Turkish police threatened to “burn down” the scene where a funeral was held for two HPG guerillas in the province of Van. The people didn’t back down and bid their farewell to the two fallen fighters.
HPG guerilla Erhan Abu (Piling) who lost his life in the clashes in Zewkan village in Hakkari’s Gever district on May 25 and Yaşar Bayhan (Şoreş Mamxuran) who died in a clash in Kevenli TOKİ in Van on May 27 were laid to rest yesterday.
Abu and Bayhan’s bodies were retrieved from Akköprü morgue by hundreds of people including MEYADER, The Mothers for Peace Initiative, HDP and DBP officials. The crowd chanted “Şehîd namirin” while the bodies were leaving the morgue. The police attacked the crowd and threatened the people, saying “If I see these flags when you’re leaving, I will bring a thousand men here and I will burn this place down”.
THE PEOPLE DON’T HEED THE THREAT
The people didn’t heed the police threats and protected the bodies. The coffins draped in the red yellow and green flag were brought to Yeni neighborhood in İpekyolu district. Hundreds of people greeted the bodies in front of the Özgür Halk Derneği (Free People Association) and carried them to the cemetery while carrying trays of henna and chanting “Şehîd namirin” [Martyrs are immortal] and “Murderer Erdoğan”.
After the religious ceremony in Yeni neighborhood cemetery, the two freedom fighters were laid to rest.
FATHER BAYHAN: “WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN!”
Yaşar Bayhan’s (Şoreş Mamxuran) father Selim Bayhan said “We promise our martyrs that we will never bow down,” in his speech at the funeral. The people showed support for Bayhan’s speech with chants.
Meanwhile, a brief clash broke out between the youth of the neighborhood and the police after the burial. Police forces fired tear gas but had to retreat in the face of the resistance.
