Martyrs' families lament jubilant reception for PKK envoys

Hamit Köse, the president of the Federation of Martyrs’ Families, released a statement Wednesday denouncing the release of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, envoys at the Habur border crossing.

Köse spoke on behalf of the relatives of martyrs, who had dedicated their lives to fighting terrorism in the southeast, which they considered their foremost duty as citizens, and died as a result.

He demanded that the last terrorist be delivered to security forces and be brought to justice. Köse also strongly criticized the jubilant reception of the envoys, which was joined by some political figures.

“They go from door to door preaching the Kurdish opening, the democratic opening and national reconciliation, but promises of peace remain hollow,” the Anatolia news agency quoted Köse as saying. “Opinions from unaffected parties and indifferent people support their initiatives, even making false claims that martyrs’ families stand behind them.”

Köse compared the reception of the PKK envoys to a funeral that made the martyrs turn in their graves. He said they were received with open arms, “without regretting the terror and the murders.”

Ayşe Çelik, the mother of a martyr, questioned the fairness of the amnesty. “Bring back our children like you are bringing them [PKK members] back from the mountains,” she said. “You can’t, because our children are buried in the ground.”