MERSIN – Peace Academic Zeliha Burcu Acar said; ‘The state must also respond to this process with democratic and constitutional reforms. Progress must be made with democratic integration laws, not with the rhetoric of 'ending terrorism'." 

 

Following the call by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish Freedom Movement Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) decided to disband and disarm at its 12th Congress. On 26 October, the Kurdish Freedom Movement announced its decision to withdraw its forces to "Media Defence Zones" as a second sign of the process. 

 

Assessing the stage the process has reached, Peace Academic Zeliha Burcu Acar said: "It is meaningful to call the process initiated by Öcalan the peace of the Kurdish and Turkish peoples. This is a positive step not only for Turkey but also for all the peoples of the Middle East. Everyone has a responsibility; the process should be seen not as victory or defeat but as the construction of a shared life." 

 

'PREJUDICES MUST BE ABANDONED'

 

Expressing that the state must also take open and sincere steps, she said: "Prejudices, stereotypes, and hostile language must be abandoned. The mindset of 'I will sit with this person, but not with that person' does not benefit anyone. Both sides need to listen to each other and find common ground. I believe that peace between the Turkish and Kurdish peoples will also have a positive impact on the peoples of the Middle East." 

 

'CONSTITUTIONAL STEPS MUST BE TAKEN'

 

Describing the steps taken by the Kurdish Freedom Movement in this process as "sincere and realistic," she added: "The state must also respond to this process with democratic and constitutional reforms. Progress should be made through democratic integration laws, not through rhetoric about 'ending terrorism.'" 

 

Noting that expectations regarding European law are also misguided, Zeliha Burcu Acar commented, "We could have activated our own right to hope; we were late in doing so." 

 

'ÖCALAN'S APPROACH TO PEACE IS BROAD AND ROOTED'

 

Stating that peace can only be achieved through the construction of democratic integration, not just the laying down of arms, Zeliha Burcu Acar concluded: "Öcalan's approach to peace is broad and rooted. By overcoming the prejudices of the past, it is possible for all peoples to live together with the idea of a democratic republic. The Middle East must free itself from the Western perspective and reshape itself with its own democratic values."

 

MA / Mehmet Gules