Peace Mothers came together in İstanbul Galatasaray Square before sending the postcards to President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chief of Defence Staff Işık Koşaner to demand consideration of bringing military operations to an end.
A press statement was read by Peace Mother Güler Buday. Stating that thousands of guerrillas, soldiers and policemen lost their lives in 30 years, Buday affirmed that “the armed conflict has caused the loss of over 30 thousand lives, the devastation of thousands of villages and forests, the displacement of millions of people from their lands as well as economical, social harm on all people in our geography.”
Buday remarked that every single person is hopeful in the process of Kurdish peace negotiations, which is now stalled, and added that “while expecting good things to happen, hundreds of innocent and blameless school-age children were imprisoned. Despite this process there have been substantial rises in operations, which resulted in the loss of many guerrilla fighters and soldiers. Following 1 September World Peace Day, as Peace Mothers, we now want to spend these festivities without sorrow, in peace and brotherhood, with democracy and freedom. And therefore we demand the consideration of the KCK (Kurdistan Democratic Confederation) proposition that will last till 20 September: an end for military operations and the release of imprisoned children. The decision of PKK, which will end soon, mustn't be wasted.”
Following the statement, the group held a sit-in and moved off in silence.
