State forces have blockaded the Xerabê Bava village for days and they are preventing the HDP, DBP and DTK delegation from entering. As the delegation has started a vigil, DTK Co-chair Leyla Güven spoke of the dire news they hear from Xerabê Bava and said, “The state has carried out some grave practices in this village, and now they are seeking to hide it.”

Güven called on the people to rise up at once and break the blockade and the attacks.

“PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO SIGN STATEMENTS”

Speaking to ANF, DTK Co-chair said it has been 14 days of attacks in Xerabê Bava now, and added that people who know of rural life know what it means to be unable to go outside for 14 days, and that the villagers are under a great attack right now. Güven stated that they have received dire news from the village and said: “They gathered the men in the village square and forced them to sign documents. What is in these documents? What are they trying to do? What documents are they making illiterate people sign? What the villagers in there right now tell us is seriously worrisome.”

“IF THE STATE ISN’T HIDING SOMETHING, THEY SHOULD OPEN UP THE WAY”

Güven said they launched the vigil demonstration 5 days ago as HDP, DBP and DTK, and added that if the state isn’t hiding something in Xerabê Bava, then they should let them through. She stated that the state doesn’t allow them through to hide the crimes they committed in Xerabê Bava and, pointing out the social media posts from police and gendarmerie accounts, said: “The state should let us through for us to investigate the atrocious footage posted on police and gendarmerie social media accounts, but they know what crimes against humanity have been committed, and thus don’t let this happen.”

“THEY CAN’T FIND ANYBODY TO BOW DOWN”

Güven said one of the military officials they spoke with to visit Xerabê Bava, a major, told them that he didn’t have authority either, and that there was nothing he could do. Güven continued: “A major says he has no authority here, and he can’t make a decision. Imagine the rest of the situation. This operation is carried out by the AKP and the Palace, from the center.”

Remarking that the AKP and the Palace have given authorization to the state forces to carry out all kinds of atrocities in Xerabê Bava, Güven added: “They can’t find anybody in Xerabê Bava or any other village to bow down to this oppression and atrocities.”

“WHY DO THEY TAKE YOUNG WOMEN FROM THEIR HOMES?”

DTK Co-chair pointed out another serious issue and said young women were taken from their homes in Xerabê Bava with the excuse of “custody”, and it was unclear where they were taken. Güven demanded the state give information on where the young women taken from their homes are, and continued: “The state forces must give healthy information to the lawyers who make the appeals for the whereabouts of the young women taken from their homes. This is a dire situation, information must come at once.”

“OUR PEOPLE SHOULD RISE UP”

Güven said the attacks started two days ago in the Talatê village in the same region as Xerabê Bava and there was serious damage in this village also. She remarked that the whole region was attempted to be taken under siege and attacks, and added: “They want to blockade this whole region, they aim to have a constant pressure on this area and force people out. But they can’t achieve this.”