(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: RIGHTS GROUP CONDEMNS BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S INVOLVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF TURKISH DAM In a letter to Tony Blair, ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, has expressed serious concerns over the UK government’s plans to provide $200 million towards the building of the Ilisu […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
RIGHTS GROUP CONDEMNS BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S INVOLVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF TURKISH DAM
In a letter to Tony Blair, ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, has expressed serious concerns over the UK government’s plans to provide $200 million towards the building of the Ilisu Dam in South-East Turkey. If the dam’s construction goes ahead, not only Turkey but also other countries such as the UK will be guilty of seriously violating the human rights of the local population including their right to freedom of expression and information.
Around 25,000, predominantly Kurdish, people stand to lose their homes and another 11,000 their livelihoods if the dam goes ahead. Despite this, the Turkish government has not consulted the affected communities on the construction project, in violation of its own laws as well as international development guidelines. The local population has also been denied access to official documents on the project and neither the Turkish authorities nor foreign export credit agencies have been prepared to release information contained in an Environmental Impact Assessment carried out in 1998 until all the contracts have been completed and approved. The infamous Turkish laws on freedom of expression and assembly mean that the community has no channel to express its dissent at this total disregard for its rights.
The British government is also collaborating in this policy of secrecy by refusing to share information: NGOs have been refused copies of the UK government’s environmental reports on the dam and on the local communities attitude towards resettlement, in contravention of an EU Council Directive. In December 1999, UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Stephen Byers, stated that British support for the project would be conditional on an internationally approved and monitored resettlement programme; so far no steps have been taken by the Turkish government to set up such a monitoring panel.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, said:
“We are extremely concerned at this flagrant disregard for the rights of the local people. All those involved in this process are completely flouting not only Turkish law but also internationally recognised standards on human rights and freedom of expression; the British government would be party to such abuse if it retains its involvement in this project. We urge the British government, therefore, to withdraw immediately from the Ilisu Dam project and to start fulfilling its ethical foreign policy objectives”.
