Roboski Massacre Commemorated on Its Third Anniversary

Thousands gathered in the southeastern village of Roboski yesterday in order to commemorate the killing of 34 civilians by a Turkish military airstrike on its third anniversary. Several protests were organized across Turkey. 

The commemoration area was decorated with flag associated with the military wing of PKK as well as posters of Abdullah Öcalan - jailed PKK leader. Several banners condemned the killings which they named as massacre. 

The ceremony in Roboski was also attended by several politician including chairpeople of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish parties (DTK, DBP, HDP) as well as various mayors from the southeastern region. 

Addressing the crowd, Kurdish leaders reminded on the impunity on the investigation and pledged to continue the struggle. 

Following the speeches, messages from neighboring universities were read and a march has been initiated to reach the graves of 34 civilians. 

On Saturday, Human Rights Association representatives as well as Republican People’s Party Vice Chairman Sezgin Tanrıkulu and deputy 

Levent Gök paid a visit to Roboski families. 

On the other hand, several protests have been organized across Turkey where activists held symbolic coffins, left coronaries and lit candles.  

DTK and HDK release statements 

Some of the highlights from Democratic Society Congress’s (DTK) statement are as follows:

“Roboski is the most actual name and symbol of the state’s killings. Roboski Massacre is the icon of portraying your own people as enemy and acting with the law of the enemy with scorn. 

“As Democratic Society Congress, we claim that justice can’t be done, democracy can’t exist without facing Roboski.”

Some of the highlights from People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) statement are as follows:

“As HDK, we know that Kurdish people’s pain can’t be alleviated but reducing it is through justice making. We know that the most important step towards the coexistence of all peoples within their demands of democracy, equality and freedom is through facing the truth and making of justice. As HDK, we will follow up on the punishing of those political and military culprits who gave or executed the killing order.” (ÇT/BM)

* bianet used content from yüksekovahaber.com website for this article. 

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.