The headquarters of the People’s Defence Centre (HSM) of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) shared a public statement in response to allegations that the perpetrator of the Istanbul blast is affiliated with Kurdish forces, stating that they had nothing to do with the incident, reported ANF.
The statement is as follows:
“First of all, we extend our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the explosion in Istanbul on 13 November, and wish recovery to the injured.
Our people and the democratic public are very aware that we are unconnected to this incident, that we do not directly target civilians and that we do not accept actions targeting civilians. We are a movement conducting a just and legitimate struggle for freedom. We act with a perspective that wants to create a common, democratic, free and equal future with Turkish society. In this respect, there is no question of us targeting civilians in any way in Turkey.
It is a clear fact that the AKP-MHP [the Turkish ruling coalition of the Justice and Development Party and the Nationalist Movement Party] regime is under pressure in the face of our developing legitimate struggle. It seems that they intend to put a new dark plan into effect aimed at completely changing the political agenda in their favour, after the exposure of the Turkish army’s use of chemical weapons in South Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) and the publication of a video of them burning the bodies of its own soldiers.
The fact that they have also specifically indicated that Kobanê (Ayn al-Arab) is a target after this incident [having stated that the bomber came from Kobanê in northern Syria] reveals the direction of their plans. From this perspective, although it is claimed that the incident is a “dark” one and that the agents used in the incident were Kurdish or Syrian, it is clear that this will not change the outcome. It is obvious that this explosion indicates the beginning of a dark plan. In this regard, it is important that all the forces of democracy and the public in Turkey see the dark process that they are trying to develop, and fight to decipher this incident.”
Medyanews earlier covered footage released by the People’s Defence Forces (HPG) showing two guerrillas appearing to have fallen victim to Turkish chemical weapons.
As international pressure increases for independent investigations to be conducted into the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish state, media sources from northern Iraq report that footage has emerged showing the body of a fallen Turkish soldier being burnt by his own side to prevent guerrillas from getting hold of it.
