‘Who is Responsible for Operations in Lice?’, Asks HDP’s Yiğitalp

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Sibel Yiğitalp has brought the right violations that have been occurring during the curfew in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakır’s Lice district to parliamentary agenda.

Yiğitalp demanded ongoing curfews, operations and rights violations be investigated, and those who are responsible for those be determined.

30 curfews

Yiğitalp stated that 30 curfews have been declared in Lice from January 2016 to March 2017. The curfews lasted 86 days in total.

The first curfew was declared on May 2, 2016, and the last on March 2, 2017.

The inquiry stated the operations launched with the participation of some 10,000 soldiers, police and village guards are still ongoing.

“The entrance of the delegation comprising members of Democratic Society Congress (DTK), HDP, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA) to the area was blocked by the soldiers.

“Telephone and Internet communication cannot be established with the citizens as those who live in the banned neighborhoods cannot leave their homes.

“We’ve also acquired the information that a military operation has been launched in Bayırlı (Mêrgê) village of Lice district, and Skorsky type helicopters and armored vehicles have been dispatched to the area”.

About Lice Lice is located in the northeast of Diyarbakır. Assyrian epitaphs in Lice prove that settled life dates back to 7,000 BC. Sub-Governor of the district is Osman Uğurlu, Co-Mayors are Rezan Zuğurli and Harun Erkuş from DBP. According to data in 2014, the population is 26,427. November 1, 2015 general election results HDP % 95,83, AKP % 2,98, CHP % 0.39, MHP % 0.34

(AS/TK)