For debate in the Standing Committee see Rule 15 of the Rules of Procedure

Pour débat à la Commission permanente – Voir article 15 du Règlement

Doc. 9391

22 March 2002

Humanitarian situation of the displaced Kurdish population in Turkey

Report

Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography

Rapporteur: Mr John Connor, Ireland, Group of the European People's Party

Summary

The report notes positive developments in the humanitarian situation of the displaced Kurdish population as compared to the last report on the subject in 1998. The decrease in violence in the south-eastern part of Turkey along with revitalization of the economy have encouraged the process of returns. The returnees receive financial and material assistance from the Turkish authorities.

However, the state of emergency, still in force in the 4 remaining provinces has an impeding effect on the economic and social revitalization of the region. The Rapporteur proposes a number of measures aimed at facilitating mass returns of the displaced population.

Moreover, the recommendation calls for additional international financial assistance with a view to fostering economic development in the south-eastern part of Turkey.

I.       Draft recommendation

1.       The Parliamentary Assembly recalls and reaffirms its Recommendation 1150 (1991) on the situation of the Iraqi Kurdish population and other persecuted minorities, and Recommendation 1377 (1998) on the humanitarian situation of the Kurdish refugees and displaced persons in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq.

2.       The Assembly notes with satisfaction positive developments in the humanitarian situation in the region as compared to the situation presented in the last report on the subject in 1998.

3.       In particular, the Assembly welcomes the considerable decrease in violence and tension in the region over the last two years. The Assembly is aware that full security in the area is the essential precondition for mass returns of the displaced Kurdish population.

4.       The Assembly strongly condemns the violence and terrorism perpetrated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has contributed to the displacement of the population, and urges the remaining armed fighters in the region to stop all the violence.

5.       At the same time, however, the Assembly expresses its deep concern at the reports of fresh village and hamlet evacuations by the Turkish security forces. These actions should be stopped immediately.

6.       Revitalization of economy is another main precondition for mass returns. In this context the Assembly welcomes the elaboration and implementation of the South Eastern Anatolia Project aimed at the integrated economical development of the region.

7.       The Assembly notes with satisfaction that the process of returns is underway and that the returnees receive financial and material assistance from the Turkish authorities.

8.       Assistance in the reconstruction of destroyed villages should be given high priority. It should not be preconditioned by the obligation to enter the village guard system or the declaration that the cause of the flight was fear of the PKK.

9.       The state of emergency in force in the 4 remaining provinces has an impeding effect on the economic and social revitalization of the region and should be lifted by the Parliament as soon as possible.

10.       Similarly, the village guard system continues to raise the most serious human rights concerns. It should be abolished as quickly as possible.

11.       Access to the region for international humanitarian organisations should be granted. The Assembly cannot accept that most respected organisations like Médecins sans frontières are denied access for their alleged support for terrorism.

12.       The Parliamentary Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       urge Turkey to take the following steps:

      a. to lift the state of emergency in the four remaining provinces as quickly as possible;

      b. to refrain from any further evacuations of villages;

      c. to ensure civilian control over military activity in the region and make security forces more accountable for their actions;

      d. to step up investigations into alleged human rights violations in the region;

      e. to properly implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights;

      f. to abolish the village guard system;

      g. to continue its efforts to promote the economic and social development and reconstruction of the south-eastern provinces;

      h. to involve representatives of the displaced population into the preparation of return programmes and projects;

       i. to speed up the process of returns;

       j. to allow for individual returns without a required prior permission;

      k. not to precondition the assistance by the obligation to enter the village guard system or the declaration on the cause of the flight;

      l. to present reconstruction projects to be financed by the Council of Europe's Development Bank in the framework of return programmes;

      m. to adopt measures to integrate those displaced persons who wish to settle in other parts of Turkey, and provide them with compensation for damaged property;

       n. to grant full access to the region for international humanitarian organisations, and provide them with support from local authorities;

ii.       urge the member states to step up financial assistance with a view to fostering economic development in the south-eastern part of Turkey;

iii.       invite the Council of Europe Development Bank to consider positively the projects related to the returns of displaced persons in the south-eastern regions of Turkey;

iv.       invite the Congress of Regional and Local Authorities to consider extending its network of Local Democracy Embassies and town twinning to the south-eastern region of Turkey.

