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'Those who did this are not human': people of Cizre return to ruins Turkey eases curfew after assault on PKK rebels leaves Cizre in ruins
(about 1 hour later)
The stench of death and the smell of gunpowder rose from mounds of rubble as residents of the Turkish town of Cizre returned to find many of their homes obliterated in the wake of Turkey’s efforts to crush Kurdish militants. At least one body was still lying inside a ruined house. Turkish security forces have eased a 24-hour curfew on the devastated southern-eastern town of Cizre, where since December troops backed by tanks have attempted to crush militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ party, or PKK.
Cizre is one of a handful of mainly south-eastern Kurdish districts where Turkey’s security forces, backed by tanks, have conducted extensive operations against militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ party, or PKK. The militants want autonomy for Kurds in Turkey’s south-east and had raised barricades, dug trenches and planted explosives to protect areas where they had aspired for self-rule. The curfew will still hold from 7:30pm to 5am, but the reprieve on Wednesday allowed some residents to return to the town, where they found many of their homes obliterated. At least one body was still lying inside a ruined house.
On Wednesday, the Turkish military eased the 24-hour curfew it imposed on 14 December, although it still holds from 7.30pm to 5am. The reprieve comes three weeks after authorities on 11 February declared the successful conclusion of military operations to stamp out the rebels. The easing of the curfew comes three weeks after authorities declared the successful conclusion of military operations against the rebels on 11 February.
The town of 132,000 near the banks of the Tigris river and the borders of Syria and Iraq has been the worst hit in terms of the scale of fighting and the casualty toll. The level of damage seen in some districts on Wednesday evoked the early days of the war in neighbouring Syria, with buildings gutted by shelling or partially collapsed.The town of 132,000 near the banks of the Tigris river and the borders of Syria and Iraq has been the worst hit in terms of the scale of fighting and the casualty toll. The level of damage seen in some districts on Wednesday evoked the early days of the war in neighbouring Syria, with buildings gutted by shelling or partially collapsed.
The army says more than 600 Kurdish rebels were killed in Cizre. Human rights groups say 92 civilians were killed in the town during the military operation and another 171 bodies have been found since hostilities ended. The army says more than 600 Kurdish rebels were killed in Cizre. The militants, who want autonomy for Kurds, had raised barricades, dug trenches and planted explosives to protect areas where they had aspired for self-rule.
Human rights groups say 92 civilians were killed in the town during the military operation and another 171 bodies have been found since hostilities ended.
The first wave of residents returned to the town at dawn on Wednesday, their vehicles loaded with personal belongings and children. Police carefully inspected their documents as well as the contents of their cars and bags. What the returnees found shocked them.The first wave of residents returned to the town at dawn on Wednesday, their vehicles loaded with personal belongings and children. Police carefully inspected their documents as well as the contents of their cars and bags. What the returnees found shocked them.
Shell casings littered the streets of the Sur district, where residents found the corpse of an unidentified male. The stench of death also rose from a collapsed building in the same area. Residents said security forces had demolished the building’s basement, which was being used as a shelter.Shell casings littered the streets of the Sur district, where residents found the corpse of an unidentified male. The stench of death also rose from a collapsed building in the same area. Residents said security forces had demolished the building’s basement, which was being used as a shelter.
Related: Turkish forces’ crackdown on Kurdish militants leaves over 60 deadRelated: Turkish forces’ crackdown on Kurdish militants leaves over 60 dead
“Those who did this are not human,” said Serif Ozem. “What took place here is a second Kobani in a country that is supposed to be a democracy.” Kobani is a predominantly Kurdish town in northern Syria that suffered a brutal siege at the hands of Islamic State. “Those who did this are not human,” said Şerif Ozem.
Several shops and homes in Sur had their walls blasted open. Windows were shattered and doors unhinged, the smell of gunpowder still clinging to the breeze. “What took place here is a second Kobani in a country that is supposed to be a democracy,” he said, referring to the predominantly Kurdish town in northern Syria that suffered a brutal siege by Islamic State.
Curfews remain in the historic district of the main Kurdish city of Diyarbakır and in Idil, a district in Sirnak province, where Turkish forces are continuing operations against Kurdish militants. Several shops and homes in Sur had their walls blasted open. Windows were shattered and doors unhinged, the smell of explosives still clinging to the breeze.
Curfews remain in the historic district of the main Kurdish city of Diyarbakır and in Idil, a district in Şırnak province, where Turkish forces are continuing operations against Kurdish militants.
Amnesty International says the curfews amount to “collective punishment”.Amnesty International says the curfews amount to “collective punishment”.
In Diyarbakır, a bomb went off prematurely, killing a suspected attacker and wounding four children, the governor’s office said. The man, who had links to the Kurdish rebels, is believed to have detonated the bomb accidentally on Monday.In Diyarbakır, a bomb went off prematurely, killing a suspected attacker and wounding four children, the governor’s office said. The man, who had links to the Kurdish rebels, is believed to have detonated the bomb accidentally on Monday.
In Cizre, Ayse Magi inspected the damage to her modest home with tears in her eyes. Two mortars had punctured the ceiling of her bathroom and the hallway. “There is no way we can live here,” she said.In Cizre, Ayse Magi inspected the damage to her modest home with tears in her eyes. Two mortars had punctured the ceiling of her bathroom and the hallway. “There is no way we can live here,” she said.
Shoe shop owner Nesim Cavusoglu, who had stayed in the city during the curfew, despaired over the destroyed facade of his business. “This is all that is left,” he said, gesturing at the rubble and a handful of shoe boxes. Shoe-shop owner Nesim Çavuşoğlu, who had stayed in the city during the curfew, despaired over the destroyed facade of his business. “This is all that is left,” he said, gesturing at the rubble and a handful of shoe boxes.
Graffiti in his neighbourhood spelled out PKK and the initials of its female and male urban youth wings, YDG-H and YDGK-H. “Kurdistan” was scribbled on several storefronts and portraits of slain Kurdish female fighters adorned an alley. Graffiti in his district spelled out PKK and the initials of its female and male urban youth wings, YDG-H and YDGK-H. “Kurdistan” was scribbled on several storefronts and portraits of slain Kurdish female fighters adorned an alley.
Ali Ihsan Su, the governor of Sirnak province, meanwhile warned returning Cizre residents to beware possible undetected explosive devices in their homes. Three large booms were heard in the morning, which police said were controlled explosions to clear booby traps. Meanwhile, Ali Ihsan Su, the governor of Şırnak province, warned returning Cizre residents to beware of possible undetected explosive devices in their homes. Three large booms were heard in the morning, which police said were controlled explosions to clear booby traps.
Related: The Guardian view on Turkey’s Kurdish policies: compounding the region’s troubles | EditorialRelated: The Guardian view on Turkey’s Kurdish policies: compounding the region’s troubles | Editorial
Blaming the militants for the destruction of the town, the governor said 708 barricades were dismantled, 264 trenches filled and 1,409 explosives disposed of. Security forces also seized automatic weapons, firearms and hand grenades. Blaming the militants for the destruction of the town, the governor said 708 barricades had been dismantled, 264 trenches filled and 1,409 explosives disposed of. Security forces also seized automatic weapons, other firearms and hand grenades.
“They destroyed houses by placing explosives from the kitchens to the bedrooms. They attacked callously and mercilessly, without distinguishing between military, police, women, men, old or young,” Su said. “They destroyed houses by placing explosives from the kitchens to the bedrooms. They attacked callously and mercilessly, without distinguishing between military, police, women, men, old or young,” the governor said.
The government says more than 300 members of the security forces have died fighting Kurdish rebels since July.The government says more than 300 members of the security forces have died fighting Kurdish rebels since July.
Police said the curfew could not be lifted immediately after the military operations ended because troops had to clear leftover explosives.Police said the curfew could not be lifted immediately after the military operations ended because troops had to clear leftover explosives.
Ahmet Davutoğlu, Turkey’s prime minister, has promised to reconstruct Cizre and other districts ruined by the fighting.Ahmet Davutoğlu, Turkey’s prime minister, has promised to reconstruct Cizre and other districts ruined by the fighting.
The PKK, considered a terror group by Turkey and its allies, has been waging an insurgency in south-eastern Turkey since 1984. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people since then. A fragile two-year-old peace process with the rebels broke down in July.The PKK, considered a terror group by Turkey and its allies, has been waging an insurgency in south-eastern Turkey since 1984. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people since then. A fragile two-year-old peace process with the rebels broke down in July.
Nurettin Guler, a 55-year old who stayed in Cizre amid the worst fighting, was pessimistic about the next phase. Nurettin Güler, a 55-year old who stayed in Cizre during the worst fighting, was pessimistic about the next phase.
“They say the operations have ended but we just don’t know. If peace isn’t achieved ... it’s not over.”“They say the operations have ended but we just don’t know. If peace isn’t achieved ... it’s not over.”