“Lose No More Time in Clearing Mines”

The Initiative for a Turkey without Mines remembered the tenth anniversary of the Ottawa Mine Ban Agreement with a press briefing, at which it announced several events.

Initiative representative Muteber Öğreten told the press at the Taksim Hill Hotel in Istanbul that Turkey became a signatory to the agreeement five years ag, but that it has not carried out its promises. She called on Turkey not to lose time in taking action.

An activity organised by the initiative is a table tennis competition between mine victims on Taksim Square on Saturday, 28 February at 11 am.

Urgent measures needed

According to the agreement, Turkey was supposed to have destroyed any stockpiled mines by 1 March of last year. However, this process has not been completed, and the situation of mine victims has not improved. Öğreten listed the priorities:

• The destruction of stockpiled mines needs to be completed
• Buried mines need to be cleared
• Areas containing or suspected of containing land mines should be fenced to protect civilians
• All mine vicitms should be offered emergency as well as long-term medical care; they and their families should also receive psychological support
• People living in areas with mines, especially children, should be educated on mine risks
• It should be ensured that the victims are able to access medical, economic and social services

"A legacy of no mines"

A second speaker at the press briefing was Ufuk Uras, MP for the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) in Istanbul. He said that although he had brought the topic up in parliament many times, the government had not taken any steps. He added, “A Turkey without mines is the greatest legacy we can leave our children and youth.”

Çetin Soysal, Istanbul MP for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) said that the struggle against mines should not be left to NGOs. He called for serious steps to be taken in parliament and public opinion.

Mostly in Kurdish areas

Akın Birdal, former president of the Human Rights Association (IHD), and now Diyarbakır MP for the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) and also candidate for Greater Istanbul mayor, drew attention to the fact that the mines were mostly to be found in areas populated by Kurds. He labelled Turkey’s lack of action as a violation of the right to life, calling for an immediate clearance of areas, as well as collaboration between different peace initiatives.

Şükrü Boyraz, president of the Turkish Association for the Disabled (TSD), noted that the exact number of mine victims was unknown. He called for immediate supplies of medical facilities to the East and Southeast of the country to offer victims rehabilitation.

A film will be screened at the following venues by the Initiative for a Turkey without Mines:

• 25 February, 6 pm Istanbul’s Human Rights Association (IHD) branch
• 27 February, 4 pm Istanbul’s branch of the Association for Human Rights and Solidarity with the Oppressed (Mazlumder)
• 1 March, 6 pm Mesopotamia Culture Centre

The press briefing was also attended by representatives from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Social Democracy Foundation (SODEV), Global Coalition for Peace and other NGOs. (BÇ/TK/AG)