October
28, 2009
GERMANY: To the Press and Public Opinion
Dear members of the press,
Following the call of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan,
we, as members of ‘the peace group’ have decided to
return to Turkey. Our aims are to serve the
democratization process, to contribute to the
solution of the Kurdish Question and to overcome the
current political stalemate. Our group consists of
15 people:
Arif DIRIK,Ayten KAPLAN, Baki ULUDAG, Halime
GOKCEN,Hasan AKBABA, Hikmet CETIN, Hikmet KARAHAN,
Ismet KEM, M.CEVAT Akin, Mahmut EROL, M.Sait
YILDIRIM, Muazzez KAYA, Ummuhan SURMELI, Veli TEKIN,
Vesile YUKSEL.
Turkey is at an important and critical turning
point. We believe that political reforms and
democratization initiatives have reached an
important phase since the local elections in 29
March 2009. However it is important to highlight
that ‘the road map’ prepared by the Kurdish leader
Abdullah Ocalan has not yet been released by the
authorities to the public, and that ‘the
democratization process’ is at an impasse.
Upon calls from Mr Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish
Movement organized ‘peace groups’ that consisted of
34 people from Maxmur and Qandil. The peace groups
returned home on 19 October 2009 in order to further
the democratization process.
The peace groups who came to the country received a
rapturous reception from hundreds of thousands of
Kurdish people and those in favor of peace who
gathered to meet them.
We, the members of the `peace group` who fled to
Europe to escape persecution and oppression in
Turkey, had decided to return to Turkey tomorrow (on
28 October, 2009). We made this decision in order to
respond to our people’s great hopes for an honorable
and democratic peace and solution to the Kurdish
issue. We made all the necessary preparations and
applied to the Turkish Consulate for the relevant
travel documents.
The Prime Minister, government and state officials`
statements in relation to our people’s joyful
reception to meet the first peace groups were
inappropriate and prevented the peace group from
Europe to leave for Turkey. Officials failed to
issue the necessary travel documents.
Due to the aforementioned reasons, we have
temporarily postponed our return to Turkey.
We believe that the peace process in Turkey can only
be successfully pursued if all relevant parties
under take their responsibilities with gravity,
courage and compassion. Despite the decisiveness,
goodwill and persistence of the Kurdish movement
towards peace and democracy by sending the peace
groups, the government's present attitude is
blocking the way for the peaceful and democratic
solution of the Kurdish issue.
The ruling AKP government is claiming is that we
created a `crisis of confidence`. On the contrary,
the government and state forces are responsible for
causing a `crisis of confidence` by disturbing,
provoking and sabotaging the process. It is under
these conditions,www.ekurd.netthat
we were forced to postpone our journey to Turkey. We
believe that our decision to postpone will be
understood by our people and all those concerned for
the process to be advanced.
With a strong believe in peace and democratic
solution, we would like to respond to Mr Ocalan`s
call and to the Kurdish people's hopes for peace and
free coexistence. We are ready and confident to open
the way that is blocked by the government and
contribute to the process. In the coming days, we
will evaluate the government's political and legal
approaches and decide accordingly on a date to
return to the Turkey. Our decision will be shared
with the members of the press and the public.
Only a common effort will make the initiative work.
Therefore, we request that the concerned Turkish
officials take on this responsibility, and to be
courageous in order to make our group's journey to
Turkey possible.
It is clear to see the efforts by the CHP
administration, MHP and Ergenekon gang in sabotaging
the peace and solution process. Rather than being
under the influence of this backward mentality which
gets its strength from the war, the AKP must be even
more accountable, assertive and strong-willed in its
approach. The Kurdish people's cry for peace and
search for a solution must be understood as a great
support for the people of Turkey and an approach of
fraternity and solidarity.
We believe that the media, intellectuals,
non-governmental organizations and the public
opinion in Turkey will support and value our efforts
for the peace initiative.
We salute and extend our regards to the people of
Kurdistan and Turkey on the basis of a strong belief
for an honorable peace and democratic solution.
We thank you, the members of the press for your
interest.
Peace and Democratic Solution Group, October 27,
2009
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