Score of Village Guards' Deeds

Turkey's Human Rights Association (İHD) releases a list of deeds committed by village guards during the 17 years since its introduction as a means of combating Kurdish rebel group PKK in southeast of the country.

Their involvement in the recent massacre in Mardin, which left 44 dead, revived the discussion around village guards.

The association demands the termination of the system. The report lists cases and claims of misdoings by year.

According to applications to the association and through media monitoring, IHD says village guards have been accused of 38 village fires, 14 incidents of forced migration, 12 cases of rape and sexual assault, 22 abductions and 294 armed attacks against civilians.

Furthermore, between 1992 and March 2009, village guards have killed 183 people and harmed another 259. There are 70 cases of robbery, 562 claims of torture and maltreatment.(TK/AGÜ)