National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission Meets for the 4th Time: Families who have lived the pain speak out

CHP İstanbul Deputy Turan Taşkın Özer emphasized at the meeting that the commission should not focus solely on disarmament and narrow regulations.

Stating that the end of conflicts alone would not ensure peace, Özer said, "Peace is achieved by including society and through a general order of democratization, law, and justice. What will ensure this result is to establish a foundation for total democratization within this commission."

Reacting to the corruption investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Özer said, "To hope for discussions on democracy, unity, brotherhood, and peace after detaining the elected will is to mock reason.

How are we to build and protect the strong Turkey against external threats and the fortification of the internal front, which are voiced in this commission, without ensuring internal peace in our country, ending the law of enmity, and abandoning games set up with political calculations?" he asked.

THANKS FROM THE DIYARBAKIR MOTHERS

Bedriye Uslu, one of the Diyarbakır mothers, thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli. Stating that she greets the mothers of martyrs with her heart, Uslu said she came for her son. Expressing that their children are missing, Uslu said, "The Turkish flag is enough for all of us. Let them return under the flag."

Süleyman Aydın stated that his son joined the terrorist organization PKK 10 years ago and said, "I have not known for 10 years whether my son is dead or alive. We want our children."

Aydın stated that he has not received any news for 10 years from his son, Özkan Aydın, who was deceived and taken away at the age of 15, and that they are on a 'vigil for their children,' adding, "Our children should have been students, but unfortunately they were kidnapped to the mountains. We have been keeping watch for 6 years; we have struggled regardless of snow, winter, or the pandemic."

'WE WANT OUR CHILDREN'

Stating that he went to the rural areas of Lice to retrieve his son and was told by the organization, "Your child is in our hands, but we will not give him back," Aydın asked, "Can such a thing be possible?"

Expressing that developments regarding the terrorist organization laying down arms have given them hope, Aydın said, "We want our children; we did not raise our children for the terrorist organization PKK. Let them return our children. We thank our President, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, and all of you, our esteemed deputies, who initiated a Terror-Free Turkey, very much. You are our hope right now. We are pleading with you. Reunite the Diyarbakır mothers with their children. As more than 300-400 mothers and fathers, we are all victims of terrorism. We want our children."

Stating that he is addressing everyone as a father, Aydın said, "What would you do if your children did not come home for an hour? I am sure you would raise hell. But I have been separated from my child for 10 years. I have never been able to see my child. Because we are protesting and demanding my child, they occasionally share news of my child's death. They force my child to speak at gunpoint. My child says, 'I don't want my mother and father.' Which child does not want their mother and father? The terrorist organization PKK occasionally shares posts about my child. They say, 'Özkan Aydın died in 2017.' Then give me my body? Am I not Kurdish? I am also Kurdish. You say, 'We are fighting for the Kurds,' yet you take a stand against Kurds. As a Kurdish father, give me my child's body. At least let him have a grave."

"MY WIFE HAS BECOME A BROKEN PERSON"

Aydın said, "After my child was kidnapped, my wife has been receiving medical treatment; she has become a broken person. What right do they have to make us live through this cruelty?"

Thanking President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Aydın said, "May God be pleased with him; 62 of our children have been rescued in this struggle. Our request from you is that priority be given to our children in future surrenders. Let our children come home, let them not be punished, let a commission be established. We want our children, we do not want anything else."

'LAYING DOWN ARMS IS NOT ENOUGH'

Ayşegül Biçer, one of the Diyarbakır mothers, stated that they have been keeping watch for 2,178 days, that there are 384 families in the vigil, and that 62 families have been reunited with their children through the struggle waged with a mother's heart without firing a single shot, and the efforts of law enforcement.

Biçer explained that her son Mustafa was taken from her when he was 16 years old, and that she had been keeping watch in front of the HDP Provincial Headquarters in Diyarbakır for 2 years. Biçer stated that her son Mustafa surrendered to security forces and returned home.

Emphasizing that the pain of the mothers who have been keeping the 'child vigil' for years must come to an end, Biçer said, "Laying down arms is not enough. Innocent young people who were taken by force or through deception must be allowed to return to their families. Among these young people are those who are disabled, sick, wounded, and weak. We expect the terrorist organization not only to lay down its arms but also to make a humanitarian return. If there is sincerity, these children of Kurdish mothers who were taken by deception must be sent back. Mothers are waiting, hearths are burning, eyes are on the roads. I have a special invitation for you, the esteemed members of the commission, from here. Please come to Diyarbakır, sit in our tent, have a cup of tea with us, look into the eyes of the mothers there; those eyes will tell you everything. You will see things there that you cannot learn from reports."

