Families wait today for hostages' release

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Private Reşat Çeçan’s parents arrive at Habur gate for their son’s release. AA photo

The families of Turkish public servants kidnapped by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have been waiting at the southeastern province of Şırnak’s Habur border gate since yesterday to meet their loved ones as a civil group from Turkey is stationed in northern Iraq for the handover.

A local teacher’s lodging house in the district was reserved for the families to spend the night in yesterday. “We are waiting here, hoping to see our son after almost two years. There is nothing else we can do but wait, but we are hopeful this time,” Hidayet Özgen, the father of police officer Nadir Özgen told the Hürriyet Daily News yesterday in a phone interview. “I support peace. I am calling on all politicians, everybody must step in for peace, my other son is on the mountains now, it’s our people who are dying,” Cemal Çeçan, father of soldier Reşat Çan told Anatolia news agency. Çeçan also urged everyone involved to let the bloodshed stop now and said may god bless those who are making peace as they are relieving mothers.

A group, including two Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) lawmakers and non-governmental organization representatives, entered northern Iraq yesterday after leaving Turkey through the Habur gate in the early morning for the handover of hostage officials.

Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay said yesterday that the handover could be realized today. The PKK also said in a statement carried out by Fırat news agency, known to have close links with the PKK, the handover would happen today.