On Saturday (26 January), members of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) gathered in Taksim, central Istanbul, to set a sign against the rise in militarism and nationalism in the country.
Holding a banner reading “Don’t kill anyone, and don’t make anyone else kill”, the protesters said:
“We oppose the racist, nationalist and militarist mentality which blesses blood, death and war, and which encourages school children to make a flag with their blood and dream of killing and dying.”
IHD branch president Gülseren Yoleri read a statement:
“According to the latest statements, between 200 and 250 people were killed in the cross-border operations [which the Turkish Armed Forces carried out against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq]. This number does not include those who were killed when shelters and caves were bombed from the air, nor the many wounded taken to hospitals.”
“The statements did not mention any soldiers or civilians killed. They were part of an announcement that operations would continue, yet nothing was said about what was being aimed for by stepping on dead bodies.”
Yoleri described how militarism and racism had increased among the media, the army and society during this time:
Yoleri also touched on the “Ergenekon operation”, i.e. last week’s detention of 33 people suspected of membership in an ultra-nationalist gang planning a coup.
“All these events show clearly that there are planned attempts, also using state resources, to push society into chaos and violence. The aim is to destroy society’s rights and freedoms, people’s hopes fort he future, and turning them into breathing, but weak-spirited, lifeless creatures, and to ensure that the dirty machinery turns.”
Finally, Yoleri quoted Magden:
“No one should die on this soil anymore. There should be no more odes to being killed and killing in this country. Let there be no applause and tears for such pathological expressions on this soil. Let there be no more discourse of “martyrs.” (EZÖ/NZ/AG)