ISTANBUL - HDP Group Deputy Chair Saruhan Oluç said, "If the government says that it has not used chemicals in any way, it should let the allegations be investigated."

 

The echoes of the videos published that Turkey used chemical weapons in the attacks launched on April 17 against the Zap, Metina and Avaşîn regions of the Federated Kurdistan Region continue. While AKP officials claim that chemical weapons were not used, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which oversees the use of chemical weapons and banned weapons, is silent on the matter. OPCW stated that they are "monitoring" the issue upon questions from JINNEWS, but the member states should ask them to investigate. Making assessments on the use of chemical weapons, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Group Deputy Chair Saruhan Oluç made a call and said "If the government is confident, it should allow investigation."

 

ARREST OF FİNCANCI

 

Protesting the arrest of Turkish Medical Association (TTB) President Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who was targeted for her statements regarding the use of chemical weapons, Oluç said, "The arrest of Fincancı is not acceptable. Because Fincancı is both a human rights defender and an internationally well-known specialist in the field, and she stated that a scientific investigation should be done into these allegations. She said this within the framework of freedom of thought and expression. However, the government organised a big lynching campaign on this statement and arrested Fincancı. Fincancı said what we always say."

 

DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION

 

Noting that they submitted a motion to the Parliament for the investigation of the use of chemical weapons, Oluç emphasized that research on the subject should be done. Calling international institutions to "take action", Oluç said, "Furthermore, if you are confident chemicals were not used and say that you did not use such chemical weapons in any way, then you should not be disturbed by the fact that  an investigation should be conducted and the truth will be revealed at the end. If the allegations are not true, then international institutions will find out that the allegations were not true and the case will be closed. However, the government not only avoid investigation but also doesn't want the issue to be discussed."

 

'USE OF PEPPER GAS IS PROHIBITED'

 

Reminding that it was announced that pepper gas was used during the attacks against Garê, Oluç said that use of pepper gas in military operations is prhobitied by international agreements. Therefore, since this was said by the Minister of Defense, this issue should be investigated, and members of a parliament that signed that agreement should request this research. Of course, whoever gave the order for this should be prosecuted."

 

OPCW AND CPT ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THIS

 

Criticizing the international organisations that have kept silence regarding the use of chemical weapons, Oluç noted that, like the OPCW, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has a similar stance on different issues. Oluç said, "International supervisory institutions have some rules. They act within the framework of these rules. The CPT also came and had a meeting with Mr. Öcalan in İmralı recently. But it did not present a report. We have been criticizing this for years. This is a similar situation. This is why they say they can't take any action unless the member states apply. This is exactly what we criticise."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal