JINHA

ÊLÎH – Protestors have started a sit-in at the military post where Turkish soldiers have detained 83 activists attempting to stop clashes in the largely Kurdish district of Sason.

Over the last month, the Turkish state has escalated military operations designed to re-start clashes in Northern Kurdistan (east and southeast Turkey). Yesterday, soldiers launched an operation in the Sason district of Batman province. Clashes broke out with Kurdish guerrillas near the village of Kelhasan, in the rural site of Sinemergê.

Local residents, hearing of the clashes, headed for the area to peacefully prevent a clash as “human shield” protestors. Soldiers, special operations police and “village guard” paramilitaries surrounded the locals and refused them access, saying the area had been declared a “security zone.” Among the group were the co-mayors of the city of Batman and activists for local political parties the DBP and HDP.

Soldiers detained 83 people, including reporter Engin Eren of Dicle News Agency, who was covering the action. Meanwhile, police seized the camera of JINHA reporter Zeynep Akın and erased her footage. Locals have now started a sit-in outside the military post where the 83 human shield protestors are detained.

(za/gc/cm)