Turkish army is violating Geneva Convention
Submitted by admin on Tuesday, July 13 2010
ANF 13.07.2010- Following the recent clashes between the Kurdish rebels and the Turkish soldier, Turkish army put its signature under the brutality on the guerrilla bodies. Turkish army resorted such brutalities in the 90’s and the photo in which Turkish soldiers were posing with heads of Kurdish rebels, chopped off their bodies are in living memories.
However, while the Turkish army executes the captured guerrillas, PKK guerrillas fulfill the requirements of the Geneva Convention and treat the Turkish captives accordingly.
Article 17 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War states: “No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind.” Article 3 (a) further stated that “Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture” are war crimes. Despite the fact that Turkey is a party to this convention it violates the Convention in front of the eyes of the world.
Turkish army has tortured the dead bodies of the Kurdish guerrillas who lost their lives in the clashes took place in Gumushane, Siirt and Hakkari provinces. Some of the bodies were beheaded, their eyes were taken out and their organs were chopped off. These treatments remind Saddam Hussein’s crimes against humanity.
There are also provisions under Turkish law prohibiting such treatments on dead bodies. However, Turkey is not only violating Geneva Convention but also its own law.
The Turkish soldiers and the police officers captured by the Kurdish guerrillas have stated that, their rights under Geneva Convention were read out by the guerrillas and they were treated under these provisions.
