A non-government information center on Turkey
Un centre d'information non-gouvernemental
sur la Turquie
A non-government information center on Turkey
Un centre d'information non-gouvernemental
sur la Turquie
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Juin 2005 June N° 322 53 rue de Pavie - 1000 Bruxelles Tél: (32-2) 215 35 76 - Fax: (32-2) 215 58 60 editor@info-turk.be Chief Editor /Rédacteur
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Informationsdu mois
Informations of the monthDroits de l'Homme / Human Rights
Les autorités d'Ankara revient sur leurs engagements en matière de libertés
Un syndicat menacé d'interdiction, une conférence sur la question arménienne annulée: les vieux réflexes autoritaires ont refait surface ces derniers mois en Turquie, précisément au moment où le gouvernement réformateur, conduit par Recep Tayyip Erdogan, se prépare aux négociations qui doivent démarrer le 3 octobre avec l'Union européenne.
L'armée, gardienne du dogme d'Atatürk, contrôle traditionnellement le poste stratégique de la présidence de la République. Le chef de l'Etat a un droit de veto sur les nouvelles lois. Mais, depuis que le Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP) contrôle le Parlement, tout peut changer, car ce sont les députés qui élisent le président. Le prochain scrutin présidentiel est prévu en 2007. "Voir Recep Tayyip Erdogan -premier ministre et chef de l'AKP- accéder à ce poste serait la fin du monde pour les militaires" , explique Ali Bayramoglu, chroniqueur au quotidien Yeni safak (islamiste).
Une autre perspective qui hante le camp kémaliste serait de voir Emine Erdogan, l'épouse du premier ministre, accéder alors au palais présidentiel, elle qui n'est jamais invitée aux réceptions organisées par la présidence en raison du foulard qu'elle porte, vécu comme une insulte au principe de laïcité.
"Le but approche, alors les gardiens du statu quo paniquent et trouvent n'importe quel prétexte pour intervenir dans la vie publique", explique Murat Belge, de l'université Bilgi, à Istanbul. L'homme en sait quelque chose. En mai, la conférence que lui et quelques collègues s'apprêtaient à tenir à Istanbul autour de la question arménienne a été annulée, officiellement pour raison de sécurité. "Une foule agressive, prête à attaquer, s'était rassemblée près du lieu -l'université du Bosphore- où devait se tenir la conférence. Le recteur a dû annuler, d'autant que le préfet d'Istanbul avait décliné toute responsabilité en matière de sécurité" , raconte ce spécialiste de la période ottomane.
Revenue sur le devant de la scène, la question du génocide des Arméniens de l'Empire ottoman (dont la reconnaissance ne figure pas parmi les critères démocratiques européens dits de Copenhague) n'en finit pas de susciter des crispations en Turquie où les gouvernements successifs ont toujours récusé le terme de génocide ainsi que le nombre de victimes avancé par les sources arméniennes (entre 1 et 1,5 million). La thèse officielle argue de "massacres mutuels" (mukatere ) entre Turcs et Arméniens qui auraient fait 400 000 morts sur fond de décomposition de l'Empire ottoman en 1915.
La question arménienne, tout comme la question kurde, celle de Chypre ou de la pérennité du culte d'Atatürk font partie des grandes "causes nationales" (milli dava ), défendues par l'institution kémaliste armée, présidence, appareil judiciaire, services de sécurité, diplomates. Ces postulats ne souffrent aucune remise en cause. Pour avoir essayé d'ébranler un tabou, Murat Belge se retrouve sur la sellette. Depuis son bureau de l'université, cet intellectuel raconte : "J'ai toujours écrit, mes livres se vendent plutôt bien, mais depuis ces prises de position, je reçois des lettres de haine et de menaces."
Toujours à la pointe du combat en faveur des "causes nationales" , la presse a sonné l'hallali. Tout récemment, un éditorialiste du quotidien Radikal a écrit que le faciès de Murat Belge lui rappelait celui d'"un militant du Dachnak - Dachnaktsoutioun, parti nationaliste arménien -" , tandis qu'un autre a cru bon de préciser que la mère du professeur d'université était arménienne.
Etrangement, la condamnation la plus virulente est venue du ministre de la justice de l'actuel gouvernement, Cemil Cicek, qui a décrit les organisateurs de la conférence comme "des traîtres" , dont le seul but était de poignarder le pays "dans le dos" .
L'équipe au pouvoir aurait-elle mis en veilleuse la première de ses priorités, c'est-à-dire l'établissement d'un Etat de droit (avec respect des minorités) en vue de rejoindre un jour l'Union européenne ? "Nous avons eu la date en décembre 2004. Mais depuis, le gouvernement a perdu son énergie. Pour quelle raison ? Je ne sais pas. Tout cela n'a fait que bénéficier aux ultranationalistes" , déplore M. Belge.
Malgré tout, il en est convaincu, la conférence "aura lieu" et "la question arménienne reviendra à l'ordre du jour" car "c'est le plus grand crime de cette société". Et puis "il y a en Turquie un complexe de culpabilité à ce sujet. Mais contrairement à la culture chrétienne où la notion de mea culpa e xiste, notre culture ignore la repentance" , poursuit-il.
D'autres partisans du changement se sont retrouvés ces derniers mois en butte à des difficultés. Président de Egitim Sen, un syndicat d'enseignants, Alaaddin Dinger vit dans l'attente d'une éventuelle fermeture de son organisation.
Forte de 200 000 membres, Egitim Sen a dans ses statuts, depuis 1989, un paragraphe faisant référence à la possibilité d'un enseignement dispensé "dans une des langues maternelles" représentées en Turquie (le kurde surtout, l'enseignement en grec et en arménien étant autorisé).
Jusque-là, la chose était passée inaperçue. Brusquement, les tensions sont apparues et l'état-major a demandé au ministère du travail de faire pression sur le syndicat pour que le paragraphe, perçu comme une menace à l'unité nationale, soit retiré. Un procès s'en est suivi. En première instance, un tribunal local a donné raison au syndicat mais une lettre rédigée par quelques généraux a convaincu le juge de la Cassation que le paragraphe incriminé contrevenait à "l'ordre constitutionnel" .
A tout cela, le gouvernement n'a guère réagi, au risque de décevoir les partisans du changement. "En réalité, ce gouvernement n'a pas de vision. Il ne faut pas oublier que le parti AKP -Parti de la justice et du développement, islamo-conservateur, au pouvoir depuis 2002- se décrit comme conservateur. En fait, ses partisans ne se détachent pas de l'armée, de la tradition politique de l'Etat, ils hument l'air et se contentent d'une petite sortie libérale de temps en temps, c'est tout. En Turquie, le statu quo d ure depuis l'empire ottoman et il se trouve toujours quelqu'un pour veiller à sa préservation" , confie Ümit Firat, un éditeur d'Istanbul.
Pour Ali Bayramoglu, chroniqueur au quotidien Yeni Safak (islamiste), les choses sont plus compliquées. "Recep Tayyip Erdogan est déchiré entre ses réflexes conservateurs et la politique réformatrice qu'il ambitionne de mener par rapport au projet européen." Tout comme Ali Bayramoglu, nombreux sont ceux qui, dans le camp des réformateurs, s'inquiètent car le consensus qui prévalait jusque-là projet européen oblige entre l'institution kémaliste et les tenants de l'islam politique commence à s'effriter. (Le Monde, Marie Jégo, 30 juin 2005)
CEDH: Ankara condamné dans deux affaires de mauvais traitements en détention
La Turquie a été condamnée mardi par la Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme (CEDH) pour des mauvais traitements infligés à des opposants lors de leur garde à vue, dans deux affaires distinctes, a-t-on appris auprès de la Cour.
La CEDH a donné raison à Hasan Kiliç, un ressortissant turc, que la police avait interpellé en 1994 parce qu'elle le soupçonnait d'implication dans un attentat à la bombe perpétré à Istanbul par l'ex-Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, rebaptisé Kongra-Gel).
Kiliç avait accusé la police turque de lui avoir fait subir des tortures lors de sa garde à vue en 1994, notamment en le suspendant pas les bras et en lui infligeant des électrochocs.
La CEDH a estimé que "sans être catégorique", un examen médical montrant que le requérant présentait des engourdissements et des fourmillements répandus au niveau des mains et des avant-bras, avait "tendance à crédibiliser son allégation selon laquelle il aurait fait l'objet d'une suspension par les bras".Elle a condamné la Turquie pour violation de l'article 3 (interdiction des traitements inhumains ou dégradants) et alloué 15.000 EUR au requérant pour préjudice moral.
Ankara a été condamné mardi pour le même motif dans une autre affaire impliquant deux membres présumés de l'organisation illégale Dev-Sol (Gauche révolutionnaire), interpellés en 1994 devant le siège du quotidien national Hürriyet parce qu'ils étaient soupçonnés de préparer une manifestation.
Condamnés à des peines de trois ans et neuf mois et deux ans et six mois de prison pour complicité avec une organisation illégale, ils avaient affirmé avoir été soumis à la torture pendant leur garde à vue et forcés de signer de faux aveux.
La CEDH a tenu compte dans son arrêt des rapports médicaux confirmant les allégations des requérants sur le fait qu'ils avaient été frappés sur les mains et alloué 5.000 EUR à chacun des requérants pour préjudice moral. (AFP, 29 juin 2005)
17 dirigeants révolutionnaires assassinés dans les montagnes de Dersim
Le 17 juin dernier, 17 dirigeants du Parti communiste maoïste (MKP) et de son bras militaire, l'Armée de libération du peuple (HKO) ont été tués dans la vallée de Mercan, en province de Dersim, située à la périphérie du Kurdistan turc.
Les dépêches précisent qu'au cours de l'affrontement qui a eu lieu entre l'armée gouvernementale fasciste appuyée par des tirs d'hélicoptères et la guérilla, 3 combattants maoïstes auraient été capturés vifs.
Ce massacre a eu lieu alors que ces militants se réunissaient clandestinement dans le cadre du deuxième congrès de leur parti.