II.       Explanatory Memorandum by Mr Connor

1. Introduction

1.       The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography has been following the humanitarian situation of refugees and displaced persons of Kurdish origin for a long time. It has initiated the adoption by the Parliamentary Assembly of a number of texts relating to the subject, in particular Recommendation 1150 (1991) on the situation of the Iraqi Kurdish population and persecuted minorities, Resolution 1022 (1994) on the humanitarian situation and needs of the displaced Iraqi Kurdish population and, most recently, Recommendation 1377 (1998) on the humanitarian situation of the Kurdish refugees and displaced persons in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq1.

2.       The present report stems from the Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Vermot-Mangold and others in April 2000. It is based on the information gathered from a number of sources including official statements by the Turkish authorities, updated information received from non-governmental relevant organisations as well as international governmental and non-governmental organisations and associations. Moreover, the Rapporteur has carried out a fact-finding visit to Ankara and the south-eastern part of Turkey (see Programme for the visit, Appendix 1). Given the differences (sometimes considerable) in certain data and evaluations, the Rapporteur always quotes the source of his information throughout the whole report.

3.       In view of the positive developments in the region confirmed by the findings of the fact-finding visit, the Committee, on the suggestion by the Rapporteur, decided to change the title of the report which earlier referred to the "Emergency humanitarian aid for the displaced Kurdish population in Turkey". Indeed, since 1998, the situation in south-eastern Turkey has considerably improved, the authorities have started the implementation of a regional development project, the returns are underway. Consequently, there is no more question of emergency but rather of comprehensive economic and social development taking into account specific needs of the returning population.

4.       A considerable number of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin estimated at around 500 000 seek asylum in European countries. This question is not examined in the present report which is devoted only to the situation in Turkey itself.

5.       It should be noted that a monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey under Order No 508 (1995) on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe has been ongoing since 1996. The Co-Rapporteurs on behalf of the Monitoring Committee, MM. Barsony and Zierer presented their first report during the part-session of the Assembly in June 20012. The procedure has not been closed.

6.       Moreover, different aspects of the subject of the present report are analysed by two other Committees: the Political Affairs Committee is preparing a report on the political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey (Rapporteur: Mr Blaauw), and the Committee on Culture, Science and Education on the Kurdish cultural heritage (Rapporteur to be appointed).

7.       It is often difficult if not impossible to discuss the humanitarian situation without reference to the political circumstances. However, the Rapporteur being aware of the work going on in the Political Affairs Committee and the Monitoring Committee has tried to concentrate exclusively on the humanitarian aspects of the question dealt with in his report.

8.       Finally, the Rapporteur would like to express his gratitude to the Turkish Parliamentary delegation for their cooperation during the preparation of this report and in particular during the fact-finding visit to the south-eastern regions. Indeed, the necessary conditions for the proper carrying out of the visit were assured by the level of cooperation and assistance of the delegation.

2.       General overview of the humanitarian situation

a. Assessment of the scope of internal and external displacement of Kurdish Turks

9.       There is no official statistics on the total number of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin living in Turkey3. Consequently, there are no official figures on the internal displacement of this group of population.

10.       According to the 1997 population census approximately 8 million people lived in the provinces under emergency rule and in their immediate neighbourhood. Around 7 million Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin live outside this area (including over 1 million in Istanbul). These two figures correspond to a widely accepted estimate of 15-16 million Turks of Kurdish origin constituting up to 26 % of the total population living in Turkey.

11.       Figures concerning the displacement are much more subject to controversy. Turkish authorities' official figure for "evacuated persons" amounts to 378 000 originating from 3 165 villages at the end of 1999.4 Independent credible estimates concerning the population displaced as a result of the conflict in south-eastern Turkey range from 400 000 to 1 million as of December 2000.5

12.       The independent sources claim that the official figure of 378 000 displaced persons includes only those displaced as a result of village and hamlets evacuations. It does not include those who have felt compelled to flee, for example, because of the conflict with the village guards 6 even if the village itself had not been evacuated.7

13.       The Turkish authorities on their part maintain the position that internal displacement as a result of conflict and fear is only a part of a larger migratory phenomenon occurring throughout Turkey which has resulted in the dramatic growth of urban populations in recent years. Moreover, during the visit numerous interlocutors drew the Rapporteur's attention to the fact that the displacement of the population in south-eastern Turkey concerns not only Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin but also other ethnicities, in particular Turks and Arabs. For that reason, the Turkish authorities have expressed their conviction that the word "Kurdish" should be taken away from the title of this report. However, despite the Rapporteur's repeated requests, no concrete statistics supporting this information have been provided. The findings of his visit have not confirmed the fact that other ethnicities have been concerned by the displacement.

