Roboski Villagers, Animal Activists Outraged After Mule Killings

Human Rights Association’s (İHD) Şırnak Province Office released a report on the killing of mules near border village Roboski by Turkish Army soldiers, saying that the attitude was hostile and urged the government for action. 

The aforementioned killing took place on March 23 when Turkish Army soldiers killed 8 mules on the southeastern border and left dozens wounded. The villagers, in response, blocked the entrance of the village and shot down the water and electricity of the village police building. Upon that, İHD Şırnak Province Office paid a visit to Roboski village and interviewed stakeholders including villagers and officials. 

Citing villagers’ witnessing, the report concluded that the villagers’ right to life was ignored and unlawful practices were made by soldiers. İHD also urged authorities to detect those responsible and take preventive measures. 

"400 mules were saved thanks to villagers’ corridor"

According to the report, villagers were forced to do border smuggling and some mules were already in a farm when they were shot.

“When we first heard the gunfire,” S.E. (27) from Roboski said, “We thought they were doing military training. We became aware of the assault when the bullets were coming towards us.”

S.E. added that while they had 3 minors along with them, they had to run away and see 6 of their mules dead and 2 wounded so that they could protect the children. 

“The majority of the village,” he continued, “gathered around the incident scene. They faced teargas and warning fire.” 

He claimed that the military commandant threatened to kill all 400 mules of the village if they returned home with any sign of smuggling: “Thanks to a corridor that villagers opened,  400 mules were returned safe home.” 

Animal rights associations outraged

Animal rights and ecology related associations also reacted the incident with an outrage. Releasing a statement, they protested the killing of mules, saying “along with local peoples, animals also suffer from the politics of war, genocide and atrocity”.

The statement released by several associations (Derin Ekoloji Derneği, Dört Ayaklı Şehir, Dünya Yalnız Bizim Değil Platformu (DYBD), Engelli Hayvanları Koruma ve Hayvan Hakları Derneği, Sesonline.net İnternet Gazetesi, Yeryüzüne Özgürlük Derneği ve Yunuslara Özgürlük Platformu) reminded that 8 mules were massacred exactly 1,186 days of the Roboski Massacre - a Turkish military airstrike “officially” mistook smuggler villagers as “terrorists” and left 34 people and 59 mules dead. Association also reminded that 4 mules have been killed by soldiers 20 days before the incident in Taşdelen village. (ÇT/BM)

* This article is a compilation of several articles from bianet in Turkish.