Masses commemorated the 34 civilians massacred in a Turkish air raid in the village of Roboski in Şırnak province eleven years ago, vowing that the struggle for justice will continue until those responsible are held accountable.
Victims of the 28 December 2011 massacre were remembered in Roboski on Wednesday. Near the village in the district of Uludure, province of Şırnak, 34 Kurds, including 19 minors, were killed eleven years ago by a targeted air attack by the Turkish army. To this day, no one has been punished for the cruel crime.
The commemoration ceremony took place at the Roboski cemetery. Many people had travelled from other provinces, including HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Chairperson Pervin Buldan, DBP (Democratic Regions Party) Chairperson Saliha Aydeniz, DTK (Democratic Society Congress) Chairperson Berdan Öztürk and Bar Association President Erinç Sağkan. The turnout was larger than in previous years, with the slogan "Şehîd namirin" (Martyrs are immortal) being chanted repeatedly.
Many speeches were made at the commemoration. HDP Istanbul provincial co-chair Ferhat Encü, who lost several relatives in the massacre, spoke about the struggle for justice that has been going on for eleven years. The president of the Şirnak Bar Association, Rojhat Dilsiz, stressed that the struggle would continue until those responsible for the air strike were brought to justice. Erinç Sağkan, President of the Bar Association of Turkey (TBB), said in a speech that he felt shame every time he visited Roboski: "In a way, we all have a part in the fact that justice has not been achieved until today and the pain continues unabated.”
HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan said in her speech that the unpunished Roboski massacre was a disgrace for Turkey: "No effective investigations have taken place and the perpetrators have not been punished. Yet it is clear who the commanders and perpetrators are."
“The same mentality is behind the massacre as behind countless other massacres,” Buldan stated and continued: "Yesterday, a single person was convicted for the murder of Deniz Poyraz in Izmir. Those behind the murder, who commanded and financed the murderer, were not charged. The conviction of a single perpetrator is an attempt to close the case. However, none of these massacres were committed by a lone perpetrator. The killers have certain forces behind them. Therefore, we promise the bereaved families that we will continue to fight until those responsible are brought to justice. You are not alone; millions of people are behind you."
