Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison, made a call titled "Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February. Writer Ayşegül Devecioğlu evaluated Öcalan's call, which had a wide repercussion in the world.

 

'ÖCALAN TRUSTED IN THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE' 

 

Recalling Öcalan's letter read at the 2013 Amed Newroz, Ayşegül Devecioğlu said, "Now I am aware that I am witnessing such a historical moment again. I was there when Öcalan's message was read out at Newroz and we had high hopes as those who wanted peace. But that process did not come to an end."

 

Pointing out that the universal rights of the Kurdish people must be recognised, Ayşegül Devecioğlu said, "The government, using the armed struggle that started due to a search for rights as an excuse, had put all the demands for rights and law in Turkey under a 'terror' bracket. With this, it wanted to prevent all democratic struggles. Therefore, as a person who took part in this struggle, Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan opened a very important area of struggle for all democracy forces."

 

Ayşegül Devecioğlu emphasised that the forces of democracy should focus on what kind of a line of struggle should be built for the process to evolve into peace, "When we look at all peace processes, first of all, laying down arms is the last stage of the process. It used to come after steps such as the recognition of democratic rights, the expansion of freedom of expression and a political amnesty. But now Abdullah Öcalan trusted the forces of democracy, the power of his own organisation and, most importantly, the power of his people who listened to him," she said.

 

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

 

"We are the guarantors of this process," Ayşegül Devecioğlu said, adding that the responsibility of the government is to "take various steps towards democratisation". Ayşegül Devecioğlu said, "The government must first issue a political amnesty, starting with ill prisoners. Then a commission should be established in the parliament, efforts should be made to socialise peace under the roof of the parliament. In the process of the new constitution, the road needs to be cleared. These are things that can happen even if the new constitution is implemented. But today, democratic rights and freedoms should be realised at least through the implementation of the constitution. It is necessary to prepare an environment where the people can talk about this process and the possibilities of living together without fear and hesitation."

 

Stating that they are in a peace process that is not similar to the peace processes in the world, Ayşegül Devecioğlu stressed: "But as democracy forces, we will raise these demands more from now on. I call on everyone in Turkey, especially writers, intellectuals, labourers and women; everyone in this country has suffered a lot from the war. Today, if our children go to school hungry, it is because our public resources are spent on war and bullets. Therefore, let us join hands and contribute as much as we can. Let's win peace together."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal