Impunity Concern in Trial over Burning Villagers

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The court over nine villagers being burned to death in Vartinis (Altınova) village of Turkey’s eastern Muş province 22 years ago has ruled to make up shortages as to the procedures.

Attorney of the family, Kadir Karaçelik, in his statement to bianet said that they expect the case to be determined in the trial on March 1, 2016.

In the last week’s hearing, the court revising judicial control decision on two gendarmerie officers, one non-commissioned officer, and one special operation branch directorate had turned it to international travel ban and following the trial. Now the defendants don’t have to go to police office to give signature once a week.

CLICK - "GESTURE BY COURT" IN BURNING VILLAGERS TRIAL

Attorney Karaçelik said, ”We feel worried when we recall the acquittal in Musa Çitil trial. Impunity has become a legal practice now in Turkey. Considering the evidence, we believe they are sufficient for the defendants to be punished”.

Ankara Gendarmerie Region Commander, Musa Çitil, tried over killing of 13 villagers in unidentified murders case in Mardin has been promoted to Major General and appointed to Diyarbakır Gendarmerie Regional Commandership.

Karaçalik noted that the impunity will traumatize further the only survivor of the incident, Aysel Öğüt, whom he claims to undergo the same suffering over and over in each hearing.

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)