While noting that they do not support the protests in any way, the families say those behind the protests have hidden agendas.The provocations first came to the public’s attention in April after a man punched the former leader of the now-defunct Democratic Society Party (DTP), Ahmet Türk, in the face in Samsun, where Türk had gone to watch a trial. Later that month, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız was punched in the face during a funeral held in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri for a military officer who was killed in a clash with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Şırnak. In early May, a small group attempted to attack Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Mersin deputy Kürşat Tüzmen in Adana during the funeral of a soldier who died in Dağlıca during a clash with the PKK.
Turkish Association of War Disabled, Widows and Orphans Mersin branch head Ahmet Ercan Sezer said they do not approve of the incidents that have been occurring during the soldiers’ funerals. Stating that people attend funerals as a form of spiritual support, Sezer said: “We certainly object to people’s booing and throwing punches during funerals after they are provoked in that way. We do not support such things at all.”
Sezer also noted that not all the recent negative incidents have stemmed from the protests, explaining that some people are provoked by the emotional atmosphere of the funerals. He also added that some people try to attract interest by exploiting the names of the slain soldiers and veterans.
Bilal Şensoy, the father of Umut Sami Şensoy, a soldier who was killed in a clash with the PKK in Tunceli in 2006, said many innocent people could be put in danger because of the protests that result from the provocations. “We need to remove ourselves from such incidents. We need to be careful. When we take a look at Sept. 12, when the military took over the government in 1980, and May 1, when 34 people died after unidentified perpetrators opened fire on the public in 1977, we see that guns are not the real reason why many people die.”
Provocateur detained for burglary
One such incident, which has also been included in the Ergenekon indictments, occurred in Mersin in 2006. During the funeral of Sgt. Murat Tutal, a group, including members of the Association for the Union of Patriotic Forces (VKGB), tried to provoke the crowd attending the funeral. A couple of days later, one of the provocateurs, M.E.F., was detained by the Mersin Police Department in a car theft operation.
