Thousands Commemorate in Roboski, Demand for Justice

Today marked as the anniversary of Roboski Massacre, killing of 34 Kurdish civilians from Roboski and Bujeh villages--which are officially recongnized as Ortasu and Gülyazı respectively--after a Turkish military air strike days only three before 2012. Turkish state officials claim that killings were caused due to false intelligence reports provided by U.S. Army, an argument that created controversy in Turkey.

Turkish police tightened security on Riboski entrance, controlling human circulation in and out of the village with barricades. Last night several vehicles heading to Sirnak province has been halted by the police for vehicle license checks. Many individuals said they were IDed by the police in downtown Sirnak.

Several delegations arrived at Roboski this morning including Peace and Democracy Party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak, Democratic Society Party co-chairs Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, deputies from Peace and Democracy Party, MAZLUMDER Association, Dersim Associations' Federation, Peace Parliament.

Democratic Congress of Peoples also attended the ceremony with Sebahat Tuncel, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Nursel Aydoğan, Rıdvan Turan, Garo Paylan, Ferhat Tunç and Gençay Gürsoy. Delegations were received by family members who lost their beloved ones in Roboski killings.

According to Firat News Agency, the ceremony began at 10 am.

Demirtaş: Erdoğan know that civilians were targeted

"Those who suffered took fronts for freedom struggle. Kurdish people are the source of stability and instability, in Turkey and in the Middle East. If Kurds are emancipated, the region will do so too. Kurdish people will always respond the policies based on assimilation and denial," Ahmet Türk, co-chair of Democratic Society Party, said.

Peace and Democracy Party co-chair Demirtaş claimed that the air strike order that killed 34 civilians was made by PM Erdogan. "The Turkish Army is aware of this order."

Demirtaş said PM Erdogan was given a report saying that a high rank PKK officer was among 34 civilians. "But the report said the rest of the people were civilians."

Demirtaş complaint that PM Erdogan might never be held accountable for the air strike order in a foreseeable future. "No Turkish prosecutor will take this to court. Why? Because whoever died in that massacre were not Turks. Kurds were killed there. You can't order an air strike in western part of Turkey. Do you do this because there is no Kurdistan? Kurds should have their Kurdistan. No matter independent, federal or autonomous. If there is a Kurdistan, then a justice for Roboski can be found."

Kürkçü: Turkish authorities buried our hopes under these missiles

Speaking on behalf of Democratic Congress of Peoples, Peace and Democracy Party deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü said they would support Roboski people until the culprits will stand for trial.

"The missiles that fell onto Roboski people actually fell on our hopes for coexistence," Kürkçü underlined. "Turkish authorities buried our hopes under these missiles. We are struggling to create a common Turkey identity so that Kurdish people can be a part of that. You are not alone and you will never be."

Kürkçü claimed the culprits still served in the prime ministry and army, insinuating that they were the prime minister and head of army.

Ferhat Tunç, another Democratic Congress of Peoples member, said he was speaking on behalf of Dersim people. "The deadliest massacre in the Turkey's history is Dersim Massacre in 1937. Our pain didn't alleviate yet and now we suffer from Roboski Massacre, which is sort of an upgraded version. We don't differentiate these two tragedies and no apology will make it feel better. Our pain will only alleviate when repartitions will be made."

Following the speeches, many demonstrators including Diyarbakir province mayor Osman Baydemir headed to the village mosque for Juma prayer. The commemoration ceremony ended after visiting victims' graves.

In several south-eastern Kurdish districts--Derik, Nusaybin, Kızıltepe, Silvan, Bismil, Malazgirt, Şırnak, Cizre, Silopi, İdil, Uludere and Beytüşşebap--local businesses took down their shutters to commemorate the killings. (AS)