TURKEY
Military Exports from Canada (1990-1999)
Year
Military
Value of
Equipment Military
Types
Exports
1999
10,11,14,17 548,923
1998
4,10,14
3,531,616
1997
1,6,10,11 6,814,848
1996
1,5,6,10,11,13 5,989,711
1995
3,6,10,11 2,368,024
1994
6,10,11,13 695,901
1993
1,2,6,10,11 5,769,561
1992
1,6,10,11,14 15,490,540
1991
2,5,7,10,11,14 2,820,739
1990
10,11,14 1,880,518
Total
$45,910,381
Sources: Export of Military Goods from Canada, Annual Reports 1990-1999. Published
by the Export Controls Division, Export and Import Controls Bureau, Department
of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade, Government of Canada. Web site: <www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/~eicb/>
-----------------------------------
Examples of Canadian Military Exports (1990s)
Bell Helicopter Textron
. 10 Bell 206L helicopters Value unknown (1993)
Ploughshares Monitor, Sept. 1996
Bombardier Inc.
. Aircraft for cross-border operations (for National Intelligence Agency) $21.8
million (1999) Ploughshares Monitor,
Sept. 2000
Canadian Marconi Co.
. Test navigation system for helicopters Value unknown (1995)
Project Ploughshares' Canadian Military Industry Database (CMID)
Department of National Defence
. 10,000 rounds artillery ammo (155mm) Value unknown (1998)
W.R.Davis Engineering Ltd.
. Helicopter infrared countermeasures $11.4 million (1998) Ploughshares Monitor, June 1999
Spar Aerospace Ltd
. Parts and servicing for F5 engine Value unknown (1994)
Project Ploughshares' CMID
-----------------------------------
Canadian Government Promotes Military Exports
"With one of the largest armies in Europe and a modern industrial policy designed to create an indigenous
defence industry, Turkey's market for defence
products provides many opportunities for Canadian companies that are prepared
to investigate technology transfer,
joint ventures and other forms of co-operation. Opportunities exist for
aircraft engines and parts, avionic and navigational systems, radars, defence
electronics, military software and training simulators. Currently, Turkey's
Defence Ministry has these priorities:
* local production of 1000 battle tanks;
* modernizing 1000 M60A1 tanks;
* 145 attack helicopters;
* 6 naval frigates;
* simulators for submarines and military helicopters;
* 30 units of unmanned airborne surveillance vehicles."
Source: "Turkey, Aerospace and Defence Opportunities," Canadexport, Feb.1,
2001. Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
---
Military Trade Shows
The International Defence Industry, Aerospace and Maritime Fair, in Ankara, is
promoted by Trade Team Canada, Industry Canada and the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).
Source: "Turkey Defence and Aerospace Market," Our Market Reports,
April 2000. The Cdn. Trade Commissioner Service, DFAIT
-----------------------------------
Human Rights Violations (1999)
Since 1984, about 4,500 civilians were killed, 3,000 settlements evacuated or
burned down and three million internally displaced during armed conflict between
security forces and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey.
PKK-leader Abdull-ah Ocalan reiterated their unilateral cease-fire, urging the
PKK to withdraw from Turkey. The government threatened to ban pro-Kurdish
political parties. State of emergency legislation remained in force in
five provinces. Turkey's entry into the
EU depended on improved respect for human rights. Fair trial standards
were violated throughout Ocalan's detention and trial. His lawyers were harassed,
attacked and threatened by the police.
In June, Ocalan was sentenced to death.
Torture and impunity
Torture was widespread, mainly in police/gendarmerie custody. People suspected
of State Security offences may be held incommunicado for four days. Laws
to notify families were ignored, facilitating "disappearances," torture,
severe beatings, being stripped naked, hosing with ice water, hanging by the
arms bound behind the back, electro-shock, beating soles of the feet, death
threats and sexual assaults. Victims include children, women, the
elderly, villagers and political activists. Several reportedly died due
to torture.
Authorities did not pursue complaints of torture. Prosecutors were reluctant
to investigate security officers. Statements allegedly elicited under torture were frequently used as
evidence. In the rare cases when security officers were convicted, sentences were light. In
September, 10 leftist prisoners were killed and dozens wounded.
Pressuring activists
Activists received death threats. After repeated harassment and
detentions, a vigil for the "disappeared" ended after nearly four
years. The Human Rights Association president was imprisoned in June, a year
after barely surviving an assassination attempt when he called for a peaceful approach
to the Kurdish issue. His imprisonment
discredited and hindered human rights defenders. Upon release in
September, he was banned from political activities. Writers, publishers,
unionists, teachers, politicians and human rights defenders were imprisoned or
tried for exercising their freedom of expression.
Extrajudicial executions
In February, security forces fired on a non-violent protest in Mardin killing a
youth. In August, a peddler was reportedly beaten to death by police in Van. In
October, a leftist was shot in Adana. Police broke into his neighbour's flat
and shot him in front of his family.
Source: Amnesty International Report 2000.
