REPORT WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY OF

REPORT WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY OF- THE INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE EMIGRATION AND WANDERING POPULATION IN TURKEY WHICH WAS HELD AT HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY ON MARCH 4TH 2005

The emigration problem in our country, which happened because of the political fighting atmosphere, especially in the last 20 years, caused some important social incidents, in our southern and south eastern regions, as well as metropol cities The main problem we must consider here is the obligatory emigration, which intensified in great masses, after the years 1990s. This fact caused social quakes in the metropol cities as well. The obligatory emigration caused either economical aid moral damages extra ordinarily; unfortunately the reasons and results of the obligatory emigration haven’t been discussed properly in our country yet. in my opinion the compulsory emigration problem is related with the democratic development of .the country, beginning with the Kurdish problem. As a matter of fact, discussing this problem is always avoided in the public opinion, If the real fact of this human tragedy which lasted this 20 years period isn’t studied, nor considered honestly and if its considered as a normal emigration, it is impossible to solve the problem, if we don’t consider it as a social fact, with its previous effects, we get wrong conclusions. We believe it is necessary to take lessons from the previous incidents, not to have the same sufferings, again.

Our purpose here, is to call attention of the national and international public opinion to the fact of the compulsory emigration by refreshing the social memory with some facts of this tragedy, to enforce the social peace aiding the official and civilian intuitions to solve their problems in their own capacity.

THE C0MPULSORY EMIGRATION POLICE AND ITS HISTORICAL REASONS

1-Following the years 1950s, the people is enforced to compulsory emigration, evacuation the heavily populated settlements leaving the most productive lands especially in the Euphrates and Tigris basins region, by the place called “A vast scale substructure project These policies are still going on, for instance the Ilısu dam on the Tigris river will leave the 173 settlements. Mainly Hasan Keyf district finally these dam projects will cause not only compulsory emigration but also destroy and abolish the historical a ad cultural heritages of a folk.

2-The compulsory emigration resulted from the last 20 years1 battle environment the practices, which begin by the 12 Sept 1980 military coup d'etat, continued steadily, by extra ordinary Martial State law 1987, propping up the human rights and freedoms, went on in Kurdish geography. The administration of the extra ordinary state governors continued to evacuate the settlements systematically in a plan.

a- The state of the Turkish Republic applied a programme, to evacuate the small settlements and the mountain villages difficult to reach prevent the probable strategic support to PKK, in the border areas the aim of this Is to control these villages keeping together by a program called the country towns project. But this plan never came on life, without the constant of the people; because a life type called the city life is intended to be enforced breaking the people off being productive; without the substructure furthermore people didn’t consider this application of the state dependable for their future. As a result of this fact, people that were evacuated from their settlements had to immigrate to the regional town nearby or to the suburbs of the metropol cities, instead of these placed, country towns.

b- the battles between the PKK militants and the state security forces intensified wide spreading, in the years 199Os in this progression, the loss of lives aid property in great amounts influenced the people very deeply aid the fear or worry enforced them to emigrate.

c- during this period of heavy fighting, the government forced the rural guard (country watchman) system to the civilian people living In this region to supply local security force, in the regions where especially nomadic tribes and land masters are effective although in a small amount some persons accepted to be rural guardian; but a great deal considered it as an unfaithfulness and treachery, or dangerous for their future, so refused it, The security forces threatened them by putting their houses and property on fire, even with the per-sons in them and sometimes executed. This Is a very rare event in history that government tells its people you are supposed to fight against your own folk on my side, otherwise you can't live here." greatest number of the compulsory emigration sufferers are those who repeated to be the country guardians.

d- The fighting’s between the armed forces were not limited only in the country side, but it spread over to some big cities too, with some provocative actions in the city centers. In some important town such as Şırnak, Silvan. Lice, Kulp, Cizre, Varto, Batman and Nusaybin happened a great deal of arrests, executions without trial heavy torments and tortures especially under house arrests at the end of the fighting’s or provocative actions; as well as murders or losses resulted lack of confidence for life and property among the people, disquieting and finally forcing them to immigrate to the western metropolises.

