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
|
Août 2005 August N° 324 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
en chef:
|
Human
Rights
Pressures on media Kurdish Question Minorities Interior politics Armed Forces Religious affairs Socio-economics Turkey-Europe Turkey-USA Regional Relations Cyprus and Greece Migration |
Cliquez FLASH our l'actualité du mois courant
Click FLASH for informations of the current month
Land Forces Commander's
new threatening declarations
Juil/July 05 Jui/Jun 05 Mai/May 05 Avr/Apr 05 Mars/Mar 04 Fév/Feb 05 Jan/Janv 04 Déc/Dec 04 Nov/Nov 04 Oct/Oct 04 Sept/Sept 04 Août/Aug 04 Toutes les informations depuis 1998
All informations since 1998
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Few groups in the service of the Turkish State have recently launched Internet pages with addresses similar to Info-Turk's address. This is a new attempt of the Ankara regime that has used over three decades all odious means to silence our free voice. Info-Turk does not have any relation with these groups and is determined to contibute, in spite of all pressures, to the defense of human rights in Turkey . AVIS IMPORTANT: Certains groupes au service de l'Etat turc ont récemment lancé des pages Internet avec des adresses semblables à celle d'Info-Turk. Il s'agit d'une nouvelle tentative du régime d'Ankara qui a depuis trois décennies utilisé tous les moyens odieux pour étouffer notre libre voix. Info-Turk n'a aucune relation avec ces groupes et est résolu de contribuer, malgré tout, à la défense des droits de l'homme en Turquie.
Informations récentes du mois
Latest Informations of the monthDroits de l'Homme / Human Rights
Human Rights NGOs of Turkey Join Forces
Five organizations working in the field of human rights, Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), Human Rights Association (IHD),Solidarity Association for Human Rights and the Oppressed (Mazlum-Der),the Amnesty International (UAO) and the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (hYd)have announced that they have established the Joint Platform for Human Rights (IHOP).
The platform will organize meetings and pursue projects to increase participation in efforts to adopt and improve human rights starting this October. In a statement announcing the establishment of the platform, the organizations underlined the need for establishing relations with a larger portion of the society.
IHOP said the following problems should be solved in order for the rights organizations to be able to function more efficiently:
* Problems of organization: Rights organizations should improve their current member structure and continue work through healthier relations.
* International relations:"There is a need to organize the public opinion and reaction in terms of human rights in a universal dimension; to train governments, parliaments and bureaucrats; to cooperate with the above mentioned in improving the national legislation, in accepting international conventions and agreements, and to create public pressure; and to negotiate with state and international institutions when necessary.
* Rights advocates should come together: The human rights activists in our country should urgently come together. They need to set joint goals. They need to cooperate in determining, exhibiting, and reporting on rights struggles and violations, in seeking improvements to current legislation, and in developing projects to create awareness.
IHOP needs a project developer and an assistant. Please click for detailson the vacancies and requirements for the positions (MS Word document,30K). (BIA News Center, August 28, 2005)
Le Conseil de sécurité insiste sur la poursuite de la répression
L'institution de Turquie réunissant les plus hautes autorités civiles et militaires, le Conseil national de sécurité (MGK), a réclamé mardi la poursuite d'une lutte résolue contre les rebelles kurdes qui proposent une trêve après avoir multiplié leurs attaques ces derniers mois.
Le MGK "souligne l'importance de poursuivre résolument la lutte contre le terrorisme dans le cadre de la Constitution et d'autres lois, en employant tous les moyens à disposition au niveau international" et entre services de sécurité, a déclaré le conseil dans un communiqué après quatre heures et demie de réunion.
Cette mise au point fait suite à l'annonce la semaine dernière par le PKK d'une trêve unilatérale jusqu'au 20 septembre, afin de donner le temps au gouvernement d'Ankara d'accorder des droits accrus aux Kurdes.
Le PKK affirmait répondre pour sa part à un appel lancé par le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan à résoudre le problème kurde par "davantage de démocratie".
Le MGK insiste pour sa part sur le fait que le gouvernement compte parmi ses obligations prioritaires "la sauvegarde de l'indépendance de la nation et de l'indivisibilité du pays".
Le Conseil se prononce cependant pour un effort accru en faveur du développement économique, culturel et social dans le sud-est à majorité kurde du pays, la région la plus arriérée. (AFP, 23 août 2005)
Toujours 3.788 prisonniers politiques en Turquie pour "délits de terrorisme"
Le ministère de la Justice a annoncé qu'actuellement 3.788 personnes se trouvent dans les prisons turques en tant que condamné ou inculpé en vertu de la Loi anti-terreur.
Cette loi avait été adoptée par le Parlement en 1991 et a été modifiée treize fois depuis son entrée en vigueur.
Selon les données du ministère de la Justice, jusqu'à la fin de 2004, 27.274 personnes (23.027 hommes et 4.247 femmes) ont été traduites devant les cours de la sûreté de l'Etat ou les cours pénales.
Dans 9.250 dossiers, les cours ont prononcé une condamnation: 1.820 procès ont été conclus avec l'acquittement des accusés.
Une partie des accusés ou condamnés ont été mis en liberté suivant la modification de la Loi anti-terreur ainsi que du Code pénal turc.
Actuellement, les militaires exigent que l'article 8, relatif à l'éloge des "personnes or organisations terroristes", soit rétabli. Le ministère de la Justice a promis aux militaires de faire le nécessaire dans ce sens jusqu'au 2 septembre 2005. (Zaman-Özgür Politika, 12-15 août 2005)
Quatre blessés légers dans une deuxième attentat à la bombe
Quatre personnes ont été légèrement blessées par une explosion en face d'une banque d'Omerli dans la province de Mardin, a annoncé lundi l'agence Anatolie.L'explosion s'est produite à proximité d'un distributeur de billets blessant les personnes qui faisaient la queue pour retirer de l'argent.
Le sous-gouverneur Suat Seyitoglu a indiqué à l'agence qu'il était encore trop tôt pour se prononcer sur les causes de l'explosion et qu'il fallait attendre les résultats de l'enquête policière.
Plus tôt dans le journée, une bombe à retardement de forte puissance a explosé dans un bâtiment administratif de la province de Sirnak, toujours dans le sud-est anatolien à majorité kurde, causant d'importants dommages matériels mais ne faisant pas de victimes, ont rapporté les médias.
L'engin a explosé à 01H00 (22H00 GMT dimanche) à Beytussebap, dans la cave du bâtiment abritant les locaux du sous-préfet et d'autres fonctionnaires de la ville, ont affirmé les chaînes d'information NTV et CNN-Türk.
La déflagration a soufflé les vitres du bâtiment et des habitations voisines, ont précisé les télévisions. (AFP, 15 août 2005)
Affrontements entre policiers et manifestants à Istanbul
Huit personnes ont été interpellées dimanche par la police turque lors d'un violent affrontement entre manifestants de gauche et forces de l'ordre, a annoncé l'agence de presse Anatolie.
Les manifestants s'étaient rassemblés dans un cimetière du quartier de Kücükcekmece, sur la rive européenne de la métropole, pour rendre hommage à un militant maoïste abattu dans l'est du pays lors d'une opération de l'armée en juin dernier, précise l'agence.
Ils s'en sont ensuite pris aux forces de l'ordre qui les ont encerclés, jetant sur elles des cocktails molotov. Des policiers ont été forcés d'évacuer un véhicule blindé qu'ils occupaient après que celui-ci eut été touché par une bombe incendiaire.
La police antiémeutes a procédé à l'interpellation de huit personnes, dont deux femmes, ajoute l'agence.
Dix-sept rebelles maoïstes appartenant à un mouvement clandestin, le Parti communiste maoïste (MKP), avaient été tués en juin à Tunceli. (AFP, 14 août 2005)
Une personne tuée et une blessée dans l'explosion d'une voiture
Une personne a été tuée et une autre grièvement blessée vendredi dans l'explosion d'une voiture qui transportait des explosifs sans doute destinés à un attentat à Mersin (sud de la Turquie), ont annoncé les autorités locales citées par l'agence Anatolie.
"Nous examinons l'hypothèse que le passager (qui a été tué), assis à côté du conducteur, transportait des explosifs sur ses genoux", a déclaré le chef de la police de Mersin, Suleyman Ekizer, dont les propos ont été publiés par le quotidien Hurriyet sur son site internet. "Nous pensons aussi que ces personnes préparaient un attentat", a-t-il ajouté.
Le véhicule a explosé à une centaine de mètres d'une pension réservée aux policiers dans le centre-ville, mais selon M. Ekizer, on ne sait pas si ce bâtiment était la cible des terroristes présumés.
