ANKARA - DEM Party Peoples and Beliefs Commission, commemorating those who lost their lives in the Meresh Massacre, said: “Turkey cannot be democratized without confronting the shame of its past and without revealing the massacres committed against Alevis, Kurds and all the minorities who are the riches of this region."

 

The Peoples' and Beliefs' Commission of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) made a written statement about the massacre that took place in Mereş between December 19-26, 1978. In the statement signed by commission co-spokespersons Yüksel Mutlu and Mahfuz Güleryüz, it was said: "We have not forgotten those we lost in the Maraş Massacre, and we will not forget."

 

In the statement, it was stated that in the massacre against Alevis, Kurds and leftists in Mereş 45 years ago, according to official figures, 105 people were killed, thousands of people were injured, thousands of people were injured, hundreds of workplaces were plundered and the survivors were forced to migrate. It was deflamed. In all this time, these region has not become a country where Alevis can live in safety and peace.``

 

'THE FORCES BEHIND THE MASSACRE WERE NOT REVEALED'

 

Stating that the forces behind this massacre, which was a deep state organization, were not revealed, the statement added: "The planners of the massacre, who had political and actual responsibility, were not tried despite all the evidence. Three lawyers of the victims of the massacre fell victim to unsolved murders. All of the murderers on trial, including the perpetrators of this massacre who received life sentences, have been released."

 

'TO AVOID NEW MASSACRES...'

 

In the statement, which stated that the state owes an apology to all segments of society, the following statements were made: “Since the bodies of many of the murdered people in Maraş were buried in mass graves in heaps, families still do not even have graves where they can experience their pain. The Truth and Justice Commission to be established within the Turkish Grand National Assembly will be an important step to shed light on the Maraş Massacre and all human rights violations and crimes against humanity in our history. The AKP-MHP government and the Parliament majority must stop preventing the facts of this massacre from being revealed. Türkiye cannot be democratized without confronting the shame of its past, without revealing the massacres and plots committed against Alevis, Kurds and all the minorities who are the riches of this region, and without condemning those responsible in the face of history. We will never accept attempts and efforts to make Maraş forgotten in order to avoid new massacres. We will always continue to stand by those who lost their loved ones in Maraş. We feel the pain of the lives lost in Maraş and bow down to their memories with respect."