A delegation of IHD Hakkari Branch, BDP Provincial Organization members and families of HPG (People’s Defence Forces) guerrillas went to Kazan Valley (Geliyê Tiyarê) where Turkish army allegedly used chemical weapons against guerrillas during the clashes on October 22-24 in Çukurca district of Hakkari.
While the delegation and families found body parts in the clash area, the villagers in the area told that HPG guerrillas had died in the caves hit by napalm bombs dropped during the clashes. Villagers also remarked that after the clashes the bodies of guerrillas had been taken from the area with diggers and many bodies were torn to pieces.
Surveying rocks where 11 bodies had been found, the delegation remarked that the area-next to Cevizli (Gûzeres) Village- had been destroyed to a large extent as a result of the chemical weapons and napalm bombs used during the clashes.
While several body’s parts like heels, skulls, had been scattered all around the area, the bombs also killed many animals and destroyed trees.
Making a statement after the survey, IHD Hakkari Branch Chair Ismail Akbulut said that with the samples they took from the area they would do what it is necessary to establish whether chemical weapons and napalm bombs have been used. Noting that there were only 24 bodies in Malatya’s morgue while about 30 guerrillas lost their lives during the clashes on October 23-24, Akbulut stated that six of the guerrillas – parts of their bodies in fact – were still in the clash area. Akbulut continued saying that “We witnessed a terrible situation in which chemical and various weapons were used, according to the eyewitnesses. We took samples of water and grass and gathered the body parts which we will convey to relevant authorities. We will make a statement after researches have been completed.”
While the delegation left the region after the survey, some families stayed in Cevizli (Gûzeres) Village to look for the bodies of their children. The report to be prepared by the delegation is expected to be declared to public in the following days.
D.F. – ANF / HAKKARI
01 November 2011
