ISTANBUL, July 17 (AFP) - Fewer cases of torture and arbitrary arrest were reported in Turkey in the first six months of this year but reforms are being badly applied and combat deaths have increased, a human rights group reported Saturday.
The Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD) said 692 cases of torture had been registered, compared with 972 in the first six months of 2003, and 3,688 cases of arbitrary arrest compared with 5,353 in the same period last year.
The results were positive on the whole but needed to be seen in perspective, Husnu Ondul, IHD president, said in a statement.
"Over short periods the figures rise or fall but the existence of torture is a reality which does not change," he said.
"To prevent torture, changes in the law are not enough," he said. "Declarations by ministers that 'we are going to carry out an inquiry, and send an inspector' or 'the case will be referred to the courts have no effect."
The association says the government should dismiss public officials involved in torture.
The Turkish government is hoping to get the go-ahead in December from European Union leaders to open discussions about EU membership and has introduced a number of reforms designed to increase respect for human rights.
The IHD called on the government to resolve "by peaceful and democratic ways" the problem with its Kurdish minority. The armed separatist wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (formerly PKK, now Kongra-Gel) ended a five-year ceasefire on June 1.
According to the association, 61 people have died in fighting, mostly between Kurdish separatists and Turkish forces, so far this year, 55 of them in the last three months, compared with 41 in the same period in 2003.