HL Deb 08 March 2000 vol 610 cc138-9WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ask for an impartial and public investigation into the Guclukonak massacre on 15 January 1996 in south-east Turkey. [HL1236]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

We are concerned that 11 civilians were killed in an attack on a minibus in Guclukonak in January 1996. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was suspected of carrying out the attack but a human rights delegation contended at the time that the security forces were responsible.

We discussed this incident with the Turkish authorities in 1996. We believe that transparency and openness on human rights can only be helpful. We have no plans to request a fresh inquiry.