Turkey

Kurdenkonflikt threatens to escalate

Turkey is continuing its fight against the Kurdish units in Syria continues. At the same time fought against the PKK in Eastern Turkey. Both conflicts could focus on the dangerous way. Tom Stevenson, Istanbul.

The Turkish military intervenes to further Kurdish positions in Northern Syria. During bombardment of new erobertenStellungen North of the heavily contested city of Aleppo are on Saturday and Sunday at least two fighters were killed and seven wounded, said the Syrian Observatory for human rights in London. In the Region were Kurdish Volksschutzeinheiten (YPG) and Arab allies last against Islamist rebels advanced.

Previously, the Turkish government, the end of the fight against Kurdish PKK fighters in the town of Cizre in
The Southeast of Turkey announced. The fights we had over months. According to the Turkish armed forces, there were over 600
PKK fighters killed.

“Mentality of the genocide,”

The imprisoned Pro-Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan related “Union of communities of Kurdistan” (KCK) is appalled by the actions of the Turkish security forces. She threw you a “mentality of the genocide”. In particular, relates to the KCK Operation in the beginning of February. Turkish security forces attacked a building in the town of Cizre. In its cellars had dozens injured, sought protection. Kurds close to “democratic party of the peoples,” begging the government for a massacre of 60 people committed to have.

Turkish soldiers patrol in the Kurdish-dominated town of Silvan

“We believe that the security forces in Cizre, a mass murder perpetrated, whose dimensions only gradually known,” said Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the “democratic party of the peoples“ (HTF), in an Interview to DW. “The security forces have a massacre perpetrated, but they can’t admit it. They put the bodies in side streets and the destroyed houses, in order to give the impression that the people were already dead”, said Demirtas.

A comprehensive investigation difficult

Faysal Sariyildiz, HDP member and Deputy in the Turkish Parliament, for two months in Cizre. He confirmed the reports from the rigorous approach of the security forces. In the basement revelers step Wounded would have been due to the Ausgangsperre neither medical treatment nor food.

“We know that in the first basement about 30 people were trapped. Seven already have been killed,” said Sariyildiz. “In the other two buildings were 110 more people. After the army, these buildings had attacked, we pushed on again 70 corpses. We accept, however, that more people have been killed.” Probably is also a kind of incendiary had been used to, because many of the corpses burn wounds showed. “And so heavy, that the body is completely unrecognizable.”

Funeral of a Turkish Sicherheitsoffiziers in Ciszre

Relatives wait for news

Sariyildiz reported he had a more comprehensive investigation was initiated. The access to the state hospital, he had, however, by the Turkish army have been denied. He had also contact the office of the Governor of Cizre turned, but received no reply.

The Kurdish Nachrichtenorganisation Firat News Agency interviewed the mother of one of the victims of the attack: she and other parents have since last week nothing more of their children. “We do not know whether they are living or dead. I don’t want my children in this cellar to die.”

Uncertain Future

The conflict in the
South-East of Turkey could be the crisis throughout the Region reinforce the fears of the Kurdish conflict, specialized political scientist Mehmet Alkis from the Marmara University in Istanbul. “The radicalization in the Southeast of Turkey and through the security-by-step pressure are interdependent. However, the relationship between security forces and underground groups asymmetrically”, so Alkis. “In these conflicts to try to parties sometimes, conflicts escalate, and as their positions strengthen. Government officials have said that the Operation also in other cities will continue. This could cause an even greater reaction and escalation of the conflict”.

Hoffnungsträgerder Kurds: HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas

The conflict in the Southeast of Turkey in connection with the other conflicts in the Region. The rise in violence in Turkey is related to the escalation in Syria and Iraq. As long as the Turkish government’s attitude towards the Syrian Kurdish movement in the neighboring country does not change, there’ll be peace in Turkey, too difficult, says Alkis. “Currently, to observe both sides of the Situation, a political sign. If the Turkey of the international players to convince them that a coexistence with the Kurdish PYD is possible, it could be the beginning of a ceasefire and a subsequent peace process. This is not the case, conflicts and tensions in the South-East will escalate.”