Those who lost their lives are being commemorated on the 10th anniversary of the Train Station Massacre. "The names of the jihadist killers were known in advance."

Ten years have passed since the October 10 Ankara Massacre, which was carried out by ISIS at the "Labor, Peace and Democracy" rally and in which 104 people lost their lives and over 500 were injured.

Those gathered in Ankara to commemorate those who lost their lives in the October 10 Ankara Massacre met at the Ulus Metro exit. At 9:00 a.m., they marched to Ankara Train Station, the site of the massacre, for the commemoration.

Slogans chanted during the march included, "Don't forget October 10th, don't let it be forgotten," "Martyrs of the revolution are immortal," "The day will come when the times will turn, the AKP will be held accountable to the people," "Death to fascism, freedom to the people," and "No to war, peace right now."

Following a moment of silence at 10:04 a.m. at the scene of the massacre, the names of the citizens who lost their lives were read. Following the commemoration in front of the station, the crowd will march on a "Justice March" toward the Ankara Courthouse.

Mehtap Sakinci, the lawyer and president of the October 10 Peace Association, read the press release. The statement read, "Peace will not be established in this country unless justice is served for the 104 people who lost their lives in this cause, and for the many others. As the October 10 Peace Association, on this 10th anniversary, we will not forget the massacres, especially our demand for justice. We have been talking about justice for 10 years. But we have reached a point where decisions are getting on our nerves. Everyone connected to the crime will be brought to light, and everyone will be held accountable. Despite unlawful decisions, we demand justice. We reiterate that we will not accept this system, which disregards the lives of 104 people in this country and seeks to destroy us entirely."

"THOSE WHO SHOT US IN THAT SQUARE TARGETED PEACE" DİSK Chairwoman Arzu Çerkezoğlu said in her speech, "Exactly 10 years ago, at this very hour, we gathered in these squares, we gathered for peace and democracy. That day, in that square, they tried to silence our voices, our breath, our very breath. In that square, they tried to extinguish this country's bright future and hopes: Those who shot us in that square that day targeted peace. We have been fighting for truth, for justice, for 10 years. Unless accountability for these massacres is held, the way will be paved for much darker times."

KESK Co-chair Ayfer Koçak said, "We are appealing to the public conscience. Could the state not be responsible for this massacre? So, are we safe on the streets of this country? They are trying to forge peace today. How will the mindset that sees massacres as justified on the other side of the border create this peace from here?"

"OUR COUNTRY HAS ALMOST BECOME A COUNTRY OF MASSACRES" TMMOB Chairman Emin Koramaz said, "We will never forget and will never forgive those who used tear gas and attacked with water cannons while we were trying to help our wounded friends. We will also never forget those who did not bring public officials to court. Our country has almost become a country of massacres. We know that behind every massacre, there are state connections, whether revealed or not. A deliberate state policy aimed at obscuring and concealing the facts has been implemented for years. Let us promise here today once again: The October 10th Massacre was committed against humanity."

Dr. Pınar Saip, Vice President of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), said in her speech, "We are going through very difficult times in our country, but in a way, we are hopeful because we are still resisting. We know what happens to us after losing an election. We know that these bombs ultimately won the election, but we are aware that those responsible lost."

"WE WILL CREATE A GEOGRAPHY WHERE PEACE LOVERS CAN ACT FREELY" DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan said, "I extend my gratitude to those who have kept this cause on Turkey's agenda for the past 10 years for their struggle. Rest assured, I promise that one day, shoulder to shoulder, we will create a region where there is no massacre in these lands and where peace lovers can act freely."

Labor Party Chairman Seyit Aslan said, "I respectfully commemorate our 104 comrades for peace and equal rights. Just now, we were searched three times at police search points, but those who didn't show this sensitivity 10 years ago were brought here to shed blood on ISIS barbarians. The words spoken 10 years ago are in our memory, the words of the prime minister of that time are in our memory. Those who said, 'Give us 400 members of parliament and let this be over,' are in our memory. Those who paved the way for massacres all across Türkiye are in our memory. Sooner or later, we will hold them accountable, and we will definitely win."

CHP Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba said, "We must correctly diagnose this massacre. This massacre is the name of the period in which a government that lost power on June 7th unleashed its murderers upon us in order to regain power. During the period when the government opened the borders to allow murderers from all over the world to cross into Syria, gangs and murderers organized from Gaziantep to many provinces. And those who staged these protests know that coming here is not that easy. This massacre took place right in front of our eyes. The massacre spread from Gaziantep to here, one after another. At the end of this massacre, thanks to the association's struggle, many people were punished, but public officials were not, and not a single resignation was made. We stand with you; I commemorate those who were murdered."

"THE NAMES OF THE JIHADIST KILLERS WERE KNOWN"

A panel titled "Civilian Massacres, the Struggle for Justice, and Impunity" was held at the Istanbul Bar Association to mark the 10th anniversary of the Ankara Train Station Massacre on October 10. Hosted by the Istanbul Bar Association's Center for Research and Monitoring Violations on the Right to a Fair Trial, the event addressed the pursuit of justice, policies of impunity, and political responsibilities in light of the 1978 Maraş, 1993 Sivas, and 2015 Ankara Train Station Massacre cases.

Opening remarks at the event were delivered by Istanbul Bar Association President Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, DİSK Secretary General Tayfun Görgün, and KESK Secretary General Sevgi Yılmaz. The panel was moderated by Melike Polat, President of the Istanbul Bar Association's Center for Research and Monitoring Violations of the Right to a Fair Trial. Panel speakers included Dr. Orhan Gazi Ertekin, Şenal Sarıhan from the Ankara Bar Association, and Erkan S. Ünüvar from the Istanbul Bar Association.

"THOSE WHO SHOOT US TARGETED NOT ONLY OUR LIVES, BUT THE CONSCIENCE OF THIS COUNTRY" DİSK Secretary General Tayfun Görgün stated in his speech that justice has not been achieved despite the 10 years that have passed since the Ankara Massacre, saying, "Those who shot us that day targeted labor, peace, and democracy. They wanted workers not to come together, for the squares to remain silent. But they did not succeed, and they will not succeed."

Görgün emphasized that the real perpetrators of the massacre are known:

The names of the jihadist killers were known in advance. They came from one end of the country to the capital with no problem. We will not forgive those who failed to do their duty, who gave way to gangs, and who sent water cannons instead of ambulances to our wounded. We will not stop until justice is served.

Görgün concluded his speech by saying, “Peace is not only possible with the silencing of guns; it is possible with social justice and an honorable life.”

HOW DID THE NEWSPAPERS SEE IT?

Meanwhile, the October 10 Ankara Train Station Massacre made headlines in newspapers. Evrensel newspaper ran the headline "October 10 for 10 years," while BirGün newspaper declared, "The pitch darkness that gripped the country began here."

Source: News Center