Along with the recurring armed conflict in Turkey as of 24 July 2015, the situation of many military officers, police officers, and intelligence officers, abducted by the PKK, is known to public. The background information is given attached to the press release.
On 7 July 2018, audio-visual messages of 9 of the abducted police and military officers appeared on Fırat News Agency. On that release, all the abducted persons stated that the Government had done nothing on behalf of them, and political parties had not brought their situation into question. They called for social awareness.
As HRA, we have helped a number of soldiers, police officers and civilians to be released and get in touch with their families. However, for the last three years, we have not been able to receive any of those abducted, which is for the first time in the association’s history. There appear to be various reasons. The most prominent one is certainly the armed conflict and war. Therefore, we would like to point out that the Kurdish Question could be solved along with de-escalation, and the conflict should be ended immediately. Turkey has been expanding its military existence all along Syria and Iraq. We consider this situation as illegal in terms of international law. Right before the elections, Turkey has been building military bases and conducting military operations in Federal Kurdistan Region, Iraq with political motives, which is illegal before the international law. We call on Turkey to stop military operations immediately and disengage their troops; consequently contributing to peace. We invite the Government to keep away from militaristic adventures which will put the public will under pressure on the eve of elections.
As human rights defenders, we would like to address, in advance, the future government coming after the elections on 24 June. The Kurdish Question can only be solved through peaceful and democratic ways but not war.
Together with the families of the abducted persons, we call on the Government, the political parties running in the elections and the President:
Pay attention to the messages of the abducted published on 7 June. They are the citizens and security officers of the country. Take any step possible to get them released, and do not ignore them. We would like to tell the political party leaders and representatives in particular to put those security forces in their agendas. When are you going to talk about them?
As HRA, we volunteer for any process in which we could receive the security forces and state that we will be making all possible attempts on this issue.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION (HRA) HEADQURTERS
ATTACHMENT:
ANNOTATION ON THE ABDUCTED SOLDIERS AND POLICE OFFICERS
With the recurring armed conflicts in Turkey as of 24 July 2015, the civilian servants and officials abducted by the PKK/HPG became a current issue of public opinion once again. In the past period, all of those abducted were returned unharmed to their families as a result of the efforts by human rights organisations. 20 customs officials who were abducted by the PKK/HPG in the KRG region in the period of July – August 2015 were returned on 8 September 2016 to their families in Turkey by the efforts of IHD.
The soldiers and police officers who were abducted when PKK/HPG militants blocked the road and perform road checks have yet to be released. In accordance with the applications made to our Association by the families, the abducted persons are as follows:
Kaya, abducted on Diyarbakır – Bingol Highway on 24 July 2015
Police Officer Sedat Yabalak, abducted on Diyarbakır – Bingol Highway on 28 July 2015
Specialist Sergeant Huseyin Sarı, Private Sedat Sorgun and Private Süleyman Sungur, abducted on Diyarbakır – Lice highway on 13 August 2015
Sergeant Semih Özbey, abducted on Tunceli – Erzincan Highway on 18 September 2015
Private Müslüm Altuntaş and Private Adil Kavaklı, abducted on Tunceli – Pülümür Highway on 2 October 2015
Specialist Sergeants Sedat Vardar and Ferdi Polat, abducted in Şırnak city center on 12 December 2015
Specialist Sergeants Ümit Gıcır and Mevlüt Kahveci, abducted in Hakkari city center on 21 September 2016
Families and relatives of those abducted made applications to IHD and Mazlumder branches. Our headquarters and branches (IHD, TIHV_HRFT and Mazlumder) delivered many statements in the last 2 years in order for these persons to be released and returned.
Other than press conferences delivered together with the families, meetings with group deputy chairmen of political parties and various government officials were carried out in the presence of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Additionally, the families expressed the solution to the problem by having interviews with Ministers, the Prime Minister and President of the Republic.
Voice and video messages belonging to the abducted soldiers and police including Vedat Kaya, Sedat Yabalak, Hüseyin Sarı, Semih Özbay, Müslüm Altuntaş and Adil Kavaklı were first published on 4 January 2016. The second message was published on 8 July 2016; however, this time only the messages belonging to Süleyman Sungur, Müslim Altuntaş and Adil Kavaklı were published..
On 23 December 2016 we had meetings with the political parties having groups in the GNAT. In these meetings, we indicated that we can take initiative and return these persons to their families. Amongst the meetings, only the one with HDP was performed before the media
On 22 June, a joint press release was held in Diyarbakır Branch along with the families.
On 29 September 2017, we held a meeting with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the CHP, accompanied by the families.
On 2 October 2017, Veli Ağbaba, the vice chairman to the CHP, the families and HRA chairman made a press release in the Parliament.
Through our efforts, on 7 June 2018, the video messages (of the abducted soldiers and police including Vedat Kaya, Sedat Yabalak, Sedat Sorgun, Semih Özbay, Müslüm Altuntaş, Adil Kavaklı, Süleyman Sungur, Hüseyin Sarı, Ümit Gıcır, Mevlüt Kahveci) were publishd by Fırat News agency.
The families and we asked for an appointment with the Minister of Interior 2 times, Prime Minister 3 times and President of the Republic once; however, we have not yet met. The President of the Republic, Prime Minister and other ministers contact with the families but they avoid contact before the media.