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USIA - Human Rights Situation in Turkey Detailed, 97-02-21
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>
HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN TURKEY DETAILED
(Progress and problems cited) (630)
By David Pitts
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- Turkey has made progress on human rights over the last year,
but problems remain, Steve Coffey, principal deputy assistant secretary for
democracy, human rights, and labor, said February 21.
Speaking on U.S.-Turkish relations at the Annual Conference of the American-
Turkish Council, Coffey said there are three main problem areas as far as
human rights are concerned in Turkey:
- Freedom of expression. The government has enforced laws that "we feel
criminalize speech," Coffey said. He cited the cases of specific individuals
and also indicated that 135 journalists had been detained under these laws,
11 of whom had been arrested. In addition, he noted that "Kurdish language
broadcasts remain illegal."
- Torture. Coffey quoted the reports of human rights organizations
indicating "a number of deaths under suspicious circumstances." He also
cited a report last December issued by the Council of Europe critical of
instances of torture in Turkey, particularly in prisons.
- Abuses in Southeastern Turkey. Coffey criticized government "abuses,"
particularly the forcible removal of local inhabitants from their villages.
Although he said the estimates of forcible removals are down from an
initially estimated two million to perhaps 500,000, "that is still a large
number of people." However, the State Department official stressed U.S.
condemnation for "any terrorist attacks" by the PKK. He said he wanted to
make it "absolutely clear" the United States "is not defending" the
PKK.
On the positive side, Coffey cited "substantial efforts" by the Turkish
government to address these problems:
- The 1995 Anti-Terrorism Law "was amended" to improve freedom of
expression, Coffey said. Together with other measures, "important steps"
have now been taken "to decriminalize freedom of speech," he added. He also
pointed out that Turkey has a "vibrant media" which is "not true" in many
other countries.
- Pre-Trial Detention. The government has proposed legislation "to reduce
pre-trial detention," Coffey said. This, and other measures, if adopted,
"would significantly reduce" the potential for torture and other abuses, he
added. In addition, he said the government "has expanded" human rights
training for the police and the military.
- Resettlement of local inhabitants. As of last October, the United States
estimates that as many as 17,000 people have returned to their villages,
Coffey said. There is a program "to expedite" resettlement in the southeast,
he added. Also, he said the state of emergency in one of the ten provinces
in the region has been lifted.
With the new government in place, there are "additional opportunities" to
make further progress, Coffey noted.
"We commend the government of Turkey for all of these efforts in all of
these areas," Coffey said. He emphasized that the purpose of the annual
State Department human rights report "is not to embarrass other governments,
" but rather "to improve human rights practices everywhere." The reports
are prepared in a "non-political spirit," and the State Department tries
"to be as objective as we can," he stressed.
Coffey said both the United States and Turkey have signed a number of
instruments pertaining to human rights. In fact, "probably Turkey outstrips
the U.S." in this regard, he said. Turkey is a "democratic state in a very
volatile area of the world, so what happens in its democracy is very
important," he added.
As far as military operations are concerned, Coffey said there is "great
concern," about "how our equipment has, or will be, used." The U.S. concern
is not with combating the PKK, but doing so in a way that "protects the
rights" of local inhabitants, he said. He emphasized, however, that
dialogue "is necessary" and commended the recent efforts in that regard.
"This is a very positive development," he concluded.
From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov
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