Şarköy District Speaks Up on Peace Process

Mothers, teachers, NGO representatives and politicians from Şarköy, a district located in the northwestern Turkey, agreed that the 30-years long bloody conflict must end immediately, reminding that Kurdish and Turkish people co-existed somewhat for centuries.

"My son had no combat experience"

Nursel Öztürk (Lost her son Emrah Öztürk in clashes in Eruh, Siirt in 2006): The bloodbath must end now. No mothers should cry anymore, young people should enjoy their lives instead of dying in clashes. But I don't support the process that the government initiated. My son was sent to clash zone with only 3-4 month military experience. When I spoke to him on the phone, he told me how he learnt about mountain zone for first time. I lost my son in the mountains, so I don't want to see any other mother lose his son there.

"I embrace everyone who supports the process"

Ferhan Sadunoğlu (Retired teacher): I find the peace process important and support it. Because, as educators, our job is to struggle to make the world a better place. A meaningless adversary has taken our our country for 30 years. As long as people have a Turkey citizenship awareness, I don't understand why some people are opposing the peace process. I hope Turkey will become a more livable place at the end of it. I embrace everyone who supports the peace process.

"Neither reforms nor Turkish-Kurdish conflict"

Ömer Düzgen (Şarköy Chamber of Agriculture Chair): Whatever reform the government is talking about is only aiming to tore this country apart and form a Kurdish state. They are trying to fool the people. The government was planning to hold the parliamentary immunities of deputies who embraced PKK guerillas. Now they are sending deputies to Imrali island. The people who love this country want neither reforms nor Turkish-Kurdish conflict. Has there ever been a discrimination against Kurds in this country? Even in our town, there are hundreds of people whose background is Kurdish. We have always coexisted peacefully. This is only about politics and for the upcoming presidential election.  

"We cry for our 30 lost years if needed"

İsmail Subaşı (Democratic Party Local Chair ): We come from a civilization that co-existed peacefully in these lands for centuries under the umbrella of Islam. Turkey needs peace. I find the government's attitude positive even though they are sly in many ways. If the process will continue with populism, it will not gain the hearts of ethnically Turkish people. As Turkish and Kurdish peoples, we should able to cry together for our lost 30 years if needed. We must have empathy for our mutual loses.  

"Bloodbath must end but no more negotiations"

Orhan Yavuz (Şarköy Chamber of Local Business Chair): I think that the process has a lot to do with AKP government's political agenda. We all want this bloodbath to end. In our town, the majority of people are against negotiations with PKK. They definitely want the bloodbath to end, but they don't want to negotiate with PKK. (YÖ/NV/BM)