings on the “Peace and Democratic Society Process”. In Istanbul, mass public meetings are being held in addition to home visits to socialise the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” made by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February. Citizens who attended the meeting held in Haciahmet Negihbourhood in Beyoglu district spoke about their expectations from the process. 

 

'I BELIEVE IN LEADER APO'

 

Kadriye Korkmaz, 90, stated that she had to migrate to Istanbul from Kerboran (Dargeçit) district of Mêrdîn (Mardin) 30 years ago due to state pressure. She said that 2 of her sons joined the PKK and one of her son is in exile in Europe due to political reasons.

 

“I know that there are thousands of Kurdish mothers like me who lost their children. Our pain is great, but we will never forget the cause of our children. We want to speak our own language like everyone else. Is it a crime to want my own language? We want to live freely in our own land. If the state is sincere in the same way, there will be peace. I believe that Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) will bring peace that is why I am here,” she said. 

 

Kadriye Korkmaz stressed that the economic problems of the country will be partially solved if the process results in peace.

 

She said: “On the other hand, the mothers of soldiers and police officers should also defend peace. We say 'no one should cry'. We say 'peace', Serok Apo has been asking for peace for years.”

 

'WE WANT EQUAL LIFE'

 

“There is talk of a peace process, but ill prisoners are not released. Serok Apo (Leader Apo) and political prisoners in prisons should be released,” said Kadriye Korkmaz and added: “We have no enmity against any people. We have been neighbours with Turks for years and we love each other. But the issue is not love, we want to live together and equally.”

 

'RELEASE THE PRISONERS'

 

Meryem Büyükkaya had to migrate from Kerboran to Istanbul 30 years ago. Stating that she support the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, she said: “I am here for the cause of my children. We were forcibly exiled from our lands, now we want to live freely in our lands. I want the state’s oppression against the Kurdish people to end. Thousands of our people are in prison, I want them to be released and I want the trustee (kayyum) system to end.”

 

'WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR UNITY'

 

İdris Abik, 48, said that he also exiled from his village and came to Istanbul. Abik stated that he wants to live in a country where everyone can express themselves freely. 

 

Abik pointed out that the Kurdish people have been waging a great struggle for many years: "Abdullah Öcalan was arrested in 1999 and since then he has been asking for a peaceful solution to this problem. But the state has been oppressing, arresting and torturing this people incidents in the past. But of course we will support this process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, we must strengthen our organisation and unity.”

 

'OUR RIGHTS MUST BE RECOGNISED'

 

Fatma Çetin, 60, said that Abdullah Öcalan wanted peace and democracy not only for the Kurdish people but for the whole world. She concluded: "Kurdish people deserve an honourable life. A lot of blood has been shed for this. For this reason, not only our children but also soldiers should not die and no mother should cry. If this war had not happened, we would not have migrated and we would have raised our children in our own land. I still live with that longing. We want peace, but we want an official peace that recognises and accepts the rights of Kurds. This process is very important and the Kurds are now on the ridge bridge; they will either fall or rise. That is why we must be united."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal