English

WikiLeaks tells about death of Belarusian woman in Turkey in connection to trafficking in persons

Below is the full version of the documents provided to the online Naviny.by newspaper by representative of the WikiLeaks media organization Israel Shamir.

1/11/2005 7:37 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000038 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TU, BO, MD, KCRM, PGOV, BO, MD, KCRM, PGOV, KJUS, Istanbul SUBJECT: ISTANBUL POLICE ON TIP AND MURDER OF BELARUSIAN WOMAN REF: A. MINSK 1721 B. ANKARA 6865 C. CHISINAU 1399

1. (SBU) Summary: On December 27, poloff met with XXXX, XXXXX of the Foreigners Unit of the Istanbul Police Department, to follow up on trafficking in persons issues raised during the visit of a Moldavan anti-TIP government delegation (ref B) and the murder of a Belarusian woman in Istanbul (ref c). XXXX said there is a growing awareness about the TIP problem in Turkey, and that in November five traffickers were apprehended in Istanbul, of whom three are in jail. He shared documents about the Belarusian case; four men have been arrested and jailed in connection with the death. XXXX clarified the different situations of women described as trafficked; some come voluntarily, and some are tricked; many are unwilling to testify against traffickers. XXXX complained that the Moldovan delegation accused the Turkish Police of cooperating with the traffickers, increasing tension in the meeting. End summary.

2. (SBU) Poloff and pol specialist met December 27 with XXXX, XXXXX of the Foreigners Unit of the Istanbul Police Department, to follow up on trafficking in persons issues raised during the visit of a Moldavan anti-TIP government delegation (ref B) and the murder of a Belarusian woman in Istanbul in the fall. XXXX underlined that he was unable to provide information to U.S. diplomats in Istanbul on cases involving nationals from third countries – such as Moldova or Belarus – without official permission from the Ankara Headquarters of the Foreigners Unit. However, XXXX shared information both about the growing TIP problem in Turkey and the Belarusian case.

3. (SBU) XXXX said there is a growing awareness about the TIP problem in Turkey, adding that more serious measures have been taken to address TIP after the 2002 amendment to the Turkish Penal Code, which specified the definition of human trafficking. As an example, XXXX confirmed that in November 2004 five traffickers were apprehended and sent to court; three of the traffickers are already in jail.

4. (SBU) XXXX stressed that women who may come under the definition of trafficked come to Turkey for many different reasons. Some come voluntarily to make money; a woman, for example, can make USD 100 a night in Istanbul, versus USD 30-50 a month in Moldova or Belarus. Another group of women are cheated by traffickers. He gave an example of a Moldovan woman who came to Turkey years ago and married a Turkish man; she is now a Turkish citizen. She frequently travels to Moldova to recruit young women by promising them various jobs, such as dancing or babysitting, and forces them into prostitution once they are in Turkey. XXXX noted that the women are fearful of being sold. He added that the Istanbul police have found that in most cases, the women are often unwilling to testify against the traffickers both because they are afraid of reprisal, and because they want to be able to return to Turkey.

5. (SBU) On the murder of the Belarusian woman, XXXX showed copies both of the police report and a November 3 article describing the case, in which a 27-year old Belarusian woman, XXXXX, was tricked into coming to Istanbul by two Turkish men with promise of a job. The two men took her passport, locked her in a house in Bakirkoy and forced her into prostitution. According to the documentation XXXX shared, XXXXX and another Russian woman were then sent to the apartment of two businessmen, where she committed suicide by throwing herself out of the sixth-floor bathroom window in order to avoid being a prostitute. XXXX confirmed that the police arrested and sent to prison four Turkish men in connection with XXXXX death: the two men who brought XXXXX to Turkey to force her into prostitution, and the two businessmen.

