ERZIROM - Speaking about the Peace and Democratic Society Process, citizens in Erzirom (Erzurum) emphasised that Kurdish rights should be recognised on the basis of equal citizenship. 

 

The process that started with the call of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues with the commission established in the Parliament. The call and the process received support from Kurdistan, Turkey and many parts of the world. Citizens of Erzirom demanded that necessary steps be taken to ensure lasting peace. 

 

Ahmet Sayar (27) said rule of law is not recognised and they are struggle to have their existence recognised. He said: "As the child of a family that has lost many people and witnessed great pain for this cause, I want peace. We trust our leader and our party; we believe that they will make İmralı Island an island of peace. The key to peace is Mr Abdullah Öcalan. In this process, the rights of the Kurdish people must be recognised and their rights must be granted through democratic integration laws."

 

'THERE WILL BE NO PEACE WITHOUT GIVING OUR RIGHTS'

 

Mahide Kamış, whose son and daughter-in-law were arrested during the Kurdish people's struggle for existence, said: "For peace to come, the rights of the Kurdish people must first be granted. Kurdish language and culture must be recognised. We want our children to have schools where they will receive education in their mother tongue. We don't want anyone to die, but there can be no peace without our rights. First of all, the Leader (Öcalan) must be free. How can our children be free without his being free?" 

 

Noting that they are followers of the paradigm and philosophy developed by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Arif Karakaya (44) said: "The Kurdish people made all the sacrifices in line with the calls of the Leader. They showed that they are ready for integration for brotherhood. What we want is equality. Now the state should take concrete steps."

 

'LET EVERYONE BE REUNITED WITH THEIR CHILDREN'

 

"I hope peace will come from now on" Vesile Sayak (65) said and added: "If Kurds and Turks unite, no one will be able to overpower them. We have raised our children with great pain and labour. We didn't raise them to die or to go to prisons. Now everyone should be reunited with their children. The Kurdish people have done their part for peace. They showed that they are ready to lay down their weapons. Now the state needs to take a step. They should release our Leader and our children in prisons as soon as possible."

 

'FOR LASTING PEACE...'

 

Sabri Altay (64) said that he believes that this process will bring a lasting peace between the peoples: "The brotherhood of the peoples must be ensured. We do not want anyone from both sides to die. We want an honourable, moral and lasting peace. In order for Mr Abdullah Öcalan to have a stronger hand in this process, the people should embrace this process more strongly and fulfil their responsibilities. We believe in Leader Apo. Now the state also needs to take a step."

 

MA / Ömer Akın