e- in some settlements and villages, the country guardians were given the power of the state security forces (Some particular tribes were chosen on purpose.) These powered guards seized their villages and gardens orchards, vineyards, farms or animals by force violently; a id forced them to immigrate. In this progression those guards committed many shameful crimes, mainly seizures by force smuggling narcotics, ravishing, stealing, abusing, murdering etc. So they became a criminals1 organization.

f- These guards and/or the Turkish Security forces blockaded some villages some villages, forbidding the entry of any means of transportation,, pitting embargo on the foodstuffs; in the same way they prohibited to put out their cattle to graze and making pasture their animals in the country side causing the country economy collapse and resulting the compulsory emigration.

g- PKK considered the village guardians system dangerous for itself, during the fighting period from 1985 to 1992a id declared it provocative and treachery, so began to attack against the villages admitting the country guardianship system, as full armed, to prevent the spreading of this guard system; and this is partly why the compulsory emigration increase

h- Although the period beginning in 1985 and still prevailing, had a little ease now and then, because of one side cease-fire at intervals, but still casualties of life and property also the economic sources were wasted for armament during this long period. The economy almost reached the point of bankruptcy, because of interior and exterior debts and obligations. For the same reasons unemployment and poverty reached at their highest level in the Turkish Republic history. Moreover, the environmental massacre which were caused by many forest fires in the Kurdish geography changed the climate resulted drought, decreasing of the water sources; increasing the avalanches, abolishing some kinds of animals as well as some kinds of trees high value like oaks and fruit trees. They all resulted the ecologic balance break clown

THE DRAMATIC LIFE CONDITIONS AND URBAN PR0BLEMS WHICH THE COMPULSORY EMIGRATION CAUSED IN THE ÇUKUROVA REGION

A- THE REGRESSION IN THE LIVING STANDARD LEVEL: The emigration victims became consumers although they were producers at the spots where they came from, or this reason unemployment existing in the Çukurova region increased doubling- Furthermore the sufferers of the compulsory emigration caused the wages of. Workers in this region reduce in addition to the poverty and misery, the sufferers of the compulsory emigrated caused the local inhabitants have difficulties to find job, effecting. Standard of life negatively.

B- ACCOM0DATIOHN and THE SQUATTER PROBLEMS OF THE NEW SETTLERS The poorest part of the compulsory emigration victims are the settler in the Mediterranean region. The reason may be determined so;

1- This region is supposed the nearest part the Kurdish Geography and
easiest place to return home, in the future

2- it is also preferred by the compulsory immigrants for having along
and hot Summer, with a warm winter; so the living expenditures, especially fuel and clothing are supposed to be rather cheap.

3- Most of the compulsory emigration sufferers are from the agricultural
areas. They prefer this region hoping it will be easier to find a job
for the economy of the Mediterranean region depends on agriculture especially growing citrus and construction. They came here and had to squat hovels in the suburbs of cities, coming from rural life without necessary preparation for the city life. These cabins had one or two rooms, out any substructures, accommodated 8-10 persons each having to live together in very bad conditions carrying their traditional livings A these cities , so they could adopt neither to the city life nor the country briefly they remained in the social in harmony with their environment

4- The immigration that began because of the economic reasons, in 1950s, resulted a cultural solidarity between the immigrants and the local peel:in Çukurova, caused new migrations towards this region for this resion the compulsory emigration sufferers headed towa rds this region, for the cultural proximity with their relatives.

C- FEEDING AND HEALTH PROBLEMS: The compulsory emigration suffere feed on only one food (only grains ) This kind of nourishment is unavoidable, having negative effects on the organism. Lack of the main food stufferers as meat and milk, causes to weaken the body resistance, which results in several diseases in the year 1995a close health examination in only Mersin showed that 71 % of the children were suffering from anemia for the same

Reason the pregnant women give birth to the unhealthy babies. Moreover they are exposed infections and contagious diseases for the lack of substructure e.g. dirty drinking waters, bathrooms and toilet problems, environmental pollution etc,A great amount of the emigration victims have no social security. Is known in Turkey those, having no social security, are given green cards. But the immigrants have no chance cf it either, Simply because a person is supposed not to have any real estate to get it. Those who apply governors for it are mostly refuser claiming they have estate: such as vineyards, orchards, garch is,, houses or lands, re-giotered on them. As a matter of fact they are not permitted to u,se them, is well known though. The first health problems found im them are the psychological ones. They always feel homesick for their hometowns. In addition to this, very heavy living conditions cause moral depression. The women and children are the first of these sufferers and are very pitiable. They live like prisoners in a cottage. for example a woman,, about 40 years of age, having 4 children, said she had never seen the sea, 2 kms away, though she had been living in Mersin for twelve years.

