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Vatan (in Turkish), Turkey
March 13 2014
First Notes on 11 March Process: Yesterday Hrant, Today Berkin
by Rusen Cakir
-I was in the United States at the time of Hrant Dink's funeral. Those
who have attended both funerals are saying that Berkin Elvan's funeral
yesterday bore great resemblance to that of Dink. As a matter of fact,
the resemblance is not in their funerals only. Both come from this
country's oppressed sections. Hrant was Armenian and Berkin Alevi. The
state is directly responsible for the death of both. And, the
murderers of both are being protected by the state.
-The people of this country who are not Alevis know the cemevis [Alevi
place of worship] only from funerals of young people whose lives were
brought to an end by the state. Had the television channels
broadcasted the sermon made by the Dede [Alevi religious leader]
yesterday, I believe many hardline Sunnis would regret being so
prejudiced against Alevis.
-Yesterday, a great number of people from different sections attended
the funeral ceremony that started at the Okmeydani cemevi and ended at
the Ferikoy cemetery. (I am not giving any numbers, but if the police
does, I am convinced that the figure should be doubled and tripled
many times.) It was a ceremony covered in slogans, clapping, prayers,
but most of all by tears. Especially when the funeral coach carrying
Berkin's body passed, women and men, young and old, everyone both
clenched their hands and cried.
-I made the way from the cemevi to the cemetery in the bus that
carried Berkin's family and the parents and siblings of the young
people, Ali Ismail, Ethem, Mehmet, who lost their lives at the Gezi
protests. Previously, the relatives of those who disappeared in
detention had formed the "Saturday Mothers," and the relatives of
intellectuals who were the victims of unsolved murders had formed the
"Social Memory Platform." Those who lost their children during the
Gezi process because of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] have
also started a similar initiative. Those families who looked after
Berkin when he was at the hospital were in the front ranks at the
funeral as well.
-The organization of yesterday's funeral ceremony was undertaken to a
great extent by a leftwing group called the "People's Front" that is
very strong in Okmeydani and its surrounding area. The ceremony ended
without any unpleasant incidents. That was also due to the fact that
all along the road there was no police presence. After the funeral,
however, once people started to disperse, the police intervention
started. Certain government supporters held the "parallel entity"
responsible for the incidents during the Gezi process. We saw,
however, that the police, whether parallel or straight, does not like
those people, that is the leftists, Alevis, or any kind of opponents.
Moreover, it is clear that the police was extremely disturbed by the
fact that such a great crowd managed to hold that grand funeral
ceremony in such dignity and solidarity. Let it feel disturbed. It is
already too late for that force. That is because, it is certain that
Turkey will change drastically with this new process that started in
the wake of the Gezi process first, then the 17 December process, and
finally that 11 March morning where 15 year-old Berkin could no longer
hold on and passed away.
We will talk about the 11 March process tomorrow.
Note: We heard that while we were saying farewell to Berkin, Egemen
Bagis called us "necrophiles." There is no shame in loving a child
that the state took away. Bagis should first respond to the corruption
allegations against him.
[Translated from Turkish]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
March 13 2014
First Notes on 11 March Process: Yesterday Hrant, Today Berkin
by Rusen Cakir
-I was in the United States at the time of Hrant Dink's funeral. Those
who have attended both funerals are saying that Berkin Elvan's funeral
yesterday bore great resemblance to that of Dink. As a matter of fact,
the resemblance is not in their funerals only. Both come from this
country's oppressed sections. Hrant was Armenian and Berkin Alevi. The
state is directly responsible for the death of both. And, the
murderers of both are being protected by the state.
-The people of this country who are not Alevis know the cemevis [Alevi
place of worship] only from funerals of young people whose lives were
brought to an end by the state. Had the television channels
broadcasted the sermon made by the Dede [Alevi religious leader]
yesterday, I believe many hardline Sunnis would regret being so
prejudiced against Alevis.
-Yesterday, a great number of people from different sections attended
the funeral ceremony that started at the Okmeydani cemevi and ended at
the Ferikoy cemetery. (I am not giving any numbers, but if the police
does, I am convinced that the figure should be doubled and tripled
many times.) It was a ceremony covered in slogans, clapping, prayers,
but most of all by tears. Especially when the funeral coach carrying
Berkin's body passed, women and men, young and old, everyone both
clenched their hands and cried.
-I made the way from the cemevi to the cemetery in the bus that
carried Berkin's family and the parents and siblings of the young
people, Ali Ismail, Ethem, Mehmet, who lost their lives at the Gezi
protests. Previously, the relatives of those who disappeared in
detention had formed the "Saturday Mothers," and the relatives of
intellectuals who were the victims of unsolved murders had formed the
"Social Memory Platform." Those who lost their children during the
Gezi process because of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] have
also started a similar initiative. Those families who looked after
Berkin when he was at the hospital were in the front ranks at the
funeral as well.
-The organization of yesterday's funeral ceremony was undertaken to a
great extent by a leftwing group called the "People's Front" that is
very strong in Okmeydani and its surrounding area. The ceremony ended
without any unpleasant incidents. That was also due to the fact that
all along the road there was no police presence. After the funeral,
however, once people started to disperse, the police intervention
started. Certain government supporters held the "parallel entity"
responsible for the incidents during the Gezi process. We saw,
however, that the police, whether parallel or straight, does not like
those people, that is the leftists, Alevis, or any kind of opponents.
Moreover, it is clear that the police was extremely disturbed by the
fact that such a great crowd managed to hold that grand funeral
ceremony in such dignity and solidarity. Let it feel disturbed. It is
already too late for that force. That is because, it is certain that
Turkey will change drastically with this new process that started in
the wake of the Gezi process first, then the 17 December process, and
finally that 11 March morning where 15 year-old Berkin could no longer
hold on and passed away.
We will talk about the 11 March process tomorrow.
Note: We heard that while we were saying farewell to Berkin, Egemen
Bagis called us "necrophiles." There is no shame in loving a child
that the state took away. Bagis should first respond to the corruption
allegations against him.
[Translated from Turkish]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress