Kurdish Villagers Still Far From Home

Sefika Gurbuz from the Immigrants' Social Solidarity and Culture Association (GOC-DER) condones media reports regarding European Union's concerns that Turkey should ensure the return of all villagers who were forcibly evicted from their homes during the armed conflict in southeast Turkey.

"We are already informed that the European Union places a lot of importance on the villagers' return. This is not a new issue," said Gurbuz. "The EU believes that agriculture and farming will have a positive impact on regional economy.

Gurbuz said the law on "Compensating for Losses Arising from Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism Operations," was approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on July 17, but added a regulation was not prepared yet.

"The law is definite, but nobody knows how the returns will take place because there is no regulation on the issue," said Gurbuz.

Gurbuz and lawyer Sehnaz Turan, the head of the Social and Legal Research Foundation (TOHAV), are generally happy about the law, but believe that the village guards system is a roadblock for the return. The land mines in certain regions also have to be cleared, she believes.

According to a report by the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights, more than 3,500 villages with the aim of denying the Kurdish guerrilla PKK local support, were evacuated between 1990 and 1997. A total of 350 villagers, according to official figures, and 1 million villagers, according to the figures of the Human Rights Watch, had to leave their houses and villages.

GOC-DER says that a total of 3 million people had to leave their houses and villages, including those who had to leave due to unsolved murders and threats.

According to a research by the association conducted among 18,000 people in six provinces in 2000, 87 percent of people who had to evacuate their villages would like to go back.

Gurbuz said that, first of all, the title of the law on "Compensating for Losses Arising from Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism Operations" is problematic. She added their proposal to replace that phrase with "a Period of Clashes," and/or "a Small-Scale War" was rejected.

"The title is misunderstood. The governors' offices previously prepared forms for returning to villages. The villagers did not fill the forms. 'Is terrorism my son, is it the son of my uncle?' they asked," said Gurbuz.

Turan argues that the Commission on Determining Losses should not be made up of representatives of formal institutions.

"The law on compensating losses should have also taken into account the psychological damage, traumas, psychological problems and children's problems, besides the economic losses," said Sefika Gurbuz.

"There are no health centers, no schools. Basic needs such as electricity, roads and water must be provided," she added. (YS/BB/EA/YE)