Turkey: commemoration of the March 12 massacre in 1995 in Gazi/Ista

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

Report on this year's commemoration of the March 12 massacre in 1995
in Gazi/Istanbul

Already several days before March 12, on which there are
commemorations and demonstrations held annually  about the Gazi
massacre of 1995, the police terror started in the Istanbul
neighbourhood. 

Police post were deployed at the exit and entrance roads of the
neighbourhood. On March 11, the police entered all the houses with
force and countless people were arrested. Already one week before
March 12, police forces searched all new buildings and cellars.  Cross
roads were controlled by the police. Policemen, special teams and
soldiers were deployed. On the afternoon of March 11, the entrance and
exit roads of Gazi were controlled by the police and numerous people
were arrested. Special teams took position on roofs. The state's aim
was to prevent this year's commemoration.

On March 11, even more state forces were deployed. The relatives of
the victims of Gazi made a dinner in the Alevi Community Centre
(Cemevi) were many people gathered. The Cemevi board had invited the
police chiefs who had been personally responsible for the 1995
massacre. This attitude caused protests from the relatives of the
murdered and some declared: "Now we see how the board comes up for the
martyrs". On March 12, at 10 a.m., the entrance to Gazi was banned,
all vans and busses were stopped and the people were taken out with
violence, searched and brought to cellars. The inhabitants of the
neighbourhood were forced into their houses. The people's enemies
directed their weapons against the people to intimidate them and to
prevent them from participating in the commemoration. Members from the
press tried to enter the neighbourhood as well. But only very few were
allowed in and most only received permission when the demonstration
was finished already. The people from Okmeydani and Alibeykoey were
not allowed to pass the police barricades, and many were arrested.

More than 2000 people tried to enter the neighbourhood and more than
1000 of them were arrested.  All the streets and cross roads to the
Cemevi were occupied by the police to prevent participation in the
commemoration. And the Cemevi itself, where the commemoration was to
start, was surrounded by police forces. However, some 600 people
managed to gather in front of the building and at 11.30 a.m. they
began to march behind the banner of the Gazi People's Council. They
went into the direction of the tea-house where the first martyr of the
1995 massacre, Halil Kaya, had been killed. The demonstrators shouted
the slogans: "DO NOT REMAIN SILENT, WHEN YOU KEEP SILENT, YOU'LL BE
NEXT!" "THE PEOPLE OF GAZI ARE HERE, WHERE ARE THE MURDERERS!" "PEOPLE
OF OURS, JOIN TO DEMAND JUSTICE!" "LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE'S JUSTICE!"
"WE ARE THE PEOPLE, WE ARE RIGHT, WE WILL WIN!" A press statement was
read at the first stop by the Commemoration Committee, protesting the
1995 massacre. Carnations were left behind and the march continued in
the direction of the grave yard.

While the crowd went on its way, they were surrounded by special
forces who tried to intimidate the people with gestures. Other people,
coming from cross roads and attempting to join the commemoration, were
cut off. Thereupon the relatives of the martyrs, People's Council
members and other political groups started a sit-down action to force
the joining of these people. During this action, the Gazi
Commemoration Committee - which had made promises to the police -
urged the people to move on. They stated: "We will bring these people
to the square, we've got everything under control. The police will
allow these people through." Then the people who were waiting in the
cross roads were attacked by the police and there were violent
confrontations. Many people were wounded and arrested. Again there
were slogans: "THE MURDERER OF GAZI IS THE SUSURLUK STATE!" "THE
ATTACKERS CANNOT INTIMIDATE US!" "THE GAZI MARTYRS ARE IMMORTAL!"
"LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTIONARY SOLIDARITY" The relatives sang
lamentations at the graves of their murdered children, embracing each
other. Carnations were left at the scene and then the relatives read
poems. Speeches were held. A member of the Gazi People's Council
emphasised in his speech that it wasn't all right to trust the police
and that their courtesy was not sincere. He concluded his speech with
the words: "The Gazi Trial belongs to us all and we must participate
in it". After a statement of the Cemevi board and the father of Zeynep
Polat, murdered in Gazi, the people returned to the Cemevi. There were
slogans in front of the Cemevi and people sang. A final statement was
read.

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan!
Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org                          
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