HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS ASK

The Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) issued a joint press release today, calling for negotiations and an end to all violence between the Turkish military and the PKK in wake of recent clashes that killed and injured scores of troops and militants.

Eight troops and 10 militants lost their lives during today's clashes in the Dağlıca district of the southeastern province of Hakkari, with another 16 troops wounded, while another soldier also lost his life in the southern province of Hatay yesterday evening.

The IHD and the THIV sent their condolences to the families and acquaintances of the troops and militants who fell during the clashes and addressed all parties involved in the Kurdish problem to avert any further loss of lives.

"People are not going to put up any more with rhetoric and negotiations that have warped into a game and these policies intended to constrict daily democratic life to the greatest extent possible, despite the fact that human-centered solutions are entirely within reach to put an end to all this pain," the press release said.

"End violence and negotiate," human rights defenders say

"[We] must not forget that the lack of a solution to the Kurdish problem has cost tens of thousands of lives until this day. We want the right to life for everyone, and we want peace," the statement said.

"Violence must end before everything else, the operations and attacks must stop and the milieu of non-conflict must become permanent. We want the government to take all the necessary legal and constitutional measures for a democratic and peaceful solution without delay, and for all state officials to act accordingly," the statement further said.

"Parliament must take initiative to get the sides to take the necessary steps for a resolution to this problem through negotiations. An environment of trust ought to be created so as to thrust violence aside, and [Parliament] must take urgent steps for peace and a democratic constitution," the statement concluded. (AS)