People's Defense Centre (HSM) Headquarters Command has released a statement regarding the execution of 12 guerrillas in the central Edremit district of Van province on 10 January.

HSM said that the guerrilla unit commanded by Rubar Gevda was on duty in the area of Başkale district but had to go to Van city centre by necessity, as has been revealed by an exploration by their side.

Noting that the guerrilla unit was found out to be the one in Başkale after the reports of mass execution in a two-storey house in Van, HSM said this guerrilla unit wasn't given any mission for Van, and they were likely to have left their position due to an exposure of their spot and challenging winter conditions, according to assessments.

Refuting the Turkish media reports that guerrillas were preparing for an attack in that house, HSM said the guerrilla unit was never instructed to leave their position in Başkale for such an action in Van, which cannot possibly be conducted under the current circumstances there.

The statement by HSM continued; "It is obvious that there occurred no clash in the house. It is not possible to render 12 armed, experienced and professional HPG guerrillas ineffective in such a location within a few hours. Any clash at that scene would last at least 2-3 days, for which necessary means and opportunities were already available."

HSM said the guerrillas were apparently murdered execution style, and pointed to the probability of poisoning or fainting by gas as the cause of their neutralization in such a short time.

Noting that at least 6 guerrillas were shot in the head, as is seen on photos circulated on media, HSM said these bullet shots on their heads was a strong evidence of the mass execution.

"Several of them may have engaged in clash after managing to go out of the house half-stunned, yet it is certain that the whole group was neutralized in plot style", HSM said, adding that inquiry by their side into the incident continues, and more details will be made public once available.

HSM offered condolences to the families of martyrs and all Kurdistan people, vowing to avenge them and keep their memory alive by stepping up the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle.

The statement provided the following details regarding the ID details of the 12 guerrillas;

Nom de Guerre: Celal Kandil

Name-Surname: Fazıl Kuş

Place of Birth: Van

Parents' Names: Fexiye - Ferzende

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

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Nom de Guerre:: Çekdar Başkale

Name-Surname: Mehmet Sıddık Orhan

Place of Birth: Van

Parents' Names: Makbule – Alaaddin

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre:: Eriş Tekman

Name-Surname: Serhan Yıldız

Place of Birth: Erzurum

Parents' Names: Remziye – Celal

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Gernas Aras

Name-Surname: Fuat Akdemir

Place of Birth: Amed

Parents' Names: Asiye – Fehmi

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Mazlum Colemerg

Name-Surname: Naim Tekin

Place of Birth: Hakkari

Parents' Names: Zümrüt – Ramazan

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

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Nom de Guerre: Navdar Masiro

Name-Surname: Ahmet Özer

Place of Birth: Adıyaman

Parents' Names: Aliye – Abdulkadir

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Rubar Serhat

Name-Surname: Deniz Aşkan

Place of Birth: Van

Parents' Names: Zeliha – Cemil

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Serhat Bahrewan

Name-Surname: Şaban Günay

Place of Birth: Van

Parents' Names: Saadet – Halit

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Berxwedan Erdiş

Name-Surname: Ümit Gürbüz

Place of Birth: Van

Parents' Names: Hanife – Fehim

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Argeş Colemerg

Name-Surname: Esmer Yıldız

Place of Birth: Hakkari

Parents' Names: Fikriye Abdurrahman

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Armanc Canfeda

Name-Surname: Ekrem Mete

Place of Birth: Mardin

Parents' Names: Şerife – Tevfik

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

***

Nom de Guerre: Cilo Ferlat

Name-Surname: Ümit Ürgen

Place of Birth: Van

Parents' Names: Makbule – Haydar

Date and Place of Death: 10 January 2016 / Van

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