MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) Leader Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with the DEM Party group at the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on 1 October, followed by talks about a possible resolution process with the Kurds. In a following speech at the party’s group meeting, Bahçeli further called on Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Prison to “unilaterally declare the end of terrorism and the liquidation of his organization”. The nationalist partner of the government also admitted that Öcalan was subject to isolation and that the “right to hope” could be discussed in the event that he came to the parliament and declared “the end of terror”. This Wednesday, Turkish President Erdoğan expressed his support for Bahçeli’s remarks and said his initiative was a historic opportunity.

While the people of Amed (tr:Diyarbakır) carefully follow the recent discussion on a possible process of talks with Abdullah Öcalan, they also approach the issue with caution. The people of Amed state that the steps to be taken in the name of peace and solution must be permanent and reliable.

ANF spoke to the residents of Amed about the latest discussions on the agenda.

Salih Torhan: The Turkish state is going backwards. During the dialogue process, they were in negotiations with the leader, then they revoked the Dolmabahçe Consensus. From 2014 onward, they put the ‘Decomposition Plan’ into action, and a tough war emerged. During the period of the dialogue process, Turkey’s economic situation was very good and the AKP government received a large share of the votes. Now it has lost this power. The situation in the Middle East is already obvious. Therefore, the government has to ask for peace. We also have experience in this matter. A racist person comes out and makes a suggestion. Those who wanted the execution of our leader until not long ago are saying something else today. No one can fool the Kurdish people anymore. We only want a democratic solution. The interlocutor for a solution is Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). We only want peace like our leader.

Celil Cebeli: We only want peace. What Devlet Bahçeli said in the parliament does not give us much confidence. Devlet Bahçeli’s rhetoric is nothing more than deceiving the Kurdish people. If not to deceive the Kurdish people, why has Mr Öcalan been in isolation for years? The only thing they want is to continue their special war policy. If they are really honest in their rhetoric, they should free Mr Öcalan, the leader of the Kurds. The Turkish state is now only trying to deceive the Kurds. This is their only goal. None of the rhetoric of President Erdoğan and the racist Bahçeli convinces us. If they really want a solution, they should take concrete steps.

Türkan Eren: We want a solution now. In particular, women want peace the most. We do not want war, we only want peace. We don’t want our young people to die anymore. We don’t want anyone to die anymore.

İlhami Mutlu: As a Kurd, I have no faith in the AKP-MHP government. They are trying to deceive the Kurds because they know very well that their end is near. No one can deceive the Kurds anymore. We want peace too. Is there anything better than peace? They should heed to the message given by Leader Apo. We have no faith in them anymore. If they really mean what they say, they should lift the isolation and release our sick prisoners.