The Justice for Roboski Initiative held a press conference on the 9th year of the Roboski Massacre that killed 34 people, 19 of whom were children, as a result of a bombardment of Turkish fighter jets in the Roboski village of Uludere district in Şırnak.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) central executive committee member Nuray Çevirmen spoke at the meeting held at the Headquarter of the Human Rights Association (IHD). “For 114 months, a village, a people, a society, a country have been seeking justice together. The commission established by the parliament did not yield any results and sustained the legal impunity. Roboski is a symbol of cruelty that does not even give a chance to our people, who are condemned to earn their living on the back of mules through smuggling on the borders, to lead a life,” Çevirmen said.

Çevirmen said it is inevitable that massacres will continue in countries where conflicts not resolved, and confrontations are not officially promoted. “Geography is not destiny; people should live in peace and with equal rights and freedoms in a country. It is our most natural right to live without fear of death, to live a fair and free life in this geography. This is not a favour by governments. It is our natural and innate right.”

Çevirmen recalled the application submitted on April 9 to the Constitutional Court (AYM) by the families of the Roboski massacre victims. “There can be no explanation to leave massacres unpunished. The Roboski Massacre shows that the justice system has collapsed in Turkey. The most fundamental duty of the state is to protect the right to life which is guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.”

MURDER OF DENİZ POYRAZ

Çevirmen addressed the attack on the HDP İzmir headquarter and the murder of Deniz Poyraz. “Political party officials, employees, individuals, groups, dissidents and journalists are attacked because of the hate speech disseminated by the government. We have moved away from being a peaceful society and have become a country where violence dominates. All of these are the outcomes of the injustice and lawlessness in this country.”

'JUSTICE WILL NOT PREVAIL IN TURKEY IF DELAYED FOR ROBOSKI'

Çevirmen emphasized that justice will not prevail in Turkey if justice is delayed in the Roboski Massacre. “We will all use our right to object to war and violence that have destroyed all human life and freedoms, especially Roboski. The state, war, impunity and lack of law and justice are the main reasons of problems. No massacre is subjected to statute of limitations. Unless light is shed on the Roboski Massacre, there will be no civilization and democratization in Turkey's politics. We promote justice and peaceful co-existence. The Roboski Massacre is a test for the state and government. Roboski is a shame, a bleeding wound and a search for justice in this country.”