Following Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” on 27 February, the PKK convened its 12th Congress between 5-7 May. On 12 May, it was announced that PKK had dissolved itself. 

 

Citizens living in Cizîr (Cizre) district of Şirnex (Şırnak) fully support the decision and called on the state.

 

Stating that the state should take a step, Cemal Şeker said, “We all want peace and tranquility to prevail in this country. The state should also take the necessary steps.  We need to make this process a success. This process will not be like other processes, we believe that it will be successful."

 

'THIS OPPORTUNITY SHOULD NOT BE MISSED'

 

Mehmet Emin Tunç emphasised that the government should not "miss the opportunity". Tunç said, "We want this process to succeed. As Kurdish people, we want rights-law. The steps taken for peace need to be strengthened. The state needs to take steps for the process to move forward. Although the PKK has announced that it has laid down arms, no steps have been taken by the state. The state should take a step so that we can believe that they are sincere. This step is an opportunity for the state and the state should not miss this opportunity."

 

'IT IS THE STATE'S TURN'

 

Nefise Boz stated that the PKK had fulfilled its responsibility, but the state still kept silent. Stating that women have the most responsibility in this process, Nefise Boz said, "All of Turkey needs peace. The weapons have been laid down, but the state still has not taken a step. The PKK has done its duty, now it is time for the state to fulfil its duty. At this point, we women need to take more ownership of the process. The most burden is on the shoulders of women, mothers, now it is women who will bring peace."

 

'LET'S EMBRACE THE PROCESS'

 

Peace Mother Hatice Beytur stated that Turkish mothers should also be involved in this process and shout for peace. Hatice Beytur said: “Both sides need to join hands. Turkish and Kurdish mothers should join hands and unite both sides. We want to live freely in our own country, we want our identity. We want political prisoners to be released, we want the isolation on Mr Abdullah Öcalan to be lifted, we want his physical freedom.  Even if this war lasts for a century, eventually there must be peace.”

 

Mehmet Malgaz asked for the demands of the Kurdish people to be accepted and said: “Both the state and the PKK should take steps together. The step cannot be taken unilaterally. Unless the state does this, this process will not progress.”

 

Fettah Aslan, on the other hand, called on everyone to embrace the process and emphasised that they were hopeful about this process and that the state should also take steps.