A la suite de l'explosion, le conducteur, blessé, a perdu le contrôle de la voiture et a embouti un autre véhicule.
Auparavant, le gouverneur de Mersin, Atilla Osmancelebioglu, avait indiqué qu'une personne avait été tuée et une autre grièvement blessée vendredi dans l'explosion d'une voiture, dont on ne connaissait pas la cause. (AFP, 13 août 2005)
Turkish Justice Minister: Government and military united
Justice Minister Cemil Çiçek said on Tuesday that some were trying to portray the government and the military as being on opposing sides in terms of their approaches towards combating terrorism, saying that everybody was united against terrorism.
Speaking to NTV Ankara bureau chief Murat Aygün, Çiçek said terrorism was and would always be a priority, adding that the state, military and government are determined to stamp out terrorism and dismissing claims of a difference of opinion between various state organs.
"Is there a lack of communication? I can't say there is. There are constitutional institutions that deal with security issues and there are the bimonthly National Security Council (MGK) meetings. All relevant state officials are in full cooperation," said the justice minister.
When asked about Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök's statement that the military is fighting terrorism with its hands tied, Çiçek said there were those who were trying to imply that the government and the military are divided on terrorism strategy. "No Republic of Turkey government can take an opposing view from the military concerning terrorism. All state institutions are united in their stance. Every other claim is contrary to the truth."
He said if present laws did not fully address national security concerns, the government has the option of amending the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Anti-terrorism Law and other pieces of legislation to make them more effective.
Justice Minister Çiçek said a joint commission reviewing the Anti-terrorism Law has held five separate meetings. "We're trying to find out what, if anything, needs changing. There are several suggestions. We decided to let commission members brief their relevant institutions first in order to ensure there are no legal loopholes or unnecessary debates."
"If you lose control over the process, it can be advantageous to terrorist organizations. Every change needs to be in accordance with the Constitution. How can one alter the maximum time spent in custody when this is already set by the Constitution? Some opinions are very misinformed," exclaimed the minister.
Çiçek said they never promised an amnesty for members of terrorist groups who were not involved in violent acts but noted that this was one of the proposals submitted to them when the current government first came to power.
"People can criticize the government all they want; however, this should not be done over the bodies of martyrs or victims of terrorism. Exploiting victims to criticize the government means being tricked by the terrorists," cautioned the minister. (Turkish Daily News, August 10, 2005)
La Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg pour une détention provisoire de sept ans
La Cour européenne des droits de l'homme a condamné mardi la Turquie pour avoir maintenu pendant plus de sept ans en détention provisoire une femme accusée d'appartenir à une organisation armée illégale.
Les magistrats européens ont estimé qu'Ankara avait violé l'article 5 alinéa 3 (droit à la liberté et à la sûreté) de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme et alloué à la requérante 6.600 euros pour préjudice moral.
Soupçonnée d'appartenir à l'organisation TKP/ML-TIKKO (Parti communiste de Turquie/Marxiste-Léniniste, Armée de la libération des ouvriers et paysans de Turquie), Sadegül Özdemir avait été arrêtée et placée en garde à vue en novembre 1992.
Enceinte de sept mois, elle avait accouché en prison, rappelle la Cour dans son arrêt.
Elle fut condamnée en juin 2000 à 32 ans et six mois de prison pour appartenance à cette organisation et participation à un vol à main armée.
Toutefois, la Cour de cassation infirma cette condamnation et renvoya l'affaire - actuellement toujours pendante - devant la Cour de sûreté de l'Etat.
La libération provisoire de Mme Özdemir fut finalement ordonnée en décembre 2001.
"Son maintien en détention a été prononcé en se fondant sur des formules presque toujours identiques, pour ne pas dire stéréotypées, telles notamment +la nature des crimes reprochés+ et +l'état des preuves+, lesquelles concernaient l'ensemble des accusés, ou encore le risque de fuite", souligne la Cour européenne qui a conclu à l'unanimité à la condamnation de la Turquie. (AFP, 2 août 2005)
Disparition de responsables d'un parti pro-kurde: la Turquie condamnée
La Cour européenne des droits de l'homme (CEDH) a condamné mardi la Turquie pour violation du droit à la vie après la disparition en 2001 de deux responsables du parti pro-kurde Hadep (Parti de la démocratie du peuple).
La Cour a jugé que la disparition restée inexpliquée des deux hommes et l'absence d'enquête constituaient des violations de l'article 2 (droit à la vie) de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme.
Elle a également estimé que l'angoisse éprouvée par leurs proches, restés depuis dans l'ignorance sur leur sort, était contraire à l'article 3 interdisant les traitements inhumains ou dégradants.
Serdar Tanis et Ebubekir Deniz, qui étaient respectivement président et secrétaire du Hadep -dissous en mars 2003 par la Cour constitutionnelle pour cause de "liens organiques" avec les militants du PKK- de Silopi (province de Sirnak, frontalière de la Syrie et de l'Irak) avaient disparu le 25 janvier 2001.
Selon leurs proches, ils avaient reçu des menaces de mort de la part du commandement de la gendarmerie de Silopi et du régiment de la gendarmerie de Sirnak en raison de leurs activités politiques.
Ils s'étaient rendus à la gendarmerie dont ils n'étaient jamais revenus.
La Cour a estimé que "la responsabilité de la Turquie était engagée dans la disparition des intéressés" en raison du contexte des disparitions et du fait que "quatre ans plus tard l'on continue d'ignorer leur sort", mais aussi de "l'absence d'enquête sérieuse et d'explication plausible des autorités sur ce qui s'est passé".
Elle a accordé à chacun des quatre requérants 20.000 euros pour dommage moral et des sommes allant jusqu'à 40.000 euros aux épouses et à la compagne des deux disparus. (AFP, 2 août 2005)
Six blessés dans deux explosions en Turquie
Six personnes, dont un touriste français, ont été blessées mardi par deux explosions provenant de deux poubelles dans la ville touristique d'Antalya, sur la côte méditerranéenne de la Turquie, a annoncé un responsable local de la police.
La première explosion est survenue alors que des agents municipaux ramassaient les poubelles dans le centre-ville d'Antalya, l'une des villes les plus touristiques de Turquie, blessant légèrement deux d'entre eux, a déclaré à l'AFP Huseyin Kizik, l'adjoint du chef local de la police.
La seconde poubelle a explosé près d'une gare routière de la ville, faisant quatre blessés, a-t-il ajouté.
"Au vu des informations initiales dont je dispose, un des quatre (blessés) est un ressortissant français qui a été légèrement atteint au pied par des éclats de verre", a-t-il affirmé.
Ni l'ambassade de France à Ankara, ni son consul honoraire à Antalya n'ont pu confirmer cette information.
"Aucune des blessures n'est grave", a indiqué M. Kizik.
La police est encore en train d'enquêter sur la nature des explosions, a-t-il expliqué, précisant qu'elles pouvaient être dues à des bombes ou au gaz provenant de la décomposition des détritus à l'intérieur des poubelles.
Plus tôt dans la journée, un officier de police d'Antalya avait fait état de deux bombes de faible puissance dissimulées l'une dans une poubelle, l'autre dans un autobus.
La chaîne d'information NTV a également évoqué des bombes.
La ville d'Antalya est la principale agglomération de la province du même nom, qui est la destination la plus prisée de Turquie par les touristes étrangers, notamment allemands et russes.
Les explosions d'Antalya font suite à un attentat à la bombe commis dans la station balnéaire de Kusadasi (ouest) le 16 juillet, qui avait tué cinq personnes dont une ressortissante britannique et une adolescente irlandaise.
