Human Right Association (IHD) Diyarbakır Branch will establish a mass graves foundation. The idea has been going around for years now and the main aim is to create a DNA bank as well as the search for disappeared people and PKK members upon family applications. 

The foundation will work on to locate those PKK members who were killed in clashes, as well as civilians. 

İHD Diyarbakır Branch Chairperson Raci Bilici said in a statement to present the foundation that “For decades, we have been working on the mass grave. The Turkish state has yet to make no attempts on the issue. We see this kind of initiatives in countries like ours, where there are long lasting wars. We have decided to start this foundation for this purpose.   

“The foundation will work with anthropologists as well as archeologists and psychologists. - added Bilici - We will also receive support from organizations like MEYA-DER, YAKAY-DER, Peace Mothers Initiative. The legal paperwork will be complete by January 2014.”

Bilici continued by pointing out that “There are mass graves from the era of Armenian Genocide. Similarly, there are mass graves of previous Kurdish uprisings.  And lastly, there are mass graves of those who fought in the war between PKK and Turkish state. This foundation will especially work on to shed light on the Kurdistan region.”

And he added that “The data collection in mass graves will contribute to the [peace] process. Forensics experts must do their sample collection on their own. They need to do research and investigation.  Because so many weapons were used without a permission. There were those who were captured alive and killed by torture. This foundation will shed light on these incidents.”

As to the importantce of a DNA bank, Bilici stressed that “A DNA bank must be established in order to make a health identification. We will struggle on a judicial level as well. After leaving behind these challenges, we will establish a DNA bank and all families of missing people will apply here.”

Bilici also confirmed that “Mass graves will be opened according to procedures and graves will be identified. Thousands of families will submit DNA samples to the bank. A matching will be done with graves and then graves will be submitted to the families with the help of anthropologists and archeologists. The foundation will also need psychologists because family members of those deceased are having massive traumas regarding the past.”

Bilici ended his statement by reminding that “All missing people are in the knowledge of the state. State archives have the information of these people. States must open up their archives and tell civilians where the graves are located. Because the search of these graves is a huge matter and it takes very long time. Similarly, those who were killed in this dirty war are also located in the archives of Turkish Armed Forces. They can retrieve them whenever they want it to. In Bingöl province, there is mass grave left from Sheik Said Rebellion. - he said - 98 women and children who were burnt to death. Upon that, dead bodies of 40 PKK members were buried  en masse there. We will also show the same sensitivity if we find similar graves of more ancient times. We will archive them all.”