Peace Group in Diyarbakır: Streets Quiet, Gunshots from Sur
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Peace Gorup members consist of people independent from organizations reached in Diyarbakır last morning (December 29).
The members are getting prepared for the meeting to be held at Sümerpark at 12:30 p.m.
In the meeting, Türkan Elçi, the wife of Diyarbakır Bar President, Tahir Elçi, murdered in Sur district of Diyarbakır province in November, is going to give a speech after Rakel Dink, the wife of journalist Hrant Dink who felt victim to assassination in 2007. Peace call will be made on behalf of the group in the meeting and that call for the parliament to resume negotiations as to Kurdish question and take active role in solution.
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The prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul on January 19, 2007. Dink was a newspaper editor who had written and spoken about the Armenian Genocide, well known for his efforts for reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and his advocacy of human and minority rights in Turkey. He had been under prosecution for violating Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code and "denigrating Turkishness". His murder sparked both massive national protests in Turkey itself as well as widespread international outrage. Source: Wikipedia |
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Önderoğlu: We visited peace messenger
Erol Önderoğlu from Peace Group whom we spoke with said they visited grave of Tahir Elçi as a group. Önderoğlu saying it was important for them to visit “peace messenger” remarks that Yeniköy Asri Cemetery demonstrates violence of war.
“There are so many graves…We went to Tahir Elçi’s grave passing by graves of youngsters. The graveyard director said the number of graves of who lost their lives in Rojava has increased. However, as you proceed by reading the tombstones, you see how the conflict that has begun as of the beginning of 2000s has intensified.
“When we arrived at the cemetery, it was quiet. In fact, Diyarbakır is quiet as well. We didn’t see any police nor soldier from the airport to Sümerpark. The streets were almost empty, but we heard gunshots and booms from Sur. The Diyarbakır residents we spoke with said police and military vehicles are retreating from the main street. We later learned that curfew has been lifted in Gazi Street”.
Tunç: We will march towards Monument of Love
Ferhat Tunç from Peace Group also says that Diyarbakır is quite. He reminds too that the curfew in Gazi Street has been lifted. Tunç notes that the marching towards Monument of Love after reading the declaration is important, and they will call for peace at a point close to Suriçi. (HK/TK)
“Elçi means messenger