Turkish Province Pays Millions To Terror Victims

A southeastern Turkish province has paid around one billion Turkish liras ($372.8 million) over 10 years to the victims of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), according to official figures.



The provincial government of Diyarbakir revealed that compensation had been paid to more than 31,000 people.



Between 1984 and 2008, a guerilla war waged by the PKK resulted in 44,000 deaths, according to the Turkish government.



The claimants include those who have lost family members, had property damaged or suffered from some other form of victimization. More than 51,000 applied to a fund established in 2004.



The Damage Determination Commission, which judges which incidents can be classed as terrorism, paid out compensation to the victims of violence in October last year.



Unrest following protests against the Turkish government's perceived inaction against Daesh militants besieging Kobani resulted in at least 40 deaths around Turkey. The Diyarbakir governorate paid nearly 170,000 liras to the families of six victims.



As well as paying compensation, the commission also allocates jobs to victims or their relatives.



The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, declared a cease-fire in 2013 as the Turkish government launched a 'solution process' to resolve the conflict.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara