AMED - Speaking about the necessity of the signature campaign titled “I want peace because” for the “Peace and Democratic Society” process, TUAY-DER Co-Chair Yeter Erel Tuma called on everyone to definitely stop by this stand and sign, saying “I want peace, I want a more dignified life.”

 

Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan made a call for “Peace and Democratic Society” on February 27. The call attracted great attention both locally and globally because it was the first news from Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan after five years of absolute isolation. After the negotiation process began, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission held countless meetings with many different groups. However, despite more than seven months having passed, there has been no progress.

 

Furthermore, the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and political prisoners continues. Aside from all this, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers (CoM) has given Turkey another year to implement the “right to hope.” The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and political institutions and organizations have launched a signature campaign called “I want peace because” to gain momentum for the peace process. The signature campaign is ongoing in many cities in Kurdistan and Turkey.

 

One of the cities where the signature campaign is taking place is Amed. In this context, Yeter Erel Tuma, Co-Chair of the Association for Solidarity with Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUAY-DER), spoke about the purpose and importance of the campaign.

 

‘No steps have been taken by the state or the commission’

 

Yeter Erel Tuma stated that Abdullah Öcalan had initiated the “Peace and Democratic Society” process on February 27, but that the state and the commission had not yet taken any steps, saying, "The Kurdish movement has done everything it needed to do regarding the process, but we are faced with a state authority that has focused solely on taking, without giving anything in return. For seven months, there has been no action taken by the state or the commission. We will persistently continue our struggle for peace and the construction of a democratic society. We have established a platform here where the people can also make their voices heard, because we will not relent in our demand."

 

‘We reiterated our call for peace’

 

Referring to the CoM’s decision on the “right to hope,” Yeter Erel Tuma drew attention to the CoM’s extension of the deadline it had given Turkey. Stating that isolation continues, Yeter Erel Tuma said, "First and foremost, we believe that the process must begin immediately, with the chief negotiator sitting at the table, discussing the promised social peace, and playing an active role. That is why we opened this stand and reiterated our call for peace. The chief negotiator's ability to think more freely and conduct the process in a healthy environment is directly linked to the progress of peace. It is clear that the public has confidence issues regarding the process; our observations confirm this. The freedom of the Kurdish People's Leader, who is the advocate and caller for peace, will mark the beginning of the process; this will renew the people's hope and increase their confidence in the process."

 

‘Peace is now inevitable’

 

Emphasizing that peace must now be implemented, Yeter Erel Tuma concluded with the following appeal: “For over a century, Kurds have been subjected to every kind of violence imaginable, but there are no winners or losers in the 52-year-long Kurdish movement, the struggle of the Kurdish people. However, every segment of society, both Kurds and Turks, every people living in this country, has been negatively affected in some way. Peace is now inevitable; peace is now a necessity. Therefore, in order to live in more humane conditions, for a more dignified life, everyone must speak out for peace. Therefore, this stand is a place that everyone who demands peace must visit. Everyone who says, ‘I want peace, I want a more dignified life,’ must visit this stand and sign."