The delegation stated that despite of their all efforts, the authorities did not provide them any enlightening information, and it is understood that the corpses were unarmed. The members of the delegation and the families who saw the corpses informed the delegation that they faced with inhuman scenery. They explained the burned, maimed corpses and scorched body parts.
It is understood that the corpses apparently belong to the PKK militants of whom photos have been published by the press and broadcasting organizations. Both the families, who identified the corpses, and the relevant NGOs, stated that the corpses are not bullet-riddled and they have burned.
This situation strengthens the claims that the chemical weapons have been used. Despite the claims, the silence of the media organizations reveals how the media in Turkey is devoted to the instructions of the Prime Minister.
The authorities are silent, press is silent, and the judiciary is silent in Turkey.
As if 24 people did not die and as if there is no allegation of using chemical weapons, everyone is in silence.
It should be known that this ominous silence only serves for those who want to drag the country into a chaos.
The first Early Day Motion regarding the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction was tabled on 13 January 1993 and was invoked on 29 April 1997 in Turkey. The Convention was signed by Turkey on 14 January 1993 and Turkey is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 3 May 1997.
The use and stockpiling of Chemical Weapons was completely prohibited with the Convention invoked on 29 April 1997 in Turkey. 2
Article 1 of Chemical Weapons Convention specifies the State Party obligations.
1. Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never under any circumstances:
(a) To develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to anyone;
(b) To use chemical weapons;
(c) To engage in any military preparations to use chemical weapons;
(d) To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.
2. Each State Party undertakes to destroy chemical weapons it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
3. Each State Party undertakes to destroy all chemical weapons it abandoned on the territory of another State Party, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
4. Each State Party undertakes to destroy any chemical weapons production facilities it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
5. Each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.
According to the Convention, Turkey must take necessary action of the obligations that it has undertaken.
Therefore, the Turkish Government cannot avoid clarifying the following questions and enlightening the public opinion.
Is there a Chemical Weapons stockpiling?
Have Chemical Weapons been used for the last military operations?
Why the autopsy reports of the 24 corpses have being concealed?
What is the cause of death in the autopsy reports?
Have the evidences regarding the use of chemical weapons been investigated?
Has a criminal investigation done to find out the evidence of chemical weapons? If not, why the authorities have not taken the necessary action yet?
Solicitor Meral DANIS BESTAS
BDP vice Co-Chair,
Responsible for Law and Human Rights
Barış Manço Cad. 1388. Sok. no: 37 Balgat/AnkaraTel: 0 312 220 19 50 – Fax 0 312 220 19 77
