18.12.2012 18:50
A young man completing his compulsory military service stationed at a unit in Ergani, a district of Diyarbakır, allegedly killed himself on Monday, according to an official claim by the military.
A young man completing his compulsory military service stationed at a unit in Ergani, a district of Diyarbakır, allegedly killed himself on Monday, according to an official claim by the military.
The death of Burak Kasar, who was serving at the 2nd Mechanized Brigade Command, brings the number of deaths that were recorded as suicides in the military this week to four. According to reports, Kasar put a rifle to his chest at 9: 30 a.m. on Monday and pulled the trigger. He died at the scene, officials said. His body was taken to Ergani State Hospital for an autopsy. An investigation into his death has also been launched.
This was the fourth death, according to the Soldier Rights' Initiative, which tweeted that in 2012, 65 individuals doing their military service had committed suicide. The initiative says 47 of these deaths were covered in the press. Kasar's death brings the total number of suicide cases this year to 66.
According to data released on Dec. 7 by the General Staff, the number of incidents of suicide by soldiers in the Turkish military has decreased by 50 percent over the past 10 years.
The General Staff's statement came on the heels of a report from the parliamentary Human Rights Commission earlier in the month, saying that the number of privates who have lost their lives through suicide in the past 10 years exceeds the number killed in clashes with terrorists.
After the commission's report, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) launched an investigation into the issue and found that the number of incidents of suicide within the military had dropped by 50 percent over the past 10 years.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel also ordered the formation of a special team to investigate the causes of suicides within the military.
The military cites many reasons for the suicides, among them drug addiction, domestic disputes, financial problems, abuse, mental disorders and adaptation problems.
The General Staff also said it provides psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers for the privates to help them adapt to their new environment and prevent possible suicides.
The head of the parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission, Ayhan Sefer Üstün, recently said that 934 soldiers had committed suicide while on active duty, while 818 soldiers were killed on the battlefield over the past 10 years.
(Cihan/Today's Zaman)