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We Are Surrounded by Images of War and Violence.
We Present an Image of Peace.

Message from Muyeser:

Thank you, everyone!

Since 1996, as Mothers for Peace, we have followed a path towards peace, both for Turkey and for the Kurdish people. As mothers we don't want any more deaths in armed conflicts or extra-judicial executions. In our work for peace we have met many organizations in the civil society, both Turkish and European, and also journalists, intellectuals, ambassadors...To make our message understood we have put on the white headscarf and carried white flowers.

Recently, during 2005, we met a secretary of the head of the armed forces
to whom we gave many CDs containing images and direct testimonies of the mothers, and we brought white flowers. However, just after that meeting we found out that a military operation had been launched. This made us feel bad: it was as if our efforts had been useless, since they produced no result. For this reason, we decided to make more sacrifices: so we participated together with many others in the creation of the Human Shields initiative. Participants we not just Kurds - there were members of associations of Kurds, Turks and Laz from Kastamono and Zonguldak; mothers, fathers of soldiers, young people.

Our group set out from Istanbul and at Amed joined another group from Batman. Then, on the way from Amed to Batman we were stopped many times by the police (about every 10 minutes) during which we were abritrarily and thouroughly searched. We were 80 pople in all (there were 10 Mothers in the grop, 5 Turks, and others, young people, and representatives of groups in the civil society). We went to Kiziltepe to visit the place where 12 year old Ugur Kaymaz was killed wiht his father. Then we whent to Derik. We were in a zone of military operations and there 2 young men from the group were arrested because they had not done their military service. All together, we said: "Release them or we want go away. Then I and two fathers of soldiers made up a little delegation. We met an army major to whom the fathers said that they didn't want to receive the bodies of their sons, neither Kurd nor Turk. We expressed our concerns for the armed conflicts that were underway and we received the response that it was useless that we had come here because in the political sphere they were preparing for a general amnesty. We replied clearly: "We don't believe you any more, because every change that is announced turns out to be false. We want to see practical deeds and no more changes that are only on paper."

The following day we found out that an even bigger military operation had been launched in the zone. We continued our march to reach the places where the operations were happening, but then they stopped us. We were under arrest. They bound our hands tightly and beat and kicked us, even though we had all demanded that our rights be respected. They were going to take me to the barracks in a vehicle, but then it seemed that this was insupportable for them and I found myself thrown from the vehicle on to the ground. They treated us as if we weren't Turkish citizens. They beat and threatened us and the handcuffs remained tightly fastened around our wrists for 24 hours. They also made us to watch a theatrical show for about 3 hours. The aim was to show us that they weren't guilty but rather it was we who were guilty. Then they took us to the prison at Mardin. The warders were more respectful towards us, but even so they did not allow us to shower for 15 days and there was no hot water. But that was a small thing.

We followed the reports of the demonstrations in our favour both in Turkey and in Europe (Italy, Belgium, France and Denmark). For this, I personally thank the Women in Black and all the others who supported us, because they were close to us and felt the suffering of us mothers. We ask you to continue your support.

Muyesser Gunes
Mothers for Peace and Spokesperson of the Human Shields.

Link to Women In Black Leuven

	Women in Black, Baltimore Part of an International Network for Peace. Women in Black, Baltimore joins with other women’s organizations worldwide to advocate for peace, justice, and an end to violence worldwide.
Want to help out? Contact Us Local Events Peace Links Other WIB Sites WIB Around the World	We Are Surrounded by Images of War and Violence. We Present an Image of Peace. Message from Muyeser: Thank you, everyone! Since 1996, as Mothers for Peace, we have followed a path towards peace, both for Turkey and for the Kurdish people. As mothers we don't want any more deaths in armed conflicts or extra-judicial executions. In our work for peace we have met many organizations in the civil society, both Turkish and European, and also journalists, intellectuals, ambassadors...To make our message understood we have put on the white headscarf and carried white flowers. Recently, during 2005, we met a secretary of the head of the armed forces to whom we gave many CDs containing images and direct testimonies of the mothers, and we brought white flowers. However, just after that meeting we found out that a military operation had been launched. This made us feel bad: it was as if our efforts had been useless, since they produced no result. For this reason, we decided to make more sacrifices: so we participated together with many others in the creation of the Human Shields initiative. Participants we not just Kurds - there were members of associations of Kurds, Turks and Laz from Kastamono and Zonguldak; mothers, fathers of soldiers, young people. Our group set out from Istanbul and at Amed joined another group from Batman. Then, on the way from Amed to Batman we were stopped many times by the police (about every 10 minutes) during which we were abritrarily and thouroughly searched. We were 80 pople in all (there were 10 Mothers in the grop, 5 Turks, and others, young people, and representatives of groups in the civil society). We went to Kiziltepe to visit the place where 12 year old Ugur Kaymaz was killed wiht his father. Then we whent to Derik. We were in a zone of military operations and there 2 young men from the group were arrested because they had not done their military service. All together, we said: "Release them or we want go away. Then I and two fathers of soldiers made up a little delegation. We met an army major to whom the fathers said that they didn't want to receive the bodies of their sons, neither Kurd nor Turk. We expressed our concerns for the armed conflicts that were underway and we received the response that it was useless that we had come here because in the political sphere they were preparing for a general amnesty. We replied clearly: "We don't believe you any more, because every change that is announced turns out to be false. We want to see practical deeds and no more changes that are only on paper." The following day we found out that an even bigger military operation had been launched in the zone. We continued our march to reach the places where the operations were happening, but then they stopped us. We were under arrest. They bound our hands tightly and beat and kicked us, even though we had all demanded that our rights be respected. They were going to take me to the barracks in a vehicle, but then it seemed that this was insupportable for them and I found myself thrown from the vehicle on to the ground. They treated us as if we weren't Turkish citizens. They beat and threatened us and the handcuffs remained tightly fastened around our wrists for 24 hours. They also made us to watch a theatrical show for about 3 hours. The aim was to show us that they weren't guilty but rather it was we who were guilty. Then they took us to the prison at Mardin. The warders were more respectful towards us, but even so they did not allow us to shower for 15 days and there was no hot water. But that was a small thing. We followed the reports of the demonstrations in our favour both in Turkey and in Europe (Italy, Belgium, France and Denmark). For this, I personally thank the Women in Black and all the others who supported us, because they were close to us and felt the suffering of us mothers. We ask you to continue your support. Muyesser Gunes Mothers for Peace and Spokesperson of the Human Shields. Link to Women In Black Leuven
	For more information email mailto:wibbaltimore@hotmail.com
	May 12, 2005

Women in Black, Baltimore