Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) İmralı Delegation held a meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan on December 28. After the meeting, Abdullah Öcalan's 7 titled solution declaration was shared with the public. 

 

We asked the citizens living in Sur district of Amed (Diyarbakır) about the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue that started in the public after the declaration. 

 

Stating that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan must first be free for an honorable peace to take place, Hacı Döndü said, "Neither Erdoğan nor Bahçeli can bring peace. Only the Leader (Abdullah Öcalan) can bring peace. The freedom of the peoples depends on the freedom of the Leader. Only if the leader is free can the peoples be free. But the state is not hones in its peace rhetoric. If it is hones, we are already ready for it. That is why we do not believe them. The people embrace Abdullah Öcalan and are behind him."

 

Reacting to the ongoing isolation of Abdullah Öcalan despite the solution rhetoric, Ferman Nergiz said, "Today the tyrannical system is conducting very dirty policies. Our call to all peoples; As long as Leader of the Kurdish People Abdullah Öcalan is under isolation, all oppressed peoples are under isolation. This isolation can be lifted with the unity of the peoples. We want Abdullah Öcalan to be free."

 

'THERE WILL BE NO PEACE WITHOUT LEADER APO'S FREEDOM'

 

Stating that the process discussions are a policy of “deception”, Nesir Ertuğrul said, “There can be no peace until Leader Apo is free and not in touch with his people. Otherwise, these steps are not sincere and credible.” 

 

Cengiz Yakut pointed out that the isolation continues and emphasized that the way to peace is to lift the isolation. Noting that they have no faith in the government, “Our leadership will ensure this even between 4 walls. Therefore, his statements are very meaningful and valuable for us. But these wars must also come to an end,” he said.  

 

Esmanur Baykuşak reminded the government's practice of the “resolution process” and recalled the struggle of the families of those who were assassinated every week in Amed. 

 

Esmanur Baykuşak added, “Can peace be achieved so easily in a country where so much pain is experienced? Of course a society that has suffered so much does not want war. It is the capitalist system and the state that wants war. That is why their steps are not very sincere. We live in a country where 6-year-old children interpret politics. Can there be such an absurd and bad situation? Because we live in a country ruled by the AKP. They are committing such great crimes right now that every day we listen to the cries of mothers and fathers. For years we have not been able to speak our own language freely in this country and we still cannot express our thoughts freely.” 

 

Esmanur Baykuşak reminded that Turkey ranks 2nd among the countries with the highest number of political prisoners and said, “We live in a country where journalists, those who disagree with the state and politicians are imprisoned. In order to create an environment of peace, Abdullah Öcalan and these prisoners must first be released. Once this happens, there can only be a peaceful environment.” 

 

'WE WANT TO HAVE EQUAL CONDITIONS'

 

Expressing that they want peace and unity, Yusuf Önger said that they do not find the state sincere. Stating that the peace process can be realized through the reconciliation of the two sides, Önger said, “Öcalan must be released so that the two sides can sit at the table and find a solution. All prisoners in prisons must be released.” 

 

Devran Karakaş said that the state's condition for peace that the PKK “unconditionally lay down its arms” is not acceptable and added, “We want peace, but there can be no peace without Abdullah Öcalan being free. In addition to that, we don't want to be marginalized and we want to have equal conditions.” 

 

Stating that people cannot express their thoughts freely, Aysel said, “We want peace and people to express their thoughts freely. But we do not believe in the current government. In order for us to believe this, all prisoners must be liberated.”