AMED – Mustafa Çukur, father of Rozerin Çukur, stated that everyone must support the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, saying, “I lost my child, but enough is enough, no one else should lose their children.”
The “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” announced by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27 resonated around the world. The most significant support came from families who lost their children during times of conflict. These families are calling on the state to take steps for the peace their children died for. One of those families is that of Rozerin Çukur, who was killed in Sur during the ongoing curfews.
Rozerin Çukur (17) was killed by snipers on January 8, 2016, during the curfews declared in the Sur district of Amed. Her family kept vigil for days, demanding the return of their daughter’s body. Only after their persistent protest was her body handed over, five months later, on June 8, 2016. While coping with the pain of their loss, the family also continues to pursue justice.
WHAT HAS THE STATE DONE?
Mustafa Çukur, the father, emphasized that the process initiated by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan is meaningful and should not be used for political gain. Çukur said: “People have expectations and hopes. The PKK laid down its arms, it dissolved itself. So what has the state done until now? There are numerous unresolved cases, there are sick prisoners. According to their laws, Rozerin’s case should have been concluded four years ago. But it’s been nearly ten years and still no result. Eventually, they’ll say ‘It’s past the statute of limitations’ and close the case.”
WITHOUT ÖCALAN, THE PROCESS IS NOT CREDIBLE
Stressing that Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom and working conditions must be ensured for the process to proceed positively, “Without Abdullah Öcalan, this process cannot move forward, and it won’t be credible. I’ve suffered deeply, and if peace is truly established, only then will my pain subside. But to avoid this process resembling past ones, trust-building steps must be taken. These steps include the freedom of prisoners, education in the mother tongue, the exposure of perpetrators of unresolved killings, and concluding the ongoing cases,” he said.
‘EVERYONE MUST SUPPORT THE PROCESS’
Calling on all peoples, Çukur said, “This cause is not only the Kurds’ cause. Today we are in pain, but so are the families of police officers and soldiers. Are we going to carry this pain to the grave? We don’t have the right to pass this suffering on to the next generation. I say this: yes, I lost my child, but enough is enough, no more children should be lost. But it can’t happen with just me. The other side has losses too, they must also embrace this cause and not be swayed by provocation. That’s why everyone must support this process.”
MA / Heval Önkol