In a press release on 6 March, the Turkish Peace Parliament Marmara Region Peace Initiative said:
“Instead of working on a constitution which could contribute towards an environment of equality, freedom and peace, reducing the issue to a question of security is threatening the safety of society. We are worried about the possibility that the Turkish Armed Forces will continue ground operations in the future.”
According to Nemciye Alpay from the Peace Parliament, “we have to spread the intense interest in peace in general and the Peace Parliament which exists in the east of Turkey to the west.”
The declaration further warned politicians and the media to avoid language inciting to violence and called on them to be responsible.
“We demand that there be an end to the reporting on the operations which presents them like the scores of a match, and we demand that democratic, political steps be taken for a permanent solution of the Kurdish question.”
The initiative criticised the fact that the current political atmosphere did not allow the consideration of alternative solutions.
“Those who favour a deadlock in the issue are trying to gain legitimacy with violent oppression by increasing nationalism, racism and hostility among the people. At the root of the Kurdish issue is a demand for ‘identity’, i.e. freedom, and the right to democracy. Insincere political mindsets are interpreting and denouncing every humane demand as separatism.”
The initiative made the following demands:
The petition was signed by the following organisations:
Istanbul Chamber of Physicians, Genel-Is Trade Union, the Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSIP), the Say Stop (Dur De) Initiative, the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Labour Party (EMEP), the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), the Migration Association (Göc-Der); the Trade Union of Turkish Cinema Workers (Sine-Sen), the Labour Movement Party (EHP) and the Peace Mothers. (GG/AG)