Martyr Families Say No Troops To Lebanon
"The government should resign" and "troops should not be sent to Lebanon" were the highlight of interviews with Turkish martyr families published in the mainstream national media in the past two days, somewhat breaking through a tradition of silence on comment and criticism related to developments in the Southeast region.
"Are our children less valuable then yours?" asked one relative of a soldier killed in action while the brother of another shaved his hair crew-cut military style reportedly in protest of the government. "My son is not a sacrifice" told a mother whose son was killed in an attack.
One father summed up growing sentiment among martyr families. "Instead of sending soldiers to Lebanon, they should send soldiers to Kandil".
Reaction is mixed. The government is blamed for not doing its best to control the threat of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has recently increased cross-border attacks over Iran and Iraq. News of preparations to devote troops to Lebanon appears to have boosted grief and suspicions that while dealing with that issue, Ankara is not doing its best to deal with a more pressing internal one.
The funerals of Gendarme Second Lieutenant Zeki Burak Okay, Gendarme Private Emrah Yigit, officer Ahmet Sevki Erin, Second Lieutenant Faruk Isik, private Mehmet Ozturk, private Deniz Yuzgec and expert sergeant Mustafa Dag were recently held in their hometowns throughout Turkey after they were killed in clashes with the PKK in Sirnak, Cukurca and Van on September 1, Friday.
Deniz Yuzgec (27) was from the western Turkish city of Izmir. He was recruited into military service on February 24 a month after arriving from Germany where he had lived for five years. But he will not see his birthday which he had planned to celebrate with his family on September 19.
Mother Ayfer Yuzgec says "My son is not a sacrifice. Because the state did nothing for my son. He was neither given an armored vest nor an armored vehicle. I invite the government to resign". Father Ismail Yuzgec adds that "as a father of a martyr I both have many feelings and no feelings at all" while brother Barbaros appears in a newspaper report clipping his hair military style to protest the government.
Newspapers report that Yuzgec was killed in a PKK attack while on border patrol at the Iranian border in the Saray district of Van. He died while being taken to hospital after shot at long range from PKK militants on the Iranian side of the border.
Speaking at Yuzgec's funeral ceremony held in Izmir Bostanli, his mother was quoted pleading with the Aegean Army Commander saying "please do not send soldiers to Lebanon. Let such pain not be lived there too."
From Afghanistan to Sirnak
First Lieutenant Ahmet Sevki Evin was reported as an officer of the Peace Corps in Afghanistan and appointed to the southeastern Turkish town of Sirnak only 55 days ago.
His father Abdurrahman Evin says "May God give those who have made us live this pain the same pain. May He give it to their own children".
"They don't send their own children there" Evin was quoted as complaining. "Do the children of deputies, the prime minister go there? They do not. They can't deal with a handful of looters".
First Lieutenant Evin was killed in a remote controlled bomb attack on his unit at Findik township on Friday.
In the same explosion, infantry Mehmet Ozturk died on the scene, Infantry Second Lieutenant Furkan Isik died after being hospitalized with severe injuries.
Evin leaves behind his English-teacher wife Nihal and 1-year-old son, Efe.
"Instead of troops to Lebanon end this grief"
Murat Ozturk was informed of the death of his conscript younger brother Mehmet in Sirnak at a local police station. Quoted by the press, he explained, "We had lost our father two years ago.
The day before he [Mehmet Ozturk] called me and my mother, telling us he would be out on an operation and that if we could not reach him, there was nothing to be concerned about. Instead of sending troops to Lebanon, the government should end such pain and grief".
Mother of six children, Emine Ozturk heard of the loss of her son in the western town of Bursa where she was called on grounds of someone being ill.
"This is an incident we expected" she said. My baby, when he came on leave 3.5 months ago told me and others he saw 'I will return as a martyr. I will not return normally'. What he said happened."
Furkan Isik's web site never finished
Infantry Second Lieutenant Furkan Isik who was killed in Sirnak was working on a private web site before his military service. But in the lack of time, he wrote on its home page "To be with you in March 2007".
Frequently speaking to friends from Sirnak, Isik was quoted telling them how bad the situation was and warning them that he might not return.
Neriman Okay: I did not send my son to die
Second Lieutenant Zeki Burak Okay (25) was a computer engineer who got engaged months ago and started his military service only a month ago.
Says mother Neriman Okay, "I sent my son to good schools. I did not send him to military service to die. It is time these are accounted for. I am telling them, they should not send soldiers to Lebanon".
"Those who sign the law to send soldiers to Lebanon" she adds, "should send their own children there".
Father Sezai Okay continues, "My son did not fire a single shot. How can he protect the border?." He refuses to accept his child is a permissible sacrifice for the country.
"If they send soldiers to Lebanon I'll be at their collars"
"My son is not a martyr. My son did not make war in Gallipoli. He did not fight at Inonu. He did not fight at Anafartalar" says father Sezai Okay. "My son was killed in a war that no one knows what its about. It is not clear what this is for".
"The name of this is not a war. Is it not a pitty for this country. Instead of Lebanon, send soldiers to Kandil mountain. If these politicians send soldiers to Lebanon, let my two hands be at their collars".
Father Okay also called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying, "My son, just like your son, was educated at the best schools in America. Why do you not send your con to fight with the PKK? Are our sons worth less?" as he cried.
At a touching funeral ceremony held for Burak Okay and Mehmet Ozturk, mothers of both deceased were portrayed embracing each other in tears and Neriman Okay telling Emine Ozturk, "I am the only one who can understand your grief and pain. They have had our sons killed".
More deaths and more grief
Yet another PKK attack on Friday, using long range rifles and rockets, claimed the life of Gendarme Second Lieutenant Zeki Burak Okay (25) and Gendarme private Emrah Yigit (21). The three hour clash between PKK militants and security forces under attack at gendarme sentry posts in the Cukurca district of Hakkari, left behind two injured.
Kocatepe mosque echoed with the scream of Private Emrah Yigit's mother. Elif Yigit, in a funeral ceremony attended by the Chief of General Staff and Force Commanders, cries in public while heard saying "the commanders have come for a wedding".
Other relatives are quoted shouting "Don't send soldiers elsewhere. First clean out the PKK". (BA/II/YE)
* This news report is a compilation of reports that have appeared in the Sunday and Monday issues of Turkey's mainstream Hurriyet, Milliyet and Sabah newspapers.