US-armsdealers report on Human rights in Turkey

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Subject: US-armsdealers report on Human rights in Turkey
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

  
US weapons in Turkey: 'Need more action and conviction'

  * Stresses Turkey's strategic importance, and PKK terrorism
  * 'Security situation improved in Southeast'
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
 By Ugur Akinci / Turkish Daily News
 
Washington - A report on the use of U.S.-made weapons in human rights
violations in Turkey noted that the Turkish military took the right
precautions and adopted the right human rights measures.However, what
is lacking is the implementation, said the report entitled "U.S.
Military Equipment and Human Rights Violations" prepared by the U.S.
State Department and sent to the Appropriations Committee of the U.S.
Congress in June 1997.

"The key to further progress will be firm implementation of these
standards [adopted by the Turkish Armed Forces], monitoring of
behavior in field operations, transparency and cooperation with
investigations of abuses, and aggressive prosecution and stiff
sentences for violators. Plans, intentions and principles must be
accompanied by action and conviction," the report concluded.

Recent changes in Turkish law allow better representation for
detainees as well as shorter detention periods. The Turkish military
also adopted a "principles of behavior" doctrine, and human rights
training programs for its officers and enlisted men.

The report, which is prepared as a follow-up to a similar report again
submitted by the State Department to Congress in June 1995, claims
only about 3 percent of the human rights violation cases filed end up
in convictions.

  Turkey's importance
  
Before laying out its main conclusions, the report stressed Turkey's
"great strategic importance" as a "pivotal country affecting U.S.
interests in Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia."

Underlining the fact that most of the alleged human rights violations
occur during the operations carried out against the PKK, the report
stressed that PKK is "a terrorist organization" and "represents a
threat to Turkey's security."

  Self-defense
  
Within such a context, Turkey is justified in using U.S.-made weapons,
the report said. "According to U.S. security assistance provisions,
Turkey has the right to use U.S.-supplied weapons for self-defense and
internal security. This includes combating criminal acts directed
against the state and terrorism."

  Credible
  
Researching allegations filed by human rights organizations, the State
Department said, "we believe some allegations of serious human rights
abuses by security forces during operations against the PKK are
credible." Equipment of U.S.-origin "has likely been used in
operations against the PKK during which human rights abuses have
occurred," the report said.

  Evacuations
  
"It is likely that U.S. equipment was used in support of the
evacuation of villages," the report added. That was "a conscious
strategy of limiting local logistical support to the PKK," the report
explained.

  And compensations
  
It was also noted that the Turkish government has a program to
compensate such villagers for their losses. But the report added that
the compensation is not large enough and more funds must be budgeted
in the future.

Most of the U.S. weapons and helicopters (including M-16s, AR-15S,
M-203 grenade launchers) are used by police "special teams," the
report said.

  Unsubstantiated
  
But the report could not prove every allegation. For
example:"Eyewitness accounts alleging use of U.S. equipment in
extra-judicial killings or torture are difficult to substantiate."

  Improbable
  
"Given the nature of the abuses, we believe the use of U.S.-supplied
military equipment in torture cases is improbable," the report added.

  Improving security
  
The U.S. mission personnel were given full access to Turkish civilian
and military officials, and they were helped in traveling to
southeastern cities to conduct interviews.

In January 1997, for example, the U.S. officials traveled to
Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Mardin, Sirnak and Diyarbakir. Four months
later, in April 1997, they again traveled to Malatya, Diyarbakir,
Sanliurfa, Elazig and Kahramanmaras.

"[U.S.] Mission personnel, traveling throughout the southeast region
have witnessed an improvement in the security situation there since
January 1995," the report said.

  Three factors
  
Three factors helped improve the security situation and reduced
"collateral damage" to civilians, the report said.

1) Turkish forces introduced a "principle of 'appropriate force' to
ensure that only that force necessary to defeat the identified enemy
would be employed ... U.S. officials' conversations with civilians in
the region and press reports suggest that 'collateral damage' to
civilians and private property has been reduced."

2) Shifting the fighting to the mountains also reduced the 'collateral
damage,' the report said. "Security forces now conduct large-scale
anti-PKK operations primarily in remote locations, minimizing the
possibility of civilian casualties."

3) "Turkish units developed the capability to fight at night and put
more emphasis on infantry and commando operations, thereby better
targeting the PKK, and interdicting terrorists before they enter
populated areas. This initiative appeared to have further reduced the
incidence of unintended harm to civilians," the report said.

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.ozgurluk.org
The struggle for human right, freedom, justice and democracy in Turkey
and Kurdistan
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