Parmi les personnes tuées, on dénombre 6 membres du comité central: Cafer Cangöz, Aydin Hambayat, Alattin Atas, Hüseyin Balkir, Cagdas Can et Gülnaz Yildiz.Les dirigeants suprêmes de la branche armée, la HKO, sont également à compter parmi les victimes.
Les corps des combattants tués qui ont été transférés par voie des airs vers le service de la médecine légale à Malatya (est de la Turquie) semblent atrocement mutilés. C'est en tout cas ce qui ressort des photos d'autopsie. En effet, les mutilations laissent à penser que les corps ont été torturés par les soldats de l'armée gouvernementale tant avant et qu'après leur décès.
En témoignent l'absence de plusieurs doigts chez certaines victimes, l'état général de leur dépouille et le nombre impressionnant d'impacts de balles sur leurs corps.
Alors que les familles et amis des combattants tués s'apprêtent à célébrer les funérailles, on a appris que plusieurs actions de solidarité ont été menées en Turquie en hommage aux combattants révolutionnaires tombés à Dersim.
Une trentaine de membres du Front pour les droits et les libertés (HÖC) se sont ainsi rassemblés devant la mosquée de Sisli à Istanbul aux cris de "Nous avons payé de notre vie, nous le leur ferons payer" et demandant le sort des trois combattants capturés vifs.
L'association d'entraide avec les familles des prisonniers (TAYAD) a condamné le massacre et a exprimé son soutien aux familles des militants tués.
On apprend en outre que des militants du HKO auraient mené des actions de représailles contre une patrouille de police dans le quartier d'Alibeyköy à Istanbul, blessant plusieurs agents de police. Une caserne de la gendarmerie située dans un autre quartier stanbouliote, Maslak, aurait également été attaquée par des combattants maoïstes.
En outre, le Front révolutionnaire de libération du peuple (DHKC) auraient également réagi au massacre des cadres dirigeants du MKP et de la HKO par des calicots piégés, des rassemblements clandestins et des inscriptions murales dans plusieurs villes du pays.
En France, quelque 200 sympathisants de diverses organisations révolutionnaires ont protesté contre le massacre dans le quartier du Faubourg Saint-Denis.
A Vienne, plus de 200 sympathisants du MKP, du TKP/ML et du DHKC se sont rassemblés pour protester contre le massacre sur la place fort fréquentée Stephansplatz.
A Londres, une centaine de sympathisants de HÖC et de lecteurs des revues "Devrimci Demokrasi" (Démocratie révolutionnaire) et "Partizan" ont déambulé dans les rues londoniennes à forte densité turque et kurde. (HÖC Info, 19 juin 2005)
"Stop The War" call by intellectuals to the State and the Kurdish Guerrilla
A group of prominent Turkish intellectuals, scientists, artists and political activists call the Kurdish guerrilla PKK and Turkish government to help bring the recently flaring armed conflict to an end in a public statement on Wednesday.
In a press briefing the spokespersons Tayfun Mater, Gencay Gürsoy Sahika Yüksel and Fadime Gok declared their demands and responded the questions from press.
Recalling that the recent deaths in the armed conflict in southeast Turkey have already totaled 50 "let our people not die any more; let us enjoy peace and justice" the intellectuals say.
Having caused the lives of total 30 thousand Kurdish guerrillas, security forces and civilians the armed uprising in Turkey's southeast aiming Kurdish self-determination had practically ended after the insurgent leader Abdullah Ocalan's arrest in 1999.
However the clashes flared recently after the PKK's declaration of ending the unilateral truce in July 2004.
150 signatories including Turkey's renown novelists Orhan Pamuk and Adalet Agaoglu, businessmen Osman Kavala and Can Paker, human rights activists Sanar Yurdatapan, Sebnem Korur Fincancž, Akžn Birdal, Yusuf Alatas scientists Ayse Erzan, Ayse Gül Altžnay, former ministers Fikri Saglar and Ercan Karakas, journalists Ertugrul Kürkçü, Nadire Mater Ragip Duran, Rüstem Batum and Hrant Dink, jurists Yücel Sayman and Ergin Cinmen called the PKK "cease all armed activity immediately and without preconditions" and the government "make the necessary legal arrangements in order that a lasting peace may be established and everyone may participate in democratic social life."
The full list of the signatories
Abdullah Aysu, Adalet Agaoglu, Ahmet Hakan Coskun, Akžn Birdal, Alaaddin Dincer, Ali Bayramoglu, Ali Nesin, Ata Soyer, Ayla Gursoy, Aydžn Cingi, Aydžn Engin, Ayhan Bilgen, Ayse Cavdar, Ayse Erzan, Ayse Gul Altinay, Baskin Oran, Behic Ak, Bulent Aydin, Büsra Ersanlž, Can Paker, Celal Korkut Yildirim, Çagatay Anadol, Deniz Kavukcuoglu, Dincer Sezgin, Dogan Tasdelen, Ece Temelkuran, Elif Safak, Emin Koramaz, Erol Katircioglu, Ertugrul Kurkcu, Ercan Karakas, Ergin Cinmen, Ersin Salman, Erol Kizilelma, Esin Yelekci, Fadime Gok, Faruk Suyun, Fehmi Kutan, Ferda Keskin, Ferhat Kentel, Ferhunde Ozbay, Fethiye Cetin, Fikri Saglar, Fuat Keyman, Fusun Ustel, Gencay Gursoy, Gunduz Vassaf, Gurol Irzik, Hacer Ansal, Hakan Tahmaz, Halil Berktay, Halil Ergun, Hayri Kozanoglu, Hrant Dink, Huri Ozdogan, Huseyin Bekiroglu, Huseyin Eroglu, Hüseyin Firat, Huseyin Yesil, Husnu Ondul, Ibrahim Kaboglu, Idel Rosenthal, Ipek Calislar, Ismail Hakki Tombul, Jaklin Celik, Jale Parla, Kazim Genc, Kemal Bulut, Kemal S.Sunar, Kemal Ulusaler, Kenan Camurcu, Koksal Aydin, L.Dogan Tilic, Mahir Gunsiray, Mehmet Bekaroglu, Mehmet Gumus, Metin Bakalci, Mevlut Ulgen, Murat Celikkan, Mebuse Tekay, Mehmet Guleryuz, Mehmet Ali Alabora, Mehmet Soganci, Melek Goregenli, Melek Taylan, Melih Asik, Mete Tuncay, Muammer Keskin, Muhittin Unal, Murat Belge, Murtaza Demir, Mujde Ar, Muslim Akalin, Nadire Mater, Necmiye Alpay, Nevzat Celik, Noyan Ozkan, Nihal Bengisu, Nuray Mert, Nuri Odemis, Nesrin Sungur, Oguz Ozerdem, Oral Calislar, Orhan Alkaya, Orhan Pamuk, Osman Kavala, Oya Baydar, Ozlem Dalkiran, Peral Bayaz, Pinar Kur, Ragip Duran, Rauf Kosemen, Refik Durbas, Resit Canbeyli, Rustem Batum, Sadun Aren, Sami Evren, Selcuk Uluata, Sevgi Goyce, Sevgi Uçan, Sezai Kaya, Sezai Temelli, Sibel Irzik, Sahika Yuksel, Sahin Alpay, Sanar Yurdatapan, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, Semsa Ozar, Semsettin Polat, Seyda Ozil, Sukru Boyraz, Tahsin Yesildere, Taner Akcam, Taner Yuzgec, Tayfun Mater, Toktamis Ates, Ufuk Uras, Vecdi Sayar, Veysi Saržsozen, Vicdan Baykara, Yahya Arikan, Yildiz Ramazanoglu, Yžlmaz Ensaroglu, Yigit Ekmekci, Yusuf Alatas, Yucel Akdemir, Yucel Sayman, Zafer Uskul, Zeynep Oral, Zeynep Tanbay. (BIA News Center, June 15, 2005)
La police turque dénonce "l'aide européenneà des terroristes"
Le chef de la police turque a accusé jeudi des alliés européens de la Turquie et certains de ses voisins d'apporter une aide à des groupes terroristes turcs et a dénoncé une politique de "deux poids deux mesures" dans la lutte mondiale contre le terrorisme, a annoncé l'agence Anatolie.
"Malheureusement, des organisations terroristes bénéficient du soutien affiché ou secret de plusieurs pays", a déclaré Gokhan Aydiner, chef du Département de la sécurité en Turquie, au cours d'une conférence de presse à Istanbul.
M. Aydiner a cité parmi les bénéficiaires de cette aide les militants du Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).
"La plupart des Etats qui ont mis à la disposition des organisations séparatistes terroristes des bases d'entraînement et leur ont fourni des explosifs ainsi que du matériel électronique se trouvent être malheureusement des Etats européens amis et des voisins", a-t-il ajouté sans mentionner le nom de ces pays.
M. Aydiner a également reproché à la Belgique son refus de lui livrer la militante du DHKP-C (Front révolutionnaire de libération du peuple), Fehriye Erdal, recherchée pour le meurtre en 1996 d'un homme d'affaires. (AFP, 9 juin 2005)
ILGA and KAOS worry about Article 122 of the new TPC
ILGA, the International Lesbian and Gay Association, and its member KAOS, a Turkish organisation, both fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, has sent to Rturkish Premier Erdogan a letter worrying about Article 122 of the new Turkish Penal Code.
The message reads:
Article 122, which forbids discrimination on the basis of "language, race, colour, gender, political thought, philosophical belief, religion, denomination and other reasons" originally listed "sexual orientation." This was removed from the draft at the last moment.
ILGA shares Kaos's concerns and insists that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation be banned in the Turkish Penal Code. We urge the government to take the necessary actions to amend the Penal Code in order to:
- Ban and criminalise discrimination based on sexual orientation
- Remove the article penalising consensual sexual relations between young people of 15 to 18 years of age. This clearly violates the Children's Rights Protocol and the Global Declaration of Human Rights, both ratified by Turkey.
