Human Rights Association (IHD) Amed Branch Co-chair Raci Bilici spoke to ANF about the war policy implemented by AKP against the Kurdish people.

Putting emphasis on the legitimacy of the self-rule declared by the Kurdish people, Bilici said NGOs in Amed would hold international contacts against the war policy of the AKP.

IHD Amed Branch Chair Raci Bilici visited and made an examination in all the areas of Northern Kurdistan where the AKP government initiated a state of emergency since July 24 after turning down the table of talks for the solution of the Kurdish question.

Bilici stressed that those who interrupted talks and ended the negotiation process were responsible for the ongoing violence and deaths. He stressed that the Turkish state has used brutal and disproportionate force and deliberately aimed at the civilians after the recent declaration of self-rule in the Kurdish region, describing the current situation as a state policy heavier than 90's.

Remarking that 127 areas in the Kurdish region have been declared 'security zones', Bilici noted that security forces massacred civilians, executed and tortured the guerrillas they captured alive, posed with their feet on their naked bodies, burnt down forests, destroyed houses, evacuated towns and forced the Kurdish people to migration.

'ORDER TO HIT GIVEN FROM THE CENTRE'

Bilici pointed out that their demands to meet the Turkish authorities for the ending of the conflict were deliberately hindered, noting that the governors they talked to, however, told that the order was given from the centre.

"We cannot enter the clashes area because of the snipers positioned at many points. These snipers in Silopi, Diyadin, Varto and Silvan are targeting the civilian people. In other areas, we were arbitrarily denied access and not allowed to have talks with authorities. The state doesn't allow us to address remarks to officials, because of which we cannot propose a solution. Once we have the opportunity for a talk, we are only told that the people must give up on their individual and collective rights."

'SELF-RULE IS LEGITIMATE'

Stressing that the Kurdish people didn't trust on Ankara anymore and wanted to rule themselves after an imposition of denial, annihilation and assimilation for 90 years, Bilici said the people didn't want to turn back to the past and were tired of criminalization of their democratic demands."Davutoğlu pledges that 'They will see the power of the state'. This is the very attitude the Kurdish people reject and the reason why they want self-rule, a quite legitimate demand and a model implemented in many countries across the world. If the state will use its force, it should do this on the side of advancing dialogue, democratization, human rights and freedoms. We all know that the mindset born by the state for years will produce no results, just like what has happened in the past."

'INTERNAL SECURITY PACKAGE WAS A PREPARATION FOR TODAY'

Bilici pointed out that the incidents occurring today revealed the reason for what purpose the 'Internal Security Package' was prepared by AKP. He recalled the demands they had highlighted after the introduction of the package, which were to immediately stop the construction of guard posts, dams, security roads, withdrawal of military units to their bases, stop the dispatchment of special operation teams to Kurdistan, realization of steps in line with the solution process, and amendment of the existing anti-democratic laws.

'ISOLATION MUST END, NEGOTIATIONS MUST START'

Citing the demands highlighted by the people they talked during their visits, Bilici said people from all segments of the society called for the ending of the isolation on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan, recommencement of talks and initiation of negotiations for the solution of the Kurdish question and ending of the currently ongoing conflict and violence.

Warning that the present conflict would get deeper as long as the interim government continued closing the doors to dialogue, Bilici said non-governmental organisations in Amed have demanded a meeting with the ambassadors of many countries to ensure the ending of this vicious cycle, including France, U.S. And England. He added that they would ask the ambassadors to take action in the face of the happenings, to make efforts for the advancement of human rights, universal values, freedoms, human rights, and especially dialogue and negotiations.