Birgün Newspaper Interview
August 2004
Nazire Dedeman
Founder President of Umut Foundation
You are a non-governmental organization who fights against individual armament. Do you receive enough support from other NGOs and the State?
If there is going to be fight against a social problem in a country, surely States, medias, NGOs and citizens support should be sought and gained. This is sine qua non element. Unfortunately, the number of NGOs who support us against individual armament is not many, because civil society consious is just crawling in Turkey. On the other hand, it should be told that the support of the State, civil society and public considerably increased at this stage of our 10 years of fight. If it was not for this increase in support, our works would not be responded by the society. Hereby, we would like to thank those who really supported our mission.
What are the responsibilities of State and society against individual armament?
Three aspects should be considered to solve the problem of individual armament, education, law and public. The States responsibility is very important and vital interms of education and law. Firstly, law on firearms and knives should be re-regulated in line with developed countries relevant laws and the penalties should be deterrent. Other basic duty is Being a Responsible Citizen lessons should be added to the curiculum of National Education Ministry to raise people who learns, knows and practices their rights. It is because; education is one of the milestones to solve some social problems such as individual armament and violence.
Our society is unfortunately is insensitive and inconsiderate with regard to social problems. It is because above all our people are worried about making a living. But, we should be sensitive to and concerned about social problems in order to live in prosperity and raise our children in a health society. Our citizens should know that guns are a means of violence and it only kills. Consequently, possession of a gun is only a sign of weakness rather than power. Those exercise violence and get pleasure out of others pain is a person who is weak and pscycologically problematic person. Researchs proves this; at this point parents are responsible. Above all, they should refrain from teaching their children when they ecercise power they will be powerful, on the contrary, they should inoculate their children that they can solve problems through peaceful means. It is obvious that sweat talking can solve many problems.
How much can a campaign against individual armament be effective for a result? What are the concrete results you gained as a result of your efforts?
We, as Umut Foundation, are the first NGO in Turkey and the world, who used the concept of individual armament and have it recognised. IANSA (International Action Network of Sivil Arms) used to use the concept of civil disarmament but now the concept of Individual disarmament is used in international literature. Consequently, it is the first time that the problem was conceptually defined.
Umut Foundation has been organising activities for its aim for 10 years since its establishment, besides it has being carried out a campaign of No to Individual Armament. Unfortunately, the interest for these campaigns was not intense in the first years. But, the foundation for the campaing built firmly during these long years; especially we have been considerably supported by State authorities, media and the society for the last three-four years. Medias support is particularly important for us, because it makes us heard by our target segment that is the society and other establishments and bodies who can find solution for the problem together with us. This makes us very happy.
Our efforts in terms of individual disarmament continue with many activities besides various scientific researchs. However, there are two works of our own from which we want concrete results. The first of them is that last year we brought experts together and carried out works of the commission on Studying the Toy Regulation and Law on Firearms and Knives. In the end, the comission prepared a Bill on Toy Regulation and we submitted the relevant report to all concerned authorities, Health Ministry is the first of them. They responded us saying that we are to be taken into consideration. However, we have been still waiting for an answer.
The second work is the preparation of new Bill by studying Law on Firearms and Knives. This work will be completed in September and submitted to concerned authorities.
We are aware that our works create realisation and consiousness within society with relevance to individual disarmament. For example, the killer was indicted to 36 years in the case of little Alistair who lost his life with a stray bullet. This encourages us that mean our efforts are not vain; we are on a really hard road, but nothing is impossible.
Recently, we have witnessed that policemen go mad and harm people around them. At the same time, police can patrol wıith their guns in many crowded streets. What do you think about this?
Police harm people not only around them but also themselves during violence incidents. According to statistics, 365 policemen committed suicide in the last past 15 years. 98 % of those policemen who committed suicide kill themselves with a gun that was given them either to use it against criminals or protect themselves. Some statistics were published in the newspapers related to grave situation of police in the last week. According to these statistics, 150 police a year was thrown out of the profession due to disciplinary penalty, 13000 police was accomplice in a crime, 25 police committed suicide. 942 police were fired due to bribery in the last 2 years. These data displays how psycologically bad police is. As you know, society distrust police force who is responsible from protecting the society. Unfortunately, it is one of the important reasons why individual armament is common.
In my opinion, it is not good that police carry their guns in an easily visible way to everybody in crowded streets, on public transport, outside their sphere of duties. Because, the gun, above all, is an eye catching violence tool, and also a person with criminal tendencies and intent can easily seize the gun from the waist of police and can commit a crime comfortably. One of the points is that the gun can be propelling element.
Deaths due to individual armament are displayed in media as hooligan bullet. How do you asses this presentation in media?
How does the distribution of individual armament between genders look like in Turkey? What is the rate of woman and man armament? What is the distribution of individual armament in terms of region?
What will be your Foundations works from now on?