NGOs Say Ceasefire is a Chance for Peace

Approximately 70 organizations and individuals in the southeastern city of Batman have welcomed the unilateral and unconditional cease-fire declared by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as of October 1 as a positive development, but stressed that a lasting solution could only be achieved if the movement permanently laid down its weapons.

A meeting was held at the Petrol-Is Union Conference Hall and a joint communiqué on behalf of the group, titled "Appeal for Lasting Peace and Democracy" was read out.

Association for Human Rights and Solidarity with the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER) Batman Branch Chairman Mehmet Sat said "While we are of the belief that a lasting solution can only be achieved with the PKK unconditionally and fully laying down its arms, we do see this [cease-fire] development as an opportunity".

Sat said that in a period where there were no clashes between the sides, the problem itself could addressed without prejudice and without labels so that it could be debated again with proposals for a solution being voiced.

"The Kurdish problem should not only be debated with its conflict dimension but with its economic, social, political and cultural dimensions and discussed to find reasonable ways of a solution" Sat added.

"The period without conflict should be a period where intellect and not emotions governs, where many debates with human dimensions can be heard in a healthy manner. And it should not be forgotten that it is possible to procude solutions without discussing the Unitarian structure of the state or eroding it".

Sat said that as the organizations and individuals who signed the joint declaration, they sought a country where democracy and living standards were on the rise and all problems could be debated on legitimate grounds. He said they wanted a region in peace where problems of education, employment and society had been solved.

"In this period," he concluded, "we appeal to all of the social and political actors in Turkey, the intellectuals, the pioneers of thought and action to make positive and humane contributions." (KO/II/YE)