Wan (Van) citizens evaluated the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue that started after PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan's talks with the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Imrali Delegation and the government's policy in this process.

 

Mehmet Mahmuk stated that the rhetoric of a solution on the one hand and the continuation of attacks on the other strengthens the opinion that the government is not sincere and said, "The Turkish state is playing too many games with us. We, Kurds, do not and will not fall for these games anymore. They cannot intimidate us with trustee appointments, no problem, they can appoint them, we will still elect our own co-chairs with our own will. If they appoint trustees today, we will vote again tomorrow. We now want a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue."

 

Abdulhamit Tuncer said, "If we had intervened in time, we would not be in this situation now. We were imprisoned for speaking in our mother tongue. Kurdish people have been ignored for centuries. On the one hand they say peace, but on the other hand Kurds are being killed. We are not brothers. Brother does not kill brother. This dictatorship must be ended."

 

Selim Elter said that the state should take the necessary steps transparently for the solution process and added, "This unresolved situation that has been going on for years must now end with peace. There has been enough bloodshed, but nothing has been achieved, it needs to come to an end. The economy of the country has been bankrupt for years due to the ongoing wars and these economic crises are always caused by war. The government should act the most for this peace. The state needs to take the necessary steps in this process in a transparent and reliable manner."

 

Zeynel Kattinç, one of the citizens who stated that the state continues its attacks on the one hand while talking about internal peace on the other hand, said, "Peace will be beneficial for the whole world. But while the state talks about the solution process on the one hand, on the other hand it attacks Rojava and on the other hand it appoints trustees to the municipalities of the people. This cannot continue like this, it is wrong to resort to other means while talking about a solution."

 

‘PEACE-ORIENTATED PATH MUST BE WALKED’

 

İdris Karaman stated that they want peace in the country and to live in a fair and equal way, said, "A war has been going on for years and we want these wars to end. We want to live in a fair and equal way. There has been enough bloodshed and now it must end and peace must be established in the country. If the state is talking about an internal peace within the country, it should act accordingly. They talk about peace and at the same time continue their attacks against Kurds. These attacks are unacceptable, if peace is being talked about, a peace-orientated path must be walked." 

 

Stating that the country's economy will not recover unless peace is achieved, Semyan Arman added, "We only demand peace and freedom. We want to return to our villages from which we were forcibly expelled for years and which are now declared as security zones. People are miserable and the economy of the country has sunk due to the wars. People cannot bring bread to their homes due to livelihood problems. We demand our mother tongue and the rights that everyone is entitled to. The mentioned process must be taken as soon as possible and peace must be achieved."

 

OPEN THE GATES OF IMRALI

 

Muhyettin Çalışkan said that they would support any endeavour to be developed under the leadership of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and added, "We only want peace to be established as soon as possible and for the peoples to live equally. We say brotherhood and they slaughter us. If we ask all people today, they all demand peace in the country. The only person who can ensure this peace is Mr Abdullah Öcalan. Apart from him, there is no one else who can solve this issue. I call on the state: We know that peace will be achieved immediately if the necessary talks are allowed to take place. The doors of İmralı should be opened and the necessary meetings should be held without restrictions. If this is done, there will be no problem in the country."

 

İlhami Korkmaz stated that they condemn the trustee appointments and the attacks against the Kurdish people and said, "We do not accept the trustee appointments. What is done to the Kurdish people is unfair. They are things that should not happen. The Kurdish people have been denied for a century. We Kurds must now be in unity and solidarity." 

 

Sevcan Turgut said, "We want the Kurdish issue to be solved. We do not accept and recognise these trustee appointments. It is the will of the people. You cannot usurp it."

 

Mürvet Acar said that the Kurdish issue must be solved and mothers should not cry anymore and added, "There cannot be a solution on the one hand and war on the other. No matter how many trustee appointments are made, we will still choose our own will at the ballot box. Kurds no longer accept these injustices and want a solution."