Prime Suspect of Sivas Massacre Dead

Cafer Erçakmak was the prime suspect and alleged instigator of the Sivas Massacre on 2 July 1993. The Sivas massacre in central Anatolia was an attack against Alevi intellectuals and artists. 37 people lost their lives when the Madimak Hotel in Sivas was set on fire. Erçakmak was searched by Interpol on a Red Bulletin.

The Forensic Medicine Institute investigated samples from the grave that supposedly belongs to Erçakmak. The grave was opened on 15 July 2011 to conduct a DNA test in the scope of the ongoing investigation.

Waiting for last confirmation

It was now announced that according to the DNA test that used samples of Erçakmak's son Ergin Erçakmak for comparison the person in the grave is Cafer Erçakmak with a probability of 99.9 percent. Blood samples will now be taken from Erçakmak's wife Nuran Erçakmak to finalize the result. The latter samples will be compared with the DNA of her son Ergin to finally determine whether the person laid to rest is Cafer Erçakmak.

The file regarding seven fugitive defendants including Erçakmak was separated from the main case. The main suspect could not be arrested despite an arrest warrant.

The grave that allegedly belongs to Erçakmak was opened upon the request of the plaintiff lawyers as part of the investigation. Samples from the body's bones, blood and hair were taken. The report on the research of the samples that were sent the Forensic Medicine Institute was completed after 40 days.

According to the press, plaintiff lawyer Şenal Sarıhan confirmed that the prosecution received the result of the DNA test. "The result of the report states that the person in the grave is the father of Ergin Erçakmak with a probability of 99.9 percent. A DNA test of [Erçakmak's] wife was requested to finalize the result. The result will be certain after this comparison".

Sarıhan said that they were waiting for this second result. "Importance should be given to the confidentiality of the investigation. Especially news about the hiding place mean a distortion on purpose from the target. We are disturbed by that. The involved institutions should not try to avoid responsibility". (IC/VK)