Rabia Önver

 

COLEMÊRG - Commenting on the process that began with the call of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Mothers for Peace said, “Soldiers are still attacking guerrillas. Are these the steps the state is taking for peace? The state must now take concrete steps.” 

 

Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” on February 27 resonated not only in Turkey and Kurdistan but around the world. Following Abdullah Öcalan's call, the PKK shared its decision to disband with the public at its congress held between May 5 and 7. Following the dissolution decision, a group of 30 people burned their weapons in a large ceremony attended by people from many different backgrounds on July 11 near the city of Silêmanî in South Kurdistan. Following the “Peace and Democratic Society” call, the “National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission” was established in Parliament. 

 

Instead of taking concrete steps, the Commission has only attempted to prolong the process through its meetings. Despite the call, the conditions for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan to live and work freely have not been provided.

 

Despite the call, the conditions for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan to live and work freely have not been provided.

 

Peace Mothers Emine Atak and Gülbeyaz Mıhçı, who lost loved ones during the conflict and whose relatives are still in prison, voiced their demands for the state to take action.

 

‘They are still bombing the mountains of Kurdistan’

 

Emine Atak, who said that one of her daughters is in the PKK and the other is in prison, stated that both showed great resistance against the pressure. Noting that the process that began on February 27 has been unilateral, Emine Atak said, "We are all ready for the steps to be taken, but the Turkish state has not taken a single step yet. We do not trust them because the state has not taken a single step. They are not complying with the process; the attacks are still continuing. They are still bombing the mountains of Kurdistan. No steps have been taken for the prisoners in jail. The state needs to take a step." 

 

Imrali took a step: Eyes on the state

 

Emine Atak, who has been fighting for years as a Peace Mother in the fields, stated that the state must take concrete steps immediately to achieve peace. Emine Atak said, "Our leader has taken a step, but the state is just standing by and watching. On one side, we have our children in the mountains, and on the other, we have our children in prison. We believe in our struggle, our leader, our party, and ourselves, but we have no faith in the state. Our leader is still under isolation, and this isolation must end. Our leader should come to parliament and speak, prisoners should be released, and conflicts should end. Only then will we believe in the state." 

 

‘We do not trust the process being conducted in this manner’

 

Recalling that the PKK declared a ceasefire at the call of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, Gülbeyaz Mıhçı said that the hope that the 50-year struggle would turn into peace had brought joy to all the people. Gülbeyaz Mıhçı said, "I am the mother of a martyr, a guerrilla fighter, and a prisoner. I want peace to be achieved, and I am a supporter of peace. Isolation continues, our leader is not free. Pressure and torture against prisoners continue. The state said it wanted peace, but it did nothing to achieve peace; they expect everything from the other side, the Kurds. The military posts in the upper regions remain in place, soldiers are still attacking guerrillas. Are these the steps the state has taken for peace? We do not trust the process being carried out in this way." 

 

‘The Kurdish people are loyal to the PKK and its leadership’

 

Gülbeyaz Mıhçı, who said that the state had not taken any concrete steps for months and that they were unhappy about this, concluded by saying: “The Kurdish people are loyal to the PKK and its leadership. We take whatever they say as gospel. We want our leader to regain his physical freedom. We all want peace. The state must now take concrete steps. Why has the state been stalling us for months? If we want this process to progress positively, let's take steps together. Everyone must do their part to ensure peace. The state must now take concrete steps so that we can believe in them."