6. (SBU) Turning to the November meeting of the Moldovan TIP delegation with the Istanbul police (ref c), ХХХХ complained about the attitude of the Moldovan authorities, calling their approach unprofessional. ХХХХ claimed that the Moldovan delegation accused the Turkish Police of cooperating with the traffickers, increasing tension in the meeting. He had to warn the interpreter not to interpret all the statements of the Moldovans, in order to prevent the Foreigners Unit director from leaving the meeting. ХХХХ added that the GOT has problems with the Moldovans entering the country. For example, it is easy to change passports and names in Moldova, making it very easy for a Moldovan to return to Turkey even though his or her entry is banned.

SNSITIVE TAGS: TU, BO, MD, PLU, KCRM, PGOV, KJUS SUBJECT: ISTANBUL POLICE ON TP AND MURDER OF BELARUSIAN

7. (SBU) XXXX complained about the heavy work load and lack of resources, both personnel and fiancal inth Foreigners' Unit, where te rng ofisue icludes work permits to illegal immgraio, TP,and visa violations. XXXX stated that in November, 1000 foreigners were deported from Istanbul. He believes that a separate Immigration Office is needed to ease the burden on the Foreigners' Unit.

8. (SBU) Bio Note: XXXX, who graduated from XXXXXXXXX in XXXX, spent ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХХХ ХХХ.

ARNETT

2/28/2005 14:25 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISTANBUL 000329 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR G/TIP; SKOPJE FOR XXXXXXXX; BUCHAREST FOR SECI/STURM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TU, BO, MD, PHUM, KCRM, PGOV, KJUS, Istanbul, TIP IN TURKEY SUBJECT: MUNICIPALITY TO FUND ISTANBUL TIP SHELTER, BUT PROSECUTORS DOWNPLAY GRAVITY OF TIP ISSUE REF: A. ANKARA 591 B. ISTANBUL 38 C. 04 MINSK 1721

1. Summary and comment: In recent Istanbul meetings on trafficking in persons (TIP), XXX officer XXXXXX discussed the upcoming TIP report and Turkey's Tier 2 watch list placement with Istanbul prosecutors, municipal and governorate officials and the leading Turkish NGO on TIP issues. While XXXXXXX of the Istanbul municipality confirmed another year of funding for the Istanbul TIP shelter run by HRDF, he implied that the municipality did not wish to continue supporting the shelter indefinitely. Istanbul XXXXX asserted to XXXXXX that Turkey's role in trafficking is only as a transit, not a source country, and complained that cooperation from source countries has been insufficient to combat the problem globally. Bakirkoy and Istanbul XX downplayed separately to XXXXXX and Skopje XXXXXXXX the number of TIP cases in Istanbul, noting that most TIP victims were not involuntary, and bristled at the U.S. focus on Turkey's TIP problems. Comment: Although the new shelter for trafficking victims in Istanbul is at full capacity, the prosecutors in Istanbul are downplaying the problem. End summary and comment.

Municipality Confirms Continued Funding for Shelter

2. (SBU) In meetings January 27 with Istanbul prosecutors, municipal and governorate officials and the leading Turkish NGO on TIP issues, XXX foreign affairs officer XXXXXX discussed the upcoming TIP report and Turkey's placement on the Tier 2 watch list. Accompanying XXXXXX on the meetings were Ankara DAO XX XXXXXXXXX, FBI XXX at SECI XXXXXXXXXX, and Istanbul poloffs. XXXXXXX of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, XXXXXXX, was the bearer of good news. He confirmed to XXXXXX that in line with the protocol signed in 2004 between the municipality and the Human Resources Development Foundation (HRDF), the NGO focusing on TIP issues in Istanbul, the municipality will continue to financially support the TIP shelter run by HRDF after the current municipality-funded one-year lease expires in June 2005. He reassured XXXXXX that the municipality's support is not temporary, and that the municipality is committed to work with HRDF to deal with TIP victims. However, XXXXXXX statement that it is essential for NGOs to develop the necessary resources to become financially independent (referred to in the municipality's report on the visit in their website, www.ibb.gov.tr) implied that the municipality's financial support of the shelter will not continue indefinitely.