14.       In the Rapporteur's opinion undoubtedly, economic factors account for some of the migration, and even persons fleeing mainly because of the conflict often have a mixture of motives difficult to distinguish, including seeking of employment. However, there is no doubt that a major displacement and migration to towns concerns those caught in the crossfire of the conflict: on one hand the Turkish security forces have targeted villages suspected of supporting the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). On the other hand the PKK has assassinated inhabitants of the villages "collaborating" with state authorities (i.e. belonging to the village guard system) or refusing to support the PKK. This vicious circle of violence forced many people to flee their homes.

15.       During his talks with the villagers, both village leaders and ordinary people, the Rapporteur gathered a wide body of evidence clearly showing that many villages had been cleared by PKK terrorists. First hand reports was given that PKK fighters engaged in systematic stealing of livestock and food from the villagers and that numerous terrorist outrages which included kidnapping, disappearances, looting and burnings were committed by PKK during the years of the emergency in the region. Clearly the fear of PKK terrorist actions forced many Kurdish Turks to flee their homes during these years.

16.       According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the majority of villages and hamlets in the region were forcibly emptied between 1993 and 1995. After that, the large-scale evacuations ceased but smaller operations continued throughout 1996 and 1997. Since the capture of Mr Öcalan, the PKK leader, the situation has considerably improved, nevertheless some reports on incidents still arrive (see below).

b. Present situation

17.       With the capture of the PKK leader, Mr Öcalan, his subsequent appeals for a truce and the decision of the PKK in August 1999 to stop violence, unrest in south-eastern Turkey has decreased considerably. The tension in the region has visibly eased, there have been relatively few armed incidents over the last two years and in particular during the last year.8 According to the authorities' estimations, there are still around 1000 armed militants in the south-east of Turkey and 5 000 along the borders in Iraq and Syria.

18.       The state of emergency (OHAL) has been lifted in 7 out of 11 provinces; and according to the information gathered by the Rapporteur the Parliament envisages to lift it in the four remaining provinces, including Diyarbakir in the near future (however no dates have been mentioned). The state of emergency implies military presence, martial law, and maintenance of the village guard system, checkpoints and many other impediments of a normal economic and social life. A state of emergency regional governor has authority over regular governors for security matters.

19.       Although the situation has improved considerably, there have been reportedly fresh village and hamlet evacuations. In October 1999, hamlet Akcapinar was reported to be burnt by the security forces as a "punishment" for a return of its inhabitants without a required permission.9 Similarly, Asat village with 15 households and Ortakli village with 30 households (both in Sirnak Province) were reported to be evacuated on 20 July 2001 following the death of a soldier who had stepped on a personal mine allegedly freshly implanted in the neighbourhood of the villages. At the same time on three other villages in the area, namely Dagalti (50 households), Ilicak (80 households) and Hisarkapi (12 households), food embargo was imposed as well as ban on ins and outs. The majority of the persons evacuated from Asat and Ortakli villages stayed for two months in 80 tents with no assistance. A number of male villagers were arrested and allegedly tortured10.

20.       At the same time, however, positive developments may be observed, in particular the returns assisted by the authorities in the framework of several return projects financed by the GAP Programme (see below). According to the information provided by the authorities so far as many as 173 000 Kurdish Turks have applied for the assistance and up to 26 000 have benefited from it. Approximately 200 villages have been concerned. Further projects are underway.

c.       Assessment of the humanitarian needs of the displaced persons

21.       It has to be made clear that generally, the Turkish Government has failed to provide emergency assistance to people forcibly displaced in the south-east, including persons displaced directly as a result of the actions of Turkish military and security forces. These people have not been provided with any shelter or food in the immediate aftermath of the displacement. The Government has not arranged for any temporary accommodation in tents or collective facilities and the displaced persons could count only on their relatives or scarce assistance from humanitarian organisations. As a result, the majority of the displaced persons have flooded the provincial cities (mainly Diyarbakir, Batman, Sirta, Hakkari) crowding into homes of relatives, sometimes with more than thirty people residing in dwellings intended for a single family and setting up shanty towns in the outskirts.

22.       The absence of affordable housing for people who have been rendered homeless by the conflict and for different reasons cannot return is still a critical problem. Although the Government has constructed some housing in the towns, the numbers are far from sufficient. At the end of 1997, the OHAL governor stated that 5 524 houses had been built to accommodate displaced persons, including 693 in Diyarbakir, 932 in Hakkari, 2 767 in Sirnak, 175 in Tunceli, 152 in Van.

23.       The majority of the displaced rural population of Kurdish origin live in urban centres in dramatic conditions and extreme poverty, creating specific integration problems for local communities. Overcrowded places have usually inadequate heating, no sanitation and inadequate infrastructure. Malnutrition, insufficient and dirty drinking water, improper disposal of sewage and garbage are common problems.

24.       On average, all regional cities in the south-east have doubled or tripled in size in the past decade without a commensurate increase in services such as schools or hospitals. Diyarbakir, the main city of the region, grew from 400 000 in 1990 to about 1,5 million in 1997. Many people from the area have left for the west parts of the country. Istanbul hosts a big number of Kurdish Turks (estimates vary from 1 to 3 millions).

25.       The main problem is usually a total lack of financial resources which would enable the displaced population to lead a normal life in new surroundings. They have received no compensation for lost property and have mostly no prospects for employment. Having no means of subsistence, they are compelled to live in shantytowns with no health or social care. It is common that children are forced to work. These disastrous living conditions contribute to increase in crime, in particular among young people, and growing support for radical movements.

26.       The armed conflict has disrupted the region, which even before had been one of the poorest and least economically developed regions of Turkey with rates of illiteracy, poverty etc. much higher than in the rest of the country. Systematic destruction of the infrastructure, economic resources, livestock, crops, houses, and farming machinery has made large areas of the region uninhabitable. The infrastructure of the rural economy has been paralysed. The cultivable land and the irrigation channels have fallen into disuse, numerous landmines add to the problem. Deprived of a market economy and industry, the region has also lost its more traditional forms of economic activity, namely livestock rearing and agriculture. Leaving their homes the peasants had to abandon all farming machinery and sell off their livestock at very low prices (if their animals had not been killed or taken away by the PKK beforehand). Unemployment in overcrowded cities and towns is disastrous.

27.       Inadequate health care is a big problem for the displaced persons. The region is far behind the rest of the country in several important indicators of health care. Lack of adequate infrastructure, and shortage of doctors and nurses (in particular those speaking Kurdish) make it extremely difficult to efficiently combat health problems resulting from poor living conditions. Moreover, prescribed medicines are usually unaffordable for the displaced. A number of communicable diseases such as typhoid, para-typhoid, trachoma, brucellosis and amoebic dysentery are endemic throughout the region.

28.       Forced migration has obviously disruptive effects on education. Although schools have remained open in most urban centres in the southeast, rapid migration led to severe overcrowding of classrooms and teacher shortages. In contrast to the national average of 45 children per classroom, there are 60 to 90 children in south-eastern provinces and as many as 80 to 100 in Diyarbakir. Although many of the problems faced by the displaced children are common for other poor parts of Turkey the indicators in this region are alarming. The displaced children benefit, like all Turkish children, from free public education but many parents claim they cannot afford to buy uniforms, books, notebooks and other material, and consequently they do not send their children to school at all.

29.       It should be stated that the Government has systematically obstructed humanitarian organisations including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) to assist the affected population by denying them access to the region. According to the explanation received from the Turkish authorities, numerous humanitarian organisations are in fact disguised supporters of the PKK. According to Deputy Chief of Police, NGOs were supplying arms including missile launchers to the terrorists. The Rapporteur cannot accept this explanation with regard to some of the most respected internationally known humanitarian organisations.

30.       Although the situation has improved over the last two years, there is still no international NGO concerned with displaced persons directly operating in the southeast. Furthermore according to the information transmitted to the Rapporteur, national NGOs including human rights monitors often encounter difficulty, restrictions and intimidations.

31.       Obviously, mass returns would solve many of the problems listed above provided that people would be assisted in reconstructing their villages. This is the ultimate goal of the GAP Programme (see below) which is being implemented despite numerous obstacles.

3. Prospects for the future

32.       The first rehabilitation projects for the region were elaborated as early as in 1994 but they could not be implemented because of the security situation. The first returns started in 1997.

