The Turkish government has been giving money to citizens who help security and intelligence officers arrest or kill those who on the ‘wanted terrorist’ list from Ankara. The ‘terrorists’ mostly include members of the Gulen Movement and the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK). This news was reported by the pro-government daily Yeni Safak reported on Tuesday.

They have allegedly paid nineteen and a half million Turkish Liras (more than $3,5 million) to 249 informers, and call it a ‘homeland award’ and ‘a patriotic act.’

“The ministry of the interior keeps informers’ names top secret,” the report claims.

Ankara has claimed there are tens of thousands of Turkish national ‘terrorists’, and has tightened its grip on ‘dissident people’ following the abortive coup of 2016. In order to encourage citizens to report those deemed ‘terrorists’ by the government, a ‘Reward Regulation’ came into force on August 31, 2015.

There have been many tip-offs since then, according to the report. Each one  is carefully evaluated and only those informants whose information is turned into an actual operation are rewarded.

“The value of the reward is determined by the Internal Ministry  of Affairs committee consisting of members from the General Directorate of Security and General Command of Gendarmerie,” reported the pro-government daily.

“Final approval is granted by the Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu, and informants are paid in cash by their local governors,” it added.

“Rewards are also given for wanted people who are physically or technically tracked. In this case, the value of the reward is determined by the committee,” the report says.

The ‘wanted list’ from Ankara was updated in February 2016. The list includes three categories defined by three colours; red, orange and grey, according to the ‘importance’ of the personalities involved.

The total amount of money paid out for those who were accused of supporting the coup in 2016 is 66,900,000 TL. This includes 12 people from the red list, 1 person from the orange list and 61 people from the grey list.

The list also includes 672 people from PKK, 342 people from the Gulen Movement, 119 people from leftist organizations and 75 people from religious groups, all who have been deemed terrorists.

The list has currently reached 1,208 people in total. Those who were captured or killed have been listed separately.

Source: thelondonpost