JİTEM Mass Grave in Diyarbakır

The bones of human bodies were found during restoration works of a building that was formerly used by the Gendarmerie Intelligence Anti-Terrorism Unit (JİTEM), an unofficial wing of the Turkish Gendarmerie, in Diyarbakır. The building is in Saraykapı, the district where the Diyarbakır Closed Prison and the Courthouse are located.

The Diyarbakır Public Prosecution conducts an investigation with excavations carried out by investigation teams, forensic medicine experts and archaeologists.

bianet talked to Raci Bilici, Head of the Human Rights Association (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch. Bilici, who was on the excavation field himself, said that skulls and bones belonging to six human beings were found. "We suspect that these bones were disposed here after the murders committed in the 1990s", he announced.

Bilici explained that the bones were found during excavation works carried out by teams of the museum of the Diyarbakır Prison and of the Provincial Tourism Directorate. The prosecutor's office was informed immediately.

"The people were thrown here randomly", Bilici reported. "Abdülkadir Aygan, a former PKK informant and JİTEM member, said that this building was the central office of JİTEM and that people had been executed here".

According to Bilici, families who deemed their relatives to lie there had previously applied to the İHD. The organization expects more applications subsequent to this incident.

"As an association, we will do what we can in line with the requests of the families in order to find the perpetrators of these murders".

Regarding procedures for the excavation of mass graves, Bilici said, "The excavations are being carried out under the surveillance of the prosecution. Investigation teams, archaeologists and forensic medicine experts are on the location and due diligence is being exercised to preserve evidence".

The bones found on the site will be sent to the Forensic Medicine Centre. (AS/VK)