Lice clashes victim’s cousin was also victim of unsolved murder

DIYARBAKIR - Radikal

Hundreds of people marched in Diyarbakır to mourn Medeni Yıldırım killed in clashes in Lice. DHA photo

The sister of the Lice victim said her cousin was also killed 19 years ago on the day of her brother Medeni Yıldırım’s birthday, after being kidnapped by unknown people in Istanbul as his name appeared in the the list of businessmen who helped the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
 
“Nineteen years ago my cousin [Adnan Yıldırım] was killed and now my brother. Nothing changes,” Nazmiye Yıldırım said, in an interview with daily Radikal.
 
The body of the slain Adnan Yıldırım was found in the northwestern province of Bolu.
 
Medeni Yıldırım, aged 19, was killed in a demonstration to halt the construction of an additional building for the patrol in the village of Kayacık.
 
‘They shot me in the back’
 
Ronida Pervane, who was shot in her left shoulder during the Lice clashes, said the bullet hit her when she turned her back to the construction area according to daily Radikal.
 
“Almost 250 people were protesting the construction of an additional building for the patrol in the village,” Pervane said.
 
After the protesters made a press statement, some of them tried to enter the construction area, according to Pervane.
 
“Gendarmerie first opened fire toward the sky then toward the protestors. I was at the end of the group and they shot me in my shoulder,” she said.
 
Pervane’s uncle, Veysi Batmaz said, “A lot of villages in the area have no water, school or hospital. However every village has a patrol building. Our reaction started at this point.”

A group of villagers trying to prevent the construction of a gendarmerie facility in Diyarbakır’s Lice clashed with security forces on June 28.