Canberk Yüksel
February 05, 2016•Update: February 06, 2016
MARDIN, Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has revealed Friday an action plan aimed at ending terrorism and compensating citizens for their terror-related losses, especially in the southeastern region.
The 10-point plan, announced by Davutoglu in southeastern Mardin province during a conference held at Artuklu University, includes “comprehensive democratic reform”, part of which would be the drafting of a new civilian constitution.
The current charter was written in the wake of the 1980 military coup and there is broad consensus across the political spectrum in Turkey that it urgently needs to be replaced.
The plan also promises a wider range of powers for local administrations, while at the same time vowing to prevent their misuse.
“I hereby announce the main components of the 10-pronged action plan based on 10 fundamental principles. The first is the psychological component. During this period, we will unify the conscience and wisdom of the people with the intellect of the state. All differences between the people and the state will be removed, and we will establish an inclusive approach toward the people and create a human-oriented state,” Davutoglu said.
The premier stated that another pillar of the plan was to establish firm public order, i.e. enhancing security.
Davutoglu added be about the social campaign to support all families in Turkey.
"All families who had to leave their homes due to the clashes in Cizre and Silopi districts of Sirnak are being paid and will continue to be paid regular housing benefits every month," he told the meeting. He did not specify how long this compensation program would last.
"We will heal the social wounds sustained during the fight against terrorism," he added.
Davutoglu also announced the fifth measures aimed at strengthening southeastern Turkey’s economy.
"We will make an investment of 26.5 billion Turkish liras [$9.1 billion] during the 2016-2018 period only for the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) aimed at boosting the economy, agricultural capacity, employment figures of the region."
Measures will be implemented to increase employment. Tradesmen and artisans' loan repayments will be deferred. Along with farmers, they will also benefit from interest free loans.
Davutoglu also called for the restoration of historical sites in the region, especially in the Sur district -- the name of which literally means "city walls" -- as well as the renovation of urban infrastructure and roads.
The premier added that hospitals and other health facilities that suffered damages from the PKK attacks will also be rebuilt.
He also addressed the communications strategy, saying that information about the region will be conveyed to the world via the “most effective strategies”.
Concerning more administrative matters, Davutoglu announced that the powers of local authorities will be expanded, but warned that abuses would not be tolerated.
Davutoglu said that he foresaw a unifying movement for the people of Turkey called "national brotherhood". He added that consultation assemblies will be established in all provinces and districts.
Sur, along with Cizre district of southeastern Sirnak province, are among areas that have been the focus of counter-terror operations against PKK terrorists and military curfews since mid-December 2015.
Since then, more than 700 terrorists were killed in Diyarbakir and Sirnak.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus was quick to point out on Friday that the newly announced plan does not mean additional security measures; instead it is a “rehabilitation process” that entailed broad cooperation between government agencies.
