Village guard in Van killed for refusing to join army operation

Village guard, Haki Taş was said to have been killed in clashes that broke out in the operation carried out by the Turkish army in the Çaldıran, Van. As it turned out, he was killed by soldiers because he did not want to go into the operation.

According to statements by eyewitnesses and villagers, the Turkish army said that an operation would be carried out on the Tendürek Mountain last month and the village guards were instructed to make preparations accordingly.

The soldiers who called the village guards from the surrounding villages to the police stations explained the importance of the operation, but a village guard from the village of Yaşkütük (Pira Erdê), who lost his brother in clashes in the 1990s, stated that he did not want to join the operation. After the debate between the soldiers and Haki Taş, it was said to Taş, "You either join the operation or leave your weapon."

According to the information received, an operation called "Gendarmerie Lieutenant Harun Parlak" was launched in Çaldıran in the evening of 16 August 2020. Haki Taş, whose whole family consisted of village guards, had to join the operation site. Before reaching the operation site, however, Taş was subjected to violence by the soldiers and had his teeth broken. It turned out that Taş was killed by two bullets.

After the death of Haki Taş, the operation ended. Haki Taş was hastily buried in his village by the soldiers. The family of Haki Taş was warned not to leak any information.

No autopsy performed

According to the statements of the surrounding villagers, there was no clashes in the region. Haki Taş died and was buried without an autopsy being performed.