Turkey - IOM policy kills

18.Aug.02 - The European Union has identified Turkey as a major transit state for migrants from Africa and Asia. In its Iraq Action plan, written by the High Level Working Group Turkey has been targeted for a major intervention to combat unwanted migrants. The IOM went out to study the situation and recommended: prevent irregular migration and combat trafficking, border control in Turkey is a fundamental tool to fight irregular migration. Turkish border troops did not hesitate to take the call for fighting literally. In course of illegal border crossing nine people have been shot and five more injured. 139 people from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have attempted to cross the Iranian-Turkish border. In that, IOM policy recommendations immediately lead to the killing of innocent people. (Tageszeitung, 11.5.2000)