Because of 9 deaths of alleged HPG members, BDP cancelled all celebrations

NEWSCENTRE (DIHA) – The residents of Van and Yüksekova, a district of Hakkari, marked Ramadan as ‘Black Holiday’ since nine bodies of allegedly People’s Defense Forces’ (HPG) members were brought to Van hospital while all Muslims in Turkey and all around the world ready to celebrate Ramadan. In addition, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) cancelled all celebration programs due to the casualties despite cease-fire of PKK. According to allegations, nine people were killed during the large scale operation of Turkish Military Forces (TSK) in rural areas of Hakkari.

Nine dead bodies claimed to be of HPG members were sent to Malatya today. Turkish army says all were killed in a single clash before yesterday in Mount Kato, northwest of Hakkari. Their identities remain unknown.

People’ Initiative of Van called residents to take possession of the death bodies while BDP cancelled all celebrations. Nihat Oğraş, Vice-co-chair of BDP, stated that Kurds will not celebrate this holiday since their people were killed on the mountains despite their cease-fire announcement. Besides that according to his explanation DTP declared day of mourning in Hakkari and Şırnak where the conflict occurred and nine Kurds were killed.
Selahattin Demirtaş, Co-Chair of BDP, has also statement over the latest casualties. Demirtaş considered the military operations in feast period as provocation of AKP administrations: “We want explanation from AKP for this operation. If there is no information, PM needs to make it clear. Otherwise we intend to believe that PM R. Tayyip Erdoğan is part of this provocation. Who can provoke this term which is an opportunity for peace.
On the other hand, Human Rights Association Hakkari Branch made a call on government to speak directly with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK): “The latest operation caused nine Kurds death is work of someone who doesn’t want brother ship and peace to be developed in the region. The government should end the operations and work for peace, immediately.
Many organizations and associations also criticized the operations just before religious holiday and despite unilateral cease-fire of PKK while sending holiday greeting cards to President, Prime Minister and Chief of Defence Staff in İstanbul, Peace Mothers demanded consideration of ceasefire decision and an end for military operations.
Mothers said that: “The armed conflict atmosphere gave rise to over 30 thousand loss of lives, devastation of thousands of villages and forests, nature destruction under the cover of dams, exile of millions of people from their lands and economical, social and political impressions on all people in our geography. Following 1 September World Peace Day; as Peace Mothers, we now want to pass our feast without sorrow, tears and in peace, brotherhood, democracy and freedom. And therefore we demand the consideration of inertia decision of KCK (Kurdistan Democratic Confederation) that will last till 20 September, an end for military operations and release of imprisoned children. The inertia decision of PKK, which will end soon, (Kurdistan Workers Party) mustn’t be wasted.”

Another call to government for peace and to end the operations came from Emine Ayna, Deputy of BDP: “Erdogan's brain works in a 'fascist and racist' way. Kurdish mothers still cries after their sons while Turkish mothers’ sons’ lives are spared by the PKK. There can be no peace while a Kurdish mother’ tears don't stop.”

Ayna also criticized the referendum: “A constitution which says 'one nation-one language' will never help democratization of the country. We won't vote and say 'yes' for a constitution like this" she said.

Lynch attempts in Dörtyol is provocation

It is proved that the lynch attempts in Dörtyol was a provocation. According to some records revealed on some internet web-sites that Lütfü Kaşıkçı, President of Hatay Ülkü Ocakları (an association of ultra nationalists), told unidentified person that “Let destroyed and burned everything, since we have opportunity” during his phone call. According to voice record he also ordered people, who attempted lynch the Kurds, to attack on café belongs to Kurds. Kaşıkçı addressed other person who spoke with on the phone as ‘my President”.

(gü)