Answering a written parliamentary question presented by CHP (Republican People's Party) deputy Veli Ağbaba, Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Güler said that the number of village guards on temporary duty in the Kurdish region was 46,195 as of 1 February 2013.

Minister Güler also said that these village guards received salary of 849 TL per month, adding that they also benefited from the general health insurance provided by the state.

Since the beginning of the democratic resolution process on 21 March 2013, the Kurdish side has demanded the abolishment of the village guard system and criticized the government for the employment of further village guards who are taking an active part in the Turkish state's war against Kurdish guerrillas.