- Amend the ³obscenity² article by clearly defining what constitutes ³obscenity².Finally we invite the authorities to listen to the concerns expressed by the press and human rights groups such as Amnesty International and take further steps to amend or abolish problematic articles of the TPC, such as Articles 305 and 301 related to freedom of expression. (stephenbarris@ilga.org , June 9, 2005)
La Turquie condamnée pour "torture" d'une femme par des policiers
La Turquie a été condamnée mardi par la Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme pour "torture et traitements inhumains et dégradants" à l'encontre d'une femme battue par des policiers pendant sa garde-vue.
Mesude Dalan s'était plainte devant la Cour d'avoir été arrêtée en 1995 pour avoir tenté d'aider deux femmes agressées par un groupe d'hommes qui étaient en fait des policiers et d'avoir ensuite été torturée lors de son interrogatoire.
Elle a indiqué avoir été insultée, suspendue par les poignets et battue par les policiers qui voulaient lui faire avouer qu'elle était membre du Front révolutionnaire du parti de la Libération du Peuple (DHKP/C).
De nombreuses traces de violence, notamment des ecchymoses allant jusqu'à 10 cm de diamètre, avaient ensuite été relevées sur son corps.
Le gouvernement a de son côté assuré que la requérante avait été arrêtée avec les deux autres femmes dans le cadre d'une opération contre le DHKP/C et que les lésions s'expliquaient par sa résistance à son arrestation.
"Le nombre et la gravité des blessures relevées sur le corps de la requérante, 12 jours après l'arrestation, paraissent trop importants pour correspondre à une force proportionnée à laquelle huit policiers devaient recourir pour appréhender trois femmes, qui assurément ne constituaient pour eux aucune menace particulière", a estimé la Cour européenne.
La Turquie, condamnée pour violation des articles 3 (interdiction de la torture et des traitements inhumains et dégradants) et 13 (droit à un recours effectif) de la Convention européenne des droits de l'Homme, devra verser 8.000 euros pour dommage moral à Mme Dalan. (AFP, 7 juin 2005)
La Turquie condamnée pour n'avoir pas empêché le suicide d'un appelé
La Turquie a été condamnée mardi par la Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme pour n'avoir pas empêché le suicide d'un appelé qui s'était tiré une balle dans la tête avec son arme de service, alors qu'il avait été diagnostiqué comme dépressif.
En 1994, Mustafa Canan Kilinc, qui souffrait d'une "dépression atypique", avait été déclaré apte à faire son service militaire par les autorités turques qui lui avaient fait suivre malgré tout un traitement psychiatrique pendant son incorporation.
Après plusieurs périodes de repos et des traitements liés à ses "troubles d'anxiété", le 7 mai 1995, le jeune homme avait finalement été assigné aux tâches habituelles d'un appelé par le commandant de sa garnison.
Une semaine plus tard, alors qu'il était de garde sur le mirador de la prison de la garnison, il s'était tiré une balle dans la tempe avec le fusil Kalachnikov chargé dévolu à sa fonction.
La Cour européenne a noté que les "problèmes psychiatriques" du requérant avaient été diagnostiqués bien avant qu'il ne soit appelé sous les drapeaux et que les autorités l'avaient affecté à un poste de soldat ordinaire malgré son "instabilité psychique" et son "comportement alarmant".
Les autorités militaires "auraient dû savoir que l'intéressé risquait d'attenter à ses jours" et elles n'ont "pas fait tout ce qui était en leur pouvoir pour protéger l'intéressé contre le danger, aussi bien connu qu'évitable, que celui-ci présentait pour lui-même", a estimé la Cour.
Les juges européens ont également souligné que le cadre réglementaire turc, qui ne contient pas de dispositions claires sur les appelés dans la situation de M. Kilinc, avait été "défaillant".
La Turquie a ainsi été condamnée pour violation de l'article 2 (droit à la vie) de la Convention européenne des droits de l'Homme et devra verser 4.000 euros pour dommage moral aux proches du requérant. (AFP, 7 juin 2005)
Conscientious objector Tarhan subjected to death threats
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan who has been subjected to death threats and beatings by other prisoners since his imprisonment on 11 April and the delay in ensuring his safety by the prison authorities after the abuses were reported.
Mehmet Tarhan was detained in Izmir on 8 April 2005 and then imprisoned in the military prison in Sivas on 11 April where he has remained since then. He has been subjected to severe beatings and death threats by other prisoners since his imprisonment there. When Mehmet Tarhan informed prison authorities of the abuse no immediate action was taken to ensure his safety and the abuse reportedly continued. After his lawyer learned about the abuse, she raised her concerns for his safety with the prison administration and an investigation into the alleged abuse was opened and some action was then taken by the prison authorities to protect him.
On 27 October 2001, Mehmet Tarhan had publicly declared his conscientious objection to compulsory military service at a press conference in Ankara. He stated: "I condemn every kind of violence believe that joining or condoning violence will only result in new violence and everyone will be responsible for the consequences. I think that wars caused by power-mongering states are first and foremost a violation of the right to life. The violation of the right to life is a crime against humanity and no international convention or law can justify this crime, regardless of any rationale. I therefore declare that I won't be an agent of such crime under any circumstances. I will not serve any military apparatus." Since then he remained active in his anti-militarist activities. On 27 October 2004 he again publicly declared his conscientious objection.
A case was opened against Mehmet Tarhan and he is being charged with "insubordination", according to Article 88 of the Turkish Military Penal Code (TACK). This charge carries a penalty of between three months' and five years' imprisonment. The last hearing took place on 26 May and observers noted that there were signs of bruising on Mehmet Tarhan's body and that he was unable to walk properly. The next hearing has been adjourned until 9 June. Amnesty International considers Mehmet Tarhan to be a prisoner of conscience, prosecuted for his conscientiously-held beliefs, and calls for his immediate release. The organization also urges the Turkish authorities to introduce an alternative civilian service for conscientious objectors which is not discriminatory or punitive.
Background information:
In Turkey it is compulsory for all men between the ages of 19 and 40 to do military service for 15 months. Amnesty International is concerned that the right to conscientious objection is not legally recognized by the authorities, and provisions do not exist for an alternative civilian service for conscientious objectors. Internationalhuman rights standards recognize the right to conscientious objection. Recommendation No. R (87) 8 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States of the Council of Europe Regarding Conscientious Objection to Compulsory Military Service of 9 April 1987 states that, "Anyone liable to conscription for military service who, for compelling reasons of conscience, refuses to be involved in the use of arms, shall have the right to be released from the obligation to perform such service.... Such persons may be liable to perform alternative service." In recent years in Turkey there have been a small number of conscientious objectors who have publicly stated their refusal to carry out military service. They are usually subject to criminal prosecution. (AI Index, 8 June 2005)
TIHV's Recent Human Rights Reports in Brief
June 30, 2005
Torture Case... On 29 June Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 1 continued to hear the case against 19 police officers that was launched on the allegation of torturing Tekin Demir, Bahar Güler and two other persons who had been detained in 2002. Bahar Güler stated during the hearing that she had been beaten, subjected to insults and threatened to rape. Güler told that Tekin Demir whom she had met in detention had had difficulty in standing and his feet had been bleeding. Bahar Güler also added that the Forensic Institute had given her a report without examining. Güler identified the defendants Necdet Algül, Deniz Bacaksiz, Mustafa Kiziltas and Abdi Sahin; Tekin Demir, who said that he had been blindfolded during detention, identified the defendants Mustafa Kiziltas and Necdet Algül. The lawyers of the police officers announced that the defendant Hanefi Karal could not attend the hearing on the grounds that he was charged at the Prime Ministry. Defendant police officers Halil Ibrahim Y., Osman Koçak and Deniz Bacaksiz testified to the effect that they did not torture anybody. The hearing was adjourned to 27 July for taking the testimonies of Hanefi Karal, Beyza Kizilkaya, Halil Kara, Behçet N. and Serkan Say. The case had first been launched at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 15 for "ill treatment" (Article 245 of the former TPC) but later sent to the heavy penal court when the court decided not to be responsible. (Milliyet-Radikal)
Death Fast in the Prisons... Prisoners"' relatives association TAYAD announced that Fatma Koyupinar who was on death fast in Gebze Prison was reportedly taken to Gebze State Hospital by force. Fatma Koyupinar had started death fast on 9 May with the "12th death fast team". (HRFT)
Demonstrators on Trial... Public prosecutor in Trabzon launched a case against Murat Bektasoglu, chairman of Trabzon People"'s House, and Ethem Küçük, member of People"'s House, who were detained for throwing eggs to the Prime Minister Recep Erdogan during his speech in an opening ceremony in Trabzon on 24 June. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for "insulting the Prime Minister". (Hürriyet)
Attacks and Clashes in the Southeast... Four privates were wounded when the military vehicle hit a land mine nearby Kesertepe village of Kigi district (Bingöl) on 28 June. M. Serif Okur, who was detained during the funeral ceremony of Ahmet Okur, the PKK militant who was killed on 24 June, was arrested on 29 June. Other 10 detainees were released. (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
June 29, 2005
Torture in Detention... Yunus Demir (67) living in Bezirhane village of Agri, announced that he was beaten at Bezirhane Gendarmerie Station. Yunus Demir, who was called to the gendarmerie station on 27 June in connection with the disagreement on an estate, told the followings: "The commander in the station whose name was Ismail said me: 'you occupied other people's estate". I told him that I did not. Upon this he punched on my left eye. When he said 'Hit this son of the bitch', Zeki Kaya, Mustafa Kaya, Abdullah Kaya and M. Emin Kaya from Karaseyh village with whom I have the disagreement, started to beat me". Yunus Demir added that he went to the hospital but the soldiers obstructed a medical report to be given to him. (Özgür Gündem)