33.       Despite obvious improvements, security remains the main concern conditioning mass return movements. On one hand, the authorities feel reluctant to allow for a large influx of returnees fearing the return of PKK militants. For that reason they scrutinize every application for return and do not authorize returns to certain areas. On the other hand, the displaced population is in most cases unable to return without state financial or subsistence assistance and sometimes also reluctant because of fresh memory of the atrocities committed in the past. The armed conflict has cost about 30 000 human lives and human rights have been violated by both sides of the conflict on a regular basis.

34.       In this context the question of responsibility, particularly in cases involving state forces should be raised. Many officials during the Rapporteur's visit admitted that the security forces might have overreacted in some situations and violated human rights of the population. This is clearly confirmed by many rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. Also the domestic Turkish judiciary has been concerned with that problem. According to the Deputy Chief of Police, since 1996, as many as 436 officers have been persecuted for abuses committed in the region. Out of this figure, 111 have been sentenced, 151 have been acquitted and 174 judicial cases are still going on. Accountability of the perpetrators is an important element of security and stability in the region. The rarity of convictions and the light sentences imposed on police and other security officials for killings and torture as well as inconclusive investigations and trials of officials suspected of abuses continue to foster a climate of impunity.

35.       The authorities emphasize the importance they attach to the obligatory training regarding human rights imposed on army and security forces. The Rapporteur got acquainted with some joint projects for the training of police implemented in cooperation with the European Union and the Council of Europe.

36.       The Rapporteur does not intend to dwell on the Kurdish minority's rights in this report as this question is examined in detail by other reports prepared by the Monitoring Committee and the Political Affairs Committee. However, he wishes to emphasize that all Kurdish Turks he spoke to during the visit had condemned illegal means of combat for their minority rights which should be realised in the framework of the legal system. People are visibly tired of the fight in the region and their main wish is to live in peace.

37.       On 19 March 2001, following the approval by the European Union of its Accession Partnership with Turkey, the Government published its National Programme for the adoption of the "acquis communautaire" which, inter alia, reveals the Government's intention to alleviate regional disparities, and to increase economic, social and cultural opportunities for all citizens, pointing directly to the Kurdish Turks.

38.       Turkey has launched a comprehensive development programme, the South Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) aimed at the abolishing of disparities between this region and other parts of the country. It covers all branches of the regional economy in an integrated manner involving the private as well as the public sectors. The Project foresees the creation of employment for 3,5 million people and the increase of income per capita by 200% in a medium term. It contains a special system of incentives for domestic and foreign investors including entrepreneurs' support and guidance centres, measures encouraging joint ventures, multipurpose community programmes for different social groups and a number of social, health and income generating programmes. It is implemented in cooperation with: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, World Bank, FAO, ILO, the European Union, International Water Organization, Partnership Programmes in the USA as well as by a number of individual countries.

39.       The GAP finances a number of return projects including the project presented to the Rapporteur by the Turkish Social Science Association (TSSA), which is aimed at providing guidelines and models for the resettlement of the displaced persons. According to the survey conducted by the TSSA around 93% want to go back to their villages. These figures are questioned by the officials who claim that many displaced persons have successfully settled down in towns and have no intention to return. Moreover, in many cases only a part of the family (usually elderly people) wish to return, the rest want to stay in towns.

40.       Voluntary and assisted resettlements began in 1997. In every case people have to apply for the authorisation and, possibly, for financial or material assistance. The latter is usually granted for whole villages. In July 2001, the state of emergency governor announced that 65 000 out of 131 000 applications have been given a positive follow up. About 28 000 persons have returned to 200 villages up to July 2001. Obviously, only a fraction of the total number of displaced persons have returned so far, but there is a noticeable increase in the pace of returns.

41.       In some cases, persons may return to their old homes, in others, centralized villages (town-villages project) have been constructed. Rather than restoring the destroyed dwellings and small villages, most of which were situated in remote and isolated areas, the Turkish authorities prefer to rebuild new villages in safer and more accessible places. Over 4000 persons live in centralized villages. Every project includes infrastructure, school, medical centre as well as material assistance (usually animals, trees, beehives and looms) to the villagers. From June to October 2000, financial and other assistance was provided to 14 000 persons in 96 villages and 87 hamlets.

42.       The Rapporteur visited a number of resettled centralized villages (see Programme). In all cases the inhabitants said they were pleased with the new accommodation.

