AMED – Speaking about the historic ceremony, people of Amed (Diyarbakır) emphasised the need for mutual steps to be taken going forward, saying, “As a people who have paid a heavy price, we want peace, freedom, equality and justice.”
Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan's historic call was shared with the public on 9 July. Following this, a group of 30 people from the Peace and Democratic Society Group held a ceremony on 11 July in the Şikefta Casenê (Jasana Cave) region in the countryside of Silêmanî (Sulaymaniyah) and destroyed their weapons. With this step, the doors to a new beginning in the process were opened. The ceremony caused a great stir in Turkey and around the world.
The people of Amed also watched the ceremony with great interest on television. When we put the microphone to the people of Amed, they told us what needed to be done next.
Kadriye Inanc said they had suffered greatly for years: “I want peace. A lot of effort has been made. We want to see the results of our work. For this, the state must be sincere, serious, and take urgent steps.”
Bahri Igdeli noted that the democratic society model must be implemented quickly: “From yesterday to today, we want peace, democracy, rights, and justice. The state must take steps accordingly; steps taken by only one side will not bring peace. Both sides must take steps. We want peace, freedom, equality and justice.”
Cezayir Harman said that Abdullah Ocalan had made great efforts to build an honourable peace: “There are tons of problems that need to be solved. If the state does not take steps, the people will not have faith in peace. May all the lands of Kurdistan be free.”
Aydin Polat stated that if peace is achieved, people will live in peace and said that they are waiting for the beautiful days when the suffering will end.
Reminding that tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in the long years of war, Harun Toprak said: “We are always in favour of brotherhood and peace, we do not want anyone to die. Peace has no losers. The state also needs to take the necessary steps.”
Mehmet Turan stated that the steps have been taken unilaterally until now and that mutual steps should be taken from now on. “We want justice, rights, law, peace and freedom. The requirements of this must be fulfilled immediately. The channels and supporters of the state should first create the language of peace. ‘Terrorist’ and similar discourses should be abandoned immediately. Enough of this language,” he stressed.
MA / Fethi Balaman