Dersim Massacre Protested

Dersim people marched from Tunel to Taksim Square on Saturday, May 5 accompanied with applauses and slogans at the 75. Anniversary of "1938 Massacre" decision on May 4, 1937.

Protestors carried "Do not forget 1938 Dersim Massacre", "They should apologize from Dersim people", "We are brothers and we are here for freedom" banners and shouted "Dersim, Sivas, Kongiri, none of them is forgotten", "Dersim 1938 is a massacre", "Do not keep quiet, shout for the brotherhood of people" slogans.

When the group came in front of Galatasaray High School, they saw the commemoration stand for Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan and Hüseyin İnan who were executed on May 6, 1972 and they shouted "Martyrs of revolution are immortal" slogans to give support to this act.

The largest chain of crimes: Dersim Massacre

Dersim people staged a sit in for a while in front of Republican People's Party (CHP) Beyoğlu District Center and they asked CHP to apologize and they shouted "Killer state, killer CHP" slogans.

When they were at the tram stop, the Head of Dersim Associations Federation Özkan Tacer read the press statement and said "Dersim Massacre is one of the biggest crime chains against the people in Anatolia who didn't comply with the official ideology."

"As Dersim Associations Federation, we commemorate May 4 as "Tertele Dersim (Dersim Massacre in Zaza language) because 1937-38 massacre began with the Council of Minister's decision.  We call government officials to face with their own history.

"Inquiry Commission for Dersim Truths" should be established

"What happened in 1937-1938 should be accepted as 'massacre' and 'Inquiry Commission for Dersim Truths' should be established. Opening the archives would be a positive approach however we are concerned about the statements of Turkish General Staff like " We're classifying", "We pay attention to the privacy decision"

"The names of the people who killed thousands of innocent people are given to streets, airports, barracks of Dersim as if they are heroes. Is it so hard to remove them? It's such an easy step, why don't you do it?" Tacer addressed to prime minister.

Tacer also addressed to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu "Face with the realities clearly and boldly, face with the past policies and the role of your party in the massacre and act accordingly."

Peace and Democracy Party  (BDP) Batman Deputy Hüsamettin Zenderlioğlu was also there to support the group and he made his speech in Zaza Language. (RDY/ÇT)

* Groups supporting the press release: ABF (Alevi Bektashi Federation), AKA-DER (Anatolia Research and Culture Association), DHF (Confederation of Democratic Rights), Divrigi Cultural Association, Hubyar Sultan Alevi Cultural Association, Pirsultan Abdal Cultural Associations, 78'ers Turkey Initiative, Y.A.D (Tree of Life Association), Party of Love and Revolution, European Dersim Initiative