RTÜK Decisions... Supreme Board of Radio and Televisions (RTÜK) sentenced the TV channel Moviemax 2 broadcasting on the digital platform Digiturk to a fine of YTL 293.370 on the allegations that the movies "Kill Bill Volume 1" and "Kill Bill Volume 2" were broadcasted in the daytime. (Hürriyet)
Demonstrators on Trial... On 24 June, Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 25 started to hear the case against Mehmet Emin Özyalçin (arrested due to another case), Abdurrahim Bilen, Tuncay Yogurtçu, Ismet Aras, Erol Kaplan and Mehmet Sirin Karademir that was launched against the press announcement held in Ankara on 15 February at the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan's being brought to Turkey. The hearing was adjourned to 7 September. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced under the Article 312 of the former TPC. (Evrensel)
PKK Members on Trial... On 22 June, Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 started to hear the case against Sohbet Sen, Imam Canpolat and Ali Sükran Aktas, members of "Peace and Democratic Solution Group" who returned to Turkey after the "peace call" of Abdullah Öcalan in 1999. Lawyer Hamit Geylani asserted at the hearing that the notes of the interviews, cuttings of a newspaper published abroad and the letter written to MPs that were shown as evidences were not the elements of crime. In summing up the case the public prosecutor wanted the defendants to be sentenced according to the Article 314 of TPC for being members of illegal organization. The hearing was adjourned to 13 July. (Evrensel)
DEHAP Raided... The premises of the DEHAP in Yüksekova district (Hakkari) was raided by the police on 26 June. Some books, placards, posters and documents were reportedly seized. (Özgür Gündem)
Detention and Arrests... Emin G. was detained in Adana on the allegations of "being member of Hezbollah". Gökhan T., Hüseyin Ö., Yasar Ç., Olcay B., Ferhat A., Sehabettin Ö., Savas K., Merve Y., Dilek K., Hasan T., Ahmet D., Ibrahim Y. and Ibrahim A. who were detained for "being member of Maoist Communist Party (MKP)" on 25 June in Samsun were arrested on 28 June. These people were reportedly detained in connection with the press announcement staged in connection with the killings of 17 MKP militants in Tunceli. 11 persons were detained in Adana during the house raids conducted on 27 June. According to the announcement of Rights and Freedoms Front these persons detained in connection with the May Day meeting. 11 members of prisoners' relatives associations TUYAB and TUAD were detained during the press announcement they staged in front of Tekirdag F-type Prison on 28 June to protest the pressures in prisons. (Özgür Gündem-Cumhuriyet)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... According to the announcement made by the PKK seven soldiers and the militants Zahide Kurt, M. Masuk Atuk, Kemal Ismailogullarž were reportedly killed during the clash broke out in the region between Idil district of Sirnak and Midyat district of Mardin on 24 June. It was also alleged that one officer and two soldiers were killed, two officers and 11 privates were wounded in the attack conducted to a military vehicle in the region between Incesu and Kömürcük villages of Dogubeyazit district (Agri) on 26 June. (Özgür Gündem)
June 28, 2005
Lawyers on Trial... On 23 June, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 9 continued to hear the case against Hatice Korkut and Ahmet Avsar, the lawyers of Abdullah Öcalan, on charges of "making propaganda of an illegal organisation". Lawyer Hatice Korkut testified at the hearing to the effect that she did not make announcement to the papers, but she was called the correspondents of papers and she disclosed some information. (Özgür Gündem)
Students Dismissed... 11 students were temporarily dismissed from Mersin University in connection with the protest action staged on 4 November 2004 to protest in Council for High Education (YÖK). 5 students were dismissed for one semester, 5 students for one month and Kadir Özer for one year. (Cumhuriyet)
Demonstrators on Trial... On 22 June, Kocaeli Penal Court of First Instance started to hear the case against one soldier and 33 students in connection with the demonstration staged in Kocaeli University on 6 May on the anniversary of the execution of Deniz Gezmis, Hüseyin Inan and Yusuf Aslan. The remanded student Çaglayan Bozaci was released at the hearing. Arrest warrants against the students Özcan Ilter and Kuzey Boy were also lifted. The indictment wants 32 students to be senteced for "resisting security forces and putting up posters without permission". The private O.K. is tired on charges of "killing the private Levent Çenbeli during intervention of the demonstration". Levent Çenbeli died on 10 May at Gülhane Military medical School Hospital. (Milliyet)
Bomb Attacks in Istanbul... On 27 June, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued to hear the case against 71 defendants that was launched in connection with the bomb attacks organized on 15-20 November 2003 in Istanbul. In his summing-up the case public prosecutor wanted the defendants Harun Ilhan, Fevzi Yitiz, Adnan Ersöz and Yusuf Polat to be sentenced to life imprisonment according to the Artcile 146/1 of former TPC, 36 defendants to be sentenced various terms of imprisonment, and 31 defendants to be acquitted. (Cumhuriyet-Milliyet)
Massacre in Prison... On 27 June, Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued to hear the case against 1 doctor, 6 prison guards, 36 police officers and 29 soldiers charged in connection with the killings of 10 and injuries of 23 prisoners in Diyarbakir E-type Prison on 24 September 1996. The court adjourned the hearing for final defence of the defendants and completion of deficient documents. (Cumhuriyet)
Dev-Yol Case... On 23 June, Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 6 continued to hear the case against the members of the organization "Revolutionary Path" (Dev-Yol) that had started at Ankara Military Court on 18 October 1982. The court evaluated the demand of defence lawyers and accepted to examine the missing folders. The lawyers stressed at the last hearing that there were missing documents in the case file and many of the existing documents had been changed. Defence lawyers stated that 275 folders were missing and Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 6 had sentenced his clients to death penalty with missing information relying on 465 folders. The number of folders was registered as 740 at the hearing. (Cumhuriyet)
Refugees Died... A boat carrying refugees from Dikili district of Izmir to Lesbos island of Greece sank. 2 Tunisian refugees died; 15 Mauritanians, 5 Tunisians, one Palestinian were saved by Coast Guard. (Milliyet)
Mine Explosion... Fesih Dursun (14) who stepped on mine nearby Esnemez village of Dogubeyazit district (Agri) on 21 June was heavily wounded. Ali Akbayir, the driver of the vehicle that hit a land mine on 24 June nearby Batman village of Tunceli, was heavily wounded. (Evrensel-Özgür Gündem)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... to the announcement by PKK, the militants Mehmet Bayar, Tekin Saybak, Ahmet Okur and Senar Gülükanli and 22 soldiers allegedly died during the clashes on 23 and 24 June in the forest region between Ortaçanak and Dallitepe villages of Bingöl. The funeral of Ahmet Okur on 27 June in Diyarbakir passed with incidents. After burying Okur a group of people started to shout slogans and march. The police intervened and dispersed the group by using tear gas and by firing into air. The demonstrators also fired against the officers and 10 persons were wounded during the clash. 15 persons were detained. Tekin Saybak was buried in Van. His relative Ibrahim Sungur announced that The head of Tekin Saybak was crushed after having been killed. 2 solders were wounded when a military vehicle hit a mine nearby Dogubeyazit district of Agri. (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem-Radikal)
June 27, 2005
Demonstrator Killed, Pressure in Custody... Bahattin Aslan, who was wounded by the police during the funeral of Fahrettin Inanç who had been killed in Van on 19 June during the funeral ceremony of PKK militants Bozan Sahin and Cevher Isnaz, announced that he was forced to sign a untrue testimony by the police officers in Van State Hospital: "An officer whose name I do not know came on 22 June. He took me to cellar of the hospital and alleged that soldiers did not open fire, but did the crowd. He added that the bullet which wounded me was shot by a Kalashnikov. He wanted me to testify in accordance the information he gave me. I rejected and said that soldiers opened fire. He added that they started to fire into the air and then towards us. They were using M 16." Lawyer Zeki Yüksel, Chairman of the IHD Van branch, announced that they received information that the wounded persons were forced to release untrue testimonies. He also added that Inanç died due to lack of blood circulation and respiration. He stressed that the bullet damaged his lungs and the trace the bullet left was 5cm in width and 12 cm in length, which had to be fired from a highly destructive arm. Menaf Ipek and Rahmi Aslan who were wounded during the incident were arrested by Van Heavy Penal Court No 4 on charges of "making propaganda of an illegal organisation" right after they were released from hospital on 24 June. (24-25 June, Özgür Gündem)
Villagers Beaten by Soldiers... The soldiers reportedly beat 6 shepherds on the allegations of "aiding PKK militants" during the raid conducted on 20 June on Mirgezer hamlet nearby Yüksekova district of Hakkari. The shepherd Sait Milas said: "We woke up in the morning with firings. The soldiers besieged us. They fired against our feet and said that we were aiding PKK. Afterwards they started to beat us. After beating my friends Erol, Abidin and Bülent they came to me. They started to beat me by saying that there were 8 PKK militants in the region and I was the head of them. They alleged that I was carrying supplies for them. They broke my nose." Milas stressed that the physician in the gendarmerie station did not give him a report and he made official complaint against the Gendarmerie Commandership in Yüksekova. (24 June, Özgür Gündem)
