End to Turkish Martial Law Linked to Terrorism Curbs

The Turkish government has been lifting martial law in selective parts of the country since the restoration of civilian rule in November, 1983. But when it will be lifted throughout the nation remains uncertain.

“Martial law can be lifted as terrorist incidents are reduced and as civilian security forces become more capable of handling these incidents,” a high-level military official told a reporter in a briefing.

The official, who spoke on condition his name not be used, added, “It seems that the terrorist threat cannot be rooted out, only brought under control.”

Martial law was imposed by a civilian government in 1978 in an attempt to stop fighting between leftist and rightist factions. The military seized control of the government in 1980 when the civilian efforts failed, and an estimated 5,000 people were killed over a two-year period.

Military President

The government was returned to civilians in 1983 and Turgut Ozal became prime minister. But Gen. Kenen Evren of the army remains as president, leaving considerable power in the hands of the military.

The military official said during the briefing that since the return of the civilian administration, several groups have been attempting a comeback. He added that they include Marxist-Leninist groups known as the Urgency Squad, Dev-Sol (Revolutionary Left), Dev-Yol (Revolutionary Road) and the Turkish Communist Party, which is based in East Berlin.

Martial law was first proclaimed in 13 provinces in 1978 by then-Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit following sectarian fighting that claimed 111 lives. When the military took over in 1980, martial law was extended to the entire country.

The military quickly restored law and order on the streets, in factories and schools. But, even during three years of military rule, terrorist activity claimed 597 lives, including 76 security officials killed in shoot-outs with terrorists.

According to figures obtained from military authorities, in this period, 179,000 suspects were rounded up, questioned and put on trial or released. Currently 426 suspects are in custody and 5,406 are under arrest, awaiting or standing trial. Up to now, 9,216 have been convicted and 30 have been hanged.

No Warrants Needed

Martial law permits security forces to carry out searches and make arrests without warrants. Detainees can be held for 45 days before being formally charged. Authorities are not required to notify families of those held.

There have been allegations of torture. A serious discipline problem in prisons resulted in hunger strikes by 1,700 inmates in seven jails in the spring of 1984. Six strikers died.

Martial law has also meant strict control of the news media, with frequent news blackouts on security matters and suspensions of newspaper publication.

But going about their daily business, ordinary Turks hardly notice martial law. Tanks and soldiers are absent from the streets and civilian police are the chief enforcers of order.

The military cleaned up big city streets, brought some order to chaotic traffic and forced taxis to install meters for fares. Until a few months ago, martial law forbade the firing of any employee without good cause and only with permission of the martial-law commander. Union leaders now complain bitterly about the termination of this practice.

Critics abroad contend that the continuation of martial law conflicts with the return of civilians to the government.

Fear of Terrorists

Many Turks, however, fear that once martial law is lifted in all areas terrorist gangs will return. This is one reason given for the almost unanimous approval given by the civilian parliament to extensions of martial law.

The National Security Council recently recommended that martial law be extended for four more months in 23 provinces and lifting it in 11 others.

Turkey’s two largest cities, Istanbul and Ankara, have been under martial law for more than six years. Martial law is to continue in these cities as well as in Izmir and Adana, each with populations of more than a million.

According to university and government studies, fast urbanization and resultant poverty in slum areas in big cities make them fertile grounds for terrorist recruitment.

The gangs can also operate more freely in the general anonymity of big cities, they say. Twenty-nine percent of the killings during the height of the terrorist wave took place in Istanbul.

Kurdish Separatism

With the exception of Edirne province, which borders on Greece and Bulgaria, the remaining martial-law provinces are all in the eastern third of the country where authorities fear the spread of Kurdish separatist activity.

In the southeast, along the Iraqi border, Kurdish guerrillas have been staging hit-and-run attacks against military garrisons and villages since August.

So far 21 officers and soldiers, 23 guerrillas and 9 villagers have been killed in the incidents. Officials vehemently deny that Turkey’s 7 million Kurds are in rebellion. They blame the Kurdish Labor Party, a Marxist group, for the disturbances.

The group has bases in Iraq and Syria and is run by exile leader Abdullah Ocalan from a headquarters in the Syrian city of Aleppo, they say.

Turkey has been asking its neighbors not to harbor anti-Turkish groups.