Rabia Önver

 

WAN - Following Abdullah Öcalan's message, people in Wan took to the squares on 8 March and 21 March demanding peace and freedom. DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Gülşen Kurt stated that the people embraced this call with hope and that the government should take immediate steps in line with this will.

 

Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan made a call for ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ to the public after his meeting with the İmralı delegation on 27 February. This historic call had great repercussions not only in Kurdistan and Turkey, but also in the Middle East and around the world. Immediately after the call, Abdullah Öcalan's message to women was read out on 8 March International Women's Day and was received with great interest and enthusiasm. The peoples who embraced Abdullah Öcalan's call on 27 February once again showed their support on 8 March and 21 March celebrations.

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Wan Provincial Co-Chair Gülşen Kurt said that following Abdullah Öcalan's call, people took to the streets on 8 March and 21 March in the spirit of peace and freedom.

 

‘We have seen that there is great enthusiasm and hope among the people’

 

Gülşen Kurt, who drew attention to the unresolution policies of the governments towards the Kurdish problem for a hundred years, said that a new process started with the historic call made by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February. Stating that the process carried out with the historic message was reflected in the fields on 8 and 21 March, Gülşen Kurt said, "The call made by Mr Abdullah Öcalan was celebrated with great enthusiasm on 8 March with the ownership of the people under the leadership of women in the fields. We closely observed the enthusiasm and hope of the people in the neighbourhoods and streets after this call. The people showed that they are behind the call made by Mr Abdullah Öcalan and that women will lead the construction of a democratic society. With the initiated process, the Newroz celebrations in Kurdistan and Turkey have gained a historical character."

 

‘We did not back down, we did not bow down’

 

Gülşen Kurt stated that millions of people embraced Abdullah Öcalan's call and took to the streets, and emphasised that the people have been demanding peace for years, and for this reason they demanded peace in the streets. Gülşen Kurt said, "We promise that peace is not only a matter of the Kurdish people; all oppressed peoples play a role in the construction of peace and that we will embrace and grow this call together. Due to the policies pursued by the government for years, we have come to this day by paying a heavy price. We have been massacred, we have been subjected to massacres, we have been arrested; yes, but we have neither backed down nor bowed down in our struggle. Every time we have struggled in every field for peace to come to this country and we continue to do so."

 

‘The country needs peace with honour’

 

Gülşen Kurt stated that they are behind the call for ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ and that they will fight for an honourable peace as soon as possible and added: "The enthusiasm of millions is for the physical freedom of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan as soon as possible. In order to build peace, Mr Abdullah Öcalan must be granted his physical freedom and his conditions must be improved as soon as possible. While building peace, the government must take not only practical but also legal and constitutional steps. This country is in urgent need of an honourable peace and a democratic life. An equal life where all peoples and beliefs can live together has gained more meaning in this process."

 

‘We are waiting for practical steps to be taken’

 

Gülşen Kurt stated that the initiated process is being carried on with great ownership under the leadership of women and youth and said: "Women and youth have shown that they embrace the paradigm of Mr Abdullah Öcalan and at the same time they are the pioneers of this process that will build a new life. The opening of posters of Mr Abdullah Öcalan everywhere is an expression of the trust that the youth and the people have in Mr Abdullah Öcalan and that they are behind and support this call. While everyone is so hopeful and has embraced the call, we expect the government to take the necessary practical steps as soon as possible."