'THE SOLUTION IS NOT AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE BUT WITH THE PEOPLE'

Stating that the solution process will not be strengthened by signatures at a negotiation table but by being with the people where the pain is experienced, Biçer said, "We are right in the middle of that pain. I call out to all people of conscience from here: give us back our children, do not make them material for politics, ideology, and weapons. Our children are the future of this country. We want our children to achieve their dreams. Our request to our esteemed commission members is that priority should be given to the Diyarbakır mothers. We want the children of our heroic mothers who have been struggling there for 7 years to be the priority."

FAMILIES OF MARTYRS: WE WAITED FOR THE PROCESS TO MATURE

The Turkey War Disabled Veterans, Martyrs' Widows and Orphans Association, the Turkey Veterans and Martyrs' Families Foundation, the Turkey Martyrs' Relatives and Veterans Solidarity Foundation, and the Turkey Combat Veterans Association also participated in the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission.

Recalling the speech made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Samsun, Mustafa Işık, Chairman of the Turkey War Disabled Veterans, Martyrs' Widows and Orphans Association, said, "Our President's statement that 'our martyr families and veterans should keep their hearts at ease. We have not done and will not do anything that will upset or hurt them' has brought relief to our hearts and has been seen by us as a guarantee. Throughout the months of debate, we waited for the process to mature, trusting in our state and our President without breaking our dignified stance. As the direct parties to the issue, we, as relatives of martyrs and veterans, came together in Ankara last week under the leadership of our Minister of Family and Social Services. We met with our state officials and representatives of political parties. We had the opportunity to hear about the process from them. We expressed the concerns and red lines of our martyr families and veterans regarding the process."

'LAYING DOWN ARMS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH'

Stating that the biggest mistake in the process lies in the language used, Işık noted that incorrect concepts have caused fractures in the minds of our society. Işık said, "This struggle was never between ethnic groups, but between our state and a bloodthirsty terrorist organization. In fact, our citizens of Kurdish origin also stand by our state against terrorism. That is why we are a nation that emphasizes brotherhood, shouting 'Martyrs do not die, the homeland is indivisible' and 'Turks and Kurds are brothers, those who discriminate are traitors' even on our most painful days when we lay our martyrs to rest. It is important in this context for the terrorist leader to realize this brotherhood and have his organization lay down its arms. But let us also state that portraying a terrorist leader as the sole representative of the Kurds harms this brotherhood."

Stating that the terrorist organization PKK has been forced to lay down its arms as a result of the state's determined and persistent fight against terrorism, Işık emphasized that as long as the extensions of the terrorist organization do not lay down their arms and continue their terrorist activities, the PKK laying down its arms alone will have no meaning. Stating that the families of martyrs and veterans are ready to make every sacrifice on the path to a terror-free Turkey, Işık said, "However, political calculations should not take precedence over national interests. The internal front must be strengthened by showing a sincere, rather than a calculating, approach."

'WE WANT TO BE IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS'

Işık stated that they want the relatives of martyrs and veterans to be permanently represented in the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, adding, "We want to be involved not just for one day, but in all commission meetings and to be part of the decision-making process."

Stating that they accept the words in President Erdoğan's letter—'There has been no room for bargaining, negotiation, concessions, or secret and base meetings at any point in this process. There will be none in the future either. No step has been or will be taken that would disturb the sacred spirits of our martyrs or hurt our martyr families and veterans'—as a guarantee from the state, Işık said, "We have announced to the public that the common desire of our martyr families and veterans is a Turkey cleared of terrorism, based on the promise given in our meetings that the terrorist leader Öcalan will never move from his place, those who participated in terrorist acts will not go unpunished, and they will not be able to walk the streets freely. We reaffirm this here."

'IT MUST BE THE COMMON CAUSE OF 85 MILLION'

Lokman Aylar, President of the Turkey Veterans and Martyrs' Families Foundation, noted that terrorism will not end without unity, stating, "The fight against terrorism is not just the issue of our soldiers and police. The fight against terrorism must be the common cause of our 85 million people. Terrorism targets all of Turkey. Terrorism must be fought not only in the mountains and across the borders, but also in our cities, on social media, in schools, and even in our minds. Therefore, the work carried out by the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission is extremely valuable and important for the future of our country. Our strongest weapon is our unity. It is the brotherhood of the Turk, the Kurd, the Laz, the Circassian, the Alevi, and the Sunni. As long as we look out for one another, terrorism will not be able to come between us."

