Southeast Worried of War and Migration

The human rights activists in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern Anatolian provinces of Sirnak and Hakkari, which border Iraq, and the provinces of Van and Mardin, which will be the most affected from a possible war in Iraq, commented on the prospects of a war.

They are worried about the effects on the region of a possible United States war on Iraq: "Violations during the emergency rule could be repeated, it would be very difficult to deal with massive migration, Baghdad administration could attack Kurds, commerce would further collapse..."

Mehmet Yumak, Sirnak head of Turkey's sole pro-Kurdish party, the People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Ismail Akbulut, secretary of the Hakkari branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Vahap Erten, head of the IHD Van branch, and Huseyin Cangir, head of the IHD Mardin branch, reminded of the negative effects of the Gulf War on the region. They told Bianet about their worries.

"We are afraid there could be use of chemical weapons"

"I guess the people in Sirnak are more worried than anybody about this war," said Mehmet Yumak. He listed his main worries:

* Saddam Hussein could use chemical weapons against the Kurds in northern Iraq and also on us. We are restless because of this possibility.

* At least half of the 500,000 migrants during the 1991 Gulf War came to Sirnak. Most died, many bore losses. Even if Turkey takes measures, it will not be able to prevent migration. Especially, the people living close to borders are related to each other. It will be very difficult to prevent them from crossing the border.

* Lifting of the emergency rule was very important. But in case of a war, we are afraid that such enforcements will be implemented once again.

* We were expecting that the Habur border gate could be opened. But in case of war, this possibility will be out of question. The Habur border gate could be closed forever.

"Taking measures would not prevent migration to Turkey"

"Taking measures would not prevent migration," said Ismail Akbulut. "Many people trying to migrate, could die in mine fields," he warned:

* Hakkari is one of the provinces that will be very much affected by a possible wave of migration. During the Gulf War, many people fleeing the region died before they could arrive in Hakkari. They were faced with catastrophes. Most of the borders are mined. The migrants die while crossing these borders.

* We don't want the current peace process in Turkey to be destroyed. If Turkey enters this war, the peace attained within the country could be damaged.

"Emergency rule could be implemented once again"

Vahap Erten argues that the human rights violations in the region could be repeated in case of war:

* The people of this region are very responsive to political developments. There could be a lot of tension if these people react against war. We are worried that there could be human rights violations again.

* The status of the migrants is especially worrisome for us. Van is the focal point of the world's refugee traffic. The intensity of migration traffic in the region would increase in case of war.

"If Turkey enters this war, there is the danger of having to fight the guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK again," warned Huseyin Cangir.

"We are worried that the villagers in the region could be displaced, and the political killings could start once again. The people in Mardin are afraid that Saddam Hussein administration could attack the Kurds with chemical weapons," added Cangir. (HA/BB/NK/EA/NM)