The public meetings launched after Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and a Democratic Society" on 27 February are continuing. The meetings, held under the title "Peace and Democratic Society Meetings," are organised by the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) and the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. 

 

Of the 90 meetings planned in Şirnex and its districts, 23 have been held so far. People of all ages, from 7 to 70, have shown interest in the meetings, where information about the process is shared and citizens express their opinions and make suggestions. 

 

Botan Association of Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUHAD-DER) Manager Cevher Ören, said that the people trust Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. "The people are asking, “Why hasn't the state taken a step yet? Why is the war continuing?” They don't want the extended hand to remain in the air once again. The people trust the leadership and therefore support the process. Among the prominent demands is the immediate release of seriously ill prisoners without any conditions. Many political prisoners have been held in prisons for many years without any legal basis. The people are waiting for the political prisoners to be released. If the prisoners are released, the people's trust in the process will increase. The guerrillas are the children of this people. While there is an operation against them, the people do not believe that there will be peace."

 

'HOPES ARE GROWING'

 

DEM Party Qileban District Co-Chair Abdullah Gün stated the following about their work: "We discuss the process with the people and take their suggestions. The people trust their leader, their party and their struggle. The people have no concerns in this regard. The people's only concern is that the state is not taking any steps. This is a long process. The Kurdish people have nothing to lose. The Kurdish people have nothing to lose at the table where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is present. Our people are an ideological and political people. The mothers who have lost their children in this struggle do not want bloodshed. Our people are a peaceful people. Our hope for peace is growing every day. Peace is needed in Kurdistan, Turkey and the Middle East." 

 

'WOMEN ARE TAKING CHARGE'

 

TJA activist Çimen Fidan said that the meetings are continuing with great morale: "People have concernc. But the people who are concerned also have great hope. Their hopes lie with Mr. Öcalan. Mr. Öcalan has put into practice exactly what he said after his historic call. The people's eyes are on the prison gates. Women are the ones who are most committed to the process. Because women have suffered the most in wars and conflicts. Everyone should participate in these meetings and ask questions if there is anything that confuses them. Participation in the meetings is a commitment to the process."

 

'LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE'

 

DBP PM member Bünyamin Şeker stated that many developments have taken place after the historic call and added: "The people of Şırnak are following the process closely in general. There is a serious concern about trust in the state. The two main concerns that come to the fore are the state's failure to take a concrete step and the lack of a serious arrangement in the conditions of the leadership. In order for the process to succeed, it is important to provide legal guarantees.  There is a need for legal arrangements such as the right to education in the mother tongue, the recognition of Kurdish as an official language, taking steps such as changing the definition of citizenship, abolishing the Anti-Terror Law and changing the definition of 'terrorism'."