Quelques jours plus tôt, une vingtaine de personnes avaient été blessées par l'explosion d'une bombe dissimulée dans une poubelle de la ville touristique voisine de Cesme. (AFP, 2 août 2005)
TIHV's Recent Human Rights Reports in Brief
August 31, 2005
Extra-Judicial Killing... Yusuf Yasar who was killed on 12 August nearby Çeltik quarter of Kavakli village in Hakkari was allegedly killed after having beeen abducted by masked persons. Yusuf Yasar's brother Ahmet Yasar told that some persons saw his brother while he was being abducted but they did not tell it because they were afraid: "Many persons who saw the incident told their relatives that a person had been abducted by some masked persons and the abducted person had been shouting that he had been abducted by the JITEM. However, they do not tell us the incident clearly when we ask them. They even do not want to talk to us due to the fear." Kamil Yasar put that they appealed to the GNAT Human Rights Commission and Turkey branch of the Amnesty International. In the official announcement it was alleged that "one of the three PKK militants who were planting mines on the road was did not obey 'stop' warning and was killed during the clash". (Özgür Gündem)
Person Beaten by Guards... The guards of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly beat Ayhan Özgür whom they disputed in the traffic jam on 29 August in Istanbul. Ayhan Özgür told that the guards stopped his minibus on E-5 Highway in Incirli region: "They wanted to take me out of the car. But I did not get out. If I got out they would beat me more. I will not make a complaint against the guards. I hope the Prime Minister will see these records". (Radikal)
Incident in Istanbul... A court case was launched against Necat Öztekin, Mehmet Abay and Hanefi Kuzu who were arrested in connection with the explosion in a restaurant underside of Galata bridge in Istanbul on 23 July for "being members of illegal organization". The hearing would commence at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court. (Radikal)
Greenpeace Members Detained... 21 Greenpeace members staged an action at Çan Thermic Central in Çanakkale on 29 August. 12 of the activists climbed the cooling tower of the Central but they joined the other activist waiting down, as they could not succeed to open the placard. Afterwards the activists chained themselves to the entrance of the central. The activists were detained by the gendarmeries after the action that lasted around five and a half hours. 21 activists including 5 non-Turkish citizens were reportedly banned to go abroad. (Evrensel-Cumhuriyet)
Detentions and Arrests... Aydin K. and Ibrahim E. were detained by the gendarmeries on 29 August in Kumburgaz island of Istanbul on the allegation of "being member of the PKK". Abdülhalim Turgut and Hayrettin Dag were detained in Istanbul for "being member of Hezbollah". (Cumhuriyet-Sabah)
August 30, 2005
Extra-Judicial ExecutionŠ The forensic report of Hasan Sahin (68), father of PKK's leading member Süleyman Sahin, was announced on 27 August. Hasan Sahin had been found dead on 3 August in Meytan hamlet nearby Aktuluk village in Tunceli. According to the report Sahin was killed by a shotgun and had no traces of beating on his body. Murat Polat, Chairman of DEHAP in Tunceli stated the followings concerning the incident: "There is not such a rule that forbids JITEM to kill by Kalashnikov, M-16 or shotgun. In addition, nobody heard a gunshot. It does not mean that JITEM was not the assailant if a shotgun was used. Hasan Sahin lived in Germany for 30 years. There was nobody here he had disputed. In any case it would be revealed if he had disputed with someone." (28 August, Özgür Gündem)
Persons Wounded by PoliceŠ On 28 August police opened fire against a car on the allegation of not obeying "stop" warning in Mezitli town of Mersin. Esen Yayan and Züheyla Yayan who were in another car nearby and had no relation with the incident were wounded. (29 August, Radikal)
Bomb Attacks in IstanbulŠ On 25 August 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. 43 defendants of whom 30 were remanded attended the hearing. Kazim Ayaydin, lawyer of Yusuf Polat, stated the followings at the hearing: "Al-Quaide, actually, is a computer based information system that was founded for the Arabs who were coming from out to Afghanistan to supply support against the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. Usame Bin Laden had been charged for the information recording. After the 11 September Al-Quaide was shown as if it was an organization." The hearing was adjourned to a later date. (26 August, Hürriyet-Vatan)
Detentions and ArrestsŠ One correspondent of the journal Atilim and four members of the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed were detained on 26 August in Adana for "distributing unauthorized leaflets". The detainees were released in the evening. Abdülkadir Demir, Vesile Demir and Nevzat Demir were detained on 28 August in during a houseraid conducted in Mersin. Gendarmeries detained Vedat Gökçen on 28 August in Bozak village of Sarikamis district (Kars). Muhsin Özdemir, Muzaffer Kizartici and Seyfettin Oral who were surrendered to Turkey by Iran on the allegation that they were HPG militants were arrested on 26 August. Suna Koç and Ebru Elibul were detained on 28 August while they were distributing the leaflets of the trade union Limter-Is in Aliaga district of Izmir. They were reportedly released around the midnight. (25-27-29 August, Atilim-Özgür Gündem)
Clash and Attacks in the SoutheastŠSix HPG militants were reportedly killed during the clashes broke out nearby Tepecik village of Besiri district (Batman) on 25 August. Correspondents Orhan Turan (Batman Kanal TV), Medeni Akbas (Cihan News Agency), Resat Yigit (Dogan News Agency) were detained after they went to the region on 26 August. The journalists were released after a while. Some two thousand people started out to go to the place of operation on 27 August. The incidents started by the intervention of the security forces ended by the mediation of the mayors of Kurtalan and Ercüs districts. On 28 August police and gendarmerie intervened a group who wanted to march to the Batman Women and Juvenile Hospital where the corpses of the HPG militants were kept. Hasan Is was shot to death during the incidents, 25 persons including 5 security officials were wounded. 15 persons were detained after the incidents. (27-28-29 August, Özgür Gündem-Radikal-Hürriyet)
August 25, 2005
Hunger Strike in Prison... Prisoners' relatives association TAYAD announced that some 150 prisoners in 15 prisons started hunger strike to protest in the conditions in prisons, beating of prisoners and transfers after the transfer of prisoner from on 30 June Tekirdag F-type Prisons to other prisons. According to the announcement another operation was conducted in Gebze Prison and prisoners incarcerated in Edirne F-type Prison, Kandira F-type prisons 1 and 2, Tekirdag F-type prisons 1 and 2, _zmir Kiriklar F-type Prison, Sincan F-type Prison No 1, Bolu F-type Prison, Elbistan, Gebze, Sivas, Ulucanlar, Kürkçüler, Usak and Bayrampasa prisons. (Cumhuriyet)
Child Beaten by Police... Ankara Regional Administrative Court cancelled the decision of Ankara Governorate which did not allow the police officers who beat the student I.K. on 28 October 2004 to be tried relying on the Article 4 of Law on Trails of Public Officers. Layer Mehmut Nedim Eldem announced that the court decided that the evidences and details of the incident were clear enough to conduct an investigation. (Özgür Gündem)
DEHAP Members on Trial... A court case was launched against DEHAP Chairman Tuncer Bakirhan, members of Party Assembly Hatice Çoban, Alican Önlü, Muammer Deger, Orhan Miroglu, Hüseyin Yilmaz, Mehmet Tusun and Veli Büyüksahin on the grounds that using the expression "Sayin (corresponding to 'esteemed' or 'dear')" when referring to Abdullah Öcalan during a press conference on charges of "being member of an illegal organisation" and "making propaganda of an illegal organisation". (Radikal)
Students Dismissed... The student Kamer Dogan who was one of the students who protested on 6 April the police officers who attended classes armed and wearing uniforms at METU was permanently dismissed. Serdar Özbek, Ilhan Kaya, Eyüp Çimen, Asim Ekin Yilmaz, Engin Bozkurt, Özgür Yesilaraz, Ali Yücel Özden, Atakan Özel, Kemal Serin, Caner Çelik, Sinan Sürmeli, Volkan Gümüs, Umut Soytas, Begüm Tuncer, Özgür Yildirim, Hamit Vedat Altun and Özlem Ejder were dismissed for periods changing between 1 month and 1 year. (Milliyet)
Incident in Trabzon... The name of the HPG militant who died during a clash in Macka district of Trabzon on 20 August was announced as Ferhat Haso (Syrian). According to the announcement by HPG Ferhat Haso was allegedly unarmed when he was killed. (Özgür Gündem)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... The HPG militant Ferhat Sut who had been killed by Iranian soldiers during a clash in July 2004 had been allegedly buried by Turkish soldiers. Ilhan Sut, relative of Ferhat Sut, organised a press conference at the premises of HRA Istanbul branch on 23 August and announced: "On 27 June we were informed by Hakkari Yüksekova Gendarmerie HQ that the corpse of Ferhat was there. We identified the body, but they wanted DNA test. After the test the soldiers buried him on 20 August without informing us." Meanwhile the names of the militants who had been killed during the same clash were announced as Ikram Ergül, Abdurrahim Bulut and Lokman Ergün. The names of the HPG militants who were killed during the clash on 21 August nearby Bozagakaraderbent village in Pülümür district were announced as Mehmet Emin Barcadurmus and Süleyman Tekin. Non-commissioned officer Bülent Karatas, who died during an operation when hand grenade he was carrying exploded, was buried on 23 August Terme district of Samsun. (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
