DİYARBAKIR- The villagers describing the residential area operation that has been going on in Lice's Birlik and Şenlik quarters said: " It was as if they invaded another country's land".

 

In consequence of the operation that were started in Diyarbakır's Lice districk, an 8 day curfew was declared. Citizens residing in Şenlik ( Xeraba) and Speynî, Şîrte Mevan, Birlik (Çemê Elika) told their experiences of the curfew.

 

WE WILL SHOOT IF YOU TAKE IT DOWN

 

The operation continued with the accompanying armed vehicles and hundreds of soldiars for 8 days. What makes this operation different than the others is that it has been done in residential areas.The soldiars hanging Turkish flag on the houses windows from day one, kept watch 24/7. When the villagers took down the flags they came storming in, saying : " If you ever took these flags down again we will shoot you, or put you in jail!"

 

 'THEY USED OUR HOUSES,WE RAN OUT OF FOOD'

 

The soldiars conducting searches in the houses, put gun in their heads while searching the houses. They threatened the villagers with their lives, break the doors and the windows and feed themselves from their kitchens. Citizens indicated that thet were beaten and subjected to violence.

 

 

'THEY SERVED US WITH ARBITRARY FINES'

 

It has been said that Dicle Electricity Distribution Corporation (DEDAŞ) came to the area of operation serving fines of 500 liras to every home on the grounds that they are using illegal electricity. The citizens said they did not use the electricity illegally and the fines are arbitrary.

 

THEY WERE SUBJECTED TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

 

Residents claimin the forestland were burned, added that 3 citizens got taken under custody and were brought to Lice Gendermerie Station where they were beaten and subjected to physical violence. The villagers said that they tried to force them to migrate and the oppression is still continuing even though the operation is over.