ADANA - Families who lost their relatives during the conflict process stated that they support Abdullah Öcalan's call and emphasised that the state should take steps for a lasting peace. 

 

Support for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" announced on 27 February continues. Families who lost their relatives during the conflict process want the state to take steps to fulfil Abdullah Öcalan's call. 

 

Emin Dikmen, the brother of Halit Dikmen, who lost his life in 1993, said that they support the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan and demanded the state to take steps. Making a call to the families of soldiers and police officers, Dikmen said that everyone who lost their children and relatives in this process should take the initiative for a solution and peace. 

 

'LET THE STATE TAKE A STEP'

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Yüreğir District Co-Chair Zeynep Payam, whose husband Mehmet Payam was murdered by Gendarmarie and Anti-terror Unit (JİTEM) in Adana in 1994, stated that she did not want anyone to die and that they were struggling for peace. Pointing out that the state continued its attacks instead of taking steps, Zeynep Payam added, "Both sides were harmed by the war. We are all suffering. I had three children when my husband was killed. My youngest child was 15 days old. Does anyone know how I raised those children? I want the bloodshed to stop and peace to be established."

 

'WE WILL NOT GIVE UP ON PEACE'

 

Remzi Cerf, brother of Sefer Cerf, who was murdered by JİTEM in Adana in 1994, said that they want peace despite all the pain and losses. Cerf said, "War is destruction, tears, blood. It is poverty and destitution. But peace is friendship, brotherhood, love, abundance and fertility. We want peace immediately."

 

Yusuf Bulut, who lost his brother Musa Bulut and nephew Mahmut Bulut in the clashes, said that Kurds had been ignored since the foundation of the Republic, but that they could no longer be ignored as a result of the struggle and the price they had paid. Bulut reiterated that they will not give up on peace despite all the pain they have suffered.

 

'PEACE COMES WITH THE FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN'

 

Sadiye Eye, who lost her brother Aydın Eye in the clashes, also called for peace to stop the bloodshed. Rafika Akın, whose daughter joined the PKK in 1993, said, "We extend the hand of peace, they shoot us. We don't want to go through this pain anymore. We want peace." 

 

Rafika Akın wanted Abdullah Öcalan to be free and stressed "Our peace envoy is Abdullah Öcalan. We want his freedom and the freedom of ill prisoners as the first condition of this process. Peace will come with the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan."

 

MA / Hamdullah Yağız Kesen