Ill-treatment Trial... On 24 June, Ceyhan Penal Court of First Instance No 2 started to hear the case against the police officer Ramazan Arslan on charges of beating Murat Gezici on 28 July 2004 in Sehit Resat Coskun police station in Ceyhan district of Adana. Lawyer Beyhan Günyeli stressed at the hearing that Murat Gezici had gone to the police station to present the official documents concerning his relatives who had been wounded due to car hit which had been driven by the police officer Sebat Bas and had been beaten there. Günyeli added that Gezici had been beaten by 8 officers and the names of the officers had been mentioned in the official complaint the case was launched only against Ramazan Arslan. Hakki Gezici, father of Murat gezici, said that his son had been kept in custody for 10 hours for warning an officer who had violated the traffic rules. The court adjourned the hearing to 5 October. (26 June, Özgür Gündem)
Pressures in Prisons... Prison Disciplinary Council in Sincan F-type Prison reportedly ordered the seizure and destruction of the humour publication of the prisoners "Viz Gelir (an idiom to be used in the meaning of "no matter" or "matter of indifference")". The prisoners Kaan Ünsal and Kamil Karatas sent the publication to their relatives via mail and the decision that was taken on 23 March was based on that the publication included drawings insulting the authorities and supporting death fast action. The decision would also cover the previous issues. According to the announcement by political prisoners 2 PKK prisoners were given for 3 months' disciplinary sentence for talking with their relative in Kurdish on the phone. (23-26 June, Evrensel-Özgür Gündem)
TAYAD Members on Trial... On 23 June, Trabzon Penal Court of First Instance started to hear the case against Zeynep Ertugrul, representative of the journal Ekmek ve Adalet (Bread and Justice), Nurgül Acar, Emre Batur and Ihsan Özdil who were attacked by a crowded group of people in Trabzon while they were distributing leaflets on 6 April, on the charges of "staging unauthorized demonstration and insulting security officials". The defendants testified at hearing to the effect that officers provoked the incident. Zeynep Ertugrul said that she was there as a journalist and her friends were distributing leaflets of TAYAD: "There was no demonstration as alleged. They were distributing the leaflets separately. 2 traffic police officers came and asked whether those leaflets were legal and how they would know they were not PKK members. By asking these questions officers provoked the crowd against us. When my friends were trying to explain that the action was legal some 20 persons started to beat them. Meanwhile the person Ergün Kara pointed me and said that I was a PKK member. He punched me twice and made the crowed attack me. Although there were many officers around only the traffic officers intervened the incident. The court adjourned the hearing to 9 September to wait for the TV recordings of the incident. (24 June, Cumhuriyet)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... A soldier was wounded during a clash that broke out in the region between Ortaçanak and Dallitepe villages in Bingöl on 23 June. Five PKK militants were allegedly killed during the clash. (24 June, Türkiye)
June 23, 2005
Person Killed by PKK... According to the announcement by PKK, the villager Atilla Kanda was killed on the grounds that he involved the killings of PKK militants Ahmet Yusuf ve Kawa Teyyar on 17 May in Serindere village in Yüksekova district of Hakkari. It was announced that Atilla Kanda was a member of JITEM and it was not mentioned where and when he was killed.(Özgür Gündem)
Torturers on Trial... On 22 June, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 5 continued to hear the case against 2 police officers launched on charges of torturing Sezai Karakus, who had been detained on the allegations of "being member of Kongra-Gel" on 28 September 2004 and had committed suicide on 22 November 2004 in Tekirdag F-type Prison. The defendants testified at the hearing to the effect that Karakus wounded himself by scratching in order to make officers seem guilty. In the report of Forensic Institute the phrase "anal and vaginal" were used, upon this public prosecutor stressed that there had to be a mistake and wanted the report to be sent to Forensic. He also added that the results the report would let may raise difficulties for Turkish government on international basis and wanted the report re-prepared. (Cumhuriyet)
Conscientious Objector... Conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan who was arrested in April and charged with "disobedience to orders in order not to serve", and started hunger strike to protest in the ill-treatment in the prison, reportedly concluded his action on 21 June. (Özgür Gündem)
Lawyers on Trial... Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 banned the lawyers Okan Yildiz, Bekir Kaya, Devrim Baris Baran and Firat Aydinkaya from being the lawyer of Abdullah Öcalan for one year under the Article 151/3 of Law on Criminal Procedures. Previously, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 9 had banned 8 lawyers from being the lawyer of Abdullah Öcalan for one year. (Özgür Gündem)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... The privates Idris Candan and Mehmet Ali Arslan died; one non-commissioned officer and 5 privates were wounded when a military vehicle hit a mine on 22 June nearby Yukari Toklu village in Taslicay district of Agri. The private Nevzat Arçil died, 2 privates were wounded when a military vehicle hit a mine nearby Sirnak. Two non-commissioned officers and one private were wounded in Pervari district of Siirt because of mine explosion. The funeral ceremony of Fahrettin Inanc (19) who was shot to death during the clash broke out during the funeral ceremony of PKK militants Bozan Sahin and Cevher Isnaz, who were killed on 16 June also passed with incidents. A group of persons took the body of Inanç from Van State Hospital and wanted to march to Bostaniçi town. Police hindered the crowd and the group started to throw stones. One person was wounded with a stone. The group kept marching and the police stopped them before entering the town. After negotiations Fahrettin Inanç was buried in the cemetery of the town. Meanwhile Bahattin Aslan and an unknown person were detained during house raids conducted in Bostaniçi on the night of 21 June. (Radikal-Özgür Gündem)
June 22, 2005
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast, Demonstrators Beaten... The funeral ceremony of PKK militants Bozan Sahin and Cevher Isnaz, who were killed on 16 June, passed with incidents. Sahin and Isnaz were buried in Seyrantepe Graveyard on 19 June by the permission of the public prosecutor in Van but without informing their families and identification. However, Isnaz and Sahin families demanded the corpses to be got out from the graves and given to them. Chairman of DEHAP in Van Abdurrahman Dogar appealed to the public prosecutor in the name of the families. When public prosecutor permitted them for getting out of the corpses the preparation for the funeral ceremonies in Adana for Sahin and in Bostaniçi town of Van for Isnaz were started. On 21 June some 300 persons started to march from DEHAP premises in Van to Bostaniçi town. After a while the number of demonstrators reached a thousand but they were not let to enter the town. Upon this a clash broke out between the demonstrators, soldiers and police. Fahrettin Inanc (19) was shot to death during the clash. Police officer Mustafa Kaya and the demonstrators Rahmi Aslan, Bahattin Aslan, Menal Ipek, Gülan Bilek and Ekrem Aydin were wounded. Three journalists were also slightly wounded. Many demonstrators were reportedly detained after the incident. (Milliyet)
Person Beaten by Police... Mustafa Uduncu (21), living in Diyarbakir, made an official complaint on the allegations that he was beaten by the police on the night of 19 June. Mustafa Uduncu appealed to the HRA Diyarbakir branch and told the incident as follows: "10 police officers having uniforms entered inside suddenly while I was sitting in my friend's office in Seyrantepe.They took us outside without saying anything and attacked with truncheons and butt of their guns. My friend succeeded to escape. They kicked my stomach, face and back. I got muddled because they hit my head by truncheons. Then they left me there and got away." Mustafa Uduncu told that he appealed to Sanayi Police Station on 20 June nearby the place of incident but he was sent to Huzurevleri Police Station. He stated that he fainted in the police station and taken to the State Hospital by his brother. He added that he was given medical report there.(Özgür Gündem)
Hezbollah Case... 9th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation quashed the verdict against Mehmet Fidanci who allegedly "participated in the attack during when Diyarbakir Security Director Gaffar Okkan and 5 police officers had been killed and killed 14 persons at various times". This decision was reportedly taken in connection with the deficiencies in the documents. Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 6 had sentenced Mehmet Fidanci to life imprisonment on 13 January.(Milliyet)
Student Dismissed ... Faruk Tatli, former Chair for Van 100th Year University Students Association was suspended from school for two semesters in connection with the demonstration staged on 8 December 2004. Faruk Tatli put that he was in Viransehir district of Urfa on the day of the demonstration. (Özgür Gündem)
June 21, 2005
Stop Warning... Orhan Deniz, who was killed on 16 June nearby Baskale district of Van on the allegations that he did not obey "stop warning" while he was trying to cross the Turkey-Iran border illegally, was buried on 17 June. Relatives of Orhan Deniz who brought the funeral to Baskale district and a group of people blocked the traffic for a while. Later Orhan Deniz was buried in Bügrüpek (Xanik) village. Osman Yumusak who was with Orhan Deniz during the incident told the followings: "We came across with the soldiers after advancing 200 meters from the village. They opened fire against us from very short distance without any warning. Orhan started to shout after a while: 'They shot me'. When I approached him I saw he was shot at his leg. I attempted to take him to the village but the soldiers wanted me to get away. I got away from the place of incident because I was afraid. Then I went to the village and informed people. After a while I learned that Orhan was dead". Orhan Deniz's cousin Riza Adiyaman stated that they were threatened because of the official complaint they made against the non-commissioned officer "Hüsamettin" on charge at the Alev Gendarmerie Station in connection with the detention of his son Ilyas Adiyaman. Adiyaman told the followings: "Non-commissioned officer Hüsamettin detained and beat my son one month ago. They kept him 24 hours in detention. I made an official complaint afterwards. Later we were called by Van Military Court. I repeated my complaint there. Gendarmerie commander came here last week. He said before the eyes of other villagers: 'How can you complain about my personnel. My personnel is prosecuted at the military court because of you'. When I told him that I am a citizen of this country and the non-commissioned officer beat my son. He said: 'You are not a citizen of this country. You will see that one person will be killed from this village as a revenge'. One week later he sent me the corpse of Orhan." (18 June, Özgür Gündem)
