TURKEY: A disabled man and a woman vying for the leadership of a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey tell of the significance of this taste of democracy

Record ID: 213844

  • Title: TURKEY: A disabled man and a woman vying for the leadership of a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey tell of the significance of this taste of democracy
  • Date: 16th January 2013
  • Summary: MORE OF HEJJI TALKING TO REFUGEES CHILDREN WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA87WZ0KTTPL36TN6XM34DSYT4R
  • Story Text: Election preparations were underway on Wednesday (January 16) at the Kilis refugee camp in Turkey as Syrians prepare to vote in camp leaders who will form part of an administrative council.
    Turkey says the exercise is aimed at introducing democracy to Syrians.
    Hammam Hejji is one of the refugees hoping to be part of the 18-member council.

    "Because of the dictator Bashar al-Assad, Syrians have not seen a democratic election for 45 years. We found democracy outside of Syria but we need democracy in Syria. We thank Turkey for providing us with this opportunity to find democracy. Elections in Syria used to be conducted by bribes," said Hejji.

    "This is not a matter of electing a leader. We are learning the ways of democracy. We forgot democracy 50 years ago. This will be a simple experience but it means a lot. Hopefully, nobody will have to remind us about democracy when we return to our country," he added.
    The camp in southern Turkey is now home to more than 13,000 Syrians who have fled the violence in their homeland.
    Refugees who are over the age of 18 will be able to take part in the vote, and candidates must be older than 30.
    Each of the six sections in the camp is to have at least one female candidate.
    Melika Mousa, is one of the candidates, she said at first she was uncertain about nominating herself, but that her family encouraged her to put herself forward, ''In the beginning, the difficulty was for a female candidate to nominate herself, but then from the support from my husband and my children, even the Turkish officials who supported me here as well. Thank God, I overcame my difficulties,'' said Mousa.
    There are now more than 150,000 Syrians living in some 15 refugee camps in Turkey, according to the country's disaster management body (AFAD), and officials say there are tens of thousands more in towns and cities around the country.
    While Turkey has provided some of the best shelter and facilities for refugees among Syria's neighbours, overcrowding remains a concern and sporadic unrest has erupted at camps including Kilis. Turkish security forces have on occasion used tear gas to suppress the protests.
    Turkey has tried to showcase the Kilis camp, where refugees live in heated and air-conditioned containers with refrigeration facilities, as opposed to tents at other camps.
    The camp elections are due to be held on Thursday (January 17). The winners will help administer services relating to security, health, education and religion in co-ordination with the local governor's office.
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