International investigation requested into chemical weapon use
International investigation requested into chemical weapon use
Following last week’s investigations at Kazan Valley in Çukurca (Hakkari) where Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) allegedly used chemical weapons against HPG (People’s Defense Forces) guerillas, Former UN Weapons Inspector Jan van Aken demanded an international investigation into the use of chemical weapons by TSK. Aken called on OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) member countries that; “To connive will mean to be a party to Turkey’s crime.”
37 members of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) lost their life in an aerial strike by the TSK in the Kazan Valley on 19 October. Including Aken, human rights defenders and parliamentarians, an international delegation from Europe visited and examined the valley last week.
In the report of his observations in the area, Aken emphasized that they had received many news and documents which confirmed the chemical weapon use by the Turkish army so far. Listing many examples in this regard, Aken pointed to a video shot during a clash in 1999 as the most significant evidence.
Reminding of the document which confirmed the chemical stock of TSK, German parliamentarian also pointed to the research of Forensic Medicine Institute of Munich University which ascertained that the Turkish army used gas bombs containing CS gas in 11 May 1999, killing 20 PKK militants.
Aken underlined that the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation of Turkey produced gas bombs despite the prohibition of CS gas by international treaties.
Aken noted that experts in Hamburg University were also convinced over investigations that some guerillas died of chemical weapons in Çukurca in 2009.
Aken pointed out that Turkey violated international treaties by possessing chemical weapons and expressed his observations in the area as follows;
“It is still possible to observe the marks of bombs in the area. Following the clash, soldiers warned the people in the region to not to ‘drink water for three days’. Despite strong suspicions, the Prosecution Office still remains silent without launching an investigation. Moreover, some of the bodies are still held in morgue in Malatya for more than one month.”
Aken continued saying that; “We appealed to the Prosecution Office to see the bodies but we received neither an explanation nor a response to our demand. It is of importance to have autopsy on these bodies performed by an independent delegation in terms of finding out conclusive evidences. In addition, the Turkish government should allow examinations by OPCW as well.”
Aken urged all OPCW member countries, Germany in particular, to force Turkey to investigate the subject.
37 members of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) lost their life in an aerial strike by the TSK in the Kazan Valley on 19 October. Including Aken, human rights defenders and parliamentarians, an international delegation from Europe visited and examined the valley last week.
In the report of his observations in the area, Aken emphasized that they had received many news and documents which confirmed the chemical weapon use by the Turkish army so far. Listing many examples in this regard, Aken pointed to a video shot during a clash in 1999 as the most significant evidence.
Reminding of the document which confirmed the chemical stock of TSK, German parliamentarian also pointed to the research of Forensic Medicine Institute of Munich University which ascertained that the Turkish army used gas bombs containing CS gas in 11 May 1999, killing 20 PKK militants.
Aken underlined that the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation of Turkey produced gas bombs despite the prohibition of CS gas by international treaties.
Aken noted that experts in Hamburg University were also convinced over investigations that some guerillas died of chemical weapons in Çukurca in 2009.
Aken pointed out that Turkey violated international treaties by possessing chemical weapons and expressed his observations in the area as follows;
“It is still possible to observe the marks of bombs in the area. Following the clash, soldiers warned the people in the region to not to ‘drink water for three days’. Despite strong suspicions, the Prosecution Office still remains silent without launching an investigation. Moreover, some of the bodies are still held in morgue in Malatya for more than one month.”
Aken continued saying that; “We appealed to the Prosecution Office to see the bodies but we received neither an explanation nor a response to our demand. It is of importance to have autopsy on these bodies performed by an independent delegation in terms of finding out conclusive evidences. In addition, the Turkish government should allow examinations by OPCW as well.”
Aken urged all OPCW member countries, Germany in particular, to force Turkey to investigate the subject.
