‘They Intentionally Targeted Civilians in Roboski’

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In the attack launched on villages doing frontier trade in Turkey’s southeastern Roboski village of Uludere district in Şırnak province, 18-year-old Vedat Öncü killed, five others wounded.

While the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) and Doğan News Agency (DHA) alleged that the people in question were not civilians, the statement issued from Roboski claimed that the civilians were attacked.

We’ve spoken with conscientious objector and human rights activist Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı of the incidents that took place last night in Roboski.

“The same place where 34 people got killed”

Could you summarize what happened last night?

A bombing occurred at around 9:30-9:45 p.m. fır 15-20 minutes by the stone numbered 15 where the Roboski massacre took place five years ago.

The villages crossing into the other side for trade in the morning were subjected to bombing on their return. The bombing was launched from both Gülyazı Alayı and Beyaz Tepe situated right above the border.

According to the information I’ve obtained, after the first artillery shelling, 15-20 people behind the convoy run to the other side of the border. After 15-20 minutes of the bombing, the news of bombing spread to village and the villagers go to the scene.

As in last time, those launching the attack were not around.

One ambulance was allegedly dispatched but I didn’t witness it. The ambulance was sent probably not for the wounded but to recover the body of Vedat Encü.

Have those running through the border returned?

No, they haven’t. [HDP] MP Ferhat Encü is coming, they will be tried to be brought with the help of him.

“The lieutenant didn’t die in Roboski”

A lieutenant was allegedly killed in Roboski. Some media outlets report that conflict erupted at the scene and the lieutenant was killed on the scene…

The place where the lieutenant lost his life has nothing to do with here. That conflict occurred ahead, in Andaç area.

That incident has nothing to do with Roboski.

No conflict took place here. They shot the villagers whom they knew were doing frontier trade. The security forces have thermal cameras and all sorts of equipment. They monitor the villagers step by step. Family of most of those who went are rangers. So, they are informed of their both returns and departures.

What could be the reason of opening fire then?

I don’t know. They might have wanted to get revenge or deliver a message but everyone thinks this attack is a massacre attempt.

“The villagers are highly demoralized”

How is the situation today? Are the operations going on?

There is no operation where we are. There is artillery shooting here now and then. Apart from that, there is no ground offensive.

How is the morale of the villagers?

The villages are highly demoralized. They take it as a second Roboski massacre.

They say ‘Are they trying to give us a message since five years passed since Roboski massacre and no headway has been made’.

They are both nervous and sad. (EKN/TK)

(EKN)