JINHA

ANKARA - HDP Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ said that the Turkish government must prove that it is not involved in the attacks on civilians in the city of Kobanê yesterday.

Figen Yüksekdağ, co-chair of Turkey's left opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), held a press conference in the party headquarters yesterday regarding the Daesh attacks on the Rojava city of Kobanê. The party leader said that the Turkish government must prove that it is not involved in the attacks.

Many inside Kobanê have said that it would have been impossible for Daesh to launch an attack on the city without the knowledge and collaboration of Turkish soldiers. The eastern, western and southern boundaries of Kobanê are controlled by the YPG/YPJ for kilometers around; however, the northern border of the city—an international boundary with Turkey—is under the control of Turkish soldiers.

Figen called the Kobanê attack "an act of revenge" for the HDP's electoral victory in Turkey's June 7th election as well as the YPG/YPJ's liberation of the city of Girê Spî last week. The border city of Girê Spî had been in Daesh hands for two years. Figen noted the Turkish government is not disturbed by having a border with Daesh, but is disturbed by sharing a border with the YPG/YPJ.

On several occasions, journalists and others have documented acts of Turkish support for Daesh. In the wake of the attack yesterday, Figen said, responsibility for clearing Turkey of blame for the attack lies with Turkish officials, not Kurdish forces.

(nt/cm)