Infodesk Statement #8

[root at newsdesk.aps.nl]

From: newsdesk at newsdesk.aps.nl (Newsdesk Amsterdam)
Subject: Re: Infodesk Statement #8
Reply-To: root at newsdesk.aps.nl

-------- Forwarded from : Kurdistan Committee of Canada <kcc at magi.com> ---------

Information Desk - The Turkish Invasion of South Kurdistan
Tel: +32-2-230-9233
Fax: +32-2-230-9208

Press Release #8

March 28, 1995

We have received the following news from Ahmet Yigit, a
correspondent for the Kurdish-German news agency, KURD-A, in Zaxo,
South Kurdistan:

     Intense fighting has continued between Kurdish guerrillas and
members of the Turkish army. Between Amediye and Serpil, due to
favourable foggy weather conditions, a Turkish military convoy was
ambushed with rockets and automatic weapons. One vehicle went up in
flames and many others were put out of commission. Early reports
indicate that 83 Turkish soldiers were killed and 20 wounded. In
this battle, the Kurdish forces lost 1 fighter. This raises the
number of Turkish soldiers killed to 261 soldiers. The Kurdish
guerrilla losses now number 18.
     In the Metinan highlands, the Turkish troops wanted to airlift
troops using helicopters but they met with stiff resistance from
well-placed Kurdish guerrillas. As a result, the landing was called
off. As of this writing, no casualty figures were available.
     The city of Zaxo has been under the occupation of Turkish
troops since the very beginning. Many of the villages surrounding
the town have been bombed and a considerable number of civilians
have been arrested. A group of Kurdish fighters entered this city
and attacked Kurdish collaborators in two different locations. In
these attacks, 1 Turkish agent was killed and 2 were wounded.
     In another incident in the vicinity of Zaxo, 3 Kurdish
collaborators who had donned Turkish military clothes were also
gunned down. They were acting as guides for Turkish troops who are
not familiar with the terrain.
     There are reports that the Haftanin region is under heavy
bombardment. After the bombing, the Turkish army wants to land in
the area and move towards the Gare region.
     In Kesan, a number of houses were hit by Turkish fighter
planes. 1 Kurd was killed and 2 were injured. In the village of
Derkar, a house belonging to a sympathizer of the Patriotic Union
of Kurdistan (PUK) was searched and then set on fire.
     There was also some irony. The arsenals of the forces of the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) were displayed in the village
square for the members of the Turkish media and these were
described as weapons confiscated from Kurdish fighters.
     The people of South Kurdistan are clearly against this Turkish
incursion into their Federated State. In Ebril, work is underway
for a major demonstration.



----------------------------- End forwarded message --------------------------

        -------------------------------------------------------
                * Activists Press Service (Newsdesk) *
                          newsdesk at aps.nl
                       !Power to the people!
         -------------------------------------------------------