Draft paper for presentation for Mellon Fellowship for Humanitarian and Security Affairs Conference, CUNY- Graduate Center, New York, December 2, 2004 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF VILLAGE GUARD SYSTEM IN TURKEY Evren Balta The author wishes to thank to Diyarbakir Branch of Turkish Human Rights Association, especially to Mehdi Perincek and Kadir Aydin, for their invaluable help in arranging the interviews for this study. Diyar Goc-Der’s help should also be mentioned in the same regard. Ilhan Diken of Diyarbakir Branch of Turkish Medical Association was supportive in every stage of this project. Thanks to all the courageous participants of this study who were not afraid to share their traumatic experiences. Ismet Akca and Biriz Berksoy provided the most valuable help by participating in the second round of interviews in Diyarbakir. My deepest gratitude goes to Professor Susan Woodward for her mentorship. Finally, this study wouldn’t be possible without a generous grant from Mellon Foundation.