BATMAN - Stating that the refugees pay the price of the tension between Turkey and Greece, Journalist Çağdaş Kaplan said the refugees demand international protection.

 

Turkey and Greece continue to use the refugees trying to cross the borders as bargaining chips.  According to the data of the International Organization for Migration, 71 refugees died in the Aegean Sea in 2019, and 1,246 refugees in the whole of the Mediterranean while crossing to Europe. It is stated that many people are still missing in the seas. Journalist Çağdaş Kaplan who migrated to Greece in 2019 as a result of the law suits filed against him by the Turkish state, told about the problems of the refugees to Mesopotamia Agency (MA).

 

'PRESS MAKES THINGS WORSE'

 

Pointing out that the tension between Greece and Turkey deepened as a result of the tension in Aegean and Mediterranean, Kaplan said: "The mainstream media of both sides position themselves in line with war and conflict. Just liek you did, we watched a lot of warships and fighter jets on the Tv in this period. The mainstream media have been the spokesperson of the government in Greece. The duty of a journalist during war and conflict is not being the spokesperson of the governments but to reveal the negative outcomes of the conflict and war upon people, to reveal what peace and solution would bring to the people."

 

'A FATHER AND SON FROM NUSAYBIN IS MISSING'

 

Kaplan stated that the migration stemmed from the conflict continues. Stating that hundreds of people are trying to cross the sea to get to safety while the warships of Turkey and Greece are making appearances, Kaplan said: "Hundreds of people were lost in the sea in this period. They lost their lives. Recently a boat carrying people most of whom were Kurdish sank off the coast of Herke Island, located at the west of Rhodes Island. 92 people were saved from that boat. But a father and his 4 year old son is still missing. Berivan Cansun whose son and husband is missing for days has been calling on the Greek government for a search to be started for days. But there is still no official information. This is just a case reflected in the press. While the crisis continues, dozens of such incidents took place in the Aegean Sea."

 

'THEY CONSIDER THE REFUGEES AS NUMBERS'

 

Stating that the refugees are paying the price for the tension between the two governments, Kaplan said only the deaths of the refugees are brought to the agenda. Stating that the governments consider the refugees as numbers, Kaplan pointed out that the refugees do not live in humane conditions. Drawing attention to the fact that during the pandemic, the violations of rights have increased, Kaplan said: "Hundreds of people illegally extradited to Turkey by the police and soldiers in the last two years. Those people were not only extradited but they were tortured and jailed as a result. 6 Kurdish refugees were sent back to Turkey and all of them were arrested just last week."

 

'INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION'

 

Noting that despite all the events, non-governmental organizations and opponents are in solidarity with the refugees, Kaplan said the following regarding the demands of the refugees: “First of all, refugees want their rights guaranteed by international conventions. They are opposed to being held in closed camps on the islands like a prisoner. They want their human rights. They apply for international protection and want a humane life in this process. The vast majority of these people are victims of war. They don't want to live in inhumane conditions sometimes worse than they lived through the war. They demand the right to life, security, health and housing. In other words, they want their legitimate rights that are secured by law but usurped by the government, nothing more." 

 

MA / Metin Yoksu