JINHA

IZMIR - Peace Mothers in Izmir, Turkey have decried the war policies of the AKP.

The Peace Mothers are a group of women who have lost their children and loved ones in the ranks of the guerrilla. In spite of all the exclusion and repression they face from society, these women continue to call for peace in the Kurdish region.For members of the Peace Mothers Assembly in the city of Izmir, located in the Aegean region of Turkey, their only wish is to see an end to the escalating massacres. The mothers also called for the bodies of guerrillas to be returned to their families for burial.

"We don't want war," emphasized Peace Mother Kadriye Kuluman. She decried the fact that the bodies of guerrillas from Turkey have been refused entry to Turkey for more than 10 days and have been kept waiting at the border, while their families hold vigil.

"What are you doing to our bodies? What right do you have to do this?" said Kadriye. "I can't watch television anymore. We're in pain; all we can do is curse this.We can't swallow food. We have no tears left to cry."

Memfiya Enes noted that while Turkish President Erdoğan talks about "Islam," he is busy making war and causing pain to civilians."A Muslim would end this war and save those in the mountains and in the prisons," said Memfiya. She echoed other mothers' calls for an end to the war. "We want peace--peace, peace, peace, just peace."

Peace Mother Behiye Çelebi condemned the Turkish army's bombing of guerrilla camps and civilian villages alike in the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Southern Kurdistan).

"One of my brothers was a soldier; the other is in the mountains. We don't want our brothers and sisters to come up against one another," said Behiye. "How much longer will they kill us?" she asked.

"Erdoğan said 'peace' and he attacked Syria. He said 'peace' and he attacked Kobanê. He said 'peace' and he attacked Qandil," said Peace Mother Kadriye Tuncer. "Erdoğan is fooling everyone. He wants treachery, not peace. Here we are saying 'peace,' but he goes to Qandil and burns it. They went to Shengal and burned it. No one is awake, but we know all of this."

(ck-ht/fk/cm)