"Crimes against Humanity Have No Statute of Limitations"

On Saturday, the Saturday Mothers/People gathered in Galatasaray Square in central Istanbul for the 229th time, demanding to know the fate of hundreds of people who disappeared in custody.

This time they were supported by the Peace Mothers, a group of Kurdish women.

Demand for peace

The protesters demanded an end to the tears of soldier and guerilla women who want peace.

They also drew attention to the fact that a trial at the Diyarbakır 3rd High Criminal Court that is looking into bombings, kidnappings and murders carried out by the clandestine JİTEM (gendarmerie intelligence anti-terrorism unit) will reach its statute of limitations soon.

Fatma Türk, a relative of a person who disappeared, spoke in Kurdish, saying: "They should support our demands for peace. We want neither soldiers nor guerillas to die. We want the peace plan to be announce by the honourable Abdullah Öcalan to be supported. Don't drown mothers in any more tears."

Press criticised

Then Sultan Bozkurt, another relative of a missing person, spoke, saying that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had to go beyond words. She also criticised the press:

"Recently peace mothers and soldier mothers embraced in Diyarbakır. You wrote about this, calling the soldier mother 'mother of a martyr (şehit)' and calling the guerilla mother 'mother of a terrorist'. We condemn this attitude of the press."

Then Sebla Arcan, member of the committee against disappearances in custody of the Human Rights Association (İHD), read a press statement:

"Those who turn a blind eye to those who lost our children escaping justice will be partners in a crime against humanity. Those who cover their ears against our demands for justice must know that we are not only suing the executioners, but also them."

She added, "After the General Staff refused permission to investigate soldiers in the JİTEM trial, the 1st JİTEM trial will reach its statute of limitations in September. To allow crimes against humanity to have a statute of limitations is not a legal, but a political choice." (BÇ/AG)