Izmir Martyr Families: No Rush for Solving Kurdish Question

Nurettin Yeşilbağ, Head of the Izmir Martyrs Families Human Rights and Aid Association points out, "We support a solution of the problem. We do not want anybody to suffer from the loss of a child". The association has about 300 members and provides legal support to families of soldiers that were killed in the clashes with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Association announced to absent themselves from the "No to treason initiatives" meeting taking place in Izmir on 8 November. The meeting is organized by the Labour Party, the Izmir Bar Association and the Retired Officers Spouses Association.

Yeşilbağ talked to bianet to explain why the association will not take part in the meeting.

"Cyprus and Armenia are also on the agenda of the meeting. We are certainly concerned about them. However, these groups are actually not our issue as the martyr families. If we deal with them we will meddle into politics, which would oppose our association's principle of being independent of politics".

"We do not want anybody to suffer from the loss of a child"

bianet talked to Yeşilbağ about the government's Kurdish initiative, how to approach the problem and the possibilities of a solution. These are some of Yeşilbağ's viewpoints and suggestions:

We do not oppose the initiative: We are not against the opening process. But this process is not managed well. No details have been given for months. The peace groups that came from Habur to Turkey, the show of the organization, it turned into a show of the supporters. The people perceive this as if negotiations have started with the terrorists. This will create further national separation rather than unity. We were quite bothered about the extended media coverage saying "This must be understood as joy".

We support a solution of the problem: Of course we support a solution of the problem. As families that lost a child we do not want any other families to suffer from the loss of one of their children. But we want the law to be kept in line with the state, we want the law to be applied equally to everybody, as long as there is regret people should benefit from the law on repentance. We find it disturbing that criminals are lumped together with people serving the country.

We should not rush: Everything will turn out in time as a part of the process. We do not have to rush that much. We have not even given a name to the initiative yet. If we conduct the initiative by focussing on certain ethnic roots, we will highlight one group as the target. I am afraid this will pave the way for social violence, I am afraid a Turk might harm a Kurd and a Kurd might harm a Turk. The societal psychology needs to be prepared. This is the result of the politics we lived for the last 30 years. It is difficult to solve this within 3 or 5 months.

Solution: They [the PKK members] should come, no matter whether from abroad or from the mountains, they should share their regret of harming the country with the public. The ones that have committed criminal offences should be investigated according to the law as soon as possible. The person in İmralı [imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan] should be impeded to manage the organization any further. DTP MPs should refrain from referring to Öcalan as their leader.

The ones who lost their children share the grief, but: I do not know if the mothers and fathers who lost their children in the mountains share the same grief as we do. Whatever the child did, the grief to lose a child hurts. I share the grief and understand it, the hearts are burning. But only as far as it does not come to "we have to forgive the child". Just because we share the same grief I cannot forgive your child for what he or she has done, I cannot approve it. I met with those parents before, I just greeted them.

The mothers and fathers of the children who were tempted by the organization to harm the state should first of all acknowledge the mistake of their children. They have to say, "My child made a mistake, I do not approve it, it is not my fault. I did everything possible to make him/her come down from the mountains".

Democratic rights are the rights of all citizens: The wish to live in a secure state, to benefit from democratic rights and to feel like a 'first class' citizen are the most natural rights. The state should separate between the organization and the people. It has to prevent all kinds of intimidation and oppression. This is only possible with the military. Together with the fight against terrorism we need permanent preventions. First of all the land reform. After that we have to improve the level of education. We cannot use these rights if we continue with the feudal structures and if the clan culture does not leave room for individuals. The ones holding the state power have to implement democratic, social and legal state principal into daily life. The state should not fray.

The ones responsible for unknown suspects should be prosecuted: If there is a rule of law, the laws have to be applied equally to everyone. Also the ones who act beyond the law under the cover of the state's struggle against terrorism should be prosecuted and penalized. (TK/VK)