KURDISH POLITAL PARTY ALLKEGES TURKISH MILITARY USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS

On August 30, 2007, Mr. Ahmet Türk, leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), accused the Turkish military of using chemical weapons in its ongoing operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in southeastern Anatolia’s Uludere district. [1] The chemical attack allegedly occurred on August 24, 2007 and resulted in the deaths of 11 people. To support its claim, the DTP also drew attention to the deaths of a number of animals several days after the operation concluded, including two cows, four horses, and a donkey, and 17 cows that were sickened on August 30. [2] As further evidence, the DTP claimed authorities were refusing to return the bodies of the dead men to their families. [3] Subsequent reports suggested, however, that any delay may have resulted from difficulties in identifying the deceased. [4]

In a statement to the Turkish press, the Chief of the [Turkish] General Staff, General Yaşar Büyükanit, denounced both the accusations and those making them saying: “It is a lie and completely empty talk. I am a soldier and I don’t accept terrorists as interlocutors.” [5]

The DTP has been accused of operating as a political front for the PKK, considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, and its members are frequently arrested. These facts detract from the credibility of the DTP’s accusations. [6] In response to the accusations, the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office immediately launched an investigation into the DTP’s statements under article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which bans insulting the government, the judiciary, the military, or the police. [7] At the same time, the Uludere public prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into the deaths of the 11 men with the intent of establishing their identities and cause of death. [8]

The accusations by the DTP are similar to February 2006 charges by the PKK of chemical weapons use. [9] These previous allegations were largely ignored by the Turkish government and attracted little international attention, although the PKK was able to use them to mobilize demonstrations among Kurdish populations in the Dargecit district. [10] As yet, no confirmatory evidence of a chemical attack has been offered by the DTP, and at present there is no information indicating that the Turkish government possesses and/or uses lethal chemical weapons in violation of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which it is a party.

Although accusations that governments are using chemical weapons against rebel groups have become more frequent in the last few years, most claims do not withstand close examination. Frequently, the alleged chemical weapons prove to be incendiaries, such as napalm. In 2005, Iraqi insurgent forces’ allegations that the United States was using chemical weapons (in this case, white phosphorous (WP)) in its assault on the city of Fallujah generated considerable controversy. [11] Although the use of WP is allowed under the CWC and the laws of war, the insurgents were able to derive significant propaganda benefits from the incident. (See also “Sri Lankan Government Alleges Tamil Tigers Preparing for Chemical Warfare,” in this issue of WMD Insights and Balochi Separatists Rekindle Accusations of Pakistani Use of Chemical Weapons,” WMD Insights, September 2007.)

Chemical weapons are generally seen as immoral or illegitimate weapons, and alleging the use of these weapons by an opponent can increase sympathy for the victims or their cause. Nevertheless chemicals, especially riot control agents, which are permitted under the CWC, have been used by governments against non-state actors, be they terrorists or insurgents, and there is some concern that this use will become more frequent in the future. [12]


Markus Binder – MKB Consulting