The heavy isolation conditions against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison, continue. While Abdullah Öcalan is expected to make a historic call after his meetings with DEM Party İmralı Delegation, reactions are rising against the continuation of the isolation. 

 

Representatives of political parties and civil society organizations from Riha (Urfa) expressed their support for the “democratic transformation process” initiated by Abdullah Öcalan and pointed out that an honorable peace is possible with the end of isolation and the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

'THE KURDS AND THEIR FRIENDS ARE CLEAR'

 

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Riha Provincial Co-chair Sibel Sütpak said, “This has created an excitement in all of us. Even seeing a gleam of peace in the eyes of the Peace Mothers excited us. However, those who made the call have not taken a step so far. Even in blood feuds, intermediaries meet with the parties and convince them from the biggest to the smallest. But so far, there have been practices to undermine rather than persuade. The Kurds and their friends are clear, but the wings representing the state must also become clear. The DEM Party delegation visited every segment and informed them about the process. The AKP or MHP should make a similar effort and visit different segments of society to inform them about the process. However, instead of doing this, an operation is being carried out against the HDK. HDK activities are rewarded in developed countries, but in Turkey they are used as a reason for arrest." 

 

Politician Ulaş Çoban stated that “Peace has no losers” and that everyone should take matters into their own hands. Pointing out that the talks between Abdullah Öcalan and the DEM Party İmralı Delegation raised hopes for peace, Çoban said, "There were talks before, but the government closed the way for these talks. With the struggle, the way for this has been opened again. The call will be the beginning of a new era. After the call, the peoples have an important duty. Everyone should heed this call." 

 

DEM Party, Party Assembly (PM) Member Celalettin Erkmen underlined that everyone should use the language of peace and said, "It is a good start to see Mr. Öcalan as the interlocutor of this issue. Mr. Öcalan is making efforts for peace. For this to happen, working conditions must be changed. Only those who fight can make peace. For this to happen, the parties must be sincere. Our expectation is that everyone approaches the issue transparently. The decades we have left behind have shown us that existing problems cannot be solved with a monist understanding. Democratic modernity is an alternative to all the problems. Mr. Abdullah Öcalan is the guarantor, the credible and the voice of all the peoples in Kurdistan. We are waiting with great excitement for Mr. Öcalan's announcement. We will support Mr. Öcalan for an honorable peace until the end." 

 

'ISOLATION THAT IS NOT IN THE LEGISLATION'

 

Gül Fehime Binici, Riha Branch Co-Chair of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), emphasized that the isolation in İmralı is an obstacle to a democratic solution and said that the isolation must end immediately and PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan must be allowed to meet with his family and lawyers. Referring to Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç's statement that the video message “does not comply with the legislation”, Gül Fehime Binici said, "It is not possible to talk about a solution while the isolation continues. Mr. Öcalan is the main actor in this process. It is said that the video message is not in the legislation, but there is no statement that it cannot be done. In such an important issue, attention is drawn to the legislation, but nothing is said about the fact that isolation has no place in the legislation."

 

'WE TRUST MR OCALAN'

 

Peace Mother Aynur Yılmaz stated that they trust PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and said, "We have grown up in pain for years. There is more than 40 years of armed struggle. This is how it came, but we don't want it to go on like this. Mr Öcalan always says peace. We are with Mr Öcalan. If we join hands as mothers, we can stop wars. The budget allocated for war is allocated for the peoples. Mothers should not cry anymore. Military mothers should also support this process. Everyone trusts Mr Öcalan, but they do not trust the state wing because of what they have done."

 

DEM Party Eyyübiye District Co-chair Emin Tutal said, "If Mr Öcalan said he would solve them in a week, he will. Our confidence is complete. Kurds and their friends are behind the decisions to be taken by Mr Öcalan. Everyone is waiting for the announcement. There should be a video statement. The mistakes made in the past should not be repeated. We attach a special value to the words that come out of Mr Öcalan's mouth. If this issue does not end with a call, on the contrary, it will start anew. After the call, everyone should be sincere and do their part. An honourable peace is possible with the freedom of Mr Öcalan. If the state is sincere, there will be peace. We trust Mr Öcalan, but we do not trust the state. Although we do not trust the state, the possibility of peace excites us."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar