JINHA

COLEMÊRG - One woman is among the four dead in the Kurdish town of Yüksekova, where police and soldiers have been bombing and raiding neighborhoods since last night.

As the Turkish state escalated its attacks on Kurdish citizens, residents of the town of Yüksekova formed self-defense units in several neighborhoods. Yesterday night at 11:30 p.m., the provincial governor declared a curfew in the town. Five minutes later, police and soldiers launched mortar bombardments, then attempted to send armored vehicles into the neighborhoods. Three people died overnight.

20 have been wounded, with police blockading and refusing access to the hospital. Recently, a resident hit by a piece of shrapnel died in the neighborhood, bringing the death count to four. Today, the sounds of gunshots from ongoing clashes mixed with the sound of local residents taking to their balconies to protest the attack by banging on pots and pans. Police are firing tear gas and rubber bullets at anyone who takes to the streets.

Arzu Çerkezoğlu, head of the union confederation DİSK, traveled to the town as part of a human rights delegation. Arzu stated that the authorities are refusing to allow the delegation into the town.

(at/gc/fk/cm)