ISTANBUL - Hüseyin Avras, brother of HPG member Mehmet Sabri Avras who was buried under a pavement in Kilyos cemetery after being killed in a clash, called on all human rights defenders to be sensitive.

 

While the Gerzan Cemetery, located in Oleka Jor village of Bitlis, was a cemetery where hundreds of HPG members were buried during the dialogue between the state authorities and PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan between 2013 and 2015, known as the peace process, it was demolished by construction machines between December 8-17, and over 300 bodies were exhumed. While it is not known where the bodies were brought to, which were removed from their graves without the knowledge of the families, it was revealed that the bodies were taken to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK), with the statement made by the Governorship of Bitlis on January 2, 2018. It was learned that the bodies, which were kept in ATK for a certain period of time, were later buried in plastic boxes under the pavements in Kilyos Cemetery. Families, who took action upon this, applied to many institutions and organizations to receive the bodies of their sons and caughters. As a result of the families' attempts, 23 bodies have been returned to their families so far. The insistence of other families still continues. The family of Mehmet Sabri Avras, who died in 1995 is one of them.

 

HE WAS DETAINED IN 1992

 

Hüseyin Arvas, brother of Mehmet Sabri Avras told that his brother joined the PKK as a result of the pressure on their family and their village in 1994. Stating that his brother was not particularly a political person before that, Avras said: "My brother was a traditional peasant. He had a heart condition. He went to İstanbul for treatment and stayed with a relative during the treatment. Their house was raided while he was staying with them. Even though my brother was not involved in politics, he was detained with them and tortured in Gayrettepe Political Branch."

 

THEIR VILLAGE WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND

 

Pointing out that his brother came back to their village after the raid, Avras told that there was intense pressure on their village back then and that the village was often raided. Avras said: "At the end of 1993, thousands of soldiers raided our village and searched every single house. I was 14 years old back than but I remember. They couldn't even find a pocket knife, but they planted bullets in my grandfather's and uncles house. They detained everyone in our family including my 70-year-old uncle. They were held in prison for 4 months and then released because the bullets they "found" in our houses did not belong to us." Stating that the fact that so many people joined the PKK back then should be considered in this perspective, Avras reminded that hundreds of villages were constantly raided and burned to the ground in 1994.

 

'THEY WON'T LET US BE'

 

Underlining that his brother was not a political person back then, Avras said: "My brother said the state won't let us be and give us peace and went to the mountains. This is how he acknowladged his identity as a Kurd. He joined the PKK in 1994 and lost his life a year later in a clash with the gendermerie."

 

'WE WERE HAPPY HE HAD A GRAVE'

 

Stating that even though they searched for a long time, they couldn't find where his brother was buried, Avras said they were happy the bodies of the HPG members were brought to Garzan cemetery during the peace process. Avras said: "We were very happy he had a resting place after we learned that they brought his body to the cemetery. We were so dissappointed and sad when they destroyed that cemetery. They destroyed the cemetery with dozers, bagged them randomly and took them to the İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institude.  That's why we applied to the Lawyers' Association for Freedom (ÖHD) and the Human Rights Association (İHD)".

 

'THEY BURIED THEM UNDER THE PAVEMENTS'

 

Stating that they learned that the bodies were buried in Kilyos Cemetery from the press, Avras told that they made applications for the body to be released to their family and found out that the bodies were kept in a very inhumane conditions. Avras said: "The bodies were stocked in containers, buried under the pavement beside sewer pipes. This is horrible. This is torturing a dead body. If it was the body of a soldier, the people would raise hell. All we want is to be able to bury our dead with dignity."

 

CALL TO THE FAMILIES

 

Avras made a call to the families of the HPG members buried in Kilyos and said: "Everyone whose children are buried there should apply to the Human's Rights Association and seek help. And the politicians should stand with the people and follow the process and bring it to the parliamentary agenda. And the rights defenders should stand with the people."