Call to the government from families of martyrs and veterans on hunger strike

Families of fallen soldiers and veterans who served as privates and non-commissioned officers from all across Turkey have been waiting at Ankara's Güvenpark for nearly a month, demanding the elimination of disparities in salaries, healthcare, prosthetics, and social rights compared to ranked personnel. The sit-in, which began on July 13, turned into a hunger strike as of August 4 after their demands were not met.

YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel, who arrived with party members to visit the protesters, reiterated his message of support in his statement, telling the families of martyrs and veterans, "We are by your side until everyone says, 'I am satisfied with this regulation.'" He added, "Our struggle will continue until your rights are fully delivered."

Stating that the proposals discussed in the commissions formed in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) do not meet their demands, the protesters also held a demonstration in front of the Parliament gates. Veterans are demanding the urgent elimination of the rights disparities between them and ranked personnel.

YENİ Party leader Özel visited the site accompanied by retired Rear Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu and party members. Recalling that he had also visited to show support in the past as the Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Özel reiterated that they stand with the struggle of the families of martyrs and veterans.

"ALL DEMANDS MUST BE ENACTED INTO LAW"

Families of martyrs and veterans state that the prepared regulations do not meet their expectations. In his speech, Özel shared the following views:

"We have been following this struggle closely since the first day. If the comprehensive 19-article proposal we prepared is enacted, no family of a martyr or veteran in Turkey will have any remaining expectations. However, instead of our comprehensive proposal that has been waiting in Parliament for two years, the introduction of new proposals that bring piecemeal solutions to some problems does not meet expectations. Instead of piecemeal regulations, it is essential to enact a holistic legal regulation that will solve all problems."

Emphasizing that the newly presented regulations improve some articles but remain far from meeting the core demands, Özel said, "We do not see a will that fully meets our demands, such as the salary issue of a martyr's family based on rank differences or the granting of an honor pension to those not considered veterans."

Furthermore, noting that the scope of the new legislative proposal sent to the commission is narrow, Özel pointed out that significant public awareness has been created as a result of the determination in the struggle.

In his statement, Özel also touched upon the importance of silencing weapons completely in Turkey's fight against terrorism and producing permanent solutions on a democratic basis, saying, "If we want to solve the terror problem permanently, the expectations of our veterans and families of martyrs must also be met in full."

REACTIONS ROSE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION

One of the veterans, stating that their requests were not sufficiently taken into account during the meetings, directed harsh criticisms at the commission and the Chairman of the National Defense Commission. He expressed his reaction with the words, "Shame on you! Shame on that National Defense Commission Chairman. Shame on the deputy sitting across from him, and the member of parliament. They said, 'We worked for two and a half years to prepare this.' If a terrorist organization had prepared this law, they would have prepared a much better one."

Saying that their demands have not been met for years, the veterans shared their disappointment with the words, "We are people whose lives were extinguished at the age of 20. This is not what we deserve." Another veteran showed his reaction to the authorities by saying, "I do not forgive the Ministry of National Defense, which claims to be working on this law but puts us on the back burner, nor anyone who uses us on the front lines and then throws us aside like trash."

Those on hunger strike stated that their demands must be taken into account in the new legislative work, trying to make their voices heard with the words, "None of the families of martyrs and veterans accept this regulation. If you make the families of martyrs and veterans cry with this framework law, we will not forgive you either."

The protesters called on all decision-makers, saying, "Please evaluate, measure, and weigh this very well. I leave whatever decision you make to your conscience. I sincerely believe that you will stand against this process."

News Source: 12punto