August 23, 2005
Pressures in Prisons... 8 prisoners in Diyarbakir Prison and 10 prisoners in Antep prison reportedly started hunger strike in order to protest in "the condition of Abdullah Öcalan and the new Penal Code and law on Execution of Sentences". The prisoner in Antep Prison who conducted hunger strike between 2 July and 15 August were banned from receiving visits, letters or phone calls. Lawyer Osman Çelik announced that the health conditions of female prisoners in Adana Kürkçüler Prson conducting hunger strike were poor. The prisoner Esmer Yarman is suffering from breast cancer and Sahsan Tümel had an eye operation recently: "The prisoners are also kept in small cells. The cells are mouldy and humid. They are not given papers of books. The guardians are trying to provoke them and sometimes beat. The prisoner F.S. was also physically harassed." (Özgür Gündem)
Teachers Exiled... Hacer Koçak, who was charged in Alsancak Lions Primary School in Mersin, was appointed to the school in Aktas village in Kumlu district of Hatay for having attended an action of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Association in July 2004 in connection with death fast action. She had been fired for the same reason, but she started later upon court decision. She worked for a month in Mersin and then appointed to Aktas village on the grounds that it would be objectionable if she would keep working in Mersin. (Cumhuriyet)
Students Detained... Görgü Demirpençe and Veysi Yildiz who opened a placard saying "Generals of Coup d'Etat should be tried" during the closing ceremony of Universiade in Izmir, were detained. They were released 2 hours later. (Atilim)
Detentions and Arrests... A.Ç., S.K., S.K., A.Ç., M.Ç. ve A.T., who were detained in Istanbul for "being member of the organisation Anatolia Federal Islamic State", were arrested on 22 August on charges of conducting the attacks against the Dogan Media Centre on 22 December 2004, on 11 May and 12 August 2005. (Sabah)
Mine Explosion... Agit Yildiz was heavily wounded when he stepped on a land mine on 22 August nearby Uludere district of Sirnak. (Vatan)
Incident in Trabzon... The name of the PKK militant who was captured alive on 21 August in Maçka district of Trabzon was announced as Sinan Gencer. One of the killed militants was allegedly Syrian. Someone informed the security forces on suspicion when the militants were in a shop. A clash reportedly broke out when the officers showed up. On 22 August a group of persons wanted lynch Gencer where the officer took him for crime scene investigation. Police opened fire into air to disperse the crowd. (Milliyet)
August 22, 2005
Stop Warning... Suat Kandemir (19) who was wounded by officers on the grounds that they did not obey the stop warning on the night of 15 August died at the hospital on 18 August. Lawyer Bekir Cindi announced that the testimonies of person who had no relation with incident and previous crimes committed by Kandemir were recorded. Ferit Kandemir said: "We called Ibrahim Demir whose name was recorded as having testified in connection with the incident. He said that he testified in connection with another incident. According to his alleged testimony the car and the persons were driving in the quarter for a while." According to the official announcement by Istanbul Governorate the car was suspicious and was in the quarter for the last 5 days, security forces started to follow the car upon complaint: "A person on the right back sit had something like a weapon. Upon seeing the item officers warned them to stop and fire into the air. Since they did not obey officers opened fire from 50 meters to shoot the tires." (22 August, Özgür Gündem)
Stop Warning... Public prosecutor in Özalp (Van) took the decision of "secrecy of the preparatory investigation" concerning the killing of Ersin Karabulut (17) on 15 August by soldiers nearby Yukari Tulgali village in Özalp district of Van on the allegations that he did not obey stop warning. Lawyer Zeki Yüksel, HRA Chair for Van, and Lawyer Cüneyt Canis made an announcement and said: "We are demanding the responsible officers to be suspended from duty and Parliamentary Human Rights Commission to conduct an investigation... We are not informed about the reason of secrecy decision." They also stressed that although ersin Karabulut was allegedly a oil smuggler there were no remaining of oil on his cloths. (21 August, Özgür Gündem)
Child Beaten by Police... Yusuf Demir (16), street peddler in Taksim quarter of Istanbul, announced that he was beaten by civilian dressed police officer. He said that a police officers got out of a police vehicle and started to run after street peddlers: "A tall and fat officer caught me and started to hit my head with butt of his weapon. He was also insulting. He took me to the minibus and continued to beat me. We went to Dolapdere car park. Same officer beat me there. Afterwards they released me." Demir made an official complaint and given a medical report by Takim _lkyardim Hospital. He also applied to HRA Istanbul branch. (19 August, Özgür Gündem)
Vice-Mayor Arrested... Yildiz Orak, Vice-Mayor of Cizre distirct in Sirnak, was released on 17 August at the hearing at Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 6. She had been arrested on 8 March after her name was found on peace of paper belonging to PKK militant. (19 August, Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrests... Serdar Aka, who was detained during a demonstration on 15 August in Akdeniz town of Mersin for the anniversary of the first armed attack of PKK, was arrested on 18 August. Cihan Sari who was wounded when their car exploded on the night of 12 August some 50 meters distant to Mersin Police House was arrested on 18 August. The brothers Ö.A. and Ö.A. were detained allegedly for aiding PKK. Ömer Bozkurt and Haci Bozkurt who were detained during house raids in Idil and Cizre districts of Sirnak were arrested on 19 August on charges of "aiding an illegal organisation". Tevfik Bozkurt, Sait Bozkurt and Isa Yaglisa were released. DEHAP premises in Elbistand district of Antep was raided on 19 August. DEHAP for the district Hüseyin Kisa, 2 persons with the first names Faruk and Oguz were detained. They were released some 5 hours later. Metin Gönülsen, DEHAP Chiar for Antep, announced that security forces provoked the persons around by saying that DEHAP members were putting bombs. Some 20 persons gathered and insulted DEHAP members. (19-20-22 August, Özgür Gündem-Zaman)
Bomb Explosion... Hamza Oruç (13) died when the bomb he found exploded on 18 August nearby Damlarca village in Güçlükonak district of Sirnak. (19 August, Özgür Gündem)
Incident in Trabzon... Superintendent police officer Tolga Dogruel and officer Ekrem Çakmak were wounded during a clash in Macka district of Trabzon on 20 August. Another clash broke out early in the morning on 21 August and a person was reportedly wounded and detained. (22 A_ustos, Hürriyet)
(
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... According to the announcement by Tunceli Governor 2 PKK militants died during the clash on 21 August nearby Bozagakaraderbent village in Pülümür district. Non-commissioned officer Onur Yesil, who was wounded during a mine explosion in Çukurca district of Hakkari, died at the hospital on 18 August. A bomb exploded on the railway between Mersin and Islahiye on 19 August and no casualties were reported. (19-20-21 August, Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)August 18, 2005
Stop WarningŠ Executives of the IHD Van branch Lawyer Taner Polat, Lawyer Cüneyt Canis and Ömer Isik conducted an investigation in Yukari Tulgali (Turgay) village of Özalp district (Van) where Ersin Karabulut (17) was reportedly shot to death by soldiers. Cengiz Karabulut who was with Ersin Karabulut during the incident told that they left the village to search for their lost sheeps around 7.30pm: "There were 100 meters distance between me and Ersin. Upon the gunshots all of the villagers came to the place of incident. 'We opened fire into the air, one person run away towards the village said the soldiers. However, one of the privates said me that one of the ranked soldiers killed Ersin and put him into a hole. We returned upon these claims of the soldier. Ersin was thrown into the hole after being dragged 5 meters away from the place he was shot. He was still alive. He died on the way to Özalp State Hospital. Soldiers opened fire without warning. I did not hear 'stop' warning. He was anyhow shot from a very close distance." Headman of the village Abdullah Akgül stated that six persons from their village had been shot to death by the soldiers in the last two years. (Özgür Gündem)
