JINHA

ANKARA - International Coalition Against Disappearances (ICAD) finds significant of the government's silence about Hurşit Külter who is remains unknown since his detention by state forces 46 days ago, by asking, "Has Hurşit Külter disappeared in custody?" ICAD issued a call to fing Hurşit.

International Coalition Against Disappearances (ICAD) made a statement titled "We ask once again: Where is Hurşit Külter!" on Hurşit Külter, DBP Şırnak Province administrator who was detained on May 27 and hasn't been heard from him since then. The coalition reminded what happened.

ICAD referenced DİHA's report that included statements from the village guards taking part in that operation and said the silence of the government is significant. They asked that, "Has Hurşit Külter disappeared in custody?"

The statement reads, "According to witness reports, Hurşit Külter was beaten and detained, and was taken to Gümüştepe Special Operations Branch Headquarters. He was kept there for 7 days and then taken to the 23rd Gendarmerie Border Division Command. It is evident by witness statements that Külter was taken into custody under torture by the state forces and subjected to intense torture. It is significant that the Turkish state issues no statements on the whereabouts of Hurşit Külter. Has Hurşit Külter disappeared in custody?"

The statement continues: "Forced disappearances under custody have been utilized systematically by the state in the 1980s and 1990s in Turkey; thousands of people were forcibly disappeared. Saturday Mothers have been asking the state what happened to their lost loved ones by comnining silent sit-in protest every Saturday since May 27, 1995. However, the state has continued to obscure the whereabouts of the disappeared. The state's attacks and massacres on the Kurdish people and opposition circles have continued for the last year. As in Suruç, Ankara, Istanbul, Roboski and all other massacres, the murderers and those responsible are being protected. Our concern grows that Hurşit Külter has been forcibly disappeared in a country with no human rights, no freedom of thought and expression. Forced disappearance is a crime against humanity. Those who commit crimes against humanity will answer to history, sooner or later. Hurşit Külter was taken alive, we want him back alive!"

(sy/gd)