Village guards laying down arms: We won't fight our people

2016-01-04 22:34:21

ŞIRNAK (DİHA) - As the Turkish state continues to intensify its attacks on the Kurdish people in North Kurdistan territory, dozens of village guards in Şırnak's Silopi district have laid down arms “to not be an accomplice to the state terror”.

Village guards are made up of local people who fight alongside Turkish troops in the operations against civilian population and guerrillas of freedom movement in the Kurdish region. On 14 December 2015, Silopi District Gendarmerie Command held a meeting with all the village guards who were ordered to be ready for participation in the ongoing attacks on civilian areas.

46 village guards from Avaşîn neighborhood have therewith laid down arms and resigned from duty despite all the threats uttered by soldiers, and following efforts by officials to convince them to stand by the military in the onslaught in the Kurdish territory. The guards handed over their arms to Tilqebîn military outpost yesterday.

One of these, who has been serving as a village guard for 24 years and has asked to be mentioned as anonymous, said; "We told the military that we will never accept to join them in these operations. They threatened and put pressure on us but we handed over their arms, saying that we can no more tolerate this terror and atrocity of the state."

The man told the followings addressing to all the village guards who serve in Silopi and across North Kurdistan; "It is time to unite while the state and AKP government massacres our brothers and sisters by tank and artillery fire on daily basis. Anyone with conscience must stand against this atrocity. From now on, we will be standing by our people and we call on all other village guards to do the same. We promise to work and do our best for our people."

(nt)