Conscientious Objector... Conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan who continues hunger strike was given serum although did not want it. Tarhan's lawyer Suna Coskun stated during the press conference at the HRA Ankara branch on 17 June that Tarhan was arrested again by Sivas Military Court on 13 June after having been released from Sivas Military Prison on 9 June. Then he was sent to Sivas Military Hospital for health control and given serum although he denied it. (18 June, Özgür Gündem)
Prison Operation... On 17 June Eyüp Penal Court of First Instance No 3 continued to hear the case of 167 prisoners, 31 of whom were female who had been in Bayrampasa Prison during the "return to life operation" in December 2000. They are charged with an armed uprising during the operation. The court decided an investigation to be made in the prison. (18 June, Milliyet)
Compensation to Veli Saçilik ... Justice and Interior ministries were sentenced to pay a compensation of YTL 150 thousand in total to Veli Saçilik who lost his arm during operation at Burdur Prison on 5 July 2000. Antalya Administrative Court No 1 decided that Saçilik would be paid YTL 100 thousand for non-pecuniary damages and YTL 50 thousand for pecuniary damages. (21 June, Radikal)
Killing of Kemal Türkler... On 20 June Bakirköy Heavy Penal Court No 2 started the retrial of Ünal Osmanagaoglu for killing of Kemal Türkler on 22 July 1980 in Merter quarter of Istanbul. Rasim Öz, lawyer of Türkler family, stated that the quashing decision of the Court of the Cassation was appropriate and the court should decide accordingly. Public prosecutor and Selcuk Sunay, lawyer of Osmanagaoglu, on the other hand, demanded the court to insist on the first decision. First Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 2 had acquitted Osmanagaoglu on the grounds of the lack of evidence on 14 April 2003. 9th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation had quashed this decision on the allegations concerning the cases of Abdülsamet Karakus, Aydin Eryilmaz, Celal Adan, Ismet Koçak and Ismail Aydin Esi who were tried in connection with the killing of Kemal Türkler were not investigated.(21 June, Milliyet)
Metin Kaplan on Trial... On 20 June April Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 concluded the case against Metin Kaplan, leader of "Union of Muslim Communities and Organizations" who had been extradited by Germany to Turkey in October 2004. The court sentenced Kaplan to life imprisonment under 146/1 of the former TPC for "violent attempt to overthrow the constitutional order". (21 June, Radikal)
Detentions and Arrests... Bilal Önen, Ayse Irmak, Ihsan Bilgiç and Hasan Özkul were detained in Istanbul on the allegation of "being members of PKK". (17 June, Milliyet)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... Second lieutenants Adnana Bahat, Erhan Tastimur and a private died, six privates were wounded when a military vehicle hit a land mine on 16 June nearby Çukurca district of Hakkari. PKK militant Sahap Durmaz was killed during the clash broke out between Pamuklu and Golek villages of Mazgirt disrict (Tunclei) on 15 June. Durmaz's uncle Bekir Atabey stated: "When I saw Durmaz in morgue his body was broken into pieces. He did not have his right eyes. His skull was depressed. There were breaks on his right arm and left leg". Private Zafer Konak, who was wounded in the attack conducted to a military vehicle in the region between Pertek districts of Tunceli and Aricak districts of Elazig on 2 June, died in hospital on 17 June. According to the announcement made by Tunceli Governorship, many militants reportedly were killed during the operation conducted against Maoist Communist Party (MKP) while they were having meeting in Mercan Valley nearby Ovacik district of Tunceli. According to the announcement one soldier was killed and three militants were captured. The killed persons are as follows Central Committee member Ali Riza Savur (Sabur), Central Committee member Aydin Hambayat, Central Committee member Caner Cangöz, Alaattin Ates, Çagdas Can, Gülnaz Yildiz, Ökkes Karaoglu, Binali Güler, Okan Ünsal, Berna Ünsal, Ibrahim Akdeniz, Cemal Çakmak, Taylan Yildiz, Ahmet Tektas (Bektas), Dursun Turgut, Kenan Çakici and Ersin Kantar. It is still not clear that Secretary General of MKP Zeynel Durmaz and Hüseyin Balkir, Cengiz Korkmaz, Mustafa Erkan, Handan Yesil were also killed. (17-18-19-20 June, Hürriyet, Özgür Gündem)
June 17, 2005
Stop Warning... On 16 July, Orhan Deniz, who was allegedly trying to cross the Turkey-Ira border nearby Baskale district of Van, was shot to death by the soldiers. (Özgür Gündem)
Lawyers on Trial... Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 9 suspended the eight lawyers of Abdullah Öcalan from profession temporarily. The decision was reportedly taken upon the appeal of the public prosecutor in Istanbul to demand the suspension of the lawyers Aysel Tugluk, Irfan Dündar, Ahmet Avsar, Dogan Erbas, Hatice Korkut, Aydin Oruç, Mahmut Sakar, Türkan Aslan, who are prosecuted according to the Article 7/2 of the Law on Fight to Terrorism.The lawyers were sentenced under the Article 151/3 of the Criminal Procedure Code that came into force on 1 June. (Özgür Gündem)
Prevented Demonstration... A rightist group attacked on the DEHAP members in Adana during a press announcement staged for Abdullah Öcalan on 15 June. Police intervened and beat the DEHAP members. Orhan Baday, Raife Ergün, Vasifiye Akgül and Fikriye Özbay were wounded during the incident. Police reportedly threatened the physicians at Çukurova State Hospital for not to give reports to the wounded persons. (Özgür Gündem)
Demonstrators on Trial... On 15 June Istanbul Heavy Penal Court of First Instance No 14 concluded the case against 56 persons launched in connection with the World Women Day demonstration on 6 March in Saraçhane quarter of Istanbul. The court decided in he acquittal of the defendants on the grounds that the "elements of crime had not materialised". (Radikal)
Incident at the University... On 16 June rightist students attacked the leftist students in the Faculty of Letter of Ankara University. Leftist students Göçmen Us, Bahtiyar Tuncer and Kiper Birol were wounded. Birol Kiper was wounded seriously from his head and shoulder by a cleaver. Mehmet Çetin, who was detained on the grounds of stabbing the student Kamil Ortakçi on 14 June, was reportedly among the attackers. Police used tear gas against leftist students who resisted getting out of the school. The faculty was closed until 27 June for security. (Cumhuriyet)
Case Concluded... 9th Penal Chamber of the Court of the Cassation confirmed the life imprisonment given to Zübeyir Aydan for "being member of Hezbollah and killing many persons". According to the official statement Zübeyir Timur, who had been captured in July 2003 in Konya, had allegedly participated in 1998 and 1999 the incidents of wounding Hasim Yildiz, kidnapping of Islamist writer Konca Kuris, killings of Ugur Gökdemir, Erhan Terzioglu, Mehmet Serif Uprak, Bayram Ali Uprak, Hüseyin Bayburt, Ahmet Ekinci, Faik Oyunlu, Bülent Dogan, kidnapping of Hidir Yeniay. Zübeyir Timur had been prosecuted at Konya SSC. (Milliyet-TIHV)
PKK Members on Trial... On 15 June Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 5 continued the case against the PKK members Gülistan Tekin, Ismail Akyol, Songül Oguz and Nusret Bayindir, who were surrendered to Turkey by Iraq Jurdistan Democratic Party a while ago. Songül Oguz and Nusret Bayindir were released according to the article concerning "effective repentance law" in the new TPC. (Milliyet)
Students on Trial... On 16 June Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 concluded the case against 10 students that was launched in connection with a demonstration staged on 14 December 2003 at Ankara Hacettepe University. Haydar Karaca and Mehmet Selim Ensari were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment each while the eight students were acquitted. (Özgür Gündem)
June 15, 2005
Ill Convict... Political prisoner Adem Asan, incarcerated in Kürkçüler F-type Prison, was reported chained to the bed in Adana State Hospital where he was taken for treatment. His mother Caziye Asan told that his son, who needs hemodialysis continuously due to chronic kidney failure, was arrested after having been detained on 24 March in a private hospital. Caziye Asan put that his son is taken to Adana State Hospital from Kürkçüler F-type Prison three times a week: "Only one of his hands was handcuffed before but now both of them are handcuffed. Moreover they chain his feet to the bed. My son told me that the commander threatened him in the hospital. Sometimes he suffers incredibly due to the cramps at his feet during hemodialysis. He wanted Commander to loosen the chain when he had cramp on that day. However the commander shouted at my son that he would not loosen the chain. My son said him 'Then kill me' while he was in pain. Upon this the commander said: 'Of course I kill you. First I kill you and then I say the public prosecutor that you died due to your illness'". (Özgür Gündem)
Persons Beaten by Police... Ferdi Taspinar (29) and Mehmet Ali Dülger (19), who were detained by mistake on 13 June in Konya were reportedly beaten by police. According to news, two persons who were involved in a fight broke out around 23.00 pm in the city center started to escape from police. After learning these persons were going towards Konya Numune Hospital they stopped Ferdi Taspinar and his nephew Mehmet Ali Dülger who were running to the hospital for bringing up blood. Taspinar and Dülger tried to tell about their situation and resisted the police they were taken to the security point. Dülger's shoulder was dislocated while he was being beaten by the police. Ferdi Taspinar said: "They beat us, searched knife on us. when they could not find they threw us out saying 'we beat wrong men'". (Radikal)
Torture Case... On 13 June Beyoglu Penal Court of First Instance No 10 started to hear the case against police officers Zeki Agca and Nuri Acikgoz in connection with the beating of the juvenile K.K. (16) in Istanbul Police Station on the allegation of "ill treatment" (Article 245 of the former TPC). The hearing was adjourned to 26 July. K.K. told that he went to Taksim Police Station after having been stabbed: "I told the official that I was stabbed. Meanwhile the knife in my pocket fell down. Upon that police officers kicked me. They released a dog on me in the building. The dog bite my arm".
