“Gesture” by Court in Burning Villagers Trial

In the trial as to nine villagers burned alive in Vartinis village of Turkey's eastern province of Van, signature practice within the scope of judicial control of defendants has been lifted prior to summary judgement.

Avukat Kadir Karaçelik in his statement to bianet said, "We interpret court lifting signature practice imposed on defendants who have been sought heavy life sentece and hundreds of years of jail term as a gesture just before the summary judgement".

The court has revised its decision of judicial control on the defendants - two gendarmerie officers, one petty officer, and one special forces unit head - to international travel ban and pursuance obligation. Now the defendants will not go to police station every week for signature.

Karaçelik added that what they seek is "justice" and they feel worried considering sentence of acquittal in Musa Çitil trial.

Ankara Gendarmerie Area Commander tried over killing of 13 villagers in unsolved murders case in Mardin has been promoted to Diyarbakır Gendarmerie Area Command upon the sentence of acquittal.

The next trial in which a decision is expected to be issued will be held on December 21.

What had happened?

Mehmet Nasir Öğüt, Eşref Oran, Sevda Öğüt, Sevim Öğüt, Mehmet Şakir Öğüt, Mehmet Şirin Öğüt, Aycan Öğüt, Cihan Öğüt and Cinal Öğüt residing in Vartinis were murdered by military men on October 2, 1993.

The soldiers raiding the village burned nine people including seven children by locking them in their house. They all lost their lives.

The first trial was held on December 4. The defendants said they don't "remember the incident" or "PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) started the fire" in their first testimony.

Then Hasköy District Gendarmerie Company Commander, now Gendarmerie Captain Bülent Karaoğlu, Hasköy District Gendarmerie Commando Company Commander First Lieutenant Hanefi Akyıldız, Muş Security Directorate Special Forces Unit Head Şerafettin Uz, and Gendarmerie Sergeant Major Turhan Nardoğan have been tried as defendants.

None have been arrested. (AS/TK)

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