43.       However, some human rights organisations remain critical of government's efforts to resettle villagers in government-constructed "central villages" instead of original village sites.

44.       Human rights organisations informed the Rapporteur that the application form for those willing to return includes a question concerning the reason for leaving the village. According to their evidence the only "acceptable" answer for the authorities evokes the actions of the PKK as a reason for leaving. Any other reply implies a negative decision concerning the authorisation for return and financial assistance. Furthermore, reportedly only villages within the village guard system are likely to be given authorisation for return.

4. Role of the international community

45.       Despite the difficulties mentioned above, a number of humanitarian organisations run projects mainly in the nutritional, health and educational fields. For example, UNICEF, in cooperation with the authorities and local civil society, has introduced income-generating projects and training programmes.

46.       Other organisations assist displaced persons in other parts of the country.

5.       Conclusions and recommendations

47.       The Rapporteur notes with satisfaction a progress in the humanitarian situation in the region as compared to the situation presented in the last report on the subject. Having said that he has to stress that a precondition for mass returns is full security in the area and measures to revitalize the economy. These aims are still to be achieved.

48.       The state of emergency still in force in the four remaining provinces should be lifted by the Parliament as soon as possible. Similarly, any other obstacles for economic development of the region should be removed.

49.       The village guard system should be abolished. This recommendation included in the text adopted by the Assembly in 1998 11has been most welcomed by the human rights organisations but has not been accomplished by the Turkish authorities. Currently there are approximately 60 – 65 000 armed civil defence Kurdish forces paid by the state known as village guards. Participation in this paramilitary militia is not always voluntary and many villagers have faced pressure to enter the system. Village guards have a very bad reputation of being the least disciplined of the Government's security forces and have been repeatedly accused of crimes and human rights violations. The village guard system continues to raise the most serious human rights concerns expressed on many occasions by human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

50.       The Turkish authorities should pay more attention to the effective protection of the basic human rights of the Turks of Kurdish origin. This includes better accountability of the security forces in the region, stepping up investigations into the alleged human rights violations in the region and proper implementation of the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

51.       Economic development in the region constitutes an essential factor in consolidating democratic stability in south-eastern Turkey. Therefore the Rapporteur welcomes the elaboration of the South-Eastern Anatolia Project and calls on donors to support it by stepping up their financial contributions.

52.       The Council of Europe Development Bank should give particular attention to any project presented by the Turkish authorities with a view to foster returns.

53.       Assistance in the reconstruction of destroyed villages should be given high priority. It should not be pre-conditioned by the obligation to enter the village guard system or to give a "proper" reply to the question on the application form.

54.       Representatives of the displaced population should be involved into the preparation of return programmes and projects.

55.       Access to the region for international humanitarian organisations, and support from the local authorities should be granted. It is highly probable that increased transparency in this respect would result in considerably bigger international financial contribution.

56.       The Council of Europe should contribute to the improvement of the situation in the field of its competence. In particular, assistance programmes should be developed. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities may wish to consider extending its network of Local Democracy Embassies and town twinning to the south-eastern region of Turkey.

APPENDIX

PROGRAMME

of the visit of Mr Connor, Rapporteur of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography on the humanitarian situation of the displaced Kurdish population in Turkey

8-12 October 2001

Sunday, 7 October

23.10       Arrival in Ankara, Mr Connor and Mrs Nachilo with flight LH 3412

Monday, 8 October

08.30       Depart from the Hotel Sheraton

09.00-10.00       Call on Mr Ramazan ER, Deputy Director General of Security

10.30-11.30       Call on Maj. Gen. Ibrahim AÇIKMEŞE, General Commandant of Gendarmerie

11.30       Meeting with representatives of the Turkish Social Science Association (TSSA)

12.30-14.00       Luncheon

14.00-15.00       Briefing given by Directorate of South-Eastern Anatolian Project

15.15-15.45       Call on Mr Nevzat HELVACI, President of the Association of Human Rights

16.00-16.45       Call on Mr Mehmet ŞANDIR, Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group of National Movement Party (MHP)

17.00-17.45       Call on the Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group of Democratic Left Party (DSP)

Tuesday, 9 October

09.15       Depart from Hotel

10.00-10.30       Call on Mr Beyhan ARSLAN, Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group of Motherland Party (ANAP)

10.30-11.15       Call on Mr Turan GÜVEN, Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group of True Path Party (DYP)

