KON-MED calls for quick and independent investigation into alleged poison gas attacks by Turkey

The Kurdish umbrella organization KON-MED has called for a quick and independent investigation into the alleged poison gas attacks by Turkey in South Kurdistan. The use of poison gas is prohibited and represents a serious breach of international law, according to a letter from KON-MED to the chemical weapons control authority OPCW. The organization in The Hague should not hesitate any longer to act in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and must immediately send an inspection team to South Kurdistan.

Since the beginning of the Turkish invasion of southern Kurdistan on April 23, there have been reports that Turkey is using banned chemical weapons against the guerrillas and the civilian population in the regions of Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn. For the past two months there have been new reports almost daily of attacks with these weapons, which are increasingly deadly. The OPCW oversees the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention but is largely limited to determining whether chemical substances have been used as a weapon. When it comes to allegations against the government in Ankara, the organization often remains silent.

On the basis of the clear evidence of the use of poison gas in South Kurdistan by the Turkish army as well as the fact that Turkey is a party to the agreement on the CWC that came into force on 29 April 1997 and is therefore subject to the corresponding monitoring mechanisms, KON-MED also demands the international community to meet their responsibilities and to put pressure on the OPCW. In cases from the past, the majority of the world community remained inactive or even prevented serious investigations, despite concrete evidences of war crimes committed by the Turkish army with chemical warfare agents. Failure to hold Turkey accountable for its violations of international law paves the way for further war crimes, KON-MED said.