‘Hikmet Tan Deliberately Targeted’

Bilecik governor Ayhan Cevik, who was severely wounded in a similar attack in May 1999 while he was governor of Cankiri, insisted that terrorist organizations would not achieve their goals by attacking governors who are representatives of the country’s unity and integrity.

"The terrorist organizations target people who are representatives of the country’s unity and integrity. Governors are among the most prominent targets because the governors’ fight against terrorism disturbs [the terrorist organizations]," Cevik declared.

Cevik pointed out that the Governor was deliberately targeted. "These kinds of terrorist organizations do not choose their targets randomly. In this latest occasion, the target is not random either. These terrorist organizations carry out attacks against governors and bureaucrats who struggle against them and who are beloved by the public. It is apparent that Van governor Hikmet Tan has carried out a good struggle against them. Because the situation was similar in the attack against me."