Subject: TURKEY/SOUTHEAST ECONOMY BY LAURIE KASSMAN/DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY
Topic: voa
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
DATE=4/28/95
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-20348
TITLE=TURKEY/SOUTHEAST ECONOMY
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

         // KASSMAN HAS SENT TURKISH SOUND TO BUBBLE //

INTRO:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY IS STRAINING UNDER THE BURDEN OF A 
BATTLE BETWEEN TURKEY'S SECURITY FORCES AND THE OUTLAWED 
KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY-- OF P-K-K.  THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED 
VILLAGERS HAVE SETTLED IN MAKESHIFT CINDERBLOCK SETTLEMENTS ON 
THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWNS THERE ADDING TO THE TENSION.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN WAS IN DIYARBAKIR IN SOUTHEAST 
TURKEY AND REPORTS THE TOWN IS FEELING THE IMPACT OF THE FIGHT 
AGAINST TERRORISM. 

TEXT:  THE SIGN AT THE ENTRANCE TO DIYARBAKIR PUTS THE POPULATION
AT 380-THOUSAND.  BUT THAT NUMBER DATES FROM BEFORE THE MILITARY 
INTENSIFIED ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE P-K-K FOUR YEARS AGO, 
SENDING VILLAGERS FLEEING FROM THEIR HOMES (TO THE CITY).  TODAY 
THE POPULATION OF DIYARBAKIR SURPASSES ONE AND A HALF MILLION.  

MAYOR AHMET BILGIN (PROUNOUNCE BIL GEEN) SAYS HIS CITY IS 
SUFFERING.  THERE IS A HOUSING SHORTAGE.  UNEMPLOYMENT IS 
SOARING.  THERE IS  NOT  ENOUGH WATER AND ELECTRICITY FOR ALL THE
TOWN'S RESIDENTS.  INFLATION IS RAMPANT.  THE POOR ARE GOING 
HUNGRY.

                         //BILGIN ACT//

         YOU KNOW THERE IS A SAYING IN ENGLISH:  "A HUNGRY MAN IS
         AN ANGRY MAN."  SO WE TRY TO  NOT  MAKE THEM ANGRY 
         PEOPLE.

                           //END ACT//

SCORES OF MEN FROM THE AREA AND FARTHER SOUTH HAVE RESORTED TO 
SMUGGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.  THEY INVEST IN TRUCKS WITH EXTRA 
LARGE TANKS FASTENED ON THE SIDE AND DRIVE ACROSS THE BORDER INTO
IRAQ TO FILL THE TANKS WITH AS MUCH AS TWO THOUSAND LITERS OF 
DIESEL AT ROCK-BOTTOM (LOW) PRICES.  THEN THEY DRIVE BACK ACROSS 
THE BORDER TO SELL IT AT A PROFIT.  THE PRACTICE DEFIES U-N 
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ, BUT EVERYONE HERE TURNS A BLIND EYE 
(IGNORES IT).  

IN THE MAKESHIFT CINDERBLOCK SETTLEMENTS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF 
DIYARBAKIR, VILLAGERS FROM THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS SAY THEY 
HAVE  NO  MONEY TO BUY BASIC FOODSTUFFS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. 

THEY SAY THE MILITARY FORCED THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND BURNED 
THEIR STOCKS AS THE TROOPS INTENSIFIED THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE 
P-K-K GUERRILLAS.  THE VILLAGERS CAN  NO  LONGER FARM VEGETABLES,
GROW TOBACCO OR RAISE ANIMALS.

THE MEN SAY THEY SOMETIMES FIND WORK AS DAY LABORERS OR PORTERS 
IN THE MARKET, BUT COMPLAIN THEY CANNOT EARN ENOUGH TO BUY MEAT 
FOR THE FAMILY MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH.

THE CITY IS OPENING A BAKERY TO HELP SUPPLY THE POOR.  THERE ARE 
ALSO PLANS TO BUILD MORE APARTMENT HOUSES.  BUT MAYOR BILGIN SAYS
IT STILL WILL  NOT  BE ENOUGH. 

HE IS FROM THE OPPOSITION REFAH PARTY, THE WELFARE PARTY IN 
ENGLISH.  HE AND HIS PARTY BLAME THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR  NOT 
INCREASING DIYARBAKIR'S BUDGET ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THE POPULATION
EXPLOSION. 

HE COMPLAINS THE WAR AGAINST THE P-K-K IS DIVERTING MILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS FROM MORE PRESSING NEEDS.  THE COMPLAINTS ARE EASILY 
TURNED INTO POLITICAL PROFIT FOR THE WELFARE PARTY, WHICH IS 
DOMINATED BY MILITANT ISLAMISTS WHO WANT TO SPREAD THEIR CONTROL 
OF TURKEY'S KEY CITIES TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT'S FIGHT AGAINST THE P-K-K HAS POPULAR 
SUPPORT, WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 
THAT FIGHT IS BECOMING A POLITICAL LIABILITY.(SIGNED) 

NEB/LK/MMK

28-Apr-95 2:18 PM EDT (1818 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America