İHD Releases Withdrawal Report
Human Rights Association (IHD) Withdrawal Commission released a report on the withdrawal of PKK forces after a series of observations. The report puts forward facts and recommendations on a variety of issues including guerrilla withdrawal, new headquarter constructions, security dams, village guard system, attempts to return to villages and mine fields.
It also came up with recommendations on several issues to facilitate the resolution process. These issues were listed as follows: removal of obstacles against expression and organization freedoms, revision of discriminative articles in Execution Law (İnfaz Kanunu), release of sick inmates, removal of Anti-Terror Law articles on crimes against Ataturk, political parties, removal of election quotas, removal of Court of Appeals control measures and revision of the word “Turk” with “Turkey” in the constitution.
Some of the highlights from the report included:
Guerrilla withdrawal
* Withdrawal went smoothly despite drone and war jet surveillance.
* Massive number of young people were observed to join PKK in Hakkari-Şırnak surroundings despite the ongoing withdrawal.
New headquarter constructions
* Even though state officials claim that the ongoing constructions of military headquarters on borderlines have been planed before the peace process, such construction caused worries among withdrawing guerrilla as well as local residents.
* 189 headquarters were contracted in Hakkari province area. 10 headquarters are being built in Şırnak. In Dersim province, 5 headquarter constructions are underway, 16 mobile headquarters and 31 military watchtowers have their groundbreaking. The total number of constructions in Dersim turned out 52.
“Security dams”
* The start of dam projects along with the peace process gives the impression that the Turkish state is planning to build a new security policy around these constructions. 4 dam constructions are underway in Dersim, 11 in Şırnak.
Village guard system
* We have made some negative observations regarding the withdrawal in area populated with village guards.
* We have also observed that some village guards took passageways by ambush method. We also also observed that they have assaulted civilians and blocked village entries. Some were also caught cutting trees.
* New village guard positions are still open. One of the urgent measures that the government must take is to remove this system entirely.
Attempts to return to villages
* Due to military mobility and village guard system, return to villages remained at minimum level with most of them on a partial manner.
* When villagers return to their villages, they are unable to acquire their lands due to village guards.
Mine fields
* Mine fields around the area is serious obstacle against bestial and forest sectors. It is also impeding several rural jobs.
* Many people have so far lost their lives due to reasons associated with land mines. It is also observed that no mine field are of existence in the borderline.
* Click here to see the full report in Turkish. (ÇT/BM)
* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.