EMEP Executives and Members on Trial... A court case was launced against Chairman of Party of Labor (EMEP) in Hozat (Tunceli) district Erdem Ulas Çelik and EMEP members Hasan Kiliç, Nihat Aldemir, Alihan Muratkan and Özdal Akbaba on the allegations of "putting up unauthorized May Day posters and distributing leaflets". The indictment wants the defendants to bee sentenced according to the Article 536/1 of the former TPC. The case would be held by Hozal Peace Penal Court. (Evrensel)
Incident at the University... A fight broke out in the Faculty of Letters of Ankara University on 14 June when three rightist students threatened leftist students by knife. Kamil Ortakçi was stabbed and Mehmet Baran was wounded from his head by stone. One student was reportedly detained. (Radikal)
Mine Explosion... A vehicle of the General Directorate of Rural Services hit a mine on 14 June nearby Kemerli village of Sirnak. Mehmet Güner (55) and M. Emin Ceylan (48) died in the explosion. (Radikal)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... Soldiers Mehmet Duman and Dursun Ali Yilmaz, and another person who is allegedly confessor were wounded during the clash broke out nearby Lice district of Diyarbakir on 14 June. (Özgür Gündem)
DEHAP Executive Killed...Former chairman DEHAP in Malazgirt district (Mus) Ihsan Bertan was killed on the night of 13 June in the armed attack conducted to his car nearby Karliove district of Bingöl. Another person in the car was reportedly wounded. (Özgür Gündem)
June 14, 2005
Ill Convict... Lawyer Yasemin Dora Seker from Adana Lawyers' Bar Association announced that the political prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan (66), incarcerated in Kürkçüler Prison, has serious health problems. Yasemin Dora Seker told that Mehmet Emin Özkan who was detained in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment, suffers from prostate, shortness of breath, hearth failure and hypertension. Seker put that they appealed to the ECoHR in April 2003 after their fruitless appeals to the Presidency and the Ministry of Justice. Seker also added that they are waiting for the report of Forensic Institute. (Özgür Gündem)
Mine Explosion... On 13 June, M.D. (26) was wounded due to mine explosion when he was trying to cross to Syrian border from a minefield nearby Darmik Mountain of Kilis. (Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrest... PKK member Gülcan K. surrendered to Yüksekova Gendarmerie Commandership in Hakkari. On 13 June, K.K. and S.C., who staged an action to protest unemployment in front of premise of Prime Ministry, were detained. (Milliyet)
June 13, 2005
Torture in BingölŠ The soldiers allegedly beat the villagers and fired randomly when they raided on 9 June Burmatas hamlet nearby Hasanova village in Karliova district of Bingöl. The villager Aziz Biçer said: "Some 200 soldiers and village guards from Çirik village raided the village. They alleged that to 7 guerrillas took shelter in the village. When we said they were mistaken, they started to beat us with their rifles and insult. They dragged the women by pulling their hairs." He added the village guards with the first name Haci, Kadri, Siddik and Kado shot lots of sheep to death and the soldiers beat the villagers Celalettin Mert (70), Nebahat Mert, Naima Sayek, Songül Mert, Belkise Biçer, Zübeyde Mert, Aziz Mert, Atik Mert, Yakup Mert, Özal Sayek and Ismet Sayek. He stressed that Karliova Governor Erkan Çapar tear their official complaint to pieces and said: "You are aiding PKK, you give shelter. You gave the tents we gave you after the earthquake to the guerrillas. Soldiers did what you deserved." Celalettin Mert added that Commander of Karliova Gendarmerie Squadron threatened them to burn the village when he went to visit him with the headman of the village Abdülkerim Mert. (11 June, Özgür Gündem)
Egitim-Sen Executive Threatened... Müzahit Karakus, branch secretary of Egitim-Sen in Van, announced during the press conference on 10 June at HRA Van branch that members gendarmerie intelligence service JITEM were threatening him to death by calling. He added that he mad an official complaint and continued: "Some called me at about 11pm. He said he was a JITEM member and his name was 'Cevat' or 'Cahit'. He closed the phone. Some time later he called again. He said that he was a captain at JITEM. He alleged that I had connection with illegal organisations and threatened me to death if I do not stop working for Egitim-Sen. He added that I would be recorded as 'killed by unidentified assailant'." (11 June, Özgür Gündem)
Demonstrators Detained... The police intervened and dispersed the members of Socialist Platform of Oppressed (ESP) who staged a demonstration on 11 June to protest in the privatisation of Seydisehir Aluminium Company and threw Molotov cocktails on Çanakkale road. The demonstrators threw stones and Yilmaz Karaçam, Mert Yamaç, Ergün Demir, Arzu Canpolat, Ikram Çali and the person with the first name Baris were detained. Seda Alirsatar and Çinar Öney who wanted to put up a poster on Galata Tower for the same reason were taken out of tower by private security guards. They were detained afterwards. 3 high school students were detained on 10 June when they wanted to put up a poster saying "No To Education Fee - We Want Democratic, Scientific and Free Education" in front of Ministry of Education. (11-12 June, Özgür Gündem)
Students Dismissed... 23 students were temporarily dismissed from Mugla University for attending the Newroz celebrations. The students Enver Güngör, Yasar Akdag and Lütfü Yoldas were dismissed for 2 semesters, remaining 20 students for one semester. (11 June, Özgür Gündem)
The Umut (Hope) Case ... On 10 June, Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 continued to hear the case against 8 persons who were charged with 22 actions, including the killing of journalist Ugur Mumcu, Dr. Bahriye Üçok, Prof. Dr. Muammer Aksoy and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali. In his summing-up the case the public prosecutor wanted Ferhan Özmen and Ekrem Baytap to be sentenced to life imprisonment according to the Article 146 TPC, Mehmet Ali Tekin and Hasan Kiliç to an imprisonment term between 15 years and 22 years 6 months for "founding and leading armed organisation", Muzaffer Dagdeviren, Fatih Aydin, Yusuf Karakus and Mehmet Sahin to an imprisonment term between 7 years 6 months and 15 years. The court adjourned the hearing to 1 July. (11 June, Cumhuriyet)
(06/047) Case Concluded... On 9 June, Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 6 concluded the case against Servet Özgün, Ömer Çakar, Murat Özgün, Mehmet Emin Sevinç, Kezban Sevinç and Mehmet Insan Denk who had been arrested after the operations conducted in Mardinkapi and Hevsel regions of Diyarbakir in August 2004. The court sentenced Servet Özgün to life imprisonment under the Article 125 TPC, Ömer Çakan, Murat Özgün and Mehmet Emin Sevinç to 3 years and 9 months for "aiding an illegal organisation". Three defendants were acquitted. (11 June, Cumhuriyet)Detentions and Arrests... Izmir Ege University students Kenan Yilmazisler, Ilker Turgut and Gülsah Mersin were detained on 9 June on the allegations of "insulting the flag" in connection with a demonstration to protest the extreme reaction to attempt to burn Turkish flag during Newroz celebrations in Mersin. They were released by the court. (12 June, Özgür Gündem)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... The village guard Semsettin Kilic was heavily wounded when he stepped on a mine on 10 June nearby Komtik (Tenile) Mountain in Beytüssebap district of Sirnak. Dogan News Agency correspondent Emin Bal was reportedly beaten by village guards in Beytüssebap State Hospital when he wanted to take photo of Semsettin Kilic, he camera was broken. (12 June, Özgür Gündem)
June 10, 2005
Stop Warning... Ömer Yüce, who did not obey the stop warning on 7 June in Denizli, was shot to death. According to the announcement by Denizli Security Director Muzaffer Erkan, officers went to Bariskent in Yenisehir quarter upon theft allegations. Two persons were warned when they were leaving a house. Officers opened fire on the grounds that they did not stop. (Hürriyet)
Soldiers on Trial... On 9 June, Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 1 started to hear the case against 13 soldiers in connection with the killing of Ramazan Demir and wounding of 4 persons in Kovali village of Derik district in Mardin on 13 October 2003. Lawyer of the villagers Erdal Kuzu demanded the soldiers to be arrested. The court adjourned the hearing to 16 December. Ramazan Demir (80) had died on 18 October 2003 in the hospital where he had been treated. Murat Demir (17), Murat Demir's father Hamdullah Demir (67) and their relatives Nusret Demir (65) and Mehmet Demir (38) had been wounded during the incident. (Özgür Gündem)
Incident in Hakkari... Unidentified persons opened fire against a minibus on the night of 8 June nearby Geçitli village of Hakkari. Firuze Özbek (46) was wounded during the incident. Necdet Yesil made an offcial complaint with the public prosecutor in Hakkari on the grounds that members of gendarmerie intelligence service JITEM opened fire against his car on 7 June on the road between Esendere and Yüksekova districts of Hakkari. He stressed that civilian dressed persons wanted him to stop nearby Dilimli village. He gave the registry numbers of the cars as 30 HA 069 and 30 YA 391. He added that when he did not stop they opened fire. He said that they were non-commissioned officers and officers from JITEM and he would identify them. (Özgür Gündem)
EMEP Executive On Trial... Public prosecutor in Hozat launched a court case against Erdem Ulas Çelik, EMEP Chair for Tunceli, for putting up the photos of Deniz Gezmis on the windows of the EMEP premises on charges of "praising criminal act". The case would commence at Tunceli Penal Court of First Instance on 6 July. Çelik announced that the Governor did not allow the commemoration of Deniz Gezmis and his friends and upon this they put the photos. (Evrensel)
Conscientious Objector... On 9 June, Sivas Military Court continued to hear the case against conscious objector Mehmet Tarhan on charges of "disobedience to orders in order not to serve". The court released Tarhan. He was transferred to Sivas Military Department. (Milliyet)
Bomb Explosion... Ilyas Kondu (14) was wounded when the dynamite he found on the road on 8 June in Sivas exploded. He reportedly lost his 2 fingers. He found the dynamite when he was going home from school. He thought that it was firework and burnt. The dynamite was similar to the ones used for fishing. (Radikal)
June 8, 2005
Trial on Death in Custody... On 7 June Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued to hear the case against the police officers Ibrahim Dedeoglu, Sadi Çayli, Hasan Cavit Orhan and Süleyman Sinkil in connection with the death in custody of student Birtan Altinbas on 16 January 1991. The hearing was adjourned to 1 July for awaiting the reply of the letter written to Tavas (Denizli) Penal Court of First Instance for taking the testimony of Süleyman Sinkil. (Cumhuriyet)
Massacre in Prison... On 6 June Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued to hear the case against 1 doctor, 6 prison guards, 36 police officers and 29 soldiers charged in connection with the killings of 10 and injuries of 23 prisoners in Diyarbakir E-type Prison on 24 September 1996. The hearing was adjourned to 27 June for the announcement of decision. (Cumhuriyet)
