Lale's StoryLale's StoryWe stayed 13 days in these shelters. After these days we went back to our village, but Greek soldiers had begun to stay in our houses, and they always said to us "tomorrow morning we will cut your head." For this reason, we were on duty without sleep until the morning.
Q. Did you have any bad memories?
Yes of course. When we went to Gonendere two days later, I
learned that my husband, Mehmet Ahmet Kucuk, had died while
serving the Turkish State. He was a brave, strong and healthy
man. He was not afraid of anything, so when we left our village
he stayed alone in his village and so he died. When I learned
this I felt very bad, and I was afraid of loneliness and I also
could not live without him, because of this I begged my God "You
must kill me" because I could not live without him.
Q. What were your thoughts at that time?
I thought so many things. For example, I was alone and I
didn't know what I was going to do. I was afraid because I have 5
children and I really don't know how I would feed them, how I
would raise them, and the most important thing is how could I
tell them that their father died. I really felt very sad and I
didn't want to believe that he was dead. And in this war I lost
not only my husband but also I lost my cousin and my son-in-law.
Q. Did this thought help you in any way?
Yes. I understood that to forget the bad memories and bad
days to me is the best therapy. And I learned that if you want
to arrive at the good and happy days you would not be afraid of
the loneliness and you would be strong and also you will fight
with bad people.
Q. What do you think of when I say the word "war"?
War is a very bad thing. It causes damage to families, it
makes so many people homeless and orphaned. I hope it does not
happen again. Everybody must live in peace and nobody should
make the others worry or be disappointed -- instead of this
everybody must love each other.
Q. What was the function of Turkey in that war?
Turkey is our hero. If Turkey had not been there we would
not be here now. There would not be the TRNC. The friends of
Turks are again Turks, other countries are a friend in good days.
Q. Did you learn something during this war?
Yes. I believed that Turks and Greeks can never be friends.
They can live in the same territories but this must be under the
control of the military. Greeks are very bad people, they have
bad characters, because they killed our husbands, cousins, and
children and also they attacked our women. So we can not forget
these events so they can never be a friend. I believe that if
there is any conflict we can not solve it by fighting with each
other. We must do it by making agreements with both side. The
best solution is to talk about the problem and I think that when
time passes, they will find a common point.
[When I spoke with Lale, she was always crying and she said
that God was protecting us.]
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 68
Sex: Female
She now lives in Serdarli near Nicosia and during the war she
lived in the same village.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income
earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.