Civil society organizations set off to clashes place
Civil society organizations set off to clashes place
Civil society organizations have set off to the place where yesterday heavy clashes ended with the death of 13 Turkish soldiers and at least 2 Kurdish guerrillas.
ÝHD, MEYA-DER, MAZLUMDER, Baro, and trade unions affiliated to the confederation KESK were among the civil society organization which are sending delegations to Silvan (Diyarbakýr province) to try and investigate what really happened on Thursday. The high number of casualties have fueled speculations as to what really happened and who was responsible for the losses. Indeed bombing by Turkish armed forces have been reported in the area by several eye witnesses. The General Staff has said in its statement that a group of Turkish troops were attacked by PKK members and involved in a skirmish. It added that grenades thrown by the PKK members ignited a fire in the heavily forested area where the clash occurred and 13 soldiers died in the blaze. According to the statement, seven PKK members were also killed, but this was not confirmed. The wounded soldiers were taken to Diyarbakýr Military Hospital.
But the General Staff version was disputed by eyewitnesses saying that indeed the area was under heavy bombardment by Turkish warplanes.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said on Friday that the PKK will pay a heavy price for the attack.
“Our security forces are strong. They will make the PKK pay a heavy price for this,” Erdoðan said, once again throwing away the possibility to speak peace rather than war.
The BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) has sent condolences to the families of the casualties and has said it is a government duty to investigate what really happened.
ÝHD, MEYA-DER, MAZLUMDER, Baro, and trade unions affiliated to the confederation KESK were among the civil society organization which are sending delegations to Silvan (Diyarbakýr province) to try and investigate what really happened on Thursday. The high number of casualties have fueled speculations as to what really happened and who was responsible for the losses. Indeed bombing by Turkish armed forces have been reported in the area by several eye witnesses. The General Staff has said in its statement that a group of Turkish troops were attacked by PKK members and involved in a skirmish. It added that grenades thrown by the PKK members ignited a fire in the heavily forested area where the clash occurred and 13 soldiers died in the blaze. According to the statement, seven PKK members were also killed, but this was not confirmed. The wounded soldiers were taken to Diyarbakýr Military Hospital.
But the General Staff version was disputed by eyewitnesses saying that indeed the area was under heavy bombardment by Turkish warplanes.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said on Friday that the PKK will pay a heavy price for the attack.
“Our security forces are strong. They will make the PKK pay a heavy price for this,” Erdoðan said, once again throwing away the possibility to speak peace rather than war.
The BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) has sent condolences to the families of the casualties and has said it is a government duty to investigate what really happened.
