20-year-old Struggle for Justice in Galatasaray Square

Saturday Mothers/People have been demanding justice for missing ones to be found and for their offenders to be put on trial 20 years in Galatasaray Square since the first sit-in which was staged in May 27, 1995.

Justice was demanded in sit-in around the candles and the photos of the missing people. All political parties and democratic public opinion were called on ”Help us to struggle with enforced disappearances and to find the offenders.”

 “Don’t forget, only justice heals. We’ll keep struggling until the justice is secured.”

Nothing has been done for 20 years

It was explained on behalf of İstanbul Branch of Human Rights Association’s International Coalition against Enforced Disappearance: “In 1995, the jurisdiction was suspended and the media was a liar.”

Since February 7, 2009 family members of missing people has started to protest in Southeastern cities like Diyarbakır, Urfa, Batman, Cizre and Yüksekova.

“For 20 years, ruling parties have done nothing about our missing people and their offenders but made a few nominal attempts.

“In 2011, former PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan promised Saturday Mothers but he didn’t keep his end of the bargain. 

“We didn’t get a result from neither jurisdiction nor Grand National Assembly of Turkey’s Commission of Human Rights.

“Enforced disappearance is a crime against the humanity. This crime making family members of missing people feel “numb” continues until the offenders are found and put on trial. None of the political parties should keep this practice. None of them can do it.

20-year-old demands for justice

*Turkey should make law and create a truth and reconciliation commission equipped with broad authority.

*Turkey should be a part of United Nations' International Contract of Protecting People without Enforced Disappearance.

*Turkey must ban enforced disappearanace and recognize it as a crime against humanity. It must be guaranteed for the case not to be prescribed.

*Prosecutors should make a move officially and identify the offenders among the security and military police units.

 * In order not to allow the repetition of the same incidents, "internal security act" must be abolished.

 * Judicial policemen units should be created and linked to public prosecution office.

 * Impunity policy must be abandoned for public officers. (BK/BD)

 * Photo Credit: Twitter / direnisteyizorg

 Click here to read this article in Turkish