Cemetery of guerrillas bombed by Turkish army in Cudi

[Anthea]

Thousands flock to the martyrs' cemetery demolished by soldiers

Turkish troops that shelled the Martyr İsmail and Martyr Ronahi Cemetery in Varto have withdrawn from the area, while people strongly reacted to the attack which also left the graves destroyed.

After shelling the area of Martyr İsmail and Martyr Ronahi Cemetery in Kulan region in Varto district of Muş with warplanes and helicopters for two days, Turkish troops have withdrawn from the region ,after which thousands of people flocked to the cemetery area. HDP deputies Ahmet Yıldırım, Lezgin Botan, Bedran Öztürk and Mizgin Irgat also joined the crowd.

People arrived the scene to see that the mosque, cemevi (Alevi place of worship) and a building for condolences in the graveyard had been completely destroyed, and headstones of the graves had also been damaged. Three civil vehicles in the graveyard had also been shelled and left unusable.

'MANIFESTATION OF THE HATRED TOWARDS KURDISH PEOPLE'

Speaking at a press conference joined by thousands in front of the martyrs' cemetery, HDP Muş Deputy Ahmet Yıldırım said the attack on the graveyard was a manifestation of the extend reached by the state terror against the Kurdish people during the last two months.

“The curfews imposed almost on each city and district in Kurdistan and declaration of security zones a the sign of the massacres planned to be perpetrated. They carry out massacres by killing women, children, elderly, in fact everyone. They pursue such a dirty war. The level reached by this dirty war is a raving, irrational one targeting the sentimental values of the people, their losses, martyrs, cemeteries. The demolition of the sacred places of the people, who dedicated their lives to dignified peace and freedom, manifests the subconscious hatred and enmity towards the Kurdish people” said Yıldırım.

'WE WILL RESPOND WITH RESISTANCE'

Yıldırım pointed out that the religious buildings in the cemetery were also devastated with an aim to touch the nerves of the Kurdish people and test their patience, adding; “The attack on the guerrillas in the cemetery does in fact demonstrate what the Turkish state's feeling and attitude towards the Kurdish people corresponds to. This area has been declared a special security and military zone, and this decision has been taken by a governor who used an authority given by an illegitimate instruction for demolition. This decision has no cover in the conscience of the people.”

Yıldırım emphasized that the Kurdish people will respond to these attacks with resistance and unity as as they have always done during their history. He added; “No one and no attack ever could manage to deter the Kurdish people from the freedom struggle, nor will they be able to do so.”

It has been reported that people will hold a vigil for two days in order to protect the cemetery of Kurdish martyrs.

[Anthea]

Another cemetery of guerrillas bombed by Turkish army in Cudi

Following the instruction sent by Turkish Interior Ministry to the governors of some Kurdish cities for the “demolition of guerrillas' cemeteries” last week, Turkish army conducted an intense bombardment on 'Martyr İsmail and Martyr Ronahi Cemetery' of fallen guerrillas in Kulan region in Varto district of Muş. Following the shelling which lasted two days, soldiers and special operation teams devastated the martyrs' cemetery.

Another similar report has come from Şırnak today.

A group of civilians HDP deputies have reached the Gunde Spîndirok area in the foothills of Mount Cudi where an operation by the Turkish army is going on, which is also being participated by village guards.

HDP deputies Leyla Birlik, Aycan İrmez, Ferhat Encü, Mehmet Ali Aslan, Enise Güneyli and representatives of some institutions are among the crowd that will act as human shields to hinder probable clashes and deaths.

The group was hindered by military and police forces soon after leaving Şırnak and in the Kasrik town, but yet managed to reach the operation area by taking a mountainous area in Heştan (Yoğurtçular) region.

On arriving the scene, the people saw that 'Martyr Cuma and Martyr Bişeng Cemetery' of fallen PKK guerrillas had also been bombed with howitzers, which left the walls and the guesthouse in the graveyard demolished.

Soldiers deployed on Mount Cudi with tanks are conducting interrupted artillery attacks on the area. The people have started human shield action against the ongoing operation and the demolition of the cemetery.

As a result of the previous attack on 'Martyr İsmail and Martyr Ronahi Cemetery' in Varto, the mosque, cemevi (Alevi place of worship) and a building for condolences in the graveyard had been completely destroyed, and headstones of the graves had also been damaged.