My first conclusion concerning the initiative is that unlike efforts in the past, this time people, leaders and politicians have hope. For the first time, people are hopeful about solving the Kurdish problem. They are careful when they talk because they realize the process will be difficult, but they concede that a historical opportunity has been seized. Our delegation of guests, along with Ali Bulaç, visited Police Chief Mustafa Sağlam, Sur Mayor Abdullah Demirbaş and Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, respectively. Metropolitan Mayor Osman Baydemir was abroad.
As we listened to Sağlam, we immediately detected the positive change in the government's outlook on the region. He said to us: “The problem here cannot be solved without spirited approaches. You must put your mind and heart into it. I believe approaching our people with love and sincerity is the first precondition to a solution.” I asked Governor Mutlu and Mayor Demirbaş the much discussed question during the initiative process on whether Kurds want to separate. Will this initiative start with optional Kurdish language classes and then lead to education in the Kurdish language and then gradually lead to disunity?
“We are in the midst of everything. Citizens here are not concerned with partition,” the governor said, adding: “We are closely following what is being said on television and news reports being published about the region. Sometimes they talk without knowing the facts. It is presented as if anarchy has taken over Diyarbakır, which is actually one of Turkey's most peaceful cities. While demonstrations organized by a small group are stopped by police intervention within a half an hour, some television channels show them as if they continued into the middle of the night. The media must be very careful. Diyarbakır and its resident should not be portrayed as monsters. They should not be denigrated. Otherwise, people living in other cities develop a negative stance toward those from Diyarbakır and are reluctant to give them jobs.”
The DTP holds a special place for Sur Mayor Demirbaş. It is like a symbol of the regional people's pain, their mental state and their determination. The DTP is still dealing with lawsuits. “So much pain would not have been suffered if mutual mistakes were not made,” he said, adding, “The discord between those who want democratization only reinforced the strength of the status quo.” He also said that we have killed the tradition of sharing.
I asked the hard-hitting question of whether secessionism is being considered. “If you had asked this in 1978, we would have spoken about it. But in 2009, in a democratic Turkey, we want to live together. We do not want to separate,” the mayor said, and overtly indicated that powers associated with Ergenekon are the ones that actually want to divide Turkey.
This was my first visit to Diyarbakır, and I am happy that I came. As someone from Edirne, I have more hope for peace and brotherhood now. There was an exceptionally unique atmosphere at the iftar program at Dicle Koleji, where the governor came together with DTP mayors, provincial administrators and civil society organizations. Something else that I saw in Diyarbakır that I thought was beautiful is that Abdullah Gül is the first president after the late Turgut Özal that people here like and trust. We need to make a note of the importance of this love and confidence for the sake of a solution.
I must also express a point that many of us do not know. Diyarbakır is a very beautiful city with its spiritual features. The first mosque built in Anatolia is located in Diyarbakır. Ulu Mosque was built a year after Diyarbakır was conquered in A.D. 638 during the reign of Caliph Umar. Then there is the Hazreti Süleyman Mosque, which was built over the place where 27 companions of the Prophet were killed in a battle with Byzantine soldiers during the conquering of the city in A.D. 638. The mosque is named after the son of Khalid ibn Waleed, who was one of the greatest commanders in history. His son Süleyman was among the 27 companions of the Prophet that was martyred in the battle.
Diyarbakır's spiritual dynamics also increase hope for peace.
