Original sentence: Originally they were set up and funded by the Turkish state in the mid 1980s under the direction of Turgut Özal.People who refused to join the village guards have had their homes burned, or have been forced to leave and their homes and property seized.Scientists Clash with the State in Turkey (by the Association for the Advancement of Science).Their stated purpose was to act as a local militia in towns and villages, protecting against attacks and reprisals from the insurgents, terrorists and guerillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).Village guards (Turkish: Koruculuk) are paramilitaries
Edited sentence: People who refused to join the village guards have had their homes burned, or have been forced to leave and their homes commandeered.Village guards (Turkish: Koruculuk) are paramilitaries set up and funded by the Turkish state in the mid 1980s under the direction of Turgut Özal to act as a local militia against the insurgents, terrorists and guerillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)