Civil society organizations which have set off to the place where Thursday heavy clashes ended with the death of 13 Turkish soldiers and at least 2 Kurdish guerrillas have released their first impressions from the area. The commission sent to Silvan said in its first statement that they could not see any sign of a big fire in the area. The General Staff had 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 first hand accounts by the commission no signs of such a big fire could be seen. The commission said they have seen trenches where the soldiers probably were and remains of military material, included parts of soldiers' uniforms, food, parts of weapons.

The commission is formed by members of ÝHD, MEYA-DER, MAZLUMDER, Baro, and trade unions affiliated to the confederation KESK among others.