Shelter at Full Capacity

3. (SBU) Newly-appointed HRDF XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX and shelter project XXX ХХХХХХХХХХХХ briefed XXXXXX on the activities of HRDF's TIP shelter, the first and only shelter in Turkey, which opened in November 2004 after signing a protocol with the municipality, which paid the first year's rent. HRDF has also received funding for the shelter from XX. The shelter is on the top floor of an apartment building in ХХ; in order to protect the privacy of the victims, no visitors are allowed and the location is kept secret (XXXXXXXXXXXXX said she herself has not seen the shelter). Since the shelter opened, it has been at full capacity, housing a maximum of 11-12 victims. Four HRDF employees work in the shelter, including two Turkish citizen housing counselors of Russian origin and one of Molodovan/Bulgarian origin who are on duty at all times. (ХХХХХХХХХХХХ commented that most of the victims treated at the shelter to date have been of Moldovan and Ukrainian origin.) The counselors understand the Turkish bureaucracy, so are able to counsel the victims. Before entering the shelter, the police take statements from the victims. One HRDF counselor from the shelter participates in the initial interview, but no one from the shelter accompanies the victim to the police.

4. (SBU) Shelter ХХХ ХХХХХХХХХХХХ told XXXXXX that HRDF provides a homelike environment for the victims in the shelter; if the victims have health problems, they are taken to hospitals and treated by psychologists. HRDF X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX said in a later meeting that at least one victim had been referred to a mental health hospital on the recommendation of the shelter psychologist. The Ministry of Health issued a circular to all state hospitals ensuring that victims of trafficking will be treated free of charge. Victims can stay at the shelter for more than a week, particularly those with serious psychological problems, such as some who have tried to commit suicide by jumping out of buildings. Some victims have stayed over two months, including one Iranian woman. Since the shelter opened in November 2004 until late January 2005, it has assisted 32 victims of trafficking, some of whom are still in the shelter. ХХХХХХХХХХХХ noted that Turkey issues a humanitarian visa to victims of trafficking for those who are repatriated. IOM prepares the safe return of the victims, including providing passports and tickets, and contacting the home country to arrange their reception at a specific city.

HRDF: Good Cooperation with Police and MinInt

5. (SBU) According to HRDF XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX, HRDF has excellent cooperation with law enforcement authorities and the Ministry of Interior. HRDF has conducted five training courses in TIP with prosecutors, judges, and police officers, and has made TIP agreements with the jandarma and with the police. XXXXXXXXXXXXX welcomed FBI XXX XXXXXXXXXX suggestion that HRDF set up a videoconferencing facility to assist in prosecution of those who involved in trafficking, in order to protect the victim's privacy. He described a successful pilot program the FBI has implemented using videoconferencing, in which the trafficked woman did not talk with the police, but did speak to the camera.

6. (SBU) HRDF has 8 full-time project officers and staff in the Istanbul/XX office, as well as part-time project coordinators. In addition to its XX office, HRDF has a social center in Golcuk, and project offices both in the XXX district of Istanbul and in Ankara. HRDF is the leading NGO in Turkey working on TIP, but has a network with other NGOs. In addition to TIP, HRDF's programs have assisted 400,000 women in the area of reproductive health, and 7,500 refugees.

7. (SBU) XXXXXX meeting at the Governor's office was less productive, because XX at the Istanbul Governor's office, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X, was not well-briefed on the TIP problem in Istanbul. ХХ who had worked on ХХ for ХХ years in the ХХХ office in ХХХХХ, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X was familiar with the six Istanbul shelters for street children and women who had been sexually assaulted, run by the municipality and by the social services division of the governor's office, but had no information on the HRDF shelter.

Istanbul Chief Prosecutor: Turkey only a Transit Country

8. (SBU) Meeting with Istanbul XXXXX, XXXXXX noted that TIP is a human rights issue, and discussed Turkey's placement on Tier Two of the watch list. XXXXX agreed that trafficking in persons is one of the most serious violations of human rights, and his office was determined to do what it could to combat TIP. XXXXX noted that Turkey has started a determined campaign to combat trafficking, and that in 2002 the penal code was amended to include trafficking – proving Turkey's determination. While some countries criticize Turkey for their lack of action in the TIP area, XXXXX stressed that many countries have more serious TIP problems than Turkey.

