21.06.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Seit 30. November 2002 gibt es keine Ausnahmezustandsprovinzen und damit kein Ausnahmezustandsrecht mehr ("Zur aktuellen Situation - Juni 2003 ") [#14557],  [ID 14508]

"Der in den kurdischen Provinzen am 19. Juli 1987 eingeführte Ausnahmezustand wurde im Juli 2002 für die Provinzen Diyarbakir und Sirnak ein letztes Mal um vier Monate verlängert. Am gleichen Datum wurde er für die Provinzen Hakkari und Tunceli aufgehoben. Seit dem 30. November 2002 gibt es keine Ausnahmezustandsprovinzen und damit kein Ausnahme-zustandsrecht mehr. Dadurch ist es auch nicht mehr möglich, unliebsame Personen aus den Ausnahmezustandsprovinzen zu "verbannen", die Frist der Incommunicadohaft ist seit Auf-hebung des Ausnahmezustandes gleich lang wie in der Westtürkei und kann nicht mehr bis zu sieben Tagen verlängert werden. Es ist auch nicht mehr möglich, Inhaftierte nach Ein-weisung ins Gefängnis wieder in Incommunicadohaft zu nehmen, wie dies mit gewissen In-haftierten gemacht worden ist.
Im Moment der Irakkrise war die Situation äusserst angespannt. Der stellvertretende Stabs-chef erklärte in einem Schreiben an den Ministerpräsidenten, dass die Ausrufung des Aus-nahmezustandes in den Provinzen Batman, Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Mardin, Siirt und Sirnak unabdingbar sei, weil die Türkei einerseits mit einer grossen Fluchtbewegung rechnen müs-se und andererseits eine Wiederaufnahme des bewaffneten Kampfes durch die KADEK er-warte. Mit dem Ende des Krieges hat sich die Situation wieder beruhigt."

Document(s): Open document

30.11.2002 - Source: BBC News

30/11/2002 - BBC: End of state of emergency in Diyarbakir and Sirnak ("Turkey lifts last state of emergency") [#10631],  [ID 14509]

"Doctors, lawyers and human rights activists have met in the Turkish city of Diyarbakir to mark the lifting of the state of emergency in the last two Turkish provinces where it was in force.

Diyarbakir and Sirnak, both in the south-east of Turkey, have been governed under a state of emergency for 15 years.

Representatives of the groups welcomed the lifting of emergency rule, but warned that divisions remained between different parts of the country.


The lifting of emergency rule that once covered 13 Turkish provinces and the militarisation that went with it is a sign of the victory of the Turkish Government over the Kurdish and left-wing paramilitaries that once threatened the state.
[...]
Few believe that the state will relax its grip on an area which until recently was a battleground between the security forces and Kurdish paramilitaries.

Ali Oncu spoke for the democratic platform which called the meeting.

He said that even without a state of emergency the provinces would still be denied real freedom.
[...]
During the meeting, a plainclothes policeman stood with a hand-held camera, taping not only the speakers, but members of the audience.

Afterwards, organisers met police after the authorities raised objections to a planned outdoor meeting later in the day.

Emergency rule may have been lifted, but the mentality which underpins it and the atmosphere of fear which it creates shows no sign of disappearing."

Document(s): Open document

09.10.2002 - Source: European Commission

European Commisssion: The security situation has continued to improve in the Southeast ("2002 Regular Report on Turkey's Process Towards Accession") [#10217],  [ID 14510]

"The security situation has continued to improve in the Southeast. After the lifting of the
state of emergency in Hakkari and Tunceli, some relaxation in daily life has been
reported. The Tunceli Culture and Nature Festival took place between 1 and 4 August
with no ban on bands singing in Kurdish. Previously banned journals and newspapers
could be found at newsagents. However, the Governor of Tunceli stated that the military
would not be pulled back. With the lifting of emergency rule in the Southeastern province
of Hakkari, the security forces' practices in the region have also changed. In the province
military influence is still felt, but the atmosphere is reportedly much less tense.
According to reports from the city, the food quota has been lifted.
In the light of certain remaining restrictions, the situation in the Southeast following the
lifting of the state of emergency needs to be monitored."

Document(s): Open document

09.10.2002 - Source: European Commission

European Commission: In all provinces of the Southeast state of emergency lifted by the end of the year ("2002 Regular Report on Turkey's Process Towards Accession") [#10217],  [ID 14511]

"The National Security Council recommended on 30 May 2002 that the state of emergency
in two provinces of the Southeast be lifted.. The Turkish Parliament endorsed this
recommendation and this measure entered into force on 30 July 2002. The National
Security Council also recommended the lifting of the state of emergency in the two
remaining provinces by the end of the year."

Document(s): Open document

31.05.2002 - Source: BBC News

BBC: State of emergency lifted in Hakkari and Tunceli provinces ("Turkey to ease restrictions on Kurds") [#7453],  [ID 14512]

"Turkey's National Security Council has agreed to lift the state of emergency which has been in force for the past 15 years in two predominantly Kurdish provinces.
The council - which groups Turkey's top generals and government leaders - said emergency rule in two other eastern provinces would be lifted in four months time.
[...]
The state of emergency allows provincial governors to impose curfews, ban rallies and call in soldiers to suppress illegal demonstrations.

It is due to end on 1 July in the provinces of Hakkari and Tunceli, according to the council, and will be extended "one last time" in Diyarbakir and Sirnak.

Emergency rule was first imposed in 13 provinces in 1987, but was gradually lifted as fighting between Kurdish separatists and government troops died down.

Kurdish rebels fighting for self-rule in the south-east of the country declared a ceasefire in 1999, but the military rejected it and said it would continue fighting."

Document(s): Open document

18.12.2001 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

During a state of emergency, governors have wide powers ("Civil and political rights, including the question of disappearances and summary executions E/CN.4/2002/74/Add.1") [#5265],  [ID 14513]

"The governors act as
chief administrators of the provinces and head the provincial assemblies. During a state of
emergency, the governors have wide powers. At the time of the visit of the Special Rapporteur,
four provinces were under a state of emergency and were being administered by a specially
appointed Governor for the Emergency District. The Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to
visit two such provinces, Diyarbakir and Batman, where she met a number of official and
non-official persons, including the provincial governors, and the Governor of the Emergency
District. It was apparent to the Special Rapporteur that the governors were under pressure from
the Ministry of the Interior and closely monitored by the military at the local level."

Document(s): 02197tur.pdf
Open document

01.09.2001 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR: The state of emergency still remains in force in four provinces in the Kurdish region- Diyarbakir, Tunceli, Hakkari and Sirnak ("Background Paper on Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Turkey") [#47163],  [ID 14514]

"149. For most of 1980s and 1990s, the government imposed a state of emergency on
eleven provinces. The state of emergency still remains in force in four provinces in the
The state of emergency still remains in force in four provinces in the
Kurdish region- Diyarbakir, Tunceli. Hakkari and Sirnak. Freedom of movement in this
region is limited. Checkpoints equipped with electronic databases have been reported
although it is difficult to assert the kind of information that can be accessed through
these databases. The Jandarma continue to exert its right to detain anyone suspicious at
check points and are not obliged to give reasons for the detention. The Emergency
Region Governors have maximum power to move populations and limit right of
assembly.
150. Emergency rule allows governors of the provinces to impose curfews, to
mobilize the military to suppress illegal demonstrations and otherwise restrict freedom
of assembly. The systematic practice of village destruction, depopulation, and forced
eviction of Kurds that first began in August 1984 continues."

Document(s): Open document