Incident in Yalova... One person died during the fight in Yalova between two families from Mus and Rize. The quarrel that was broke in connection with money between Artan family from Mus and Ofluoglu family from Rize reportedly developed as follows: Mustafa Ofluoglu went to the shop of Ahmet Artan on 5 June and demanded him to pay his debt of TL 400 million. Police intervened the fight that broke afterwards and detained Mustafa Ofluoglu and Ahmet Artan. Ahter having being released Mustafa Ofluoglu went o Ahmet Artan's shop with his relatives. The group, who shouted the slogan "Damn with PKK" in front of the shop, and the Artan family started to fight in front of the shop and continued fighting in the city center. Police intervened the group and detained Cem Su, a relative of Ofluoglu family. Some 50 persons from Artan family raided the Yalova Police Station and wounded Su from his leg with knife. Cem Su told: "When I was under custody some 50 persons came and started to insult at me. Meanwhile, one person came and stabbed my leg. Police officers told me not to tell that incident happened in the police station". Police officers alleged, on the other hand, that the incident did not take place in the station. Su was released after being testified. Meanwhile, Artan family raided the shop of as a counterattack. During the fight Turan Kalayci from Ofluoglu family was heavily wounded. Kalayci died in the hospital. 13 persons were detained in connection with the fight. Among these detainees Y. artan and H. Artan were arrested for "killing Turan Kalayci" on 7 June. Meanwhile, the quarters of the city in which Kurdish people live, were reportedly blockaded by the police. (Cumhuriyet-Özgür Gündem)
Incident in Agri... Village guards Abdullah and Sait Bozkurt were killed during the fight broke out between Bozkurt and Dursun families in Çatalipasa village in Agri on 6 June. Kemal Bozkurt was wounded during the incident. Village guard Kasim Dursun was detained in connection with the incident. (Özgür Gündem)
RTÜK Decisions... RTÜK imposed one time programme stop sentence to the TV channel CINE-5 on the allegation that the programmes "Fantasy", "Power Flower", "Insatiable Wives" and "Passions Desire" broadcasted on 12, 13 and 14 December 2004 were obscene. RTÜK sentenced Kanal D to one time programme stop on the allegation that the audiences and the guests insulted at each other during the programme "Sabah Sabah Seda Sayan". RTÜK gave the same sentence to Show TV in connection with the programmes Gelinim Olur Musun" and "Bir Prens Araniyor", and ATV in connection with the programme "Gülbence" broadcasted on 28 January on the allegation of "encouraging violence". In addition, the radio Arifan Radyo broadcasting in Ankara received the same sentence for "violation he rule of condemning people without reason". (Cumhuriyet)
Detentions and Arrests... Students at Çkukurova University Deniz Ökmen, Mustafa Saçli, Cihan Erbas, Seyithan Günay, Ali Öncü, Özkan Kart, Yesim Ekinci and Deniz Turgut, who were detained during the raids conducted on the night of 3 June in Adana for "being members of BAGEH", were arrested on 6 June. Ibrahim Vural, Baycan Sahin, Hatice Sahin were detained in Istanbul on the allegation of "being member of PKK". (Özgür Gündem-Star)
Clashes and Attacks in the Southeast... The soldiers Halil Öner, Sinan Çolak, Faruk Aydogdu and Ismet Esen were killed during the clash broke out nearby Esenyurt hamlet of Çiçekli village in Tunceli on 4 June. According to the announcement made by the PKK, the militants seized the identity discs of the soldiers Murat Tosun, Faruk Aydogdu and Bayram whose surname could not be read. (Özgür Gündem-Radikal)
June 6, 2005
Torture in Hakkari... Haci Çetin, who was detained on 26 May in Çukurca district of Hakkari, announced that he was tortured in detention: "First, 4 officers interrogated me stripped naked. Afterwards Çukurca Governor Ünal Coskun came. I said I had no relation with the incident. Upon this the Governor and one officer started to beat me. I was beaten for hours. Governor was insulting me. The officer threatened me to rape with truncheon and shoot me to death. I insisted that they were treating this way on the grounds that I was a member of DEHAP. Afterwards I was taken to the office of public prosecutor. He released me after testifying." Meanwhile Ziro Koç made an official complaint against the Governor Ünal Coskun on the allegations that Coskun beat him: "I went to Province Administration Office to benefit from the loans. When I was waiting on the queue Governor came and called me. He started to insult me and then beat. He wanted me to leave the district. Nebi Erdal, Mehdi Sökmez, Sabri Koç witnessed the incident." Ziro Koç added that Governor had beaten him some one month ago when he had come to Governorate to take the corpse of a PKK militant. (5 June, Özgür Gündem)
Villager Killed... The villager Ismail Demir living in Hamik village in Ceylanpinar district of Urfa was reportedly killed on 2 June by private security guards of General Directorate for Agriculture Enterprises (TIGEM). A commission constituted by the HRA, Mazlum-Der and DEHAP members went to the village on 4 June for investigation. Ahmet Dagtekin, DEHAP Chair for Urfa, announced that he had meetings with relatives of Ismail Demir and villagers and continued: "In 2001 Ismail Demir had constructed a hayloft. Private security guards saw the hayloft last week and wanted Demir to deconstruct it. Since Demir did not allow them a quarrel broke out. The villagers said that the guards set the hayloft to fire after the incident. Upon this another quarrel broke out and guards fired into air. Demir was shot to death by them when he was getting out of the house." Demir added that the villagers attacked the guards after the killing of Demir with sticks and stones. The guard Haydar Inan was wounded during the incident. Dagtekin said that the report of the commission would be announced on 8 June. (6 June, Özgür Gündem)
Children Beaten by the Police... Ugur Akdal (14) applied to HRA Diyarbakir branch on the grounds that he was beaten by the police. He said that he was collecting plastic dumb to sell and police officers stopped him and his fried Murat (11) on 14 May in front of Fatih Lyceum and beat. He added that one of his was broken and the officers also beat him previously. (5 June, Özgür Gündem)
Villager Wounded by Village Guards... Members of Mendi family were reportedly attacked by 6 village guards with arms when they were working on their arable field in Günyurdu village in Güçlükonak district of Sirnak. Sahin Mendi who was shot twice at his leg was hospitalised. His father Ömer Mendi made an official complaint with the public prosecutor in Cizre against the village guards. (6 June, Özgür Gündem)
Demonstrators Detained... The police intervened the demonstration staged on 4 June by members of Association of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in front of AKP premises in Adiyaman to protest in the pressures in the prisons. Yilmaz Kaya, Erhan Yücel, Servet Yücel, Nevzat Bozkurt, Nihal Çaliskan, Ali Yasaci, Ali Kaçak and Adnan Demirhan were detained. (5 June, Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrests... Deniz Ökmen, Mustafa Saçli, Cihan Erbas, Seyithan Günay, Ali Öncü, Özkan Kart, Yesim Ekinci and Deniz Turgut were detained on the allegations of "being member of BAGEH" during raids conducted on the night of 3 June in Adana against the houses of Çukurova University students. (5 June, Özgür Gündem)
June 3, 2005
Death in Custody... Murat Yavuzer (24), who was detained on the night of 1 June in Diyarbakir on the allegations of theft, died in the custody of Saglik Police Station. According to the official announcement he was detained at about 6pm and he hung himself in the custody by using his pants later on the night. (Özgür Gündem)
Incident in University... After the attack by rightists against the leftists on 1 June in Erzincan in the campus of Education Faculty of Erzurum Atatürk University, a fight broke between rightists and leftists on 2 June. According to the news gathered police dispersed the crowd. Afterwards leftist students wanted to march to protest, but police used tear gas and dispersed them by beating. On the other hand police did not intervene the rightists who had sticks and were nearby the faculty building. (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
Attacks and Clashes in Southeast... According to the announcement by the PKK, 4 soldiers died and 7 soldiers were wounded during an armed attack against a military vehicle on 2 June nearby Pertek district of Tunceli. According to the official announcement 6 soldiers were wounded during the incident. (Hürriyet-Özgür Gündem)
June 2, 2005
DEHAP Executives and Journalists on Trial... On 1 June Istanbul Heavy Penal court nož 12 started to hear the case against correspondent with Dicle News Agency Mazlum Özdemir, correspondent with the daily Özgür Gündem Aydin Bolkan and deputy chairman of DEHAP Ösman Özçelik launched on the allegation of participating the congress of Kongra-Gel on 16-26 May 2004. Lawyer Özcan Kiliç announced at the hearing that the correspondent of DIHA Resat Ok, who had been prosecuted on the same allegation, was acquitted. It is alleged in the indictment that there was a list of 300 persons who had attended the congress of the Kongra-Gel on the computed seized during the raid conducted to the journal Özgür Halk on 15 September 2004. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for "being members of illegal organization". (Özgür Gündem)
Incident at the University... On 1 June rightist students attacked the leftist students at Education Faculty of Ataürk University in Erzincan. Five students were reportedly wounded with sticks and cleavers. (Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrests... Aydin Acar, Hikmet Toprak, Erhan Arif, Ferhat Insen, Idris Insen, Cemal Atas, Zeki Demir, Aziz Gezik, Erkan Erol and Mehmet Emin Özyalçin who were among students detained on 30 May in Ankara in connection with the activities organized for anniversary of the execution of Deniz Gezmis, Hüseyin Inan and Yusuf Aslan, were arrested on 31 May. The names of the students who were arrested in Sivas for the same reason are as follows: Erdal Atasoy, Erdal Emeç, Mehmet Sait Arzu, Hüseyin Kayan, Burhan Günes, Yunus Kurt, Veysi Ayhan, Sedat Ipek, Tekin Çakirgöz, Nizametten Çelebi, Adnan Sinegu, Alaaddin Bingül, Hacer Karaoglu, Nurcan Çaki, Ibrahim Demir and Bora Yilmaz Tas. An arrest warrant in absentia was issued against the student Seyhmus Boz. (Özgür Gündem)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... The PKK militants who were killed on 17 May in Serindere village of Yüksekova district (Hakkari) reportedly are Ahmet Yusuf and Kawa Teyyar. (Özgür Gündem)
June 1, 2005
Stop Warning... On 31 May, police opened fire on three persons on the allegation that they did not obey the "stop warning" in Aydin. The persons allegedly attempted to rob a kiosk. Murat Ilksoy (20) who was wounded at his neck reportedly paralysed. Murat Ilksoy was reportedly wounded by the police officer N.D. (Radikal)
Incident in Erzurum... On 31