Enough already with all the sufferings!
PKK attacked riot squad department in Cizre with a truck loaded with explosives, causing 11 police officers to lose their lives. In Dağlıca, where a construction site was raided, 2 workers also lost their lives. Furthermore, an armed wing of PKK, People’s Defense Forces (HPG), has claimed responsibility for the armed attack in Artvin but stated it was not targeted against the main opposition party CHP’s Chair Kılıçdaroğlu.
There was also a baby among the victims
In Konak town of Cizre district of Şırnak, an attack on the District Police Department and Riot Squad Unit was carried out with an explosives-loaded truck at around 7:00 in the morning yesterday (August 26).
Şırnak Governor’s Office has announced that 11 police officers lost their lives and 78 people, 3 of whom are civilians, got wounded. A baby that was also wounded in the attack has been taken to Cizre State Hospital for treatment.
PKK militants who had come to the incident site with the loaded truck were countered by the police and a clash took place between the militants and the police forces. As PKK group was not able to pass through the check point that is 50 meters near the targeted police station, they detonated the truck there. With the impact of this deafening and quaking explosion, the front side of the police station collapsed completely; the sections next to it, where police officers were staying, got destroyed; and the fire spread to the equipment stocking area. Along with backing police teams, TOMAs (anti-riot water cannon vehicle) and fire trucks were also sent to the site for support and intervention.
The attack has been claimed by HPG
HPG has announced its claim for responsibility of the attack from its website. In its statement, HPG has claimed that this attack was ‘carried out in response to the continuation of the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s isolation’. The statement also included claims in regards to ‘killing of tens of police officers’ and a note that ‘the details about this attack are to be released tomorrow (August 27)’.
Written statement of President Erdoğan
In his written statement to the public, President Erdoğan said: “Our nation is always going to overcome all hardships in unity and togetherness; and, it will give the necessary answer to those trying to attack our peace and serenity. It is quite significant that this attack is carried out at the same time as our Operation Euphrates Shield is taking place. But this attack has only furthered out determination for our fight.”
PM Yıldırım: ‘It is a full scale war’
Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also gave statements about the attack in Cizre, saying: “No terrorist organization can take over the Turkish Republic. We have declared a full scale war against all of these terrorist organizations. As the Veteran (Mustafa Kemal Atatürk) said during the Independence War ‘either freedom or death!’”
Condemnation message from USA
US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass stated: “We mourn together with our NATO ally Turkey; we once again affirm our shared undertaking for defeating terrorism.”
Call to all political parties
Emphasizing that the current point reached is not something that could be solved by only one party, CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu made the following remarks: “Teror has reached such point that it has turned into something that no one party can handle it on its own. All political parties, all civil society institutions, all trade bodies, and all citizens must act in unity in this regard. I think that the political bodies should come to the front more and be more active in the efforts for solving these problems.”
‘Enough already!’
President of DİSK (Confederation of Unions of Revolutionary Workers) Kani Beko also gave a statement about the current attack and the state of affairs, saying: “We vehemently condemn the attack on Police Station and Riot Squad Department in Cizre, Şırnak. We wake up every morning in this country with the news of more deaths and more pain! Enough already! These lands have been fed up with violence, terror, war, bloodshed, and tears! We must all defend a human life and peace all together, without any conditions and without any excuses. We must defend the establishment of a real democracy that aims for a life lived in solidarity and through nurturing each other.”
‘We are not going to surrender’
TMMOB (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects) President of the Executive Board Emin Koramaz stated: “These attacks are serving for the interests of those who want to create a chaotic situation in the country and for those who are enemies of democracy. There is a need in the country for a democratic platform and for peace. We are not going to surrender to the forces that want us to get used to terror.”
Broadcast ban
RTÜK (Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council) has announced that it has issued, with the request of the Prime Ministry’s Office, a ban on broadcast of news related to this recent attack.
(Frontpage article of BirGün for 27 August 2016, Saturday)
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-