ANKARA - Stating that peace is a deferred need of this country, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association (PSAKD) Chair Cuma Erçe said, "The issue is a matter of changing the mentality. Abdullah Öcalan and all political prisoners must be released if a real peace is to be discussed.”

 

The work of the Commission on National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy established in the Parliament for the solution of the Kurdish issue continues. PSAKD was among the organisations on the list proposed by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party to be heard by the commission.

 

'PEACE IS THE POSTPONED NEED OF THIS COUNTRY'

 

Stating that Alevis demand equal citizenship for all peoples, Erçe said that peace is a postponed need of the country. Erçe noted that the budget allocated to the war for years has caused the poverty of the peoples. 

 

Emphasising that peace cannot be achieved without sincerity, Erçe said: "As a result of the negotiations with the leaders of the Kurdish people, one side showed its sincerity at the highest level by laying down its weapons. However, not a single step in the same direction was taken by the state and the government. On the contrary, the stubbornness of the old mentality continues." 

 

Expressing that Alevis support the process, Erçe said that their demands are clear. "Is there a need for a constitutional amendment to make the Madımak Hotel the Museum of Shame, to reopen the evacuated Kurdish and Alevi villages, to implement the judgements of the ECtHR, to abolish compulsory religion classes? There are tens of hundreds of articles that can be fulfilled with one signature," Erçe stated.

 

'THE ISSUE IS THE CHANGE OF MENTALITY'

 

Underlining that equal citizenship is indispensable, Erçe said, "The issue is a matter of changing the mentality" and emphasised that a process in which all segments of society are involved will be permanent. Erçe said that prisoners are also among the architects of the process. 

 

Erçe concluded: "We do not think that a process in which the leader of a people and an organisation is held in prison is fair. Such a thing is not fair, not equitable. Someone who has been in prison for years has no chance to continue this process inside. If there is to be real peace, Abdullah Öcalan and all political prisoners must be released. We support a process in which there are no political prisoners in prison."