Stop WarningŠ Gendarmerie soldiers opened fire against a car that allegedly did not obey the stop warning on the night of 15 August in Istanbul. Suat Kandemir (19) was wounded from his head during the incident. Kandemir who was taken to Haydarpasa Numune Hospital is reportedly under vital risk. Fuat Kandemir told that they did not obey the stop warning on the grounds that they did not have driving licences: "Three gendarmeries approached us. My brother attempted to drive the car because he was afraid. When he stepped on the gas gendarmeries opened fire against us. The car hit the wall and stopped. I asked the gendarmeries to call an ambulance for my brother because he was shot. But they wanted me to leave my brother and lay down. They did not care about my brother and started the search the car. One of the gendarmeries said it was not important that my brother was shot. A crowded group of gendarmeries and police officers attacked me at the hospital, handcuffed me and dragged on the ground. Afterwards they beat me and took me to Sarigazi Gendarmerie Station". (Özgür Gündem)
Demonstrators on TrialŠ On 17 August Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 continued to hear the case against 46 persons launched in connection with the demonstration organised to protest in the draft Law on Execution of Sentences on 7 December 2004 in Ankara by the Socialist Platform of Oppressed (ESP). Yusuf Bayraktar, Ankara Representative of the ESP, Gülcan Taskiran and Dursun Armutlu, Eskisehir Represantative of the ESP, were released at the hearing. The hearing was adjourned to 26 October. (Atilim)
Detentions and ArrestsŠ Ömer Bozkurt, Sait Bozkurt, Tevfik Bozkurt, Haci Bozkurt and Isa Yaglisa were detained during the house raids conducted in Cizre and Idil districts of Sirnak on 17 August. Nedim Çorak and Hüsnü Çorak were detained during the house raid conducted on 16 August in Tatvan district of Bitlis. (Özgür Gündem)
August 17, 2005
Extra-Judicial Execution Allegation... Yusuf Yasar, who was killed on 12 August in Çeltik quarter in Kavakli village of Hakkari, was allegedly killed from close distance after having been detained. According to the official announcement he was one of the PKK militants who were trying to plant mines and did not obey stop warning. His brother Kamil Yasar said followings: "My brother previously told me that police officers were talking bout him each other. We were in the village 3 days ago. How can someone be a guerrilla in a day? He was seen walking in bazaar at about 8pm. And then he somehow went 60 km to plant mines. After he was killed villagers went to take the body. But they were threatened by pointing a gun against the head of the driver. Afterwards the Governor announced that a militant was killed. They did not allow us during the autopsy and they wrote an arbitrary report." Naif Kayacan, SHP member of Province Assembly, said: "We were together at about 5 pm. His uncle Isa Sakar was also with us and we spent some 2 hours. At about 7pm he went home to fix something. Few hours later I heard he was killed. Possibly the official announcement does not reflect the truth. The way to his house is very dark. He must have been taken and then brought the place where he was killed." IHD Hakkari branch Chair Necibe Günes announced: "If he had been a militant his ID could not have been identified at least for 3 days." According to the autopsy report there were 20 bullets on the head and chest, there were traces of grazes on forehead, there were traces gunpowder on the body indicating he was shot from close distance. According to the crime scene report there were shovel and pickaxe nearby the body and a little bit C+ was found and Yasar was in civilian dress. (Özgür Gündem)
Stop Warning... Ersin Karabulut (17) was reportedly shot to death by soldiers nearby Yukari Tulgali village in Özalp district of Van on the allegations that he did not obey stop warning. The body was reportedly brought by soldiers on the night of 15 August to Özalp State Hospital. IHD Van branch and representatives NGOs started to investigate the incident. (Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrests... The university students Sinem Karaçali and Vural Çelik, who were detained on 12 August for shouting slogans in favour of MKP during a festival in Molla town of Erzincan, were arrested on 14 August. Haluk Bor, Emin Aslan, Burhan Ölmez and Kenan Zeydanoglu, who were detained on 12 August in Hakkari, were released on 15 August. Pinar Çalisir, Mehmet Gökmen and Mahmut _lhan, distributors of weekly "Yuruyus (March)" in Adana, were detained on 16 August. (Halkin Sesi-Özgür Politika)
August 16, 2005
Stop Warning... Mustafa I., who allegedly tried to escape from police officer during ID check and had a knife, was shot at his leg on the night of 15 August in Fatih (Istanbul). Mustafa I.'s health condition is reportedly good. (Türkiye)
Person Beaten by Police... M. Resit Teke, taxi driver in Istanbul, made an official complaint for having been beaten by civilian dressed police officers. Teke said followings in his complaint: "When I left my house on 13 August 5 civilian dressed persons stopped me. They asked me whether I know Mehmet from Mus or where he is. I said I know. They wanted me to tell him to leave the city and insulted me afterwards. When I objected they first beat me with the radios and then started to hit and punch me. They were carrying weapons. I was said afterwards that they were police officers. I went to Arnavutköy Public Clinic for a medical report, but I was not examined. Those officers are charged at the new police school in Arnavutköy. Possibly the physician at the clinic were informed about the incident. That's why they rejected to give me a report." After his complaint he was sent to Haseki Hospital on order of public prosecutor. Teke said that he was asked transfer document from the police station and since he was not given the document by the officials at Arnavutköy Police Station he was not given a medical report. (Evrensel)
Police Officer Arrested... The police officer Sub-director Ahmet Ihtiyaroglu was arrested on 15 August. He had been permanently dismissed from duty by Disciplanary Council of Security Directorate and had been sentenced term of imprisonment for "ill-treatment". Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 1 had sentenced him to 10 months' imprisonment for ill-treating the detainee Mustafa Birol Kalyoncu in October 2000. The sentence had been approved by the Court of Cassation. Ihtiyaroglu and his colleague Adil Serdar Saçan, who had been Director of Organised Crimes branch of Istanbul Security Directorate, had been dismissed from duty in 2003 for another torture incident. (Sabah)
"Blue Bazaar" Trial... On 15 August, Istanbul Special Heavy Penal Court continued to hear the case of Ergin Atabay, Abdullah Günay, Azime Isik and Metin Yamalak charged in connection with a bomb explosion in the "Blue Bazaar" on 13 March 1999 that caused the death of 13 people. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced to life imprisonment under the Article 125 of former TPC. (Cumhuriyet)
Bomb Attacks... A bomb exploded on the night of 14 August in the basement of Governorate building in Beytüssebap district on Sirnak. The explosion caused material damage. Sükrü Özgür, director of Cumhuriyet Primary School, non-commissioned officer Levent Yücedag, teacher Menderes Sakir and Nedim Dag were wounded when a bomb exploded in the garden of the Governorate building in Ömerli district of Mardin. (Hürriyet-Sabah)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... According to the announcement by HPG, one soldier died and one soldier was wounded during the clash that broke out on 13 August in Çavres region nearby Karliova district of Bingöl. (Özgür Gündem)
August 15, 2005
Torture in Mersin... Mehmet Ali Satir (20), living in Tarsus district of Mersin, announced that he was beaten by civilian dressed police officers when he waiting on bus-stop some 2 weeks ago and taken to Security Directorate afterwards. He added that he was beaten there by 4 officers for 2 hours. Afterwards he was taken to hospital and was not given a report certifying the beatings. He stressed that he went to Tarsus State Hospital after being released but prevented by the officers. He went to the hospital on order of the public prosecutor for a third time and given a medical report certifying that his head was cracked, his ear was bleeding, he had brain trauma. Satir made an official complaint against the officers. (14 August, Özgür Gündem)
Pressures in Prisons... Sabri Yakut, Idris Çaliskan, Teyfik Yasli, Hikmet Çalagan, Nidayi Tezel, Çetin Arkas, Musa Altun, Mehmet Durak and Ali Dalo, incarcerated in Sincan F-type Prison No 2, were transferred to Bolu F-type Prison for rejecting to visits to protest the condition of Abdullah Öcalan. (13 August, Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrests... Çilem Ünsel, Fariz Hocaoglu, Zemin Demirel, Ihsan Yigit Demirel, Mehmet Fuat Kussever and another person were detained in Adana on 10 and 11 August in connection with a demonstration concerning the killings of 17 MKP militants in Tunceli. Çilem Ünsel and Ihsan Yigit Demirel were arrested on 11 August. DEHAP member Adnan Uygar, DEHAP executive for Adana Durmaz Özmen and prisoners' relatives association THAYD-DER executive Nuriye Aksoy, who were detained on 12 August in Adana, were arrested on 13 August. Eylem Açikalin, Hatice Tokluiçten, Tevfik Say, Mirza Yacan, Osman Görür and Behzat Kaplan, who were detained after the demonstration for Abdullah Öcalan on 10 August in front of AKP premises in Van, were arrested on 12 August. Levent Akpinar, against whom an arrest warrant had been issued for "being member of an illegal organisation", was detained on 12 August in Erzurum. But he was rescued by his friends and relatives. 7 persons were detained after the incident. I.B. (45) and H.A. (25) were detained in Izmir on the allegations of "being member of an illegal organisation". A.C., M.S.Ü., E.Ü. and E.Ö., who were detained in Batman on the allegations of "being member of PKK", were arrested on 13 August. (11-13-14 August, Atilim-Hürriyet-Sabah)
