A mother's son tale
A mother's son tale
We publish an edited translation of DIHA News Agency reporter Gulsen Aslan who interviewed the mother of Kenan Topdemir.
The mother of Kenan Topdemir, one of the three guerrillas who lost their lives in the clash breaking out within the military operation of the Turkish army in the rural area of Pazarcýk/Maras, is crying a screech hitting deaf consciences like a ton of bricks. “I will never forgive those who cowardly shot him from behind” says the mother who has her words stick in her throat.
What is left behind the death of 21 year-old Kenan Topdemir is the anguished scream of his mother against those who make judgments without hesitation on newspapers saying “Why does the Kurdish problem exist?”. The fifth child of a poor family with seven children, Topdemir, with respect to her mother, was a child who met the life and cut his wisdom teeth very early. Moving to Istanbul at a young age for the living of his family, Topdemir never came back.
Left as human shield in 2005, returned 6 years later
Topdemir’s acquaintances describe him as bearing a great humanity. The power of the tie with his own identity, which Topdemir strengthened in the big city Istanbul, gave a source to his joining in the “human shield action” young people started against military operations in 2005. Forced to make a choice by deaf consciences that didn’t see his way to peace, Topdemir returned to his house in a coffin 6 years later, as one of the “mountain and conscience” stories of the Kurdish people.
‘The more we ask for no more deaths, the more bodies the government sends. Is this the humanity?’
Sharing her grief with all who came to Topdemir’s funeral at Dicleliler Mourning House, mother Hatun Topdemir lives a difficulty in telling Him with words. The mother said the followings; “I have been demanding peace for so long but we don’t want peace for Turkey any more. The government cannot tolerate the peace at any time. Either prisons or death is deemed proper for the fighter. My husband died of a heart attack 3 years ago with a longing to his son. My husband’s brother and his child also martyred at the mountain. Our family alone has three martyrs. The more we ask for no more deaths, the more bodies the government sends. Is this the humanity?”
‘I don’t want mothers to suffer from this dirty war’
“He was still a child when he left us and moved to Istanbul because of economic difficulties. He was the all I had. He was very fond of music. He would mostly listen to guerrilla songs. I cannot tell much about him because I didn’t have my fill of my youngster. My son had left for peace, but they urged him to fight. This government has never wanted peace. I will never forgive those who treacherously shot him on the back of his head. I do not want other mothers to have the pain I have”.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
The mother of Kenan Topdemir, one of the three guerrillas who lost their lives in the clash breaking out within the military operation of the Turkish army in the rural area of Pazarcýk/Maras, is crying a screech hitting deaf consciences like a ton of bricks. “I will never forgive those who cowardly shot him from behind” says the mother who has her words stick in her throat.
What is left behind the death of 21 year-old Kenan Topdemir is the anguished scream of his mother against those who make judgments without hesitation on newspapers saying “Why does the Kurdish problem exist?”. The fifth child of a poor family with seven children, Topdemir, with respect to her mother, was a child who met the life and cut his wisdom teeth very early. Moving to Istanbul at a young age for the living of his family, Topdemir never came back.
Left as human shield in 2005, returned 6 years later
Topdemir’s acquaintances describe him as bearing a great humanity. The power of the tie with his own identity, which Topdemir strengthened in the big city Istanbul, gave a source to his joining in the “human shield action” young people started against military operations in 2005. Forced to make a choice by deaf consciences that didn’t see his way to peace, Topdemir returned to his house in a coffin 6 years later, as one of the “mountain and conscience” stories of the Kurdish people.
‘The more we ask for no more deaths, the more bodies the government sends. Is this the humanity?’
Sharing her grief with all who came to Topdemir’s funeral at Dicleliler Mourning House, mother Hatun Topdemir lives a difficulty in telling Him with words. The mother said the followings; “I have been demanding peace for so long but we don’t want peace for Turkey any more. The government cannot tolerate the peace at any time. Either prisons or death is deemed proper for the fighter. My husband died of a heart attack 3 years ago with a longing to his son. My husband’s brother and his child also martyred at the mountain. Our family alone has three martyrs. The more we ask for no more deaths, the more bodies the government sends. Is this the humanity?”
‘I don’t want mothers to suffer from this dirty war’
“He was still a child when he left us and moved to Istanbul because of economic difficulties. He was the all I had. He was very fond of music. He would mostly listen to guerrilla songs. I cannot tell much about him because I didn’t have my fill of my youngster. My son had left for peace, but they urged him to fight. This government has never wanted peace. I will never forgive those who treacherously shot him on the back of his head. I do not want other mothers to have the pain I have”.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
