Villagers fear reprisals as thousands of Turkish soldiers move into rural areas weeks after threatening to torch homes

News About Turkey - NAT
3 Min Read

THOUSANDS of Turkish soldiers were mobilised today in operations targeting rural areas in the country’s largely Kurdish south-east, sparking anger among the population as scores of people were taken into custody.

The Interior Ministry announced Operation Bestler Dereler, sending just over 2,500 troops and village guards into part of Sirnak, Siirt, Van and Hakkari provinces in what is seen as an attempt to intimidate the locals.

The armed forces are angry after villagers reported that two Kurdish agricultural workers, Osman Siban and Servet Tugut, had been thrown from a military helicopter last month.

Soldiers had threatened to execute anyone who spoke about the incident, warning that their village would be burnt to the ground if they contacted the press.

The news was covered by journalists from the Mesopotamia News Agency, whose investigative work and dogged pursuit of the story revealed the truth despite an attempted cover-up by the state, which insisted that the farmers had fallen from rocks in an accident.

Four reporters who broke the news, which circulated internationally, Adnan Bilel, Cemil Ugur, Seheriban Ali and Nazan Sala, were jailed last week.

The soldiers who threw the men from the helicopter remain free.

The government claimed that the military mobilisation was aimed at stopping “the separatist organisation” — its derogatory term for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) — from taking shelter in the rural border areas before winter sets in.

But locals feared reprisals and revenge attacks by Turkish troops in response to the reporting of the helicopter incident.

Shortly before the operation began, at least 22 supporters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were detained in Hakkari, the constituency of leading HDP activist Leyla Guven, who was stripped of her parliamentary seat and jailed earlier this year on trumped-up terrorism charges.

Though she was released following international pressure, operations against the party have intensified, with hundreds of people taken into custody in the past few weeks.

Despite government attempts at what the HDP describes as “political genocide,” the party celebrated the eighth anniversary of its founding today, paying tribute to those who paid a heavy price for their commitment to it.

Some 15,000 members have been detained since 2015, 6,000 of whom were jailed.

More than 200 elected officials and seven MPs remain behind bars, including former party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag.

At least 53 of the 65 municipalities won by the HDP in last year’s local elections have been taken over by government-appointed trustees, while many of the elected mayors have been jailed.

Source: Morning Star Online

Share This Article
Founded by a small group of Turkish/Kurdish scholars who have been subjected to persecution at the hands of the Erdogan dictatorship, News About Turkey (NAT) has emerged as a platform that is both exceptional and invaluable. Our objective is to provide you with a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the events and developments in Turkey (Türkiye), a country with profound historical and geopolitical importance, a vibrant culture, and a strategic location. Our founders, who have been purged by the Erdogan regime after the so-called coup attempt, are aware of the significance of journalism that is both free and independent. Because of this understanding, we are committed to providing reporting and analysis that is both objective and comprehensive. To give you the most thorough coverage of Turkey, we go further than just scratching the surface. Keep in touch with us so that you can have a better understanding of Turkey's developing story as well as vital and comprehensive news items. Whether you are a resident of Turkey, a member of the Turkish/Kurdish diaspora, or simply someone who has a strong interest in this vital country, we are the most reliable source for news that not only informs but also inspires and engages you.
Leave a comment