From KNK Co-Chair to Kurdish doctors: WHO must be mobilized

2022-10-22 11:17:16


	 

	NEWS CENTER - Calling for mobilization against Turkey's chemical weapons attacks, KNK Co-Chair Ahmet Karamus said: "We call on Kurdish doctors to fulfill their role at the international level. They should mobilize the World Health Organisation."

	 

	The attacks launched by Turkey on Zap, Metina and Avaşîn regions on April 17 in cooperation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have left their 6th month behind. In this process, chemical weapons, which are considered crimes against humanity, were used against HPG members. Finally, as a result of chemical weapons attacks, 17 HPG and YJA Star members lost their lives on different dates. Published images of 2 HPG members who died after being exposed to chemical weapons caused condemnations in Kurdistan, Turkey and many countries in Europe. After the increasing condemnations, the Ministry of National Defense, AKP Group Deputy Chairperson Ömer Çelik and the Advisor to AKP Chairperson Tayyip Erdoğan Fuat Oktay, claimed that chemical weapons were not used in the attacks.

	 

	Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Co-Chair Ahmet Karamus made evaluations about the silence of the world public opinion against Turkey's chemical weapons crimes and the role of the KDP.

	 

	INVESTIGATION MUST BE STARTED

	 

	Stating that Turkey violated the international agreements it signed, Karamus said: "The Turkish state has been using chemical weapons intensively lately. Images of the use of chemical weapons have also been shared with the world public. An agreement was signed in 1994 against the use of chemical weapons, which is the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. This led to the establishment of an organisation called the OPCW. This organisation also investigates banned chemical weapons and carries out investigations and sanctions against the states that use them. Turkey is one of the 189 states that signed this agreement. The Turkish state is violating the law, the agreement it signed. However, it also violates the laws of war. It is the duty of these states to investigate this and initiate an investigation against the Turkish state. This is not just a situation that concerns the Kurds, this is a situation that concerns all humanity, democracy. This is not just a situation that concerns Kurds, it is a situation that concerns all humanity, pro-democracy and international forces, most importantly the OPCW. The signatories of this agreement must take action. They should go to the place where the Turkish state used chemical weapons and investigate. According to him, they should take a decision against the Turkish state. Those killed by chemical weapons are the children of the Kurdish people. The use of chemical weapons has been on our agenda for a long time. In no way do we exclude it from our agenda. The Turkish state is attacking with all kinds of prohibited chemical weapons in the face of resistance."

	 

	'OPCW DOES NOT FOLLOW THEIR PRINCIPLES'

	 

	Drawing attention to the silence of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Karamus said:"The organisation did not fulfill its duty. We and many Kurdistan organisations have called and asked for meetings with OPCW many times to conduct research. And this organisation, of which Turkey is a member, replied that they cannot investigate the allegations unless the states parties request examination and investigation. This is immoral. There is no need for a state to apply to investigate this. Their duty is to search for evidence and proof and make a decision on it. Moreover, it is immoral. We have more than one piece of evidence and proof. It is clear that the OPCW has closed its eyes to the Turkish state. The OPCW does not examine the evidence they have. It does not fulfill its principles and duties. As KNK, we will protest this situation in front of the OPCW on  November 1. The evidence, reports and proofs we have are at their doorstep. Every day we have more and more evidence, and this We will also send them to the relevant places."

	 

	'TURKEY IS ENCOURAGED BY SILENCE'

	 

	Underlining that the OPCW did not take action despite all the evidence, Karamus said: "When some countries have an interest, they immediately start investigating. For example, what happened in Syria and Iraq a few years ago. When it comes to their own interests, they immediately took action and investigated. We like these institutions well. We know. OPCW does not comply with its own agreements and laws. It is based on the interests of states. It has been proven that the Turkish state has used 6-7 types of chemical weapons in the region so far. We have prepared a detailed report on this and shared it with the public. The Turkish state is encouraged by silence. Silence chemical weapons It justifies its use and raises its dose. It is clear that the OPCW has taken a position according to its own interests. Kurdish friends need to step in and put pressure on them. No law or principle is important for the Turkish state anymore. Their minister Hulusi Akar himself says that they are using chemical weapons, his generals appears on television programs and said that they use all kinds of weapons including 'nuclear counter-terrorists'.  Isn't that explanation sufficient for the OPCW's investigation?”

	 

	CALL FOR KURDISH DOCTORS

	 

	Emphasizing that everyone should fulfill their humanitarian duty, Karamus continued: “We call on Kurdish doctors to fulfill their role at the international level. We must raise our voices even more to mobilize the international community. Anyone with a conscience and morals should oppose it. The use of chemical weapons is immoral. Kurdish doctors should put their hand on their conscience and mobilize the World Health Organisation (WHO). Reports of hospitals where those exposed to chemical weapons go should be shared. My call to all Kurds; they should not remain silent about this atrocity because these people who are the target of chemical weapons are the children of the Kurdish people. Those who remain silent during this process should question themselves. Everyone should act with their conscience, and every Kurdish patriot should do their best to prevent this atrocity."