The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, chaired by seven judges from various countries, started in French capital Paris yesterday. The first day of the tribunal sessions witnessed expert opinions on the Turkish state’s war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Kurdish people.

Witnesses of civilian massacres committed by the state forces during self-governance resistance in Cizre, Şırnak, Nusaybin and Sur were heard afterwards, and a legal framework was formed regarding these crimes that have been perpetrated by a state. Experts highlighted that the Turkish Republic was responsible for these massacres as a “state”.

The second day of sessions began with discussions on Roboski massacre in which Turkish fighter jets killed 34 civilians, mostly children, on 28 December 2011.

According to Prosecutor Jan Fermon, Roboski massacre is a war crime and is not a singular event as similar attacks were carried out elsewhere.

The first witness was Ferhat Encü who lost his brother and close relatives in Roboski. He said those massacred by the state were civilians that did border trade under unmanned aerial vehicles’ watch.

“We never thought that F-16s would drop bombs and such a massacre would take place. After the bombardment, soldiers blocked all the roads and did not allow anyone to return. The massacre was perpetrated 500 meters away from a Turkish military base. This was a deliberate massacre. No ambulances came, helicopters were flying over us like watching a movie”, said Encü and added that “We never recognized the borders drawn between us and our families during the Republic period.”

GEERDINK: THE STATE WANTED TO TAKE REVENGE WITH ROBOSKI MASSACRE

Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink who wrote a book on Roboski massacre also spoke at the tribunal as a witness of what happened after the massacre. She noted that she had gone to Roboski 5 days after the massacre, searched the incident in detail and published it into a book.  

Noting that PKK had carried out a large scale action before the massacre, Geerdink said Roboski massacre was “an attack of revenge” carried out by the state, saying that those bombed were, however, civilians.

Recalling that local people are doing border trade for dozens of years, Geerdink said everyone knows that the route of border traders is not used by the PKK.

KESKİN: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS A WAR CRIME

Human rights defender and lawyer Eren Keskin spoke afterwards and spoke of violence against women during curfews and the killing of female PKK guerrilla Ekin Van whose naked dead body was exposed by state forces afterwards.

Keskin mentioned the cases of sexual abuse against Kurdish women since the 90’s, saying; “Every kind of violence against women is political violence. Exposure of Ekin Van’s naked body is also a sexual torture.”

Remarking that the criminal complaints filed so far have given no results, Keskin said no complaint can be filed against public servants under today’s OHAL (State of Emergency) circumstances.

“In my point of view, this is a problem for the EU as well. Turkey is a party to several conventions but implements almost none of them.”

Keskin said the freedom of expression is violated more than ever in the current period, and summarized the situation in Turkey, saying; “You will be accused of membership to a terrorist organization even if you only mentioned the name of Ekin Van on social media today.”

Keskin pointed out that Kurdish women appeal to them the most, adding; “Even this alone is a proof of the war crimes.”

STATE TERROR

Besides Roboski massacre and state violence against women, the second day of sessions at the international tribunal will handle with witnesses the death squads mobilized by the state under the guise of anti-terror fight, murder of Musa Anter, bomb attacks against DEP party and bombing of Özgür Gündem newspaper.

PARIS MURDERS

The afternoon session of the court will treat the triple murder of PKK founding member Sakine Cansız, KNK Paris representative Fidan Doğan and Kurdish youth movement member Leyla Şaylemez in an organization of Turkish intelligence MİT in Paris on 9 January 2013. While the MİT’s role in the triple murder was clearly established the sole suspect in the case, Ömer Güney, died suspiciously in prison in late 2016.