Gezi Victim Berkin Elvan Commemorated On Second Anniversary Of His Death

Gezi victim Berkin Elvan was commemorated on March 11, on his second death anniversary, upon his grave. Along with Berkin Elvan's parents, relatives of other Gezi victims, Ali İsmail Korkmaz, Ahmet Atakan and Abdullah Cömert also attended the commemoration in Istanbul.

Berkin Elvan, a 14-year-old young boy, was shot by a tear gas canister during Gezi Park Protests in Istanbul's Okmeydanı district, and died after 269 days in choma. His death sparked nationwide protests in Turkey, while the policeman who shot him remains free.

Mother of Berkin, Gülsüm Elvan who had a nervous breakdown and collapsed, was hospitalized taken by an ambulance, during the memorial.

"We clearly know that these suspects are hidden and efforts continue to drop the case. I announce you all; I have no expectations from this case" urged father of Berkin, Sami Elvan, underscoring that a trial against the police officer who has shot Berkin Elvan would not mean anything, "if the ones who have made the order are not judged".

"Berkin, the boy of hope, teaches us how to resist, every second we remember him. He has gathered us even today, as he has united millions of people two years ago" said Mücella Yapıcı, a member of Taksim Solidarity, known as a symbol figure for Gezi Demonstrations.

Following the press statement, attendants left red cloves and a bread near Berkin Elvan's grave. The young Gezi victim was wounded while on his way to buy bread.

Meanwhile, lawyers of Halkın Hukuk Bürosu (People's Law Office) made a press statement and handed a thousand breads to attendants, as today also marked the thousandth anniversary of the day he was shot, in Istanbul.

"We remember Berkin Elvan with respect. If the case of Berkin is not opened, this will also block the way of files for our other children who were slaughtered" said Lawyer Oya Aslan who read the press statement, calling on officials to put suspect on trial after years.

Lawyers have been demanding identities of four police officers spotted in camera footages of a riot control vehicle with water cannon, popularly known as a TOMA. However, names have not been shared since the footage was sent to the gendarmerie criminal laboratory for investigation.

The group of lawyers also ended their 12-day-long hunger strike that they describe as "a symbol of their turn of duty for justice".

The Police Department should give lawyers the names of the four police officers and the case should be filed, urged lawyers, adding that the family and their supporters had no patience left.

During the protest of lawyers, police officers took security measures with armored vehicles and took some of protesters' banners down.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office denied claims that a legal investigation has revealed the identity of the police officer who shot Berkin Elvan.

Claims raised in news reports and social media posts that the file has not been opened although the identity of the suspect was revealed are "groundless", Chief Prosecutor Hadi Salihoğlu said. These reports mislead the public and the judiciary, he said, urging that procedures to reveal the identity of the suspect was resumed "post-haste and meticulously".

(Photo) - Istanbul