It has been 55 days since Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society", which was made public on 27 February. However, no concrete step has yet been taken by the government and the state. Families who lost their relatives during the conflict continue to call on the state to take steps.

 

Sinem Bor lost her son, 3 grandchildren and two nephews in the clashes. She demanded that the process be embraced.

 

6 MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY LOST THEIR LIVES 

 

Serhildan Bor (Sidar Zagros), grandchildren of 75 years old Sinem Bor, who lives in Gever district of Colemêrg (Hakkari), died on 19 June 2020 in Zap and Aysel Bor (Evîndar Gelî) died on 26 August 2015 in Şirnex (Şırnak). The body of her grandson Barış Bor (Cudi Gever), who also lost his life in the clashes, could not be reached. Her nephew Erhan Aşkan (Şevger Gever) died during the curfews in Cîzîr (Cizre) district of Şirnex and Agit Bor (Boran) died during the clashes in Besta in 2016. Sinem Bor's son Ali Bor (Gever Zafer) also died in a clash in Kato on 28 October 2018.

 

SON, NEPHEW AND GRANDSON IMPRISONED 

 

Sinem Bor's son Cemil Bor, who did not give up the struggle despite all the pain they have suffered, is imprisoned on charges of "terrorist organization membership", her grandson Fırat Bor and her nephew Metin Aşkan are imprisoned on charges of "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state". One of their sons, Veysel Bor, is living in exile due to state repression.

 

Sinem Bor, who actively participates in the Gever Peace Mothers' Assembly, said that they are struggling for an honourable life. Stating that a free world where no one dies should be built, Sinem Bor said that only in an equal and free environment can peoples live together. Sinem Bor moved to Gever 45 years ago. She said that after her children participated in political party activities in the 1990s, she became involved in the activities of the Peace Mothers. Sinem Bor stated that she was subjected to pressure from her neighbourhood after taking part in the organisation and said, "When I first started, everyone was against it. 'What are you doing in these activities? Your children will be ruined'. However, they always said, 'This struggle is a blessed and glorious cause. How will Kurds have rights if we don't take part? This struggle is the only way for this people to get rid of the oppression they face." The struggle became a matter of will and conscience for me. Today and tomorrow, everyone needs to take matters into their own hands and act with their conscience. We cannot save our children from this oppression in any other way."

 

'CLOSER TO VICTORY THAN YESTERDAY' 

 

Sinem Bor said that she first encountered the oppression and persecution of the state when her son Veysel Bor took part in political activities. Sinem Bor said: "My son was kidnapped by the police, detained for 40 days and tortured. When I saw him in that situation, I screamed and wailed. His face was as black as coal. 'Why did they do this to my son? What was his crime?' I asked him, but he told me to keep quiet so that no harm would come to me. At that moment, I kept silent in despair. They asked me to bring blankets and food for my son. However, they had taken him to Colemêrg by the time I returned. When I went to Colemêrg, I learnt that he had been transferred to Wan (Van) and from there to Mûş Prison. They were officially kidnapping my son from me. My son stayed in prison for about a year. Then my other son, Ali, refused to accept all that we had been through and joined the PKK. That's when our struggle started with Veysel and Ali."

 

Sinem Bor said, "We paid a very heavy price, just for a free, equal and peaceful life like every other people. My heart and lungs are burning. For 15 years, I have struggled for peace without interruption. Due to the paralysis I had, my face and the left side of my arm are paralysed. My feet can no longer carry me. My knees are untied. But despite this, I have always been ready to fight for peace. Let this war stop. My lungs are burnt, other mothers should not be burnt. This includes the mothers of soldiers and police officers. Our ideas may be different, but our pain is common".

 

Pointing out that victory in the struggle is closer than yesterday, Sinem Bor added: "After the call made by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February, every day passes with great morale and excitement. The initiated process has created great hope in the people. We see this process as positive and valuable. We support it to the end. The state needs to take a step now. Amnesty should be issued. If the state is really sincere, release political prisoners. The doors of prisons should be opened as soon as possible. This people cannot bear any more pain."

 

MA / Ruken Polat-Mazlum Engindeniz