Murderer could be found in an hour if Turkish PM wants, Berkin Elvan’s father says

ISTANBUL

Those responsible could be found in an hour if the prime minister so desired, Sami Elvan said.

The father of Berkin Elvan, who died March 11, nine months after slipping into a coma after being hit by a police tear-gas canister during anti-government protests, has called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to "prove he has a conscience" by finding his murderer.

Those responsible could be found in an hour if the prime minister so desired, Sami Elvan said during a live interview on private broadcaster CNNTürk late on March 12.

“If we are the citizens of this country, if we live under this flag, if I pay taxes to this state ... Berkin went to buy bread... I am addressing the prime minister. He can bring in my son’s murderer in an hour if he wants. He gave the instruction. The police are his yes-men. He said ‘my police were legendary.’ He gave the order. The situation is the same for the other seven people [who were killed during the protests].” Elvan said.

“He extended his condolences for those who were killed in Egypt, but not to us. It means we are not this country’s citizens. I know that no government officials from higher or lower levels called us until the day Berkin’s health condition got worse. I never got a phone call from government,” Elvan said.

“Today our prime minister talks about religion every time he speaks. If he has a conscience, he must bring in the killer of my son. I want to believe that he will do so,” he said.

Berkin’s allowance in shoe box

Elvan said he would leave Berkin’s allowance in a shoe box in front of the family’s house for those in need.

“I want a shoebox in front of my house. Berkin used to take pocket money every day when he leaves home. I will put Berkin’s money in that box every morning. Maybe they will find Berkin’s killer then,” he said.

Upon a question from the program’s host, Enver Aysever, Elvan said Erdoğan should put himself in his shoes, adding that the prime minister did not even send his son for testimony despite overwhelming evidence of massive corruption.

“My son was not accused of theft. He died with honor. That’s why the nation was with him,” he said.

Elvan also rejected allegations from pro-government media that his son was “intentionally unplugged on the eve of local elections.”

“We had no suspicions regarding the hospital staff from the top level to the bottom echelon. During the nine months of his convalescence, we know that they did everything to save my son. [Authorities] are playing hear no evil, see no evil. It is as if Berkin was shot from space. Everything is clear, but the criminal is not around,” he said.

Sami Elvan was also interviewed on BBC's Newshour programme, telling that his son had become a "child of the people."

Asked how he would like him to be remembered, he said: "I want him to be known as a child killed by the state. He was just an innocent boy killed when he went out to buy bread."