JINHA

COLEMÊRG - On Wednesday, local residents started a civilian vigil aiming to prevent clashes between guerrillas and soldiers in the Veregoz region of Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey). Soldiers have now closed off all roads leading in and out of the area with tanks.

The Veregoz region is located at Turkey's border, near the town of Yüksekova in Hakkari province. There, civilians have started a "human shield" action. The goal of the action is to prevent clashes between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish guerrillas by maintaining a civilian presence in the area.

Yesterday, hundreds of Turkish soldiers deployed to Veregoz. Skorsky helicopters bombed several parts of the area and soldiers fired mortars at nearby villages. Meanwhile, HPG guerrillas attacked soldiers' armored vehicles with heavy weaponry, preventing an overland operation. As the day went on, jets began bombarding areas close to civilian habitations just before 3:00 p.m. Forest fires have started across the region, which is home to native species of squirrels, bears, rabbits and turtles.

The civilians were cut off throughout the day by the military activity. Towards evening, Yüksekova residents attempted to regain contact with those holding the vigil. As the convoy of civilian vehicles was about to cross the Veregoz Bridge, soldiers opened fire on them from a nearby base. The convoy kept going, eventually reaching the "human shield" action.

Soldiers have shut down the only asphalt road in the region with tanks. After travelers managed to use non-paved roads, soldiers moved in and dug trenches to cut off access. When those maintaining the vigil attempted to leave the area and turn over their duties to the incoming group, the civilians found themselves trapped at one of these trenches. Finally, they found another way down the mountain and returned to the town of Yüksekova.

The military operation has cut off access to eight villages.

(gc/cm)