SİVAS - Thousands gathered in front of the Madımak Hotel to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Sivas Massacre, stressing that the real perpetrators should be found and reiterated their demand for justice.

 

Thousands of people, who came together under the leading of Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association (PSAKD), organized a commemoration event on the 28th anniversary of the Sivas Massacre, which 33 intellectuals, writers and two hotel employees were burned to death. Citizens, who set off from dozens of cities yesterday evening, came together in the morning in front of the Sivas Branch of the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association.

 

Thousands of people walked to the hotel

 

Thousands of people marched to the Madımak Hotel to condemn the massacre, to prosecute the perpetrators and to make the hotel where the massacre took place a “Museum of Shame”. The crowd often chanted ‘’The one who burned Sivas, founded the AKP.’’ The crowd, who came in front of the Madımak Hotel under the intense police blockade, left carnations and photographs of those who lost their lives in the massacre. Police took heavy security measures in the area.

 

‘We know the perpetrators’

 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay, who made a statement in front of the hotel, mentioned that justice was not served in the Sivas Massacre and said that the government protects the perpetrators. Expressing that they will never accept what happened at the Madımak Hotel, Ebru said that the massacre mentality continues to this day. Ebru continued: ‘’We know the perpetrators very well. We are faced with a murderous mentality. The mentality is still at work with the deep state.’’

 

‘We will continue to fight’

 

Reminding the rhetoric of the government after the case expired, Ebru said: ‘’The government has proven once again that its relations with this massacre are very close. It has revealed this with the words ‘Good luck to the country and the nation’. The same government continues to be a partner in the massacre by not turning the Madımak Hotel into a museum of shame and not revealing the truth. And again, the same government is showing its side by bringing the massacres into the parliament. We express once again our common struggle with the Alevi community. We will continue to fight until justice is achieved.’’

Then, CHP MPs made a statement in front of the hotel and condemned the massacre.

 

After the politicians’ statements, the commemoration ceremony continued with a whirl performance.

‘We have not forgotten Sivas, we will not forget it’

 

Speaking afterwards, the Federation of Alevi Bektashi Associations Hüseyin Güzelgül stated that they continue to be the voice of those who lost their lives in the massacre and said: ‘’We are committed to this path with faith. Our faith is love. It is our legacy not to surrender to oppression. New massacres are added to our struggle that has been going on for 28 years. Those who are unable to live in peace and fraternity cannot tolerate the existence of anyone other than themselves. It continues to divide, ignore, and murder. 28 years ago, they committed the darkest massacre in history here. They burned the center of science, art, poetry, and folk songs. We do not forgive those responsible for this massacre, those who released the murderers, and those who put the trial timed out. Our pain is like the first day. We have sworn to bring justice to bloody Sivas. We have not forgotten Sivas, we will not forget it.’’

 

‘The state is behind the massacre’

 

Gani Kaplan, Chairperson of the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association, also noted that the state did not provide justice because it was involved in the massacre and said: ‘’The state itself is behind the Sivas Massacre.’’

The families of those who lost their lives in the massacre, expressed their demands for the perpetrators to be found and justice provided, and reiterated their demand for the hotel to be a museum of shame.

After the speeches, the event ended with slogans.