After Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February, the PKK convened its 12th Congress and decided to suspend its activities. Following the call and the decision, many countries of the world expressed their support for the process in their statements.

 

Many people also called for the continuation of the talks and for Abdullah Öcalan's free labour conditions. Again, many people took initiatives within the scope of the campaign "I want to visit Abdullah Öcalan". In this context, 39 people including journalists, writers, academics, trade unionists, parliamentarians and lawyers from different countries travelled to Istanbul to meet Abdullah Öcalan.

 

Dominique Sopo from France, President of the Association for the Fight against Racism (SOS Racisme), Prof. Louis Lemkow from Catalonia, Representative of the European Lawyers' Association for Human Rights and Democracy in the World (ELDH) and Sociologist at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Madeleine Mawamba from the Association of Women in Exile made evaluations on the subject to Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

 

 

Sopo, who has been working against international racism for many years, emphasised that democratisation is very important not only for the Kurdish people but for all the peoples of Turkey. Stating that Abdullah Öcalan wants democratisation for all rights, Sopo said, "I want to meet with Öcalan because although he has been imprisoned for years, he has never given up his struggle. He always continued to defend his ideas. This is what impressed me the most.  Abdullah Öcalan is someone who analyses the problem of democratisation very well and finds solutions. He puts democratic confederalism in this context. In this sense, he is a very important thinker and politician."

 

'THE SUBJECT OF THE PROCESS IS ÖCALAN AND THE KURDS'

 

"The subject of the process initiated for the solution of the Kurdish issue is Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish people," said Sopo and added: "The dynamics of this process can only decide on the real solution of this process. We are closely following this process and hope that it will lead to a real solution. The solution of the Kurdish question will positively affect Turkey as well as the entire Middle East. On the one hand there is a democratic process, but on the other hand there is a harsh regime established by Erdoğan. With the positive progress of this process, Erdoğan will not be able to play this hard game and will have to act democratically. When we return to our own country, we will convey our observations here and together with the democratic Kurdish council in France and other democratic forces in France, we will fight to make this process more visible."

 

'WE CARE ABOUT A PEACEFUL SOLUTION'

 

 

Sociologist Prof. Louis Lemkow said that they have been following the Kurdish freedom struggle for many years: "As an association, we attach great importance to the peaceful solution of the Kurdish issue. In this sense, I think Öcalan's role is important and that is why I am here. We really care about Öcalan's proposal for a peaceful and democratic solution. I come from Catalonia and we Catalans attach importance to the right of nations to self-determination. We are in favour of solving this problem in line with the solution determined by the Kurdish people themselves." 

 

Lemkow stated that when he returns to Catalonia, he will turn the exchange of ideas and suggestions made at the meetings into a report and will fight to strengthen the mobilisations in his own country and said: "Now that there is a peaceful option, we will make more efforts in our own country on the mobilisations of the Kurdish people."

 

'WE CAN LEAD AS WOMEN'

 

 

Madeleine Mawamba from the Association of Women in Exile, who travelled from Berlin, said that as a feminist activist Abdullah Öcalan's idea of women's freedom was the main reason that impressed her. 

 

Stating that freedom is very precious and not easy, Madeleine Mawamba said: "Öcalan is fighting for freedom. I want to meet with Öcalan to be a part of this struggle. Mr Öcalan draws attention to the role of women in the struggle for freedom. I see this as very important because women have an exceptional power. We women can lead the process of peace and democratic society."

 

'THE MAIN GOAL IS THE FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN'

 

Madeleine Mawamba emphasised that their main goal is the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and concluded: "But the freedom I mean is not only the freedom of Mr Öcalan, but the freedom of the society together with Mr Öcalan. While continuing this struggle, we must do it by prioritising women. Then we can achieve freedom. As women, we will make international calls for Öcalan's liberation when we return to our country. But we will also call on the Kurds in the diaspora. Freedom is a problem that concerns all of us and therefore we must demand freedom together."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal