Kurdish Party Leader: We Insist on Peace
The explosion that also left behind 15 wounded came a day after Turk issued a public appeal to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to declare a unilateral ceasefire as over 200 Turkish and Kurdish intellectuals issued their own declaration demanding the organization to end all armed activities.
The DTP, albeit excluded from parliamentary representation due to 10 percent national election barrier, controls average 40 percent of local vote in southeast provinces and more than 40 local municipalities
On Monday, Turk had said he was hopeful the PKK would accept the ceasefire appeal. Thursday, visiting the scene of the explosion, he promised attempts at provocation would not deter them from seeking peace.
A statement issued by the Diyarbakir Governors Office branded the incident as an inhuman act of terror and condemned it but noted it was not yet known who was behind the incident.
The statement said a preliminary investigation showed the explosives were hidden in a thermos and that a remote detonator device could have been involved. Some Turkish newspapers said officials believed the explosion might have occurred while the device was being carried to nearby public housings hosting army or police personnel and their families.
Only one of the ten bodies has not yet been identified, mainly due it proximity to the explosives. Believed to be of a man of about 25 years old, it is being investigated whether he could have been carrying the thermos and its contents.
There are also reports quoting eye witnesses that a thermos, left nearby, exploded when chlidren attemted to open.
Provocation, say all
A ceremony held at the scene of incident on Thursday witnessed hundreds of people laying red carnations to commemorate the dead as funeral ceremonies for nine of the victims were held during the day.
Both government officials and DTP leaders, as well as Diyarbakirs Metropolitan Mayor Osman Baydemir appeared to share one view. That the incident was a provocation and that the people should be careful not to fall for it.
A statement issued by Turkeys Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu after his visit to the citys governor promised that those behind the bomb would be apprehended soon. "Our citizens Aksu said, have enough common sense not to fall into the ruse of those trying to plant seeds of dissent among them.
DTPs Turk, on the other hand, made a statement at the scene of the carnage in which he stressed that each bullet fired, every bomb thrown, were bombs and bullets targeting peace.
'We will always insist on peace he said, adding, "I wholeheartedly share the grief of the families of those who have died. Such an act in such a period where searches for peace had concentrated, was perhaps an act expected by those wanting peace. The Turkish and world public opinion should know what kind of a game is being played here.
He noted that if the state did not cover-up this incident, the explosion and many other similar incidents could be uncovered, which would all show who did not want peace.
Stressing that they would not fall for provocation or return to previous conditions, Turk said "the people of Diyarbakır very well know who was behind the bomb. Clasping together even more strongly for peace, we will escalate our demands for peace.
Tugluk: We knew provocation could happen
DTP deputy chair Aysel Tugluk on the other hand recalled the DTP ceasefire appeal in her own speech and claimed that this was a very important appeal. It was an appeal of historic importance Tugluk said. But we knew that in this country, the forces that nourish on war, that nourish on blood, could have carried out provocative actions as always.
Metropolitan Mayor Osman Baydemir agreed that the incident was provocative in nature and said it was a provocation that wanted to take us to the 1990s, to 91, 92.
Baydemir: How can TIT not be identified?
Referring to initial allegations that the extreme rightwing Turkish Revenge Brigade (TIT) had claimed responsibility for the bombing, Baydemir said the TIT had in the past threatened many people.
I myself must have received tens of letters of threats until now. How can this [organization] not be known, not identified? Who is this TIT? The public opinion wants an explanation on this.
The Diyarbakir Womens Platform that held a separate press conference on the incident referred to the explosion as ruthless and said it could not be justified, no matter who was responsible for it.
Suzan Mehmetoglu, reading a statement for the platform, called on the public not to fall for provocation and act in common sense.
Funerals held, city tense
Tension in Diyarbakir has escalated since the Baglar explosion as funeral ceremonies for the dead were conducted in their home towns.
On Thursday, police intervened in several protests involving hundreds of people inclusive of using tear gas on a large group of demonstrators who gathered at the incident scene and wanted to march on.
City streets echoed of slogans Murderer [Prime Minister] Erdogan will pay and Long Live Leader Apo as news spread about the TITs possible involvement in the attack, to which there was no evidence but for a mockup temporary web site that was publicly pointed out by a Kurdish news agency.
To protest the incident, Diyarbakirs local businesses closed shutters on many of the citys streets of high commerce and an even stronger sign of protest was scene at the city municipality as well as four other local municipal buildings where white flags were raised for peace accompanied by black flags of mourning.
The white flags boasted the words Peace Undeterred while the black simply said We condemn.
TIT under suspicion
The first reference to a possible TIT involvement in the Diyarbakir bombing came from the pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency (ANF) after the incident with a news report directing attention to a web site allegedly run by the Turkish Revenge Brigade.
The site, that was removed from existence as swiftly as it appeared, said the blast which had caused civilian losses had been staged in memory of Turkish soldier, private Er Ali Balıkcı, who was killed in a clash in Siirt.
The bombing, suggested the site, was a nationalist retaliation. One that believed in killing Kurds indiscriminately.
Supposedly boasting photographs of the build-up to the incident which appeared to have been removed "due to high bandwith usage", the site vouched to "kill 10 Kurds for every Turk that the PKK martyred". It said their oath was based "on our flag that has been created with the blood of martyrs".
"The Best Kurd, Is a Dead Kurd" the site concluded. (TK/II/YE)