Human Rights Association (IHD) Branch announced the report on rights violations in Colemêrg (Hakkari) and border villages in its districts. Co-chair of IHD Colemêrg branch Sibel Çapraz read the press text of the report at IHD Gever (Yüksekova) office. The 29-page report includes observations on 6 main topics: "Forced migration and displacement", "military pressure and violations by security forces", "violations of economic rights", "violations against women", "violations of health rights" and "violations of education rights".

 

FOOD EMBARGO, SECURITY POINTS

 

It was reported that the association went to Elver, Êlê, Bêrux, Dûvê, Navberojan, Îsyan, Şemzinan, Rûbarok in order to make observations and investigations upon the applications received by the association. Within the scope of the examinations and observations made, it was reported that X-Ray devices were placed at the entrances and exits of the border villages, entry with permission from the mukhtar's office and the commander's office, limited access to provisions, and detailed searches were carried out. Sibel Çapraz stated that the delegation met with villagers, shopkeepers and officials at security points in border villages in Colemêrg and said: "Violations of rights in the border regions of Kurdish geography are quite common due to military operations, security policies and ethnic-based pressures in the region. Kurdish people living in these regions face various violations in terms of both physical security and economic, social and cultural rights."

 

Sibel Çapraz stated that border areas are living areas and many elements that prevent the living spaces of the people by showing the region as a conflict area are carried out under the name of protecting the security of the people.

 

DE FACTO DEHUMANISATION AND EVACUATION

 

Pointing out that forced migration and displacement are caused by military pressures and security forcesi Sibel Çapraz emphasised that many violations have been detected due to intensive military presence and operations, checkpoints, restriction of freedom of movement, detention and violence cases and house and property searches, access to agriculture and animal husbandry activities, restrictions on trade and border crossings, prevention of economic development and investments, economic, women's life violations, education and health services. 

 

Sibel Çapraz said that the regions where observations were made were the regions where village evacuations were carried out from the late 1980s to the end of the 1990s, "Apart from trying to turn the villages promised in the Return to Village Project into settlements again, these regions are being de facto dehumanised and evacuated again. With these practices subject to the report, our primary goal is to listen to the voices of individuals living in border villages, to raise awareness and develop solutions to prevent human rights violations," she said. 

 

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS

 

Stating that they defend the understanding that all citizens should live their lives on the basis of equal rights and freedoms, Sibel Çapraz emphasised that the rights violations in the border villages are not only the problem of the inhabitants of those villages, but the common problem of the whole people. Calling on the government and all relevant institutions to take action to put an end to these human rights violations, Sibel Çapraz stated the following suggestions for the solution of the problems related to the violations of rights:

 

"* In border regions, a balance must be observed between security measures and the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people. Security policies should be shaped in a way that does not negatively affect the lives of civilians.

 

* In terms of access to education and health, the state should take the necessary steps by taking into account the needs of citizens living in border regions. School, health services and infrastructure deficiencies should be eliminated as soon as possible.

 

*Practices such as not clearing mined areas that make agriculture and animal husbandry difficult, polluting the water, not allowing access to villages during harvesting times should be stopped. -In order to prevent violations of the right to life, shooting ranges should be moved to areas far from settlements. 

 

*The commitments made in the Return to Village Projects must be realised and their implementation must be monitored.

 

*The problems experienced by citizens living in border villages must be publicised at national and international level and violations of rights must end."