While Guns Already Silent, Why Village Guards Armed?

In Kozluk district of Batman, a group of village guards kidnapped and released 18-year-old N.B. and then they busted her uncle’s house and wounded him seriously. After this incident, the issue of “village guards keeping carrying guns” came up again.

Batman Bar Association President Ahmet Sevim told bianet that that village guards carrying guns form a psychological pressure on the locals in Batman as on dwellers in the whole regions. He also asserted that village guards use their guns frequently in their personal problems.

After 18-year-old Nazlı Bildikçi, who was kidnapped in Güllüce Village of Kozluk on 5 July 2014, was released, a group of village guards intended to kidnap her again. During the clashes, N.B.’s uncle Ş.B. was seriously wounded due to a shotgun. 

According to Batman Çağdaş Newspaper, Batman Municipal Co-Chair Sabri Özdemir visited Ş.B. in the hospital and stated that the incident is a further part of kidnapping. “It’s time for authorities to intervene in ‘village guard sister," he said. 

Peace among Kurds

Sevim advocated that progressing solution process (also known as the Kurdish-Turkish Peace Process) only between government and organization (with this term PKK is meant) in not enough on its own. He believes that problems among Kurds are to be solved as well. 

“Since the beginning of solution process we have insistently defended that peace between the government and the organization is not enough. The essential point is the peace among Kurds.

“I have an opinion that this is as important as peace negotiations with the government. I even think that maybe we could start from the point of peace among Kurds. Or they would progressed simultaneously,” he said.

“Make society ready and seize the guns” 

“Because there are many criminals who have carried gun for years and used it for their personal issues, who have deforced others’ real estate and who have committed crime harming women.

“On the other hand, we are worried about problems which might appear if we impound the guns.  Village guards feel secure since they have guns and support of the government. One or other day, their guns will be seized. Especially at that time the main problems among different families may occur. 

“At this point, we don’t say definitely ’Not seize the guns’. However, that sociological truth is not to miss out. So, works for seizing guns and making society ready for this should urgently started.

“They know their crimes”

“Crimes resulting from their duty and their personal issues weren’t stood trial. So, we are facing a serious problem. 

“Following the beginning of the process, we interviewed village guards in regions where they predominantly live. They have such a concern: ‘What if they seized our guns and asked us to pay what we did?’

“So, in other words, they confess that they committed  many crimes against the society.

“They boosted judicial immunity”

“Having boosted judicial immunity through their crimes, village guards are encouraged with the guns they have. They use guns especially in their personal issues.

“For example, recently there was an issue about some lands belonging to the Yazidi. Once they left the country and went abroad, so village guards seized their property. When they came back, they demanded their lands back; however, they couldn’t come against the village guards because they had guns.

“Luckily, the problem could be solved then. But, village guards carrying guns form a psychological pressure on the locals. 

Facing the past

“These people didn’t come from any where. They are from here. Consequently, rehab works on village guards should be organized. As same as people coming down from the mountains. Village guards are living on the mounts and with their guns. They need rehab as people living on the mounts need. 

“Maybe reciprocal forgiveness mechanism can be used. It should be a part of facing the past.”

Village Guards and Crimes

*According to data of İHD (Human Rights Association), village guards killed 93 people with the guns of government in 2009 and 2013. 

*Between 1986 and 1996, 23,222 village guards were dismissed because of their several crimes they committed. 

*According to data provided by mayor of state of emergency, 300 village guards dismissed in 1989 on the account that they used their guns for kidnapping, blood feuds and conflict about lands. 

*According to data in 2006 by Interior Ministry, 2,384 village guards were accused of terror crime, 934 of property crime, 1234 of crime against individual, and 420 of smuggling and 853 temporary village guards were detained.

*According to İHD’ report, village guards committed 38 crimes of firing village, 14 crimes of evacuation of village, 12 crimes of sexual harassment and rape, 22 crimes of kidnap, 294 crimes of armed attack; they were charged with wounding 176 people in armed attacks, killing 132 people in armed attacks, 2 cases of loss, 50 executions, 70 seizure, 454 torture and battery, 9 causing to comment suicide and 17 firing forestry. (EKN/MUY/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.