Two blasts in southeastern Turkey

VAN / MARDİN

Despite the ongoing official cease-fire between the security forces and the PKK, southeastern Turkey witnessed two blasts on Aug 18.

Despite the ongoing official cease-fire between the security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), southeastern Turkey witnessed two blasts on Aug. 18.

A 15-soldier military team overseeing a road in the town of Gürpınar in Van province was the target of a roadside bomb, detonated via remote control. Military forces in the region started an operation immediately after the blast.

Separately, an armored police vehicle was also attacked in the town of Saray in Van, as it was heading toward the Kapıköy border gate to Iran. The vehicle was slightly damaged in what was most probably a roadside bomb blast. Nobody was injured in either incidents.

Meanwhile, the PKK has threatened workers at the Ilısu Dam in the town of Dargeçit in the southeastern province of Mardin, demanding that they quit work. A letter sent by the PKK to the dam workers, engineers, trade unions and local village heads, included the names of some workers and said “all those working at the Ilısu Dam” were under threat.

When the controversial dam is completed, the ancient town of Hasankeyf, located on the Tigris River, will be flooded by the gargantuan Ilısu Reservoir.