Fire was ignited by bombing
Fire was ignited by bombing
Civil society organizations have disclosed the results of the examinations and investigations they made at the scene of the clashes and operation in the countryside of Silvan/Diyarbakýr on Thursday. They underlined there is clearly an information cover up, the NGOs demanded an explanation for this cover up. The Turkish General Staff has said in its official statement that the high number of deaths (13 soldiers and 2 guerrillas) occurred because of a fire ignited by the guerrillas' grenades. This version of events have been confuted by locals and by the associations carrying out their own investigation.
The organizations noted that the fire broke out as a result of the bombs dropped from helicopters. Referring to the General Staff’s statement that seven guerrillas died, the organizations asked; “The bodies of two guerrillas are in Malatya but who are the other five guerrillas and where are the bodies now?”
IHD, MAZLUMDER, Diyarbakýr Chamber of Doctors, Diyarbakir Bar Association, TIHV, ÖZGÜR-DER, KESK Diyarbakýr Branches Platform and Memur-Sen Diyarbakýr Branch, Peace Mothers Initiative, MEYA-DER and many other civil society organizations announced the results of their examinations with a press conference at Sümerbank Reception Hall. Making the statement on behalf of the organizations, meeting IHD Diyarbakir Branch Secretary Raci Bilici listed the commission's findings:
1- Considering the scene of the event, it was observed that it is not a favorable location in terms of laying an ambush against soldiers.
2- According to the testimonies by villagers, the fire, which was started with gas and other bombs dropped from helicopters, is responsible for the high the number of deaths.
3- We have reached the conclusion that the dominant hill was bombed from the air. Basing on the weapons and other findings at the scene, it has been concluded that there was an intervention from the air during the event.
4- Considering the area the fire spread, it was observed that the fire in the area can’t have been started by hand grenades. Besides, it is not realistic the death of soldiers are attributed to this fire.
5- The extinction of the fire was prevented by soldiers after the event, which caused the destruction of much larger forested areas.
6- It has been observed that fear dominates on the residents of the village where the event took place, while soldiers keeping the ways to the village under control. The people of the village have been damaged financially due to the losses of their animals.
7- Despite the Prosecution's investigation, it is attention-grabbing that unexploded military material were found at the scene which could be life-threatening for the people living in the village.”
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
The organizations noted that the fire broke out as a result of the bombs dropped from helicopters. Referring to the General Staff’s statement that seven guerrillas died, the organizations asked; “The bodies of two guerrillas are in Malatya but who are the other five guerrillas and where are the bodies now?”
IHD, MAZLUMDER, Diyarbakýr Chamber of Doctors, Diyarbakir Bar Association, TIHV, ÖZGÜR-DER, KESK Diyarbakýr Branches Platform and Memur-Sen Diyarbakýr Branch, Peace Mothers Initiative, MEYA-DER and many other civil society organizations announced the results of their examinations with a press conference at Sümerbank Reception Hall. Making the statement on behalf of the organizations, meeting IHD Diyarbakir Branch Secretary Raci Bilici listed the commission's findings:
1- Considering the scene of the event, it was observed that it is not a favorable location in terms of laying an ambush against soldiers.
2- According to the testimonies by villagers, the fire, which was started with gas and other bombs dropped from helicopters, is responsible for the high the number of deaths.
3- We have reached the conclusion that the dominant hill was bombed from the air. Basing on the weapons and other findings at the scene, it has been concluded that there was an intervention from the air during the event.
4- Considering the area the fire spread, it was observed that the fire in the area can’t have been started by hand grenades. Besides, it is not realistic the death of soldiers are attributed to this fire.
5- The extinction of the fire was prevented by soldiers after the event, which caused the destruction of much larger forested areas.
6- It has been observed that fear dominates on the residents of the village where the event took place, while soldiers keeping the ways to the village under control. The people of the village have been damaged financially due to the losses of their animals.
7- Despite the Prosecution's investigation, it is attention-grabbing that unexploded military material were found at the scene which could be life-threatening for the people living in the village.”
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