Bomb Attacks... Sehmus Sari died and his relative Cihan Sari was wounded when their car exploded on the night of 12 August some 50 meters distant to Mersin Police House. According to the official announcement those persons were in preparation of attacking the Police House. One person was slightly wounded when 2 trash containers exploded on the night of 12 August in Alanya district of Antalya. A bomb exploded on 13 August on the road when Kadir Koçdemir, Governor of Elazig, was going to Elazig from Alacakaya district. No casualties were reported, but the vehicles of the Governor and his guards were damaged. Nursen Çinar was slightly wounded when a bomb exploded in the entrance of a shopping centre on 13 August in Bakirköy district of Istanbul. (13-14 August, Cumhuriyet-Hürriyet-Milliyet)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... The private Hüseyin Yanik, who was wounded during the clash on 11 August in Geyiksuyu region nearby Tunceli, died on 12 August. According to the announcement by PKK, Ali Riza Zenbur was abducted in Pertek district of Tunceli by "unknown persons" but not PKK. According to the official announcement by the Governorate of Hakkari, one of 3 PKK militants was killed on 12 August nearby Çeltik quarter of Kavakli village when they were trying to put bombs. The name of the killed person was given as Yusuf Yasar. The daily Özgür Gündem alleged that Yusuf Yasar had no connection with PKK militants. Yusuf Yasar was living in Hakkari and working in the villages. (12-14 August, Cumhuriyet-Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
August 12, 2005
Torture in Detention... Abdulkadir Akgül, Ergin Demir, Cigerhun Erisen, Zübeyit Keserci and Muzaffer Keserci who were detained in 21 July in Ercis district of Van were reportedly tortured in detention. Lawyer Cemal Demir stated that the injuries of these persons had not been certified at Ercis State Hospital: "Upon our denial the report of Abdulkadir Akgül was changed and given another report certifying the traces of beatings and ecchymosis. The traces disappeared on the bodies of my other clients after eight days. They were not given reports". Demir also put that the physicians were under pressure because police officers and soldiers stayed in the examination room while he was got out of the room by force. (Özgür Gündem-TIHV)
Pressure in Prisons... Prisoners Hamili Yildirim, Bülent Atmaca, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hüseyin Sürgeç, Nevzat Üçen, Suat Dastan, Ali Çabuk, Mehmet Yoldas, Ramazan Demir, Çetin Ilkan, Ismail Tüzün, Kahraman Güvenç, Yahya Figan, Mustafa Hidiri and Hüseyin Yeter who made a press announcement in Malatya Closed Prison in connection with Abdullah Öcalan were banned to receive visitors for 3 months. (Özgür Gündem)
Workers Detained... Police reportedly intervened the action staged in front of Ileri Leather Company by the workers who were fired from work in February for being member of the trade union Deri-Is. The executives of Deri-Is and the workers who were detained on 8 August were released on the same day. The nxt hearing of the case launched by the workers to return to their works would reportedly be on 26 September. (Atilim)
Students Suspended from the University... Istanbul University administration suspended 30 students for different periods in connection with Newroz celebrations. (Atilim)
Detentions and Arrests... O.A. and M.Z. were detained in Izmir on the allegation of "being members of the PKK". O.A.'s spouse who was also detained at the same time was released after a while. (Milliyet)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... PKK militant Muhammet Mustafa Kayapinar was killed in a clash on 8 August nearby Iliç district of Erzurum. Privates Idris Güler and Veli Altin were killed, four soldiers were wounded in the clash broke out on 11 August nearby Geyiksu region in Tunceli. Two privates who stepped on mine nearby Aslanbeyli village of Solhan district on 11 August (Bingöl) were slightly wounded. According to the announcement made by the PKK four soldiers were allegedly killed in a clash nearby Siirt on 8 August, four soldiers were killed in the clash nearby Derli district of Giresun. (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
August 11, 2005
Conscious Objector on Trial... On 10 August Sivas Military Court concluded the case against the conscious Objector Mehmet Tarhan. The court sentenced Tarhan to four years' imprisonment for "disobedience to orders" and "disobedience to orders in order not to serve". (Hürriyet)
Özgür-Der Member on Trial... Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 continued to hear the case against Özgür-Der member Zehra Çomakli that was launched on the allegation that she violated Law to Protect Atatürk in the speech she made during the meeting "Songs Against War" organized by the Coordination Against the War in Iraq on 4 July 2003 in Istanbul. The hearing was adjourned to a later date. (Yeni Safak)
Incident in Istanbul... The names of the persons who died in the explosion in a building in Zeytinburnu quarter of Istanbul on 8 August were reportedly Erhan Türk and Ziyaettin Yalvaç. Meanwhile Nizamettin Ada, headman of Ziya Gökalp quarter, was detained on the allegation that he gave document to these persons to change their fake IDs. Mehmet Besir Aysu, owner of the apartment where the bomb exploded, was also detained after his treatment. (Milliyet)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... Two soldiers were killed, four soldiers were wounded during the clash broke out nearby Anafatma village of Ovacik district (Tunceli) on 10 august. One PKK militant was killed, one militant was wounded during the clash broke out nearby Dereli district of Giresun on 9 August. (Hürriyet)
August 10, 2005
Incident in Hatay... Osman Balbasi who was detained on 7 August in Hatay in connection with an ordinary crime was killed by Abdurrahman Bahadir in the police car that he got into after he got out of the courthouse. Afterwards Abdurrahman Bahadir was killed by the police at the place of incident. According to the news gathered, Osman Balbasi, Adil Incili and his friends fought with the workers in the cafe they went on the night of 6 August. Police officers detained Osman Balbasi and Adil Incili. Incili and Balbasi who were released after testifying before the public prosecutor demanded to be protected by the police while leaving on the grounds that the persons they fought with were waiting in front of the courthouse. Balbasi and Incili got into the police car under the protection of police but they were attacked by Abdurrahman Bahadir. Balbasi died at the place of the incident while Incili was wounded. Bahadir was killed while he was running away. (Milliyet)
DEHAP Member Threatened... DEHAP member Mahmut Kavak living in Çinarönü (Cilin) village in Savur district (Mardin) announced that he was threatened to death by the Commander of Sürgücü Gendarmerie Station. Sincar told the followings: "I went to Beytüssebap district of Sirnak to take the funeral of my relative Mehmet Emin Sincar who was killed in a clash and returned my village on 7 August. Around 23.00pm the commander phoned me and wanted me to go to the station. He asked me what I had been doing in Beytüssebap in last week. I said him that I had gone there to take the funeral of my relative who had died in a clash. Then he said: There happened an incident of a lieutenant in the village. I hope a similar incident will happen again in your village. I know how to trouble you in such a case". Mehmet Kavak told that four villagers have been prosecuted in connection with the killing of the lieutenant (Coskun Telci) in a clash nearby the village in 1997. He put that he had been released from prison since a year ago and he had been threatening often since that time. Kavak also added that he appealed to the IHD Mardin branch and made an official complaint to the public prosecutor in Savur. (Özgür Gündem)
Corpse Founded... A corpse body was founded on 7 August nearby Onbasilar village of Hakkari on Turkey-Iranian border. The corpse that reportedly decayed wholly was sent to the Forensic Institute in Istanbul. (Özgür Gündem)
Activity Hindered... The festivity that was planned to be organized in Kiliçkaya village of Erzincan was reportedly cancelled by the governorate for "security". (BIA)
Detention and Arrests... E.G., D.D.G., Ç.M., V.S., S.D., M.S., S.Ç. and M.Y.Y. who were detained in Adana for "being members of MLKP and MKP" were arrested on 9 August. S.S. who was allegedly wearing turban and robe in Aksicim village of Vize district (Kirklareli) was detained on the allegation of violating the Dress Code (Law No. 2596). Maržf Becet was detained during the houseraids conducted in Seyhan district of Adana on 9 August. Suna Abay (15) who was detained in Istanbul on 7 August during the houseraids in Bahçelievler and Bagcilar quarters was arrested on 9 August by the Juvenile Court in Istanbul for "being member of illegal organization". Suna Abay was reportedly arrested in connection with the explosion on Istanbul Galata Bridge on 23 July. (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
August 9, 2005