The school children and teenagers live this poor city life problems in heavier depression,, having no hope for the future, social support nets are worn out and torn, causing a low personality character developed, and also several moral problems, mental sickness and even suicides, among especially teenagers. These social and psychologic problems, that the compulsory emigration caused in our Mediterranean region ought to be studied scientifically Such an investigation will bring to light, all the destructions caused by the compulsory

migration, we believe it is necessary the cooperation of the international emigration associations, with the official and civilian social foundations in Turkey, to find a way of resolution of the social, and psychologic problems of the compulsory immigrants; its necessary to have social foundations, such as psycho social information centers, health organizations for women: mother and child care welfare and rehabilitation centers.

D- EDUCATION AND SOCIAL INHARMONY PROBLEMS : The emigration victims coming to the city suburbs are mostly unable to send their children to school that came to the school age. The children who can't attend a school work as day laborers (such as porters, shoe shine boys,, house painters, rubbish gatherers or farm and orchard workers)

Those who attend schools cannot get adequate education, because of the lack of the school necessities, such as equipments, class materials and very crowded classes and the language problems. Either insufficient education, or those depart schooling get out of the family

control by time. Those children are forced into the criminals environmental directly. Adding the social inharmony factor to this, eating crimes aid offences have become widespread: first of all narcotic addiction (especially thinner; stealing, snatching etc. The judicial records show that the crimes because of the compulsory emigration increased 500 % in Mersin in the last ten years. Another important-social problem reasoned from the compulsory emigration is moral lapse and disharmony with the environment. The increase in the prostitution is an indicator of the moral collapse. The immigrant victims are in difficulty to adopt and harmonize with the local people because of the language and culture differences. The immigrants lump together in clusters according to the counties they came from, in the same wards like ghettos, with the .need of security. This resulted suspicious feelings between the local settlers and the immigrants, effecting the coalescence and integration negatively.

The compulsory migration doubled the population of many towns and cities in the region; the important ones are Adana,, Mersin,. Antalya, Tarsus, Iskenderun, Ceyhan and some others. For instance the population of Mersin was between 450.000 and 500.000; in the year 2003 it reached 1.500,000 The increase of the town populations will cause to increase the town problems at the same rate. The local administrations of the towns having emigration waves in the Çukurova region ar in difficulty to find solution to the problems,, becoming heavier by the course of time because of the compulsory emigration. The difficult emigration problems influence the local settlements as well as the immigrants negatively. The town problems caused by the compulsory emigration and the casualties of the settlers rights may be noted in this way:

1-The population in this region increased doubling, so the health organizations became insufficient for the needs of people. For example there is only one bed for the two or three children in the infant clinic* in Mersin State Hospital. Three fifth of the sick or ill children are of the emigrant victims* (notation from the Investigation by the representation of the Health labourers' Onion in 2903)

2-The numbers of elementary school pppils and secondary school students double: so the schools have been insufficient for the intensive demand, for example the number of the students in each class were previously 25-30 in the last ten years, it reached to 50-60 TSG high school, averagely as many others.

3- The siabs true tyre services of the towns, which were already Ci-cient, have become completely impasse. The services of sewerage, fresh water, scavenge and rubbish collecting, asphalt roads aid pavements, parks and gardens as v.*ell as patios troubled increasing. For example the drinking water io many wards of is cut off frequently.. The increase of the population caused to increase the waste poured into the sea directly,

resulting the sea pollution reach dangerous level..

4-it has been very difficult to supply the energy need of the city. For example the electricity is cut off very often in the winter months, when the consumption reaches a high level.