'WE SUPPORT THE PROCESS'

Emphasizing that they support the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process to the end, Aylar stated that all members of terrorist organizations who have taken up arms must face justice. Noting that they see no harm in the rehabilitation of young people who have not taken up arms, have been deceived, and were kidnapped to the mountains, Aylar said, "Demands such as a general amnesty or the release of the terrorist organization's leader are absolutely unacceptable. It must be known that our martyr families have particular sensitivities regarding this issue. Because the leader of the terrorist organization is actually responsible for all terrorist crimes. We are also very sensitive about this matter."

Stating that he was wounded in Çukurca, Hakkari in 1996, Aylar said he lost a kidney and an eye. Removing his prosthetic eye, Aylar said, "We live in a homeland for which we have paid the price. Let no one speak on our behalf. We know very well what we are saying and what we can say. We have full confidence in our President and our state leaders. We fully support the process. We are on the side of the process. We will stand by it. Because a Terror-Free Turkey is our ideal. It is the duty of all of us to leave a happy, peaceful Republic of Turkey to our children and youth."

'A TERROR-FREE TURKEY IS OUR COMMON DESIRE'

Bilge Gürs, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Turkey Martyrs' Relatives and Veterans Solidarity Foundation, stated that she lost her father and husband as martyrs on the night of the July 15 coup attempt, and that her two sisters are also veterans.

Stating that they are here today at this historic commission to support the steps taken for a Terror-Free Turkey and to make the voices of martyrs' relatives and veterans heard on this path, Gürs said, "A Terror-Free Turkey is our common desire and greatest ideal. This process will reach success not only with the state's effort but with the joint effort of the entire society. In this process, the support of our martyr families and veterans is our strongest guarantee."

Expressing that terrorist activities are the actions of puppets of countries that are enemies of this country, Gürs said, "If terrorism is to succeed, if this state is to be divided, if our call to prayer is to be silenced, what is the point of us being a martyr's daughter, wife, mother, father, or a veteran?"

'WE WANT IT TO PROGRESS RAPIDLY'

Beyazıt Yumuk, Chairman of the Turkey Veterans Association, stated that the footage of members of the separatist terrorist organization PKK burning their weapons on July 11 was watched not only in Turkey but all over the world. Stating that Turkey has entered an irreversible path for the sake of peace, Yumuk said, "Symbolic acts of laying down or burning weapons are the strongest steps in peace-building processes. Generally, terrorist organizations around the world say 'reform first, then lay down arms.' We see that our state achieved its first success at the beginning of this process by making the laying down of arms a condition. We hope that this process will progress very rapidly."

Expressing that there may be provocateurs who want to sabotage the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, Yumuk stated that they are acting with common sense and observing the process with maturity. Conveying that they, like everyone else, do not want fire to fall into homes, Yumuk said, "We do not want a single drop of blood to be shed from our Mehmet, our Kurdish citizen, or our teacher Aybüke; we do not want them to suffer any harm. A terror-free environment of peace is very important not only for our civil servants and soldiers serving in the region but also for all our people living here. Let mothers' hearts no longer be scorched, and let children no longer embrace their fathers' coffins."

Stating that they find the process very meaningful but also have red lines, Yumuk said, "First, we want the souls of our martyrs not to be hurt, and the pride of our veterans and their relatives not to be broken. Individuals who have served terrorism must undergo a process of reintegration into society after serving their sentences according to the Turkish Penal Code. Seeing concrete steps in this regard will bring some relief to all of our hearts."

Explaining that they took the views of martyrs' families and veterans before coming to Parliament, Yumuk used the expression, "Their greatest dream and desire is also to live in a Turkey without terror."

Yumuk said, "Our second important red line is the prevention of the leadership cadre of the PKK terrorist organization from participating in social life, and that these individuals who have massacred thousands of innocent people must serve their sentences."

MEETING TOMORROW AT 14:00

Stating that the Commission will hold its fifth meeting tomorrow at 14:00, Kurtulmuş concluded the meeting by saying, "In the first part of this meeting, we will listen to the Saturday Mothers and the Peace Mothers, and in the second part, we will listen to the Human Rights Association, the Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER), the Tahir Elçi Human Rights Foundation, and the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH)."

News Source: 12punto