ISTANBUL - Actor Orhan Alkaya, one of the signatories of the "Call to Peace" declaration, called on all segments of society who found the declaration positive to "support instead of hiding".

 

78 people, including politicians, journalists, intellectuals and artists, came together on October 28 for a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue and announced to the public the declaration titled "Call for Peace", of which they were signatories. In the statement, it was emphasized that "Our effort is about seeking peace and the courage to be a peace traveler" and called for the end of the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue.

 

Actor Orhan Alkaya, one of the names who signed the declared declaration, spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the content, importance and purpose of the declaration.

 

'THE DECLARATION MEANS WE WILL NOT SILENCE'

 

Stating that with the Palestine-Israel war that continues today, a process of massacres that can be called genocide is taking place in the Middle East, Alkaya said: "The declaration we published has a feature that includes insistence on peace against the atmosphere of war. We think it would be right to call for peace against this state of war. Ways to do this are suggested in this text. In a way, such texts also mean that we do not remain silent, we do not surrender, we do not bow down; therefore, it was a text that offered some persuasion to solve a parallel problem together." 

 

'KURDISH ISSUE MUST BE SOLVED'

 

Drawing attention that the equivalent of the state of war in the Middle East in Turkey is the Kurdish issue, Alkaya said: "The Kurdish issue has become a issue that must be solved at an absolute level today. Every step to be taken towards the solution of the Kurdish issue should be taken with great seriousness. We should remember the 'solution process' between 2013 and 2015, I believe that very fundamental mistakes were made in the process of seeking dialogue. If a new process is to be opened, this process must be carried out seriously and free of possibilities that will create expectations in the public because these are serious issues. You may remember, in a public survey conducted in 2013-2015, 78 percent of those supporting the process reached 78 percent. In other words, this majority supported this process and wanted it to be successful; however, when the expectation I mentioned is not met, this turns into social trauma. Can the process be reconstructed, and it should be, but if we consider the government's current approach to the Kurdish issue, it does not seem easy in the current conjuncture. But of course, nothing is impossible. “

 

'ISOLATION IS A CRIME, BEING AGAINST IT IS A RIGHT'

 

Referring to the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the prisoners in prisons, Alkaya said: "Isolation is a crime against humanity and that being against it is one of the most natural rights of every citizen. In addition to its role in the deadlock of the Kurdish issue, isolation is also a usurpation of rights. By demanding that isolation not be imposed, no matter who it is for, this right can be prevented from being usurped. I cannot say that you are wrong to my friends who say, 'If we are going to seek social peace, it should start with the lifting of the isolation,' because they may not be wrong." 

 

Finally, Alkaya underlined that everyone who wants peace in the country should embrace the declaration and said: "Supporting behavior instead of hiding is the best and correct behavior for all segments of society who are convinced of our call and find it positive and correct."

 

MA / İbrahim Irmak