May 24, 1993, PKK attack

[15] The Turkish military began to increase their attacks on the PKK, in particular on 19 May, in Kulp killing around a dozen rebels.

[10] Under the control of the provincial commander of the area at the time, Şemdin Sakık reported to Abdullah Öcalan that the soldiers were losing respect.

[16] Sasik decided on a show of strength, ordering units to block all main roads to the Diyarbakir which was a favored operation by the rebels as it asserted authority.

Due to the remoteness of some of these stretches of highway, the Turkish military were not eager to confront the PKK so sometimes sent off-duty soldiers via unmarked buses to avoid being targeted or identified at any roadblock.

[12] Sakık, later captured by the Turkish security forces, testified during the Ergenekon trials that deep state elements in the Turkish military had sent the soldiers unarmed in the hope they would be killed, as part of the Doğu Çalışma Grubu's coup plans.