In Kurdistan, thousands of people were abducted, killed and forcibly disappeared in the 1990s by state-organised paramilitary groups. Many families, together with civil society organisations, have carried out various actions to uncover the fate of their relatives and identify those responsible. Within this framework, the Human Rights Association (İHD) launched actions in different cities at different times.

 

İHD decided in 2009 to continue the actions, originally launched under the slogan “End enforced disappearances,” in all cities where it has branches. In Amed (Diyarbakır), the action first began on 31 January 2009 in front of the Human Rights Monument in Koşuyolu Park, and has continued for 900 weeks under the slogan “Let the disappeared be found, perpetrators be prosecuted.” Families continue to demand answers about the fate of their loved ones and accountability for those responsible.

 

Hasan Ocak, who was detained on 21 March 1995, was not heard from until 15 May 1995. On that day, his tortured body was found in a “potter’s field” cemetery in Beykoz. Following the discovery of his body, a group of 15–20 people, including journalist and writer Nadire Mater, launched a sit-in protest in Galatasaray Square on 27 May 1995 under the campaign “Do not touch my friend,” and the actions continue to this day.

 

 

İHD Amed Branch Disappeared Commission member lawyer Berfin Elçi said the association and families of the disappeared launched these actions to socialise the issue of enforced disappearances.

 

Berfin Elçi stated that since people were abducted by state or state-backed structures and families were left without information, their mourning has never ended, and that the actions have continued for 900 weeks due to the demand to learn the truth.

 

She noted that as a result of this struggle, the rate of enforced disappearances after 1995 has significantly decreased, some cases have been reopened and perpetrators identified, but impunity has prevailed. She added that although no full confrontation with the issue of disappearances has taken place, significant progress has been made in terms of socialising the struggle.

 

IHD’S DISAPPEARANCES ARCHIVE

 

Berfin Elçi stated that the “Department for the Investigation of Unsolved Murders” established under the Ministry of Justice should take responsibility for confronting the past and conduct its work accordingly, adding that they do not yet know what kind of work it will carry out. She said İHD has a comprehensive archive on political killings and enforced disappearances dating back to the 1980s and 1990s and is ready to share it with the department.

 

“Our expectation here is that they confront the past, reveal the fate of the disappeared, the perpetrators and those responsible. As İHD, we will do everything we can in this regard. We also plan to establish contact with this department,” Berfin Elçi said.

 

Stating that enforced disappearances and political killings form the foundation of transitional justice, Berfin Elçi criticised the fact that the report prepared by the commission established for a solution to the Kurdish issue contained no reference to enforced disappearances.

 

She added: “Without confronting enforced disappearances and exposing the perpetrators, even if peace is achieved, it will not become socialised.”

 

‘WE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE LAST DISAPPEARED IS FOUND’

 

Recalling that many relatives of the disappeared have passed away during the 17-year protest process in Amed, Berfin Elçi said the struggle has been sustained by those who continue to come every week. She said the persistence of the people for 17 years demonstrates their refusal to accept state denial. “This struggle will not be abandoned. Let the fate of our disappeared be revealed, state archives be opened, perpetrators be identified and prosecuted. We will continue this action until our last missing loved one is found.”

 

CALL FOR THE 900TH WEEK

 

Berfin Elçi reminded that, as every week, the 900th week of the action will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 12.00 in front of the Human Rights Monument in Koşuyolu Park in Amed.

 

She said: “For 17 years we have been demanding the same thing: ‘Let the disappeared be found, perpetrators be prosecuted.’ While renewing this demand, we call on the entire public to support the families of the disappeared and to stand with us in this strong, rightful and dignified struggle.”

 

Berfin Elçi emphasised that enforced disappearances are not only the issue of the families of the disappeared, but of society as a whole.

 

 MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıguzel