PKK BLAMES RECENT MASSACRE ON THE TURKISH MILITARY

October 2, 2007
PKK blames recent massacre on the Turkish Military

Kurdishaspect.com - By Karwan Simek

This week, 12 people were confirmed dead in an attack on a mini-bus in Besagac village in the Sirnex (Sirnak) province in Kurdistan of Turkey. Turkish officials immediately blamed the massacre on Kurdish rebels. This week, the People's Armed Forces (HPG - armed wing of the PKK), issued a statement denying the allegations against them and said that the Turkish Gendarmeries Intelligence Service (JITEM) organized the massacre.

Those dead in the attack on Saturday included workers and village guards employed by the Turkish government to counter the PKK. PKK leaders
blamed the attacks on Turkish Intelligence claiming that such attacks are
made in an attempt to further try to de-legitimize the Kurdish struggle in the view of the International Community.

The PKK also touched on the fact that while they are trying to maintain a ceasefire, which went into effect in October of 2006, the Turkish military has launched 483 operations against them. The PKK claims these operations consist of the illegal use of chemical weapons and cluster bombs by the Turkish military.

Kurdish groups have blamed the Turkish military for black operations in the past where civilians were targeted and the blame was placed on Kurdish rebels. Some allegations against the Turkish military have been proven, including the Şemdinli bombing, where a attack on a bookstore left 2 dead and 15 wounded. Human Rights organizations have expressed concern over the lack of investigation in Turkey in such cases.

In 2006, Amnesty International issued a statement expressing concern over Turkey's lack of action against members of the security forces accused of human rights violations.