|
Dutch researcher investigates
resettlements politics in Turkey-Kurdistan
17.2.2006
By Vladimir van Wilgenburg Journalist - Netherlands
|
|
|
|
Dutch researcher Joost
Jongerden investigated the resettlement politics in
Kurdistan (Turkey). He discovered that there was a
fundamental conflict between government agencies as
to the most desirable use of public space in a rural
areas. This space was cleared by the Turkish army in
the 1990s, during its fight against the Kurdistan
Worker's Party (PKK).
The return of the population and the reorganisation
of rural areas are current topics in war-torn
countries. In the 1990s, southeast Turkey was the
scene of a war between the Turkish army and the
Kurdistan Worker's Party ( PKK ). In its efforts to
effectively control the guerrilla activities of the
PKK, the Turkish army cleared an estimated 3000 to
4000 villages. According to the Turkish authorities
this led to the displacement of some 400,000 people
but according to human rights organisations 4
million people ( the majority of them Kurds ) were
displaced. Most of them settled in towns inside and
outside of the region.
Various studies have indicated that a sizeable
majority of the displaced rural population would
rather return to their own village. Although various
programmes have been developed to facilitate this
return, few people have actually returned. |
Vladimir van Wilgenburg
Journalist - Netherlands |
Army opposes return
Jongerden investigated the return policy of the
Turkish government. He discovered that various
government agencies had wide-ranging and even
conflicting ideas about 'returning'. Agencies mainly
concerned with public safety - the army and
governors in the region - have insurmountable
objections against a return of the rural population.
They fear that the people are sympathetic towards
the PKK, and will once again enable this
organisation to organise itself in rural areas.
Conversely agencies that focus on developing the
region believe that rural areas cannot remain
permanently uninhabited. However these agencies do
not want to see the former settlement structure
restored, and their inhabitants return. Rather they
consider the clearance of so many villages as an
opportunity to develop a new settlement structure
for rural areas. This structure should be built up
around villages that can fulfil the role of local
centres, and facilitate the downscaling of
administration.
Joost Jongerden's research was funded by NWO-WOTRO.
Contact: Joost Jongerden ( Technology and Agrarian
Development, Wageningen University )
t: +31( 0 )317 482557
joost.jongerden@wur.nl
Source:
http://presszoom.com/story_114413.html
Joost Jongerden wrote two books, which I used for my
thesis about Kurdistan on secondary school. He is
one of the Dutch researchers (Martin van Bruinessen,
Philip Kreijenbroek, Michiel Leezenberg, etc), who
is focusing on Kurdistan.
It's hard to explain, why in the Netherlands there
are so much researchers/experts on the Kurdish
issue. It maybe has to do with the education system
or the open-mindedness of the Dutch people.
http://vladimirkurdistan.blogspot.com/
Kurdistan: "South Eastern Turkey" is Northern
Kurdistan. "Western Iran" is Eastern Kurdistan.
"Eastern Syria" is Western Kurdistan. "Northern
Iraq" is Southern Kurdistan
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 