Incident in Istanbul ... Two persons died and six persons wounded during the explosion in a building in Zeytinburnu quarter of Istanbul on 8 August. Istanbul Security Director Celalettin Cerrah told the followings concerning the incident that caused huge damage in the building: "It can be said that it is not a natural gas explosion. It seems that the explosion occurred when people were making something". The dead persons reportedly had fake IDs. Besir Baysu (53), Zeynep Baysu (46), Medine Baysu (3), Avniye Kaya (27) from the apartment where the explosion occurred and Fadime Terzi living in the upper apartment were wounded. (Milliyet)
Pressures in the Prisons... Tekin Tangün, Ercan Büyüktas and Taner Korkmaz who were released from Tekirdag F-type Prison No 2 on 3 August organized a press conference at the office of prisoners' relatives organization TUHAD on 8 August and gave information about transferring of the prisoners who staged hunger strike in Tekirdag F-type Prison No 1 to Tekirdag F-type and Bolu F-type prisons. Tangün told the prison guards got the convicts out from the cells by dragging and put in the prison vehicles under beatings. He said that the prisoners who had only undershirts and pyjamas were beaten by soldiers in Tekirdag F-type Prison No 2. Tekin Tangün put that the prisoners started hunger strike in connection with those attacks. Taner Korkmaz said that some 30 guards came to his cell and thretened him. Korkmaz told that prisoner Kemal Ayhan whose legs were disabled was tortured. (Özgür Gündem)
Students Suspended from the University... 20 students of the Faculty of Letters at Ankara University were suspended from school for a period of changing from two weeks to one semester in connection with the incidents occurred in July. Firat Belen, Nagihan Gültekin and Dündar Gün were suspended for semester each; Senol Durur, Mithat Öner, Inan Kaya, Mehmet Selim Süzer, Ufuk Safak, Cihan Baykal, Cihat Akgül, Mehmet Baran, Serkan Tögen, Ismail Oguz Basaga were suspended for one month each; Serkan Tatl, was suspended for three weeks. Eray Destegül, Samet Yüce, Kubilay Han, Cemal Keskin, Halim Harputlu, Metehan Çolak were suspended for two weeks each. (Evrensel)
Detentions and Arrests... Neriman Tanrikulu was detained in Koço hamlet of Bulakbasi village of Dogubeyazit district (Agri) during the raid conducted on 4 August. Necati Öztekin, Mehmet Abay, Suna Abay (15) and his father Ibrahim Abay were wounded during the houseraids conducted on the night of 7 August in Bahçelievler and Bagcilar quarters of Istanbul. Ibrahim Abay was released on 8 August. Kabil Öztekin whose house was raided told that police who came the house around midnight did not show the search warrant and directed guns to the people in the house and made them lie. Hasan Abay told that he was at his office when his house was raided: "They entered the house by breaking the door. They messed up the house. They reportedly said: 'Let's see how will the IHD will save you'. They took my nephew's toy mobile phone, tape-recorder and LPG cylinder tube accusing the household making bomb of those stuff". (Özgür Gündem)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... One PKK militant was killed during the clash broke out on 8 August nearby Iliç district of Erzincan. Non-commissioner Zafer Sabanci was killed, one soldier was wounded in the clash broke out nearby Ovacik district of Tunceli on 4 August. (Cumhuriyet-Zaman)
August 8, 2005
Incident in Bursa... On the night of 5 August, an armed attack was organized to the house of DEHAP member Ubeydullah Sayilgan living in Fevzi Dere quarter of Bursa.Sayilgan told the followings: "Some 50 persons gathered in front of the house ar around 21.00 pm. They opened fire five times in order to scare us. We informed the police but they did not come although the incident continued till 02.00am. Police came after the group dispersed".DEHAP premise and Kurdishstreet peddlers had been attacked by rightists after the funeral ceremony of non-commissioned officer Kemal Etiler who died nearby Uludere district of Sirnak on 3 August. (7 August, Özgür Gündem)
Detentions and Arrests... S.B., F.A., S.A., M.S.A. and N.D. who were detained in Mersin on the allegation of "being members of the PKKé were arrested on 6 August. Menice Aksoy, Ahmet Oguz, Saime Adibelli and Burhan Urtekin were detained on 5 August during the houseraid conducted in Kiziltepe district of Mardin. Police officers allegedly did not have search warrants and damaged the properties in the house. Mahir Yasin Yavuz, members of the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed Soydan Dadük, Sirvan Celik, Murat Selenoglu, Cigdem Micogullari, Eylem Güden, Deniz Dogangünes and Volkan Sagaltici were detained on 7 August during the house raids in Adana. (6-7-8 August, Atilim-Cumhuriyet-Özgür Politika)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... Non-commissioned officers Dursun Çetin, Durmus Ali Uzun and Evren Ayyarkin, privates Ramazan Çakar and Hilmi Kagan Kayabas died in the bomb explosion on the street between the military guesthouse and Gendarmerie Commandership in Semdinli district of Hakkari on the night of 4 August. Private Inan Hakan was slightly wounded in the incident. Many persons were detained during the houseraids conducted in the district. Bahri Yalçin, Bedri Yalçin, Mesut Öpengil and Naci Öpengil were among the detainees. Bomb was exploded on 5 August on the road nearby Servi town of Genç district in Bingöl shortly after a convoy carrying Bingöl Governor Vehbi Avuç, AKP MPs for Bingöl Feyvi Berdibek, Mahfuz Güler, Abdurrahman Anik and Bingöl Security Director Mehme Gülnaz passed. There were no casualties in the incident. According to the announcement of the PKK, four soldiers were allegedly killed during a clash broke out nearby Talisa village of Çukurca district (Hakkari). It was put in the announcement that a non-commissioned officer was allegedly killed, two soldiers were wounded and the soldiers killed two unidentified persons during the clash broke out on 4 august nearby Pervari district of Siirt. (6-7 August, Cumhuriyet-Özgür Gündem)
August 4, 2005
Killings by Unidentified Assailants... Hasan Sahin (68), father of PKK's leading member Süleyman Sahin, was found dead on 3 August in Meytan hamlet nearby Aktuluk village in Tunceli. He was living in Germany and was in Turkey for vacation. He was reportedly killed with 7 bullets and the weapon was with a silencer. Hasan Sahin reportedly said to his friends that he was chased. Murat Polat, DEHAP Chairman for Tunceli, announced: "There are no shelf found in crime scene. The weapon has silencer. Sahin was killed by professionals... We were expecting the private Coskun Krandi who was abducted by PKK to be released. I guess there is a connection between both incidents. Sahin was possibly killed in order Kirandi not to be released. The security of the private is under risk." Selahattin Demirtas, HRA Chair for Diyarbakir, said: "Killing the father of a PKK militant with silencer indicates that killings by unidentified assailants is continuing." (Özgür Gündem)
Pressures in Prisons... Prisoners in Tekirdag F-type Prison No 1, who were conducting hunger strike to protest in the new Law on Execution of Sentences and Turkish Penal Code, were forcibly transferred on 31 July to Bolu F-type Prison and Tekirdag F-type Prison No 2. According to the announcement by prisoners' relatives association TAYAD the prisoners were transferred handcuffed and without permission to take personal belongings. The prisoners Sinan Yildirim, Cemal A_irman and Ali Ercan Gökoglu were reportedly wounded. The prisoners transferred to Tekirdag F-type Prison No 1 are kept in single-cells and they were beaten on the night of 31 July for shouting slogans. The prisoner are continuing the hunger strike. The prisoners Mehmet Kulaksiz, Nurettin Erenler, Erdal Koç, Aslan Bahar, Hüseyin Özen and Taylan Aydogdu were transferred to Bolu and Kenan Günyel, Ali Ercan Gökoglu, Serdar Karaçelik, Tekin Tangün, Mustafa Tosun, Cemal Agirman, Kaan Kurtulus, Bülent Kemal Yildirim, Inan Gök, Baris Ates, Celal Yayla, Ercan Kutlu, Sinan Yildirim, Osman Nuri Ocakli, Ali Koca and Baysal Demirkan to Tekirdag F-type Prison No 1. According to the announcement by the relatives of prisoners the prisoners Sincan F-type Prison who were convicted or on trial in connection with PKK were banned from receiving letters for 10 days and telephone and visits for 3 months. Lawyer Yekbun Geylani Arslan, stressed that 6 prisoners who were sentenced to life imprisonment are kept in single-cells without any reason. (TIHV)
Person Beaten by Police... Bayram Tasdelen was heavily beaten by 4 persons on the night of 29 July in Kars. He was given a medical report by Kars State Hospital certifying inability to work for 25 days. He announced: "I do not know three of them. But the remaining one is a police officer." Bayram Tasdelen had reportedly served 10 years for being member of PKK. (Özgür Gündem)
Destruction of Squatter's Houses, Beaten Journalists... On 2 August, during the destruction of squatter's houses in military zone or forest in Tokatköy quarter in Beykoz district of Istanbul a quarrel broke out between civilians and security forces. The police dispersed the crowd by using force and detained some 20 persons. Bülent Aydogdu, correspondent with Vatan, and Gökhan Karakas, correspondent with Milliyet, were beaten by the police. (Sabah)
Abducted Villager... Hasan Baturay, living in Karakas village in Aricak district of Elazig, was abducted by unknown persons on 2 August. He was allegedly abducted by PKK militants. (Milliyet)
