Amed tradesmen: Lack of peace gives way to economic crisis

The AKP-MHP regime has allocated much of the budget to defense industry. A choice dictated by its war policies which have indeed deepened the already serious economic crisis.

The AKP-MHP regime has allocated much of the budget to defense industry. A choice dictated by its war policies which have indeed deepened the already serious economic crisis. In turn the crisis has meant that the peoples of Kurdistan and Turkey were sentenced to pay the bill for this crisis.

The rise in inflation in recent years has forced workers to live below the poverty line. Despite the establishment's economists claim that the economy is improving, the reality of shopkeepers and tradesmen speak a completely different language.

Tradesmen who open a stand in Amed 6 days a week told ANF how the purchasing power of the consumers has decreased and how difficult it is for them to meet ends. 

Ramazan Atalay said that he had been working in Amed markets for years but that today people cannot afford to buy goods because they haven't got money. 

Atalay said the products in the markets are expensive while the consumer's purchasing power has been reduced. "The price of tomatoes for example is too high. - he said - People simply can't afford to buy what they used to. Unemployment has increased and people often go to the market and return home without anything."

Mehmet Emin Uçar said that even the market atmosphere has changed. "Prices are rising especially in winter months. - he said - The reality is that there are people who can't make it to the end of the month with the wage they are getting. Of course, there are those who say the economy is improving, but the reality is completely different. We see it everyday. Citizens who previously bought a few chilos of product now can afford to buy half a kilo. People are restraining themselves on everything."

Mustafa Zana made a connection between the instability and lack of peace in the country and the economic crisis. "The economic crisis is due to the lack of peace and stability in a country. Without peace there is no trust, and then there is no economy, and the state and the government do not care about the people on the streets because they live in their own world. But one day the people will make them accountable for it."

Osman Bal said that people are buying much less than in the past. "There are market stands that were previously opened 6 days a week and are now opening just 2 days a week. Because unemployment is increasing. Government officials say the economic situation is good. The situation is not good. There is an economic crisis."