After the call made by Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, developments have led to the establishment of a parliamentary commission that includes representatives of political parties. In its fourth meeting this week, the commission will hear from several civil society representatives, including the Peace Mothers and the Saturday Mothers.
Peace Mothers Feleknaz Karabaş and Sebiha Bozan shared their demands and views on the process with ANF.
Our faith in the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan is complete
Peace Mother Feleknaz Karabaş said: “We say let there be goodness, let there be peace; let the state also take steps so there can be peace. Let there be no arrests, no deaths, and may the youth not die. We have faith in this process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, because our faith is in our Leader and in our people. We too are extending our hand to peace; God willing, peace will come.”
Karabaş also emphasized that the state must extend a hand of brotherhood to the Kurds. “Our hope is that the state will also extend a hand of peace and brotherhood to the Kurds in this matter. In these past six or seven months since the process began, we have not received news of deaths; we hope there will be no more deaths. Since the Kurdish people laid down their arms, there has been an atmosphere of hope, but peace is difficult. Let all our people extend their hands for peace. Peace and freedom are beautiful; we want this for all the peoples of Turkey.”
A valuable peace is difficult
Peace Mother Sebiha Bozan stated that achieving a valuable peace is not easy and said: “In war, you strike, destroy, devastate, and then leave. Peace is more difficult. Why is it difficult? If it is pursued without bringing all people together on common ground, without law and justice, and in insincerity, we mothers do not want it. Just as the Turkish people have rights, the Arab people, the Circassian people, and everyone living on these lands have the same rights.”
Our first demand is for Kurdish to be an official language
Peace Mother Sebiha Bozan listed the demands they would present to the commission and stressed the importance of granting children the right to education in their mother tongue. She continued: “First of all, I must say that our children are not being educated in their own language; our language is banned in education. There are thousands of Kurds, yet they are now being taught in another language. Like all other peoples of the world, we want our children to be educated in their own language. Let them understand in Kurdish, study in Kurdish, wake up in Kurdish. And I am not saying this only for Kurdish; whatever languages exist… Mothers always say this: every language is a person. Just as if you plant only one rose in a garden, neither spring will come with that single rose, nor will that field become a garden. It cannot be called a garden, because it has only one rose. Let it be asked; whoever wants it, their language should also be an official language.”
We do not accept a peace that seeks to deceive the Kurds
Sebiha Bozan stressed that the state must recognize the demands of the Kurds and said: “The Kurds support one another; they elect their mayors, they elect their deputies. It has reached a point where the Kurds are able to govern themselves. If in Bedlîs (Bitlis), Wan (Van), Amed (Diyarbakır), and all the cities of Kurdistan this people have elected a mayor, then that mayor should be able to govern and work until the end of their term.
If we want a lasting peace, the state must also say ‘We accept you,’ but if tomorrow they appoint a trustee to our municipalities, we will not accept it. The people themselves must be the ones to remove their chosen administrators if they wish. The system must no longer do this. The people of Wan elected their municipality, but if the state is going to appoint a trustee over it, we will not accept it. We do not accept the attitude of saying ‘The elected member of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) did this, so I will imprison them.’
How many years has Selahattin Demirtaş been in prison? What did Demirtaş do? He said, ‘Let there be peace, let there not be a war in Kobanê.’ I am calling out to our people: let us oppose this injustice. This is our right. The entire Kurdish people rose up for Kobanê; how can it be that Demirtaş is imprisoned for this? They say, ‘You made a mistake, you called the people to the streets.’ When Fetö (Fethullahist Terrorist Organization) carried out its coup attempt, the President also called the people to the streets to resist it.
What we want is this: as the Peace Mothers, there is no one we have not appealed to for years. We say peace for the Kurds, for the Turks, for the Arabs, and for all peoples. Enough now, let the children of Turks and Kurds not die. We regard as sacred the step taken after Abdullah Öcalan’s call, when a group laid down their weapons. After this step, we hope the newly established commission will render ineffective those who want war. The voices of the Peace Mothers, of the Saturday Mothers, and of all those searching for their lost children must be heard and listened to. Mothers must be heard; and if such a thing is to happen, of course we are the ones who want peace the most. But if it is not to happen, if the Kurds are to be deceived, then we do not want such a peace.”
Source: ANF News
