ANKARA - Kurdish politician Lezgin Botan, who stated that Turkey covers up "war crimes" for the benefit of states, said that Turkey continues its chemical weapons attacks, relying on this situation.

 

Turkey's attacks against the Federated Kurdistan Region have left 7 months behind. According to the People's Defense Center (HSM) statement on the war balance sheet dated November 16, Turkey used chemical weapons 2,837 times in 7 months in attacks on Zap, Metina and Avaşîn regions. The demonstrations of Kurds living in Europe against chemical weapons attacks are spreading. The Kurds, who applied to many international institutions, especially the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to investigate Turkey's chemical weapons attacks, continue their mass demonstrations. Evaluating the growing protests against chemical weapons attacks in Europe, Kurdish politician Lezgin Botan said that Turkey committed war crimes, relying on NATO countries.

 

'CONTRACTING COUNTRIES MUST TAKE ACTION'

 

Reminding that the use of chemical weapons is prohibited within the framework of the Geneva Protocol, to which Turkey is also a party, Botan said that the states and organizations that are party to the protocol should take action to investigate the situation in question.

 

THE ATTITUDE OF THE STATES

 

Stating that war crimes were covered up due to the political, economic and military concessions of the states, Botan said, “The Turkish state relies on this. Turkey is in a traditional partnership with NATO members USA, Germany, France and the UK. In the last 10-15 years, it has entered into serious military, political, strategic and economic relations with Russia. It plays a facilitating role in some of the occupation or imperialist policies that Russia is currently pursuing in Ukraine or the Middle East. Both Russia, America and NATO members did not allow a condemnation of Turkey's invasion of Afrin, Serêkaniyê, let alone an investigation into the chemical issue. Turkey is using chemical weapons against the Kurds, relying a little on this."

 

CHEMICAL WEAPON ATTACKS

 

Stating that Turkey's chemical weapons attacks against Kurds date back to the further past, Botan reminded that there are documents showing that nearly 70,000 people, including women and children who were unable to fight, were killed with chemical weapons in Dersim. Botan pointed out that Turkey used chemical weapons against HPG members in Mount Cudî in 1992 and in the Geliyê Tiyarê (Kazan Valley) region of Colemêrg's Çelê (Çukurca) district in October 2011 adding that it continues to use chemicals in Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn for the last 7 months.