Turkey Apologizes for Kurdish Deaths after Airstrikes Kill 35
Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan has spoken with reporters and apologized for the deaths of 35 Kurdish people in airstrikes on Thursday.
Erdogan gave a press conference and stated, “It is an unfortunate outcome. It is a sad outcome. No state would intentionally bomb its people. In the past, such things may have occurred, but it’s not possible for such a thing to occur during our administration.”
The airstrikes occurred on Thursday, when 35 Kurds crossed the border between Turkey and Iraq. According to Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Huseyin Celik, “These people were thought to be terrorists; however, the first initial investigative information we have from the local authorities…indicate that these people were involved in cigarette smuggling.”
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Celik added, “Even if there was a situation 100 percent that these people were smugglers, these people should not have been subjected to this. They should not have been bombed; it is out of the question.”
Reports from the Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party state: “A group of villagers were coming from northern Iraq across the border after 9:30 p.m. Their path was blocked by soldiers and then four planes bombed them.”
This is only the latest in a 30-year-old struggle between the Turkish majority and Kurdish minority. The two sides have been locked in a tit-for-tat battle that has cost over 40,000 lives.
In a rare concession, the Turkish military issued condolences to the families. It stated, “We wish God’s mercy and grace to those who lost their lives in the cross-border incident of Dec. 28, 2011 and extend our condolences to their family and friends.”
The military also explained its actions and said, “Since the area where the group was located was often used by terrorists and a movement towards our border was determined, it was evaluated that the area should be held under fire by air force planes.”
The leading Kurdish rebellion group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has been the main force of opposition against the Turkish government. One of its leaders, Bahoz Erdal issued a call-to-arms for the Kurdish people. “React after this massacre and hold the perpetrators to account through uprising.”
In October, President Obama issued a statement condemning an attack on the Turkish government that was led by the PKK. “The United States will continue our strong cooperation with the Turkish government as it works to defeat the terrorist threat from the PKK,” he said.
He continued, “The people of Turkey, like people everywhere, deserve to live in peace, security and dignity. As they pursue the future they deserve, they will continue to have a friend and ally in the United States.”
The Turkish government has promised a full-fledged investigation into the deaths. Erdogan promised that "all necessary steps will be taken."
