The profound repercussions of the İsias Hotel collapse, a catastrophic event that claimed the lives of numerous children and adults, have transcended the immediate grief of the victims' families to become a potent symbol of a deeply troubled collective conscience. Speaking on KIBRIS TV's programme "Taşlar Dökülürken," former minister Kudret Özersay articulated this sentiment with stark clarity, contending that the ongoing legal proceedings and the perceived lack of accountability for public officials involved have inflicted a significant societal trauma upon the Turkish Cypriot community.
The İsias Hotel, located in Adıyaman, Turkey, crumbled during a devastating earthquake, its collapse attributed in part to alleged negligence and systemic failures. Özersay’s critique centres on the judicial process, specifically the handling of cases involving public officials whose decisions, or inaction, may have contributed to the tragedy. He asserted that the deliberate exclusion of the concept of "olası kast" (potential intent) from the legal framework governing the case has significantly undermined the pursuit of justice. This omission, Özersay argued, effectively shields those in positions of authority from bearing full responsibility for their actions, thereby eroding public faith in the integrity of the legal system.
The former minister underscored that the deceased children have become poignant emblems of this national tragedy. Their loss, he suggested, is not merely a private sorrow for their families but a profound and shared wound on the public psyche. The principle that every official act carries consequences, Özersay maintained, must be upheld. "Every signature that is ئەم (affixed) has a price," he stated, elaborating that failure to exact this price for negligence and dereliction of duty irrevocably damages the trust citizens place in their institutions.
Özersay’s commentary extended beyond the immediate confines of the İsias Hotel case, highlighting a broader malaise within the political landscape. He alluded to endemic issues of corruption, cronyism, and a pervasive culture of impunity that he believes plague the system. In this context, he positioned his party, the Halkın Partisi (People's Party), as a bulwark against such malfeasance, describing their role as a crucial "failsafe" designed to counter corruption and partisan influence, even when operating from the opposition benches.
Looking ahead, Özersay indicated that if domestic legal avenues prove insufficient to deliver a just resolution, the case is poised to be escalated to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). This potential international recourse underscores the gravity with which the case is viewed and the perceived shortcomings of the national justice system. The pursuit of accountability, he stressed, is not merely a matter of rectifying past wrongs but a fundamental imperative for safeguarding the rights and future of subsequent generations. The chronic political corruption, Özersay posited, cannot be effectively addressed through conventional political means alone, and a loss of legitimacy in governance has detrimental effects on both internal affairs and international relations. The İsias Hotel disaster, therefore, stands as a stark reminder of the critical intersection between public duty, legal accountability, and the enduring strength of a nation's conscience.