The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) started the "Social Freedom and Peace Meetings" where messages from the talks with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan will be discussed. Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar and representatives of political and non-governmental organisations in the city attended the public meeting held at Petrol-İş Elih Branch in Êlih (Batman).

 

Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar said that they wanted to discuss the developments with the people and take decisions together and added, "Wherever you look, Kurds everywhere have adopted freedom as their identity. In the Eastern Reform Plan, the existence, language and identity of the Kurdish people were banned by the state. These prohibitions still continue today. We did not accept any of them. We know that we are not alone in discussing the new era. On the one hand, there is a new design in the Middle East, on the other hand there are effects on Turkey. Most of the forces in Syria have withdrawn. Only Kurds remained there. Women in Rojava have made a revolution. The echoes of that revolution found echoes all over the world. No one can say that the status in Syria has harmed them. If on the one hand you say 'social peace' in Turkey and on the other hand you prepare an attack on Rojava, it means that your discussions have been in vain."

 

'MR ÖCALAN IS FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY'

 

Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar said that the solution of a century-old problem is being discussed continued, "It is not possible to accept that Mr Öcalan, who is accepted as a historical actor in this solution, is in İmralı. Mr. Öcalan needs to be together with his own structure, organization and mass. For 26 years he has been in isolation, but we are talking about someone who is fighting for the establishment of democracy in Turkey. The democratic solution to the Kurdish issue that we want to establish in Turkey is not to strengthen any government. On the contrary, the road map we have set out for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue is for the equality and freedom of the peoples in Turkey.

 

There is the labour and will of the Kurdish people in the foundation of the country. This labour requires them to be accepted as equal citizens. While discussions on a solution are ongoing, why is the state, which wants to ensure internal peace, waiting for steps from only one side? Why does it put the burden on Mr Öcalan's call? This requires mutual labour. Mutual steps need to be taken in the context of solution discussions. If this does not happen, there will be no point in talking about these things. The state and the government need to take steps as a sign of sincerity. The state now needs to say something and take a step. The opposition and social groups have a responsibility as much as the government. It is important that these discussions, which we cannot name in the new period, are embraced by everyone."

 

After speech the closed-door meeting took place.