TTB: Hopa demonstrator Lokumcu died of tear gas
TTB: Hopa demonstrator Lokumcu died of tear gas
Turkish Medical Association (TTB) stated on 13 February that the death of Metin Lokumcu, who died after suffering a struck in a demonstration in Hopa on May 31, 2011, was caused by tear gas.
The report which was declared with a press statement by TTB Vice President and General Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Özdemir Aktan was prepared after 342 lawyers on behalf of Lokumcu’s family had applied to TTB and demanded a scientific report on Lokumcu’s death.
Prof. Dr. Özdemir Aktan, remarking that the results of Lokumcu’s autopsy had been evaluated wrong, contradicted the statements of Head of Police Department who claimed that tear gas doesn’t harm people.
20.06.2011 dated report by Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) concluded that Lokumcu's death was connected with his heart and lung disease. However, Lokumcu's family objected to the report, saying that he didn't suffer from these diseases.
The report by TTB, noting that the Institute's report aimed to cover up the reason of Lokumcu's death and the violence applied by the state,pointed out that there is a causality relationship between Metin Lokumcu's death and his exposure to tear gas.
Aktan stated that TTB demanded the progress of the Lokumcu’s case in line with scientific truths, punishment of those responsible for the usage of gas bombs and prohibition of this kind of bombs due to their effects on human health.
Speaking after Aktan, Prof. Dr. Þebnem Korur Fincancý noted that the Forensic Medicine Institution’s report on Lokumcu’s death was not scientific. “Tear gas should immediately be prohibited by the United Nations (UN),” added Fincancý.
One other speech was made by Dr. Ümit Ünüvar who pointed out that ten deaths were reported due to tear gas in the last ten years. Ünüvar added that 64 cases of blood pressure and asthma crises as well as panic attacks were reported after a single demonstration where tear gas was used against demonstrators.
The report which was declared with a press statement by TTB Vice President and General Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Özdemir Aktan was prepared after 342 lawyers on behalf of Lokumcu’s family had applied to TTB and demanded a scientific report on Lokumcu’s death.
Prof. Dr. Özdemir Aktan, remarking that the results of Lokumcu’s autopsy had been evaluated wrong, contradicted the statements of Head of Police Department who claimed that tear gas doesn’t harm people.
20.06.2011 dated report by Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) concluded that Lokumcu's death was connected with his heart and lung disease. However, Lokumcu's family objected to the report, saying that he didn't suffer from these diseases.
The report by TTB, noting that the Institute's report aimed to cover up the reason of Lokumcu's death and the violence applied by the state,pointed out that there is a causality relationship between Metin Lokumcu's death and his exposure to tear gas.
Aktan stated that TTB demanded the progress of the Lokumcu’s case in line with scientific truths, punishment of those responsible for the usage of gas bombs and prohibition of this kind of bombs due to their effects on human health.
Speaking after Aktan, Prof. Dr. Þebnem Korur Fincancý noted that the Forensic Medicine Institution’s report on Lokumcu’s death was not scientific. “Tear gas should immediately be prohibited by the United Nations (UN),” added Fincancý.
One other speech was made by Dr. Ümit Ünüvar who pointed out that ten deaths were reported due to tear gas in the last ten years. Ünüvar added that 64 cases of blood pressure and asthma crises as well as panic attacks were reported after a single demonstration where tear gas was used against demonstrators.
