NEWSDESK, — The Sunshine Project reported that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) previously used chemical weapons and probably is continuing to use them despite the TSK’s rejection of the allegation for holding prohibited chemical weapons, ANF reports.
“TSK used so-called ‘non lethal weapons such as tear gas and we believe that these kinds of weapons have being used during heavy clashes. At least in one clash, the TSK used tear gas-grenades against armed Kurdish and caused the death of 20 of them. In this case, Turkey violated the Agreement for Chemical Weapons,” according to the report called “Country Researches-Number 3- A research on Studies about Biological and Biochemical Weapons in Turkey.”
Publishing on December 6, 2004, the report underlined that to reach the information about chemical weapons is highly difficult in Turkey and the Turkish authorities’ statement about no existence of bio-defense plan for Turkey is not true.
It was stated in the report that there are significant activities to search and develop bio weapons as well as bio-defense.
The allegation of the use of chemical weapon is on the agenda in Turkey again since the relatives of members of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) who lost their lives in a clash on 22-24 October in the Kazan Valley, filed a criminal complaint regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons.
Nongovernmental organizations such as the Human Rights Association (IHD) Diyarbakir Branch, the Mesopotamia Association of Missing People’s Relatives (MEYA-DER) and the Diyarbakir Medical Chamber also made denouncements against those responsible.
After the military operation, it was alleged that the HPG members had died as the result of chemical weapons used in the Kazan Valley in Hakkari, southeastern Turkey. The denouncement is based on preliminary autopsy reports prepared by the prosecution which revealed that the bodies showed “a change of color” and burn marks that “could not be identified.”
The criminal complaint requested an investigation order to determine whether chemical weapons or prohibited weapons were used in the clash.
In addition, the petitioners, requested an alternative autopsy report which needs to be prepared by an independent delegation comprised of experts from the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the Turkey Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), the Forensic Medicine Experts Association and university staff.
The Prosecutor’s office dismissed this demand previously, so the IHD reiterated the request.