Two Turkish lieutenants have been arrested for refusing to enter the guerrilla areas and involve in a clash  to avoid suffering casualties.

According to a report by Turkish daily Hürriyet, a troop of Turkish soldiers from Şırnak Çakırsöğüt Gendarmerie Commando Brigade refused to enter the area of guerrillas, saying it was a dangerous terrain. Yet, Brigade Commander General A.O.G. insisted on sending soldiers to death.

After the troop reached the operation area on October 12 evening, a clash erupted between soldiers and guerrillas and lasted some 15 minutes.

The lieutenant F.M. therewith informed Battalion Commander Major H.D who told him to go to the point of shooting at 22:40 in the evening. F.M. told the commander that the location dominated the area and was very dangerous, warning that they could suffer many casualties in the event of moving towards there.

The Battalion Commander called the lieutenant back at 01:00 at night and wanted the troop to go to that hill, saying; “I also know that it is a dangerous location”. The lieutenant therewith rejected the order, saying; “Commander, I cannot undertake this mission and sin if something happens to my staff”.

Another lieutenant Ü.V.A. who intervened the situation upon the insistence of the major, called the major and said; “Commander, as is also known by your side, our personnel are quite tired and have much limited food for the last two days. If you consider appropriate, I would not approve leading my troop up to there.”

The major answered the lieutenant, saying; “Do you think I think otherwise? Yet, this is a duty we have been ordered to fulfill.”

According to case file, it was agreed to send the troop to the hill upon an order by Brigade Commander General A.O.G.

Following an administrative inquiry, the Military Court ordered the arrest of both lieutenants on the grounds of “insistence on noncompliance to an order”. The two lieutenants have been sent to Diyarbakır Military Prison.