STRUGGLES

some uncertainty, nowadays the majority of
Kurds stand behind the resistance in more than
ten cities against Turkish military, occupation
and systematic massacres."
In the city ofCizîr, 139 wounded citizens
were trapped in three different basements,
without food and water, for weeks. Security
forces blocked ambulances that tried to
reach the injured, and shot at those who
tried to leave the basements. As this article
goes to press, the death toll ofthe trapped
citizens has risen to 110 and there is no
news from 28 wounded people. 4 Many were
caught under debris as one ofthe buildings
collapsed under artillery fire, while others
were burnt to death after state forces used
petrol to set the building alight. Police also
fired teargas into one ofthe basements,
making it impossible for the survivors to
breathe.
A street in Cizîr after bombardment. Photo provided by
friends in Bakur.
JINHA news agency has also reported that
unknown chemicals were pumped into the
sewer system in Cizîr:
“The chemical agent, which has a smell similar to
tear gas, has entered residents’ homes through
water drains in kitchens and baths. Meanwhile,
state forces have shut down the last remaining
markets, bakeries and pharmacies in the town
until further notice.” 5
Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD)
has issued a statement, listing a huge
number ofhuman rights violations by the
state ofTurkey. IHD has documented a
number ofcitizens who have died in Cizîr
and Silopi. 6 Amongst those who have lost
their lives is a 70 year old elderly man,
Selahattin Bozkurt, who was shot dead by
security forces as he walked into his garden.
A three month old infant, Miray İnce, died
after she was seriously injured in the face by
gunfire from security forces. Her
grandfather, 73 year old Ramazan İnce, was
shot dead by security forces as he was trying
to carry his granddaughter to an
ambulance, while at the same time waving a
white flag.
JINHA has also reported that in the city of
Silopi, thousands ofpeople were evicted
from their houses and marched to a
gymnasium. Sabriye Gizer told JINHA that
her family were assaulted as they were
forced out oftheir home. She continued:
"We were walked by force ofarms. One woman
and one man walked ahead ofus. One shouted:
'Shoot them, shoot them'. They opened fire on
them. We don't know ifthey are alive. It was
cold. We froze. They chose some young people.
They took them somewhere. They searched us
thoroughly, even our underwear.” 7