327 weeks demanding justice for Roboski

For the 327th week the families of the Roboski victims gathered at the graveyard with the photographs of their relatives and beloved and asked for justice.

Thirty-four people lost their life on the night of 28 December 2011 when Turkish airplanes bombed a group of civilians crossing the border as they used to do to bring fuel and sugar in Roboski (Uludere in the province of Sirnak). Thirty-four people, many under 18, who didn’t even have the time to react, their life taken from them in seconds. Thirty-four people whose families have been left alone and harassed by the very State that committed the crime and showed no interest in finding out the truth from the beginning.

For the 327th week the families of the Roboski victims gathered at the graveyard with the photographs of their relatives and beloved and asked for justice. Dilek Encu, sister of Şıvan Encu's sister, who lost his life in the massacre, spoke on behalf of the families at the graveyard. “We will not stop asking for justice and the truth - said Dilek Encu - until those responsible for this massacre are brought to justice”.

Disclosing that the families “had learned from the correspondence between the MIT (Turkish Intelligence Agency), the Chief of General Staff and the chief prosecutor, that the MIT had prepared a report before the massacre" Encu said, adding that “however, we know very well that is yet another information leading to no prosecution”.

Despite the cover up the families pledged to continue their fight for justice. In Paris, last March, the Roboski massacre was one of the cases brought forward by the Prosecutor to the People’s International Tribunal. The 400-packed room listened to the account by witnesses who recalled the years of silence and lies as well as the daily harassment their community has been subjected to.

Indeed, the people of Roboski have been fighting for justice despite the ongoing repression and violence they have to put up wiit at the hands of the State. Many of the relatives of the victims have been arrested, some more than once, threatened and harassed. Ferhat Encu, relative of two victims and an MP for the HDP is in prison also accused for speeches he made on the Roboski massacre and for his continuous effort in the search for truth and justice.