Detentions and Arrests... Ismet Yilmaz, Kayhan Sakli, Bayhan Sakli, Ibrahim Demir and Sait Demir were detained during house raids conducted in Hakkari on 3 August. The raids were allegedly conducted without official permission. Nazan Dündar, Democratic Society Movement Delegate for Mersin, and another person were detained in Mersin. (Özgür Gündem)
Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... According to the announcement by HPG, 3 members of Special Team were killed on 28 July nearby Pülümür district of Tunceli, one non-commissioned officer and 4 soldiers were killed nearby Lice district of Diyarbakir. It was also reported that 3 police officers were wounded during an attack on 1 August against a police point in Tekser quarter of Sirnak. (Özgür Gündem)
August 2, 2005
Detentions and ArrestsŠ Villagers Bekir Koçhan, Hüseyin Koçhan and Halime Koçhan were detained during the house raid conducted in Kuruköy (Xerabebaba) village of Nusaybin district (Mardin) on 31 July. O.O., against whom an arrest warrant in absentia had been issued, was captured in Salihli district of Manisa and arrested on the allegations of "being member of Hezbollah". (Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
Clashes and Attacks in the SoutheastŠ According to the announcement by the PKK, 6 soldiers were allegedly killed, 3 soldiers were wounded in the clash broke out on the night of 31 July on Gabar mountain nearby Sirnak. (Özgür Gündem)
August 1, 2005
Trial on Death in Custody... On 29 July 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. Süleyman Sinkil's lawyer Mehmet Ener said that he could not reach his client. The court denied to demand of the lawyers of Altinbas to arrest the defendants according to the Article 100 for "killing Altinbas by torture". The hearing was adjourned to 8 September. (29 July, Atilim)
IHD Executive Sentenced... Bingöl Governorate sentenced Ridvan Kizgin, chairman of the IHD Bingöl branch, to a fine of YTL 1.112 on the grounds that "he wrote 'Çewlik' instead of Bingöl in the petition he sent to the Governorate and Interior Ministry on 29 June'. The sentence was reportedly given under the article 31 and 32 of the Law on Associations (Law No 5253). Kizgin stated that the letterheads of the official papers of the Association were written in Turkish, English and Kurdish. He put that he would appeal to the Regional Administrative Court in Elazig for the cancellation of the sentence. Kizgin also added that the sentence was given upon the appeal of the General Staff. (30 July, Özgür Gündem)
Incidents in Prisons... Lawyer Asya Ülker, member of Istanbul Bar, announced that the prisoner Bilal Öner who was convicted in PKK case cut his neck and wrists in Tekirdag F-type Prison "to protest the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan and the operations carried out in the Southeast". Ülker told: "Bilal Önen was beaten by the soldiers while he was wounded. He has overcome the risk of death. First he did not accept treatment but may help by the efforts of his friends. He does not speak to anybody now". Lawyer Vedat Özmen, member of Adana Bar, announced that the female prisoners Esmer Yaman, Sehnaz Tümer, Kiymet Toprak, Gülten Toprak, Gülistan Arslan, Yesim Ekinci and Hatice Yaman, who started hunger strike "to protest the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan and the operations carried out in the Southeast" were beaten by the guards in Kürkçüler E-type Prison on 22 July. Özkan told that Gülistan Arslan and Esmer Yaman are seriously ill and Hatice Yaman has problems in prosthesis on her leg. (30-31 July, Özgür Gündem)
DEHAP Members on TrialŠOn 29 July Siirt Penal Court of First Instance concluded the case against 22 persons that was launched in connection with a demonstration organized on 9 October 2004. The court sentenced Mahmut Yildiz, Muhyettin Timurlenk, executives of DEHAP in Siirt, Ridvan Oguz, former chairman of DEHAP Youth Wings, Gürü Toprak, chairman of DEHAP in Central District in Siirt and Halil Tasçi to 6 moths imprisonment each for "aiding illegal organization". The sentence of Mahmut Yildiz was postponed while the sentences of five defendants were commuted in to a fine of YTL 1.989. 16 defendants were acquitted. (31 July-Özgür Gündem)
Demonstrators on Trial... On 29 July Menemen Heavy Penal Court of First Instance started to hear the case against ESP members launched in connection with the demonstration organized on 11 June in Menemen district of Izmir to protest the privatization of Seydisehir Aliminium Factory. Arrested defendants Mert Yamaç, Yilmaz Karaçam and Baris Bozyigit were released at hearing. The hearing was adjourned to 29 November. (29 July, Atilim)
Detentions in Tunceli... Two women, who distributed leaflets on 27 July in Tunceli during 6th International Munzur Culture and Nature Festival that was organized although the Governorate banned it, were detained. Mustafa Yildirim, Nihat Akgün and Mehmet Sarman were detained on the same day at the evening hours. Mehmet Sarman was allegedly detained under assaults while he was going his home in Yenimahalle quarter. Another person who came from Bursa for the festival was reportedly detained in Pertek district on 28 July on the allegation of "being deserter". (29 Temmuz, Evrensel)
Detentions and Arrests... Deniz Yüksel, Mehmet Kino and Ismail Asi, who were detained in connection with a demonstration organized on 26 July in Kiziltepe district of Mardin "to protest the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan and the operations carried out in the Southeast", were arrested on 30 July. Ihsan Tankara had been arrested on the same allegation as well. (31 July-Evrensel)
Incident in Diyarbakir... The police officer, who was on duty on the night of 30 July in front of the governorate in Kocaköy district of Diyarbakir, reportedly opened fire against three village guards supposing that "they were PKK militants". Village guards Murat Üçgül died, Yilmaz Kaya was heavily wounded during the incident. Mehmet Kaya reportedly succeeded to escape. According to a news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, a person who did not his/her name to be announced reportedly told the followings: " I was awake when I heard the gunshots. When I looked from the window I saw someone asking a guard about the gunshots. The guard said that he shot a village guard accidentally. Upon this the other person told the guards not tell the incident to anybody". On the other hand according to the official announcement the village guards were allegedly attacked by the PKK militants. (1 August, Özgür Gündem-Radikal)
Clash and Attacks in the Southeast... Private Dogan Kef was killed in an armed attacked conducted to the recruitment office in Torul district of Gümüshane on 29 July. Non-commissioned officers Sevket Kaygusuz and Burhan Baykal died when the bomb put in a military vehicle exploded on 29 July in Hakkari. Three passerby persons were wounded during the incident. Faik Bas, executive of Avasin Cultural Center, Iskan Kazandioglu and Hamit Kazandioglu were detained after the incident. These persons were released after being interrogated by the public prosecutor on 31 July. In the same day, two persons including a police officer were injured when the bomb put in the recreational center of the Security Directorate and buildings belonged to the National Education Directorate in Yüksekova district of Hakkari exploded. According to the announcement made by the PKK one police was allegedly killed in this incident. Eight soldiers were allegedly killed during the clash broke out nearby Büyükçiftlik village of Yüksekova district (Hakkari) on 28 July. The carcass of Yilmaz Karakas who was reportedly killed in a clash broke out in April in Kirkmerdiven region of Ovacik district (Tunceli) was found. In the announcement of the PKK, it was claimed that the radiolink station near Sebinkarahisar district of Giresun was destroyed on 27 July and during the operation initiated after this incident eight soldiers were killed on 29 July. (30 July, Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)
Pression sur les médias / Pressure on the Media
RSF: Un journaliste d'origine kurde incarcéré en Turquie
Birol Duru, correspondant de l'agence de presse prokurde DIHA (Tigre), ainsi que Daimi Açik, membre de l'Association turque des droits de l'homme (IHD), ont été interpellés le 10 août 2005 par la gendarmerie, dans une maison du village de Dibarbey, (province de Bingöl, est de la Turquie), puis incarcérés à la prison de Bingöl. Le journaliste est accusé d'avoir en sa possession des images de militants d'un groupe lié au PKK (Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan).
"Nous sommes très inquiets de cette nouvelle attaque contre la liberté de la presse en Turquie ; il s'agit du deuxième cas d'arrestation arbitraire de journalistes dans ce pays en moins de deux semaines. Nous dénonçons fermement cette incarcération et demandons la libération immédiate de Birol Duru et de Daimi Açik."
Lorsqu'il a été interpellé, le journaliste enquêtait sur la culture du cannabis à Bingöl, un trafic dans lequel le commandant de la gendarmerie de Yedisu, Ahmet Yanaral, est soupçonné d'être impliqué. Birol Duru et Daimi Açig ont été incarcérés pour "collaboration avec le PKK", après avoir été entendus le 12 août par le procureur et le tribunal de Karliova. Le journaliste pense être victime d'un complot. En effet, il avait porté plainte pour menaces, il y a quelque temps, contre l'officier Yanaral. Ce dernier l'avait menacé de se venger.
Le 15 août, maître Serhat Atli, avocat des deux hommes, a demandé l'annