Κυριακή 28 Φεβρουαρίου 2021

HPG: Chemical weapons used in Siyanê prison camp

HPG stated that chemical weapons were used in Siyanê camp where Turkish soldier prisoners were staying in Gare and said: "It's impossible to enter the camp because banned chemical weapons have been used.” 

 

The People's Defence Forces (HPG) Press Center revealed that chemical weapons were used during the Turkish state’s military operation in the prison camp in Siyanê, Gare.

The HPG statement is as follows:

“We are trying to establish the results of the invasion attack in Gare, launched by the colonialist genocidal Turkish state between 10 and 14 February through our forces in the field.

Although the invading Turkish state suffered a heavy defeat on the ground, it still continues its air strikes against the Medya Defense Zones and especially the Gare region. These  air strikes delay the establishment of facts.

Chemical weapons used in Siyanê

Our forces have reached this camp in order to understand clearly and concretely what happened in the camp where the [Turkish soldier] prisoners were held in the Siyanê area. However, although three days have passed, there is still a heavy smell of gas and chemicals in and around the prison camp. Since chemical weapons, which are banned within the scope of war crimes, were used by the fascist Turkish army, you cannot enter the camp. Probably everyone in this camp was shot after being killed by chemical gas. These are the first information we gathered.

Efforts to establish what exactly happened in the massacre carried out by the Turkish state against the prison camp continue. The clear and final results and the 4-day Gare clashes will be revealed to our patriotic people and the public in detail.

A guerrilla fell martyr in an air attack

In our statement dated 14 February 2021, we stated that between 11 pm on February 13 and 1 am on February 14, the vicinity of the village of Şikeftiyan village in Gare was bombed 5 times. Our comrade Gelhat Tolhıldan fell a martyr in this bombardment.

Under the leadership of the brave Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, an epic resistance was displayed for 4 days against the invasion operation launched by the invading Turkish army against the Gare on February 10, 2021, and the Turkish army was defeated with a historical victory. Our comrade Gelhat Tolhildan joined the army of martyrs by playing his historical role in the Gara resistance, which resulted in a great military success.

Our comrade Gelhat, originally from Cizre, Botan's ancient city of resistance, was forced to migrate to one of Turkey’s big cities as a result of his village been burned by the colonial Turkish state as part of te genocide against the Kurdish people. Our comrade Gelhat, who grew up in an environment with a patriotic and insurgent tradition, got to know the practices of the genocidal Turkish state at an early age. He took part in youth activities by fighting against this murderous mentality since his youth. He joined the guerrilla in 2016, realizing that participating in the struggle in the free mountains against the attacks of the invading Turkish state which seeks to destroy the Kurdish people and the freedom guerilla was the only way of emancipation.

Especially in 2015-2016, the Self-Government Resistance that developed in Cizre, once again revealed the true genocidal face of the Turkish state which suffered a serious defeat and martyred our civilians by burning and murdering in the basements of Cizre and led our comrade Gelhat to participate in the guerilla.

We extend our condolences to all the people of Cizre and the patriotic people of Kurdistan, especially the precious family of our hero comrade, and we promise that we will certainly crown our freedom struggle from Bınevş Agals to Mehmet Tunç and Gelhats.

Air attacks continue

On 15 February, at 1 pm, the Xêrê mountain in Gare was bombed three times by fighter jets.

On 15 February, at 2 pm, the Kunişka area of ​​the Zap region was bombed by fighter jets.

On 15 February between 1.20 pm and 1.40 pm, the Geliyê Avaşîn area was bombed four times with warplanes.

 

Πηγή:

HPG: Chemical weapons used in Siyanê prison camp - ANF


Call for investigation into use of chemical gas in Turkish operation in Gare

Despite the confession of the Turkish Minister of Defence and the accounts of PKK commander Murat Karayılan, the silence of international organizations including the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) catches the attention.

On February 22, 2021, Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Executive Council member Murat Karayılan spoke on the Kurdish television station Stêrk TV. He stated that the Turkish army used chemical gas in its attack on the Garê region in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) from February 10-14. In his statement, he called on international institutions to visit the region and investigate in this regard.

“If it had been summer or if there had been three to four hours of rainy, cloudy weather, not one soldier of the Turkish army would have survived. They would have all been annihilated. Nevertheless, the resistance of our friends resulted in a great defeat for the Turkish army. When it realized that it was encircled, it used chemical agents and took flight without a backward glance. From the Turkish army's point of view, it was a bitter defeat,” Karayılan said.

The top commander underlined that the military operation was not carried out to save the prisoners as the Turkish army wanted to settle in the middle of Gare. He said, “When the Turkish troops realized that they were surrounded, they had to retreat. Even a person with little military knowledge would realize that this operation makes no logical sense. After all, is it possible to liberate prisoners from an underground camp using bombs and poison gas? This is simply absurd. The attacks, as fierce as they have been, have been repelled by Commander Şoreş with counterattacks, forcing the Turkish army to withdraw from the camp. This scene was repeated dozens of times: Bombardments - attempted infiltration - retreat. In the end, chemical agents were used. To sum up, nothing has been done to save the POWs, on the contrary. All lethal weapons have been used.”

ANF footage from the ground also showed gas masks among the materials left behind by the Turkish troops during their withdrawal from the embattled area.

In an “information” speech in the parliament after the military operation, in which 13 Turkish POWs were also killed, Turkish Minister of National Defence, Hulusi Akar said “only tear gas” was used during the operation, which was actually a confession of the use of chemical gas.

Despite both the confession of the Turkish Minister of Defence and the accounts of Karayılan, the silence of international organizations including the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) catches the attention.

IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War) Turkey Representative Gisela Penteker spoke to ANF on the subject and said that Turkey’s war against the Kurds is illegal in several respects under international law even without the use of chemical weapons.

Referring to previous allegations of similar cases in the region, Penteker said; “We know from experience with earlier reports of poison gas use, e.g. in Syria, how difficult it is to provide evidence on the ground. From the photos provided, a use can usually only be assumed. I myself only know what I have read about poison gas violations.”

Asked if she knew whether Turkey is in possession of chemical weapons, Penteker replied, “I do not know. However, I think it is possible, although it should not be within the framework of NATO. This unspeakable war of Turkey against the Kurds both in Turkey and in Syria and Iraq is in several respects illegal under international law even without the use of chemical weapons. The so-called Western community of values makes itself complicit.”

In the meantime, after the statements of Karayılan, ANF asked OPCW via mail on February 24 if the organisation would take action to investigate the allegations of chemical gas use by the Turkish army in Gare. OPCW is yet to reply.

OPCW’s close relations with Turkey came to light in the wake of the Turkish occupation of Gire Spi (Tal Abyad) and Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain) in October 2019. Amids repeated and louder calls for an international investigation into Turkish use of prohibited weapons during genocidal attacks, it came out on October 17, 2019 that the government of Turkey contributed €30,000 to a “special OPCW Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store”.

 

Πηγή

Call for investigation into use of chemical gas in Turkish ... - ANF

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