<http://www.amnesty-usa.org/ailib/>
-----------------------------------
Labour Rights Violations (1999)
Employers can be fined for anti-union discrimination, but fines are too low and
the burden of proof lies with workers. Union officials are not adequately
protected against transfers or dismissals. Many have no collective
agreements. Industry-wide bargaining and bargaining by confederations is
banned.
Limitations on right to strike
General strikes, solidarity strikes and go-slows are banned, as are strikes in
banking, public notaries, transport, exploration, production, refining and
distribution of water, gas, electricity, coal, natural gas and petroleum.
Strikes are banned for the first ten years in Export Processing Zones.
The government can halt strikes for national security or public health and
safety. Unions can petition to lift suspensions, but if refused, binding
arbitration can be imposed. Lengthy and cumbersome procedures are
required to strike.
Further restrictions
The Trade Union Act is overly prescriptive and regulates union rules and constitutions
too closely. Candidates for union office must have worked ten years in
the industry. Unions must have official permission to meet or rally and
must allow police to attend and record conventions. The state took the
national union centre (Turk-Is) to court saying two rallies were illegal, and
demanding prison for union officials.
Social Security Reform Bill
Many unions worked unsuccessfully to oppose the Social Security Reform Bill. It
was a condition for IMF financing. The government refused to talk to
unions. There were many demonstrations.
Union leaders were arrested under the state of emergency in the southeast.
Union leader dies in custody
In March, S.Yeter, an education expert at the dockworkers' union and five others
at a worker's newspaper were detained at Istanbul Police Anti-Terror Branch.
Yeter was stripped, beaten, forced to lie on ice and died. After torture
in 1997 (causing semi-paralysis), he took the police to court. Days before his
death, after the last hearing, it was arranged that police who tortured him in
1997 would be identified.
Intimidation & assassination
A union of printing workers organised in Swiss Card and Abaci Kart, which make
magnetic bank cards. The company sacked 41 to avoid bargaining. Workers protested
and police arrested them. In April, the union president was kidnapped by
armed men who threatened to kill him and his family.
In August, the secretary general of Turk-Is and president of the miners' union
was killed during their congress.
Harassment
The general secretary of SES public employees' union was detained in July.
A former union executive was arrested, interrogated and tortured.
Unionised teachers received continuous harassment in eastern Turkey. Between
Oct. 1998 and 1999, 7 were dismissed, 117 transferred and 150 punished.
Source: Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights (2000),
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
-----------------------------------
Child Labour Violations
* Official data says 87% of working children are in small enterprises, 7% in
medium enterprises, and 6% in large enterprises. The government says 8.5% aged
6-14 were working; 23.9% in domestic labour. (U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights
Report, 1999)
* 567,000 aged 12-14 and 2,769,000 aged 15-19 are working. (ILO, Yearbook of
Labour Statistics, 1999)
Where Children Work
* Children are mostly employed in the metal, shoe, woodworking, and agricultural
sectors. (EI Barometer, 1998)
* The bulk occurs in rural areas and often is associated with farming or animal
husbandry. (U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights Report, 1999)
* Other sectors include: auto repair (EI Barometer, 1998), carpet weaving, forestry,
street peddling, bakeries, local industries (EFCW, Children Who Work in Europe,
June 1998) and handicrafts (EI Barometer, 1998)
Prostitution and Trafficking
* Turkey is a major destination and transit country for trafficking in women
and girls for forced prostitution from Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan (U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights Report, 1999)
* There are estimated to be 30,000 child prostitutes. (CATW 1999)
* There are 60,000 female child prostitutes 12-17 years old. (CATW Fact Book on
Global Sexual Exploitation)
Source: <http://www.globalmarch.org/worstformsreport/world/turkey.html>
-----------------------------------
Canadian Government Promotes EPZs
"ExportSource," a Canadian government website, links businesses to
Export Processing Zones (EPZ) around the world, like Turkey's "Antalya
Free Zone" which says:
"Advantages and Incentives: Strikes and lockouts are forbidden in the Free
Zone for ten years from its opening."
Sources: <http://exportsource.gc.ca> <http://www.ant-serbest-blg.org.tr>
-----------------------------------
TAKE ACTION!
Kurdish Women's Network
The KWN provides a forum for exchange of experience and knowledge among those
who are interested in and who work to improve the lives of Kurdish women by:
. acting as an resource for scholars, activists, and policy makers;
. assisting those engaged in Kurdish women's studies and activism;
. contributing to feminist knowledge on topics such as women and
nationalism, violence, war, ethnicity global market economy, and state;
. promoting theories and practices of feminism among the women of Kurdistan and
the diaspora;
. undertaking action projects on gender justice;
. promoting women's rights and gender equality in Kurdistan;
. securing scholarships and fellowships to enhance Kurdish women's access to
higher education.
. conducting oral history research among Kurdish women.
Contact: Dr. Shahrzad Mojab OISE, University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. W.,
Toronto ON M5S 1V6.
Email: <smojab@oise.utoronto.ca>