Topic: voa
Subject: TURKEY KURDS (L-ALTERNATE) By AMBERIN ZAMAN/DIYARBAKIR
From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" <dep@bu.edu>
 
DATE=3/26/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-176091
TITLE=TURKEY KURDS (L-ALTERNATE)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=DIYARBAKIR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  OVER TWO THOUSAND KURDISH TURKISH REFUGEES HAVE ARRIVED
IN A UNITED NATIONS-ADMINISTERED REFUGEE CAMP AFTER BEING
EVACUATED FROM THEIR NEW HOMES IN KURDISH CONTROLLED NORTHERN
IRAQ. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE TOWN OF ZAKHO, SOUTH OF THE
TURKISH BORDER.

TEXT:   OVER TWO THOUSAND TURKISH KURDISH REFUGEES SET OFF FROM
THIS IRAQI TOWN NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER FOR THE SAFETY OF A
REFUGEE CAMP SOME 160 KILOMETERS AWAY IN A RUMBLING CONVOY OF
DILAPIDATED TRUCKS AND MINIBUSES.

THE CONVOY CARRYING THE REFUGEES WAS ESCORTED BY 16 UNITED
NATIONS GUARDS ALL THE WAY TO THE ATRUSH CAMP NEAR THE TOWN OF
DOHUK, WHERE ABOUT NINE THOUSAND TURKISH KURDS ARE ALREADY
LIVING.

THE REFUGEES, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WERE VISIBLE ANXIOUS AS
THEY WAITED ALONG WITH THEIR SHEEP AND CHICKENS FOR THE CONVOY TO
TAKE OFF.

H'ALIL BERAK IS A FARMER FROM THE TOWNSHIP OF ULUDERE, IN
SOUTHEAST TURKEY.  HE FLED HERE LAST YEAR AFTER TURKISH SOLDIERS
FORCIBLY EVACUATED HIS VILLAGE ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WAS
PROVIDING MEN AND FOOD FOR THE SEPARATIST REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN
WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K.

                   // BERAK ACT IN KURDISH //

LIKE MANY OF THE TURKISH KURDISH REFUGEES HERE, MR. BERAK SAYS HE
WILL  NOT  RETURN TO TURKEY UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT ENDS WHAT HE
DESCRIBES AS ITS HEAVY HANDED TREATMENT OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE.

WESTERN AID WORKERS SAY THE TURKISH KURDISH REFUGEES, MOST OF
WHOM ARRIVED LAST YEAR, ASKED TO BE TAKEN TO THE ATRUSH CAMP
AFTER TURKISH SECURITY FORCES ENTERED NORTHERN IRAQ LAST SUNDAY
IN A MASSIVE OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REBELS.

MANY OF THE REFUGEES SAID THEY  NO  LONGER FELT SECURE IN THE
IRAQI KURDISH VILLAGES WHERE THEY HAD BEGUN THEIR NEW LIVES AFTER
THE ARRIVAL OF AN ESTIMATED 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS IN THE
REGION.

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SAYS MANY OF THE REFUGEES ARE EITHER P-K-K
MEMBERS OR SYMPATHIZERS. THE MARXIST REBEL GROUP HAS BEEN
FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE SINCE 1984.

THE REFUGEES DENY ANY CONNECTIONS WITH THE P-K-K AND SAY THEY ARE
MERELY INNOCENT CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE BETWEEN THE
TURKISH MILITARY AND THE GUERRILLAS.  THEIR LIVES AT THE ATRUSH
CAMP -- WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH
COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES -- WILL  NOT  BE EASY.

GULLI IS A 35-YEAR-OLD KURDISH WIDOW WHO HAS BEEN LIVING AT THE
CAMP, ALONG WITH HER FIVE CHILDREN, FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

                   // GULLI ACT IN KURDISH //

SHE SAID SHE LIVES WITH ALL HER CHILDREN IN ONE TENT AND HER
RATIONS CONSIST OF LENTILS, FLOUR, SOME SUGAR AND COOKING OIL AND
NOTHING ELSE.  SHE SAID SHE  NO  LONGER REMEMBERS THE TASTE OF
MEAT, BUT THAT AS LONG AS HER CHILDREN ARE SAFE NOTHING ELSE
MATTERS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/T-BP/BG

26-Mar-95 3:32 PM EST (2032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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