5-The increase of the city population caused to grow the transportation problem…

THE PROBLEM OF RETURNING FOR THE COMPULSORY EMlGRATION SUFFRERS

It won’t be easy for millions of Kurdish immigrants, after the last 20 years' battles to return to their previous settlements. As we observe they are desirous on this request enthusiastically; but they have many hindrances, particularly insufficient financial sources; moreover the hiding places where they will shelter in their return are mostly are mostly damaged or ruined; their laids, gardens,- orchards and vineyards are occupied by their kith and kins or relatives ana most probably by the country guardians or the state. It’s also an important hindrance the security problem after their return. We know that the sufferers shall return to their hometowns as soon as they have a very small opportunity* The statistics of same associations and corporations show that nearly 5 % of the victims returned home during the period, whence a partial ease was prevailing f o r a six fears* one-sided cease-fire. It's well known that those who went back their homes, we re the ones who risked all dangers, were mostly in poverty and urgency of course it needs .a financial source to supply the necessary conditions for returning.

As it is known the law made in July 2004, about to indemnify the damages of terror, and to those who are harmed by terror is far- avay to solve this problem in general, althoug it has some affirmative cases. Even the name of the law Terrorism and to indemnify the harms of the terror sufferers," must be changed as "Social peace an solidarity. Because we doubt the state tries to deceive the public opinion either in the country or abroad, by evasion.

It is impossible to solve this problem by the finance of the Ministry of interior budget, as very insufficient. For this reason the Turkish Republic must put a great appropriation making some projects to solve the problem. The European Community and the European Council must supply in financial aid to the Turkish Republic. Furthermore the support of the United Nations High Superinte ndants' aid must be -applied. The national and international humanity corporations must perform their financial and moral obligations in the U.K. Principals. Besides the local administrations in the Kurdish Geography, the emigration associations must take duty.

All the national and international corporations and associations mentioned above, stood very insensitive and irresponsible, while this tragedy -the most tragic Kurdish emigration of this century played on, They must take care of it sensitively and responsibly at least on the return of this compulsory Kurdish migration, so that their faults will be forgiven. They must take responsibility, as human, before the history.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICES

1-It is necessary to declare an amnesty for all the civil, wars, battles, and social quakes accused. It is needed a a amnesty in Turkey toor without exceptions to have social peace; and to establish economic and social balances

2- First of all the fighting's and operations end, which will be an important step to peace.

3-The village guardianship must be abolished and this unfortunate fact must end; its damages which lasted for several years must be removed! The employment problem of the village guards must be supplied by afforesting the fired forest areas. Tha rooky lands not suitable for agriculture, like Karadag, must be turned out to be farms, by clearing thetones,(it will be proper to limit this process by a ten years period).So the village guardians will easily harmonize with the society.

4- The mines must be removed, beginning with the frontiers. All the mine fields must be eliminated,

5- The Coup d'etat laws legislated by the military government of Sept. 12 Th. Revolt, must be cancelled and a new civil, constitution, in harmony with the Europe a n Union norms must be put in force.

g- Because we cant think solving the problem of the compulsory emigration apart from the Kurdish problem it must be considered by naming, so all the democratic rights of the Kurdish people must be reserved under the security of the constitution.

7- It is necessary the vineyard, orchards, houses and the lands to be used by removing the hindrances in the return to the villages. It is needed to make and apply the projects to solve their social, economic, psychologic, educational, cultural problems as well as health and welfare.

8-It is necessary to indemnify the harms of every immigrant, at the end of the 20 years fighting's. The limiting articles in the law numbered 5233 must be considered again, supplying tfee representatives of the immigrants take place in the harm determination committees particularly the emigration associations.

The society harmonization projects must be prepared for those who don’t wait to return from the metropolises. The projects particularly for education, language and cultural problems; for mother aid child, care; psychologic information and rehabilitation; centers, women lodging houses aid projects of employment must be applied urgently.

10- The public administration and local authorities or municipalities must study scientifically the town problems of the compulsory emigrations caused. It is necessary to cooperate with the universities at first and also the emigration associations existing in Turkey as well as the professional corporations ibumfci study the living conditions of the immigrants. We, as Akdeniz Göç-Der are willing to join all the studies and investigations concerned with the emigration in the Çukurova region, especially in the country of Mersin on all investigations of population either settled or immigrant. Our association won’t have any difficulty coming in touch with the compulsory immigration victims and/or sufferers. We believe we have the necessary staff.

We hope the investigation study will be successful, wishing that. Best regards

MARCH 4 2005

Selahattin GÜVENÇ

THE PRESIDENT OF

The Association of Scientific, Cultural and Social Solidarity an Cooperation of the immigrants Coming to the Mediterranean.

For the executive Committee