Devecioğlu: Governorship Proposed ‘White Flag’, Artillery Shooting Began

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

The civilian observation delegation composed of lawyer Bahri Belen, artists Ferhat Tunç, Zeynep Tanbay, Lale Mansur, Dilek Gökçin and writer Ayşegül Devecioğlu demanding humanitarian corridor to be established for the evacuation of wounded and those stuck in Sur district of Diyarbakır province have met with Deputy Governor Taner Bircan in Diyarbakır.

In the meantime, a delegation that is member of Greens from European Parliament met with Diyarbakır Governor Hüseyin Güler.

Following the meeting, the Governorship has said they may leave with white flags at between the hours of 4-5:15 p.m. in exchange for humanitarian corridor demand.        

Ayşegül Devecioğlu speaking to bianet stated that their demand was responded positively in the meeting but then they were told that civilian observation delegation will not be allowed, the “white flag” statement followed it.

Ferhat Tunç from the delegation said they wait in front of Dicle Fırat Cultural Center on Melik Ahmet street in Sur. He added that they heard artillery shootings and announces saying "Surrender to the state" in Suriçi where they came to retrieved the confined because they were told shootings would be ceased. He noted that they phoned the Governorship but took the response "We are in the meeting".

Red areas marks six neighborhoods under curfew

Devecioğlu: Artillery shooting has begun with the announces

Devecioğlu spoke as follows:

“Those stuck in Sur want to make sure of their life safety as they leave there. We conveyed our demand of humanitarian corridor to remain for 3-4 hours to the deputy governor.

“We don’t know the exact addresses of those stuck. Besides, we told the deputy governor that the ones whose addresses are known are being bombed. We all want a humanitarian corridor which would enable anyone willing to leave there to be evacuated, and the civilian observation delegation be present there”.

“Nevertheless, the Governorship doesn’t allow evacuation under watch of civilian delegation. Mortar shootings were ceased but it restarted between 4-5:15 p.m.

“We just spoke with people named Semiha Sürer and Seda Aslan confined in Sur’s Savaş neighborhood. The women said mortar being fired on their garden with the ‘surrender’ announce and we’ve heard all those noises”.

BDP: There are 15 children under 10 confined in Sur

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Ali Şİmşek has expressed that they have detailed information that over 120 people have been confined. Şimşek noted that 15 of the 120 are children under 10 years old.

“It is not possible to carry the wounded with stretcher in an hour. Besides, it is troublesome that people to be evacuated to be treated as armed and will be arrested as they leave, which prevents people from leaving. (ÇT/TK)