For several days, local shopkeepers in the Kurdish-majority province of Hakkari in the southeast of Turkey have kept their shops shut in protest of operations against the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). More than 250 people are said to have been detained, and around 80 arrested in police operations against the DTP, mostly in Diyarbakir, but also in other provinces. On April 23, two groups of around 50 people formed road barricades in the Baglar neighbourhood of Hakkari city, burning tires and obstructing traffic.

Riot police teams intervened with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, but the group responded by throwing stones. When many more riot police officers were sent to the area, the people scattered into side streets. The police sometimes fired warning shots into the air.

One scene that was repeated on TV screens at night was that of a riot police officer running after a 17-year-old child, S.T., catching up with him and brutally beating his head and upper body with his rifle butt.

The child was first taken to Hakkari state hospital and then to Van University hospital. His condition was initially very serious. His uncle, Hizir Turan, has said that he can now eat and that he is improving. The doctors have diagnosed a crack in the child’s scull and bleeding. Turan added that the child’s father had also sustained a head injury, but that he was well. He will remain under observation another ten days before being operated on.

Three other people were injured in the events. Hakkari province governor Muamme Türker said that he was saddened by the events that took place on 23 April, National Sovereignty and Children´s Day. He said that one person had a head injury, one had been affected by the gas, and one had slipped in the water when running away from the police. He added, "These events make all of the Hakkari people uncomfortable. We hope this will not happen again." Four people were detained after the protests.

When news about the meeting emerged, no one yet knew that another child had died after the riots. 14-year-old A.E. was running away from the police, who were spraying tear gas and using truncheons. He fell into a river bed and hit his head on a stone. He was taken to hospital and lost his life on the 23 of April.

Ismail Akbulut, head of the Hakkari branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) told that the family was distraught. "His father earns his living as a village guard. The family’s financial situation is not good." Hakkari tensions are still high in Hakkari. "Shop keepers are still keeping their shops closed. After the events yesterday, there were electricity cuts in the whole city at 6 pm, and they are still continuing. People here have still not watched coverage on the child that was beaten. There is also no Internet connection. Hakkari has still not found out what happened to its children.

To view the video, please click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvoHWISSYXU