After years of conflict, Amed is now in a phase of recovery. The collapse of the 2013–2015 peace process into a cycle of bloody violence created deep mistrust among the people. With the seizure of municipalities, the bond between local administrations and the public was weakened, social and cultural activities nearly stopped, and social trust was badly shaken.
The “Peace and Democratic Society” process, initiated with the call by Abdullah Öcalan, not only aimed to end conflicts but also became a process of restoring trust, participation, and social solidarity in daily life.
To understand how this process is reflected in daily life, the recovery efforts of the municipalities after the seizures, and the importance of local administrations in resolving the Kurdish question, ANF spoke with Amed Metropolitan Municipality Council members Ahmet Aslan and Emin Ay.
Ahmet Aslan stressed that after the collapse of the 2013–2015 peace process into violent conflict, the seizure of people’s local will had concrete impacts on daily life: “This process left deep mistrust in society. In Diyarbakır, there was a period of local administration integrated with the people. Within that approach, the public was always part of decision-making processes. Local governance based on social and economic projects that touch people’s daily lives has become established.
Although increasing central pressures tried to block direct public participation, because this was already an established culture and politics, they could not fully succeed. Despite all the obstacles, this people-oriented municipal approach continued to work. After the appointment of trustees, a disconnect arose between the public and local administrations. The people’s will was ignored, and local administrations were directly tied to the center through appointments. Local administrations were reduced to only providing basic services.”
Aslan also said the “Democratic Society and Peace process sparked hope and excitement in society, especially in Amed, where people value it greatly and see the resolution of the Kurdish question as the central focus of everyday discussion.”
He emphasized that discussing the process on the basis of Kurds’ social rights is crucial: “The process highlights debates around rights, justice, and identity for the Kurdish people. Our people embraced the peace process in this sense. Here, the role of local administrations becomes especially important. For the process to succeed and become lasting, local authorities need greater powers. Education, health, and other essential services should be planned and carried out locally. As people feel their will recognized, social polarization and risks of conflict decrease. If the role of local administrations is strengthened, then peace developing locally will become something felt in all aspects of life.”
Aslan also pointed out that municipalities under trustee rule directly damaged local governance and that repairing this damage is being done in parallel with a new rebuilding process: “Trustees pursued a service policy aimed at distancing the people from their cultural values and life habits. They created an illusion with basic infrastructure work while leaving massive debts behind. People were deprived of many services, from mother-tongue education to cultural activities and social projects for young people. This disconnect eroded social trust, pushing young people toward social and cultural voids.”
Emin Ay noted that the rebuilding of social life from the local level has begun in Amed: “In the peace process, we are experiencing a new phase of rebuilding with our people locally. Municipalities will, of course, have a major role here. In the past, the seizure of will distanced people from services, social projects, and cultural activities. Young people became disconnected, and social damage increased.
In Diyarbakır, people now expect not just roads and construction but services in culture, arts, sports, youth projects, services for women and the elderly, education, and employment. We determine these needs together with our people. Municipalities are not only about infrastructure, they should fight against drugs, mafia networks, and prostitution, and strengthen cultural and social spaces to reconnect with the people. Right now, we are healing these wounds; with projects for young people, women, and people with disabilities, as well as social solidarity projects, we are returning municipalities to their essence.”
Our aim is to put people-oriented municipalism back on track
Emin Ay stressed that as the DEM Party, they are working intensively on three fronts to repair the physical and social damage left by the trustees: “Municipalities, NGOs, professional chambers, and the people are developing projects together. Our goal is to put people-oriented municipalism back on track and bring Diyarbakır back to its true self. This also means making the peace process permanent, strengthening trust, and expanding solidarity.
Especially in the trustee period, cultural and artistic activities were stopped. Young people were cut off from these activities and faced the risks of drugs and the streets. Now our municipalities are filling this gap with new projects. Through cultural and social initiatives, and services that include all groups, we are entering a process that encompasses everyone.”