11.30-12.15       Call on the Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group of Justice and Development Party (AKP)

12.30-14.00       Luncheon (Place: Private Restaurant for Members)

14.00-14.45       Call on Mr Veysel CANDAN, Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group of Felicity Party (FP)

14.45-15.30       Call on Mr Mehmet PAK, Chairman of the Committee on Interior Affairs

16.15       Depart for Airport

17.25       Departure for Diyarbakir (TK 646)

18.45       Arrival in Diyarbakir

19.00       Meeting with representatives of the Turkish Human Rights Association in Diyarbakir

Wednesday, 10 October

08.00       Departure from Diyarbakir

11.00       Departure for Batman

13.00       Visit to Sargin village, meeting with returnees

14.00       Visit to Gerçüş, meeting with returnees

15.00-16.30       Departure for Siirt

16.30-17.30       Departure from Siirt for Eruh Çetinkol village

17.30-18.00       Visit to the village

18.00-19.00       Departure for Siirt and arrival

19.00       Accommodation in Siirt

Thursday, 11 October

08.00       Departure from Siirt

20.00       Arrival in Hakkari

Friday, 12 October

08.00       Departure from Hakkari

18.00       Arrival in Van

19.00       Meeting with NGOs

Saturday, 13 October

10.00       Departure to Ankara

15.50       Departure Mr Connor to London flight BA 677

18.15       Departure Mrs Nachilo to Francfort flight LH 3493

Reporting committee: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography.

Reference to committee: Doc. 8723 and Reference No. 2510 of 16 May 2000.

Draft recommendation unanimously adopted by the committee on 8 March 2002.

Members of the committee: Mr Iwiński (Chairperson), Mr Einarsson (1st Vice-Chairperson), Mrs Vermot-Mangold (2nd Vice-Chairperson), Mrs Bušić (3rd Vice-Chairperson), Mrs Aguiar, MM. Akhvlediani, Aliyev G., Mrs van Ardenne-van der Hoeven, MM. de Arístegui (alternate: Agramunt), Arzilli, Bernik, Mrs Björnemalm, MM. Van den Brande, Branger, Brînzan, Brunhart, Christodoulides, Cilevičs, Connor, Danieli, Debarge, Dedja, Díaz de Mera, Dmitrijevas, Ehrmann, Mrs Err, Mrs Fehr (alternate: Mr Gross), Mrs Frimannsdóttir, MM. Grzesik, Grzyb, Hancock, Hordies, Hovhannisyan, Ilaşcu, Ivanov, Jařab, Lord Judd, MM. Karpov, Kirilov, Kolb, Koulouris, Kulikov, Kvakkestad, Laakso, Le Guen, Liapis, Mrs Lörcher, MM. Loutfi, Luís, Mrs Markovska, MM. Mutman, Naro (alternate: Rivolta), Nessa, Oliynyk, Mrs Onur, MM. Ouzký, Popa, Prijmireanu, Pullicino Orlando, Rogozin, Saglam, von Schmude, Schweitzer, Mrs Shakhtakhtinskaya, MM. Slutsky, Soendergaard, Mrs Stoisits, MM. Szinyei, Tabajdi, Telek, Tkáč, Udovenko, Wilkinson, Wray (alternate: Ms McCafferty), Yáñez-Barnuevo, Zavgayev, Mrs de Zulueta, Mrs Zwerver.

N.B. The names of those members present at the meeting are printed in italics.

Secretaries of the committee: Mr Lervik, Mrs Nachilo, Ms Sirtori.

1 See Doc. 8131, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, Rapporteur: Mrs Vermot-Mangold.

2 See Doc. 9120 (Report on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Turkey).

3 The last population census in Turkey was carried out in 1997 but it did not include any information or indication (e.g. mother tongue) about the citizens’ origin.

4 Source: Report of the Parliamentary Migration Commission (Parliament of Turkey).

5 US Department of State Human Rights Report 2000.

6 A Kurdish paramilitary group created by the Government to oppose the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), in the south-east of Turkey.

7 US Committee for Refugees (USCR), 1999 Report.

8 According to the Anatolia News Agency armed incidents have decreased from 3 300 in 1994 to 488 in 1999 and 45 in 2000.

9 US State Department, Country Report on Human Rights Practices 1999 (Turkey), Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour.

10 Source: Human Rights Association (Turkey).

11 Recommendation 1377 (1998).