DERSİM - HDP MP Alican Önlü, who stated that there were allegations that chemical weapons were used in the operation in which an HPG member lost his life in the countryside of Ovacık, Dersim, demanded that the allegations be investigated.

 

While the reactions to Turkey's use of chemical weapons in the military operations launched against the Federated Kurdistan Region since April 23 have increased, it has been claimed that chemical weapons were used in the ongoing military operation in  Dersim's Ovacık district. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Dersim MP Alican Önlü said that chemical weapons may have been used in the death of 8 HPG members in Ovacık on December 5.

 

ALLEGATIONS OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS

 

Stating that 8 HPG members lost their lives in Ovacık on December 5 and their bodies were taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Malatya, Önlü said, "When we spoke to the families who went to Malatya to claim the bodies of their children, it was said that there were no visible injuries or bullet wounds. It was alleged that the HPG members were subjected to chemical attack. It was also stated that the families were threatened by the authorities who told that they will not release the bodies if they file a criminal complaint and demand investigation of chemical weapons."

 

ALLEGATIONS MUST BE INVESTIGATED

 

Underlining that the allegations of the use of chemical weapons must be investigated, Önlü said: "We know that the institutions that will investigate these allegations are controlled by the Erdoğan regime and no effective investigation will be carried out.  International organizations, especially the United Nations, which should step in when war crimes are committed in this regard, should step in as soon as possible. These allegations must be investigated and the war crimes committed must be exposed."

 

Önlü also mentioned that the deceased and their bodies were buried without their families, and said: “A crime against humanity is being committed against the families of HPG guerrillas. The funerals are not released to the families, and even their mother and father are prevented from attending the funerals. It is a crime against humanity to use chemical weapons and to bury the bodies of these people in a ditch without a funeral ceremony."