9. (SBU) XXXXX claimed that Turkey's role in trafficking is only as a transit, not a source, country. Turkey has been placed in an unfortunate position due to its geography: all source countries are neighbors with or close to Turkey. Because the former Soviet republics are in a state of economic crisis, their residents want to emigrate – and the demand for cheap labor is one of the main causes of trafficking. He believed that many of those from former Soviet republics who stay in Turkey do so willingly, to engage in prostitution. Others are victims of organized crime brought to Turkey by force. XXXXX did not think that TIP in Istanbul was related to drug trade. He stressed that cooperation from source countries is essential to reduce the problem, but source country efforts to date have been insufficient to combat the problem globally.

10. (SBU) XXXXX noted that human trafficking must be distinguished from illegal immigration, an overlapping problem in Turkey. The Istanbul district has handled 21 incidents of trafficking in person and 95 cases of illegal immigration since the penal code was amended in 2002. It takes a long time to reach a verdict in TIP cases: of the 21 cases, only 4 have been resolved in the Istanbul court; 3 or 4 were sent to other courts, and the remaining were still ongoing. ХХХХХ office informs embassies of source countries about the cases. If the victims are in Turkey voluntarily, they usually are sent back to their countries. If the victims were brought to Turkey by force, they are referred to a psychologist; such cases are outside the jurisdiction of XXXXX office and are generally referred to the governor's office. Deportations are the responsibility of administrative divisions of Istanbul – they are not the job of XXXXX. XXXXX stressed that source countries do not help Turkey resolve TIP cases, because they often do not want victims repatriated and do not provide enough money to send them back (including visa/hotel/transportation costs). Turkey thus faces huge expenses in repatriating the victims. He commented that if the other countries involved would cooperate with Turkey, the problem would not have reached such dimensions.

11. (SBU) XXXXX responded positively to the suggestion of XXXXXXXXXX, XXX at SECI, to introduce videoconferencing to XXXXX to assist in TIP cases. While videoconferencing would be useful, XXXXX noted that such a decision would have to be made at a higher level in Ankara. XXXXX said that XXXXX already has a judicial program with SECI; he himself participated in a seminar in ХХ on ХХХ.

12. (SBU) Bakirkoy XX, ХХХХ the indictment of four men in connection with a TIP-related suicide of a Belarusian woman in Bakirkoy, met with XXXXXX January 27 and with TIP speaker XXXXXXXX Skopje, February 11. He shared with XXXXXX the documents on the indictment of four men in connection with the case of Belarusian citizen XXXXX, who he said died in the hospital after jumping out of the window. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX, one of the two other TIP victims sharing an apartment with XXXXX, witnessed the incident. XX asserted Turkey is a democratic country, and victims are not pressured by the police. He noted that penalties for TIP-related crimes causing trauma are heavy: 5-10 years for trafficking, 1-5 years for limiting freedom, and 1-3 years for encouraging prostitution – all of which could be added together, leading to a 25 year sentence. (Note: Under the revised penal code taking effect April 1, 2005, these penalties will be increased, including 8-12 years for trafficking.)

13. (SBU) XX stressed to both XXXXXX and XXXXXXXX that the crime rate in Istanbul is low for a city of 16 million, compared to that in large cities in other countries. According to XX, the Bakirkoy ХХ district handles the largest number of TIP cases in Turkey, followed by Ankara, Izmir, and the Istanbul districts of Kadikoy and Sultanahmet. Both ХХ and Istanbul XX downplayed the number of TIP cases in Istanbul, noting that most TIP victims were not involuntary, and that illegal immigration was the greater problem in Istanbul. They also bristled at the U.S. focus on Turkey's TIP problems, asking why we are not pressing France, Italy and Spain on the TIP issue.

14. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Ankara.

ARNETT