HAKKARI (DIHA) – Village guards were appointed as mukhtar for 13 forced-emptied villages by request of Hakkari Brigade Commandership in Yuksekova district of Hakkari. The village guards cannot practice any kind of work including being shepherd according to the Regulations of the Village Guard.

13 mukhtars for emptied village’s Işıklı (Jıyanış), Kavaklı (Şivişk), Kurudere (Marifan), Kavşaklı (Bilêcan), Çağlayan (Ebûş), Çayırlı (Êriş), Pınarlı (Şiliko), Çağlayana Bağlı (Hekaş), Çınarlı (Şîvarezan), Uzundere (Ertûş), Bêlat, Serê Sevê, Narlı (Biyadir), have been appointed by Cukurcah qaimaqam since Hakkari Brigade Commandership’s request. Allegedly, appointed mukhtars are on duty for 6 months. For the time being, there is prohibition for the village guards against exercising any kind of work except their guard duty and mukhtars also need to be elected in local elections. Allegedly, the village guard mukhtars are identifying people who enter or exit from village and informing the authorities.

Villagers from around who complain about current practice claimed that this implementation is being used to make black list and to watch the peasant.
A peasant, 50 year old Abdulaziz Soydan speaks; The State tries to take us under control without any limit. Authorities are practicing all kind of measures even no permission by the law. Last exercise is the clearest example for the State’s devilish actions. There is no election or no necessity according to law since the villages were forced-emptied but qaimaqam can appoint the mukhtars for 13 cities. There is no justice or law in this area of Turkey.

The Peace and Democracy Party (DTP) and Bar Associations in the Region also criticized the practice and call the authorities to take right step in order to gain the people’s trust in the Region.

(gü)