Yüksekova News Editorial Director Explains Developments in District

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The curfew declared on March 13 in Turkey’s southeastern Yüksekova district of Hakkari province is on its 39th day.

Yüksekova News Site Editorial Director, Erkan Çapraz has informed bianet as to the operations expanding through outside the district center in the past four days.

“Around a week ago, it was announced that operation will be carried out by armored vehicles in the neighborhoods of Güngör and Kuruköy.  Later, smokes started to rise in those areas”.

"We don't know what condition our bureau is in"

Yüksekovahaber.com broadcasting in the district was blocked on January 28, 2016. Yüksekovahaber.com workers who couldn’t make it to their bureaus in the district center as the curfew has begun continue to work under difficult conditions.

“When the curfew has begun, the initial operations took place in the center. We can’t go to our bureau for 39 days because of the curfew. We don’t what condition it is in now”, said Erkan Çapraz.

His response to our question on how they access news as to the region is as follows:

“We go up the buildings and take pictures but Kuruköy is far, the photo we released was taken and sent by a friend from Çevreli hamlet”.

Kuruköy is 4 kilometers far from district center. It shares border with Güngör neighborhood. Çapraz says the buildings line till Kuruköy and now has become like a neighborhood of Yüksekova. Çevreli hamlet is located in south of Kuruköy.

“Cultural Center has become a gathering center”

Following the announcement made from armored vehicles, the civilians evacuate the region. Çapraz explains the process as follows:

“After the announcement that operation will be launched into the neighborhood where people live call 155. Police with white flag in their hands instruct people which way to go. They are later picked by armored vehicles from those points. They have turned district’s Cultural Center to gathering center, they are subjected to crime record checks. Afterwards, they are being discharged to neighborhoods and villages”.

Civilians left only in two neighborhoods

Operations continue in the six neighborhoods. Çapraz saying operations have expanded and might be directed towards villages, said “Civilians live in Yenimahalle and Esenyurt neighborhoods”. His house is also in Yenimahalle.

In response to our question that what is he going to do in case he hears an announcement, “We will be evacuated” Çapraz responds. (HK/TK)