408 soldiers committed suicide in the last 5 years
408 soldiers committed suicide in the last 5 years
Answering the written question of BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan about "suspicious deaths of soldiers”, Defence Minister Vecdi Gönül gave astonishing information. According to the statements of Gönül, 408 soldiers lost their lives "by committing suicide!" in the last 5 years in Turkey. It attracted attention that the number of the losses,as much as losses during clashes in a country, has decreased when compared to previous years.
BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan’s written question about "suspicious soldier deaths” has been answered by the Minister of National Defence, Vecdi Gönül. On the motion given on 12 November 2010, Kurtulan pointed out to the suspected deaths of Kurdish soldiers such as Hasan Çakýr, Ýdris Çiftçi, Erdi Alkan, Þaban Koçak, Sait Kýzýlkaya, Mehmet Çavdar and asked which kind of workings were performed for the disclosure of these deaths and how many soldiers had lost their lives between 2002-2010.
The answer letter of the Ministry say that the investigations opened about the mentioned deaths are continuing, while the investigation opened by the Military Prosecution of Gendarme Command of Public Security about the death of Sait Kýzýlkaya concluded that there is no need for prosecution, while the decision is still in the notification process. The letter claimed that the reports of fatal accidents and suicide cases are prepared and examined "carefully". The measures taken to reduce the accidents and suicide incidents were listed as follows; “Guidance and Counseling Centers give service in all the barracks of Turkish Armed Forces. Psychosocial questionnaires are conducted on the conscripts. The soldiers in risky situations are kept under constant control, those carrying the risk of suicide are not planned for sentry post with bullet and weapons, drugs, etc to be used in suicide are kept in control".
The letter of the Ministry argued that 408 soldiers “lost their lives by committing suicide" in the last 5 years in TAF; “The suicide cases in TSK has showed a decrease within years through the practice of the measures taken as security and accident prevention system. It was claimed that the families are called to the scene after suicide or accident cases and informed at first hand at the scene”.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan’s written question about "suspicious soldier deaths” has been answered by the Minister of National Defence, Vecdi Gönül. On the motion given on 12 November 2010, Kurtulan pointed out to the suspected deaths of Kurdish soldiers such as Hasan Çakýr, Ýdris Çiftçi, Erdi Alkan, Þaban Koçak, Sait Kýzýlkaya, Mehmet Çavdar and asked which kind of workings were performed for the disclosure of these deaths and how many soldiers had lost their lives between 2002-2010.
The answer letter of the Ministry say that the investigations opened about the mentioned deaths are continuing, while the investigation opened by the Military Prosecution of Gendarme Command of Public Security about the death of Sait Kýzýlkaya concluded that there is no need for prosecution, while the decision is still in the notification process. The letter claimed that the reports of fatal accidents and suicide cases are prepared and examined "carefully". The measures taken to reduce the accidents and suicide incidents were listed as follows; “Guidance and Counseling Centers give service in all the barracks of Turkish Armed Forces. Psychosocial questionnaires are conducted on the conscripts. The soldiers in risky situations are kept under constant control, those carrying the risk of suicide are not planned for sentry post with bullet and weapons, drugs, etc to be used in suicide are kept in control".
The letter of the Ministry argued that 408 soldiers “lost their lives by committing suicide" in the last 5 years in TAF; “The suicide cases in TSK has showed a decrease within years through the practice of the measures taken as security and accident prevention system. It was claimed that the families are called to the scene after suicide or accident cases and informed at first hand at the scene”.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
