Some of the information leaked to the press, immediately after the massacre to the present day, are causing anxiety among us as Kurds because of the fact that the investigation is not carried out objectively.
On the morning of the day of the massacre (on January 10, 2013), before any proper information about the massacre has been announced to the public, AKP spokesman Huseyin Celik almost gave a clue regarding the direction that the investigation shall proceed by describing this massacre as “an internal feud within the organization”. Even though there is a broad consensus that the Paris Massacre was a political murder and a provocative attack to prevent the peaceful solution of Kurdish problem; especially the fact that the news that are published in Turkish and French media, which are based on the French police and authorities and are clearing up Turkey while leaving just the Kurdish side as the sole suspect, has never been falsified is deepening our doubts that the investigation is not being carried objectively.
We will try to explain the situation with two concrete examples:
Lefigaro report, dated January 10, 2013 wrote: “To our knowledge, this three execution done in France was not conducted by the Turkish secret services but rather an internal feud within the PKK. According to the police, I don’t believe that such an operation can be organised in France by the Turkish State. The co-ordination between Paris and Ankara regarding the police and the intelligence is working well. Information is being shared between Turkey and France Anti-Terrorism prosecutors. In this context, it is unthinkable, even absurd in the assassination of …” (http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2013/01/10/01016-20130110ARTFIG00423-trois-militantes-kurdes-abattues-a-paris.php?cmtpage=8)
The following news took place in Star newspaper, which is part of Turkish press, on January 20, 2013: “After the murder of 3 women members of PKK in Paris, the French Intelligence Unit has determined the event as “an internal feud within the organisation” in a foreknowledge note sent to Ankara. During the investigation of assassination, the flow of information between Paris and Ankara was carried out between the security forces and the intelligence agencies, very important information regarding the relations of the two people who were detained to the organization.” (Star Newspaper, 20 January 2013) (http://haber.stargazete.com/guncel/paris-cinayetlerinde-flas-gelisme/haber-720999)
We expect answers from French authorities to the following questions:
- How can the units conducting the investigation absolve Turkey that is in a suspect position before concluding the investigation and proving Turkey’s innocence?
- How come collaboration can be built with a country, which is in the position of the usual suspect, and share the information that not shared even with the victims’ families and lawyers yet?
In order to make our concerns more comprehensible, we find it beneficial to release some data related to the investigation to the public:
In the investigation file opened against Kurdish politicians and activists in France in 2009, Sakine Cansiz is pointed out as a senior authority.
In the Wikileaks documents reflected to the public, it is seen that US particularly focuses on Sakine Cansiz: “ In the secret crypto dated 7 December 2007 written by Ankara Ambassador Ross Wilson himself to the Foreign Ministry of US Embassy in Ankara and to the Embassy in Baghdad, the following expressions have been used: First of all, you have to identify and stop the PKK’s cash flowing to Northern Iraq. This requires a common oriented co-operation within US, Iraq and Europe authorities to develop their airport searches, more comprehensive custom procedures and against the Northern Iraq and the cash flow between Northern Iraq institutions and PKK. Secondly, we will push Turks to identify and stop active financial flow. The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) is the only investigation institution of Turkey, which investigates the finance and money laundering of terrorism. They have to make their investigations more efficient and financial police, prosecutors and judges have to work more effectively for successful prosecutions. Thirdly, we need to work with Europeans more seriously. We need to direct our efforts towards identifying and blasting two high targets Riza Altun and Sakine Cansiz away. In order to assure the imprisonment of these two terrorists, we can help the law practitioners and our intelligence in Europe by presenting our most comprehensive files to them.”
On March 2007, in parallel with Turkey’s international arrest warrant Sakine Cansiz was taken into custody in Hamburg, but was released due to the lack of evidence on 16 April 2007.
The Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan speaking at the General Assembly of Anatolian Tigers Business Association (ASKON) made striking comments about 3 PKK women activists killed in Paris as: “ We sent a message to the Interpol in France for the last time on 5 November 2012 and reported that the terrorist was in Paris. Unfortunately, France has not taken any steps (…)”
According to the information we have reached, a few days before the massacre, Sakine Cansiz makes a call to one of her acquaintances with a German telephone number, however, the number in the telephone of that Cansiz called appears as a French telephone number. This issue meaning the fact that Sakine Cansiz’s telephones were listened and directed should be investigated and clarified by the investigation teams.
Sakine Cansiz’s last arrival date to France was three days before the assassination (She enters France on 6 January). As such a professional assassination cannot be planned spontaneously in three days time, it can be concluded that this massacre was planned long before.
The surrounding of Kurdistan Information Centre (CIK) building was monitored by the cameras (For example there is a camera in Carrefour shop which is across the office and this camera can monitor the entrance of the office.) The teams conducting the investigation have not made any explanations regarding this matter so far which is incomprehensible for us.
In the light of above information and data listed above, Sakine Cansiz is a well-known Kurdish politician and PKK senior executive by European state institutions such as intelligence, security, Interpol and Europol. Despite this, how come the massacre plan has not been noticed and prevented in advance?
Kurdish institutions have provided all sorts of information and help available, and assisted to the investigation teams as much as possible in order to clarify this massacre. On the other hand, they have never leaked any information to the public with the concern that it might affect the investigation. The police would, of course, confirm this fact. We would like to express that we approach to this event with the awareness of how important and sensitive the matter is; and we expect the same sensitivity from the press too, starting with the investigation teams and the French authorities.
The Federation of Kurdish Associations in France (FEYKA)