TIP IN TURKEY: JANDARMA REQUESTS TECH ASSISTANCE,

UNCLAS ANKARA 006801 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, INL/CTR, DRL, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE DEPARTMENT FOR VALERIE KWOK USAID E&E/ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM PGOV SMIG PREF KWMN TU TIP IN TURKEY SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: JANDARMA REQUESTS TECH ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FROM DEA, OTHERS REF: A. ANK 6309 ¶B. ANK 6692 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A November 23-27 International Office on Migration (IOM) TIP workshop in Adana, Turkey highlighted the Jandarma's struggling but developing ground-level ability to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes. According to IOM trainers (para 4) and TIP-NGO victim counselors (reftels),Jandarma officers are successfully screening, identifying, and assisting victims. Jandarma officers noted, however, the immediate need for technical training from law enforcement agencies with practical experience in conducting TIP investigations, documenting evidence, and prosecuting traffickers. Post requests G/TIP assistance in identifying possible training opportunities for Jandarma officers. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) During the November 23-27 IOM TIP workshop in Adana, Turkey, regional Jandarma commander MGEN Abdulkadir Eryilmaz queried AMCONS Adana PO about possible counter-trafficking training opportunities for Jandarma officers. Eryilmaz said that, in Turkey, drug trafficking and human trafficking are often interrelated, and that Turkish Jandarma could particularly benefit from U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) expertise and training in hands-on, technical-level, textbook efficient investigations. ¶3. (U) Embassy Ankara and AMCONS Adana request G/TIP's assistance in identifying opportunities for including Turkish Jandarma forces in counter-trafficking training programs available through the DEA, FBI or other law enforcement agencies. ¶4. (U) Eryilmaz opened the IOM training session, stressing the importance of focused law enforcement efforts on illicit trafficking issues. BEGIN PRESS NOTES: TURKEY - Training for Law Enforcement Leads to Rescue of Victims of Trafficking: IOM organized training sessions for law enforcement officers have led to the rescue of more than 100 women and girls trafficked to Turkey in 2004. Speaking at the latest five-day session, held last week in Adana, IOM Chief of Mission Marielle Lindstrom stressed the role that collaboration plays between the authorities, NGOs, and international organizations to rescue victims and assist them to return home. "The positive case studies we heard from the officers, where victims have been rescued and traffickers apprehended, prove that with proper support and training Turkish law enforcement is a serious threat to organized crime. If we can establish a successful mechanism to identify, rescue and refer the victims, Turkey will be of central importance in stopping trafficking from countries in the region." The workshop was carried out with the support of the Central Command of the Gendarma, with presentations from the Ministries of Justice and Interior, international organizations and the Embassy of Belarus. International experts also addressed the issue of human rights, collection of evidence, and the prosecution of traffickers. "It is important that victims of trafficking are correctly identified so that they are not deported as irregular immigrants. Victims must feel safe, respected and protected so that law enforcement can work with them to stop trafficking," stressed Europol expert Steve Harvey. The Adana training was funded by the US Government, with contributions form the United Nations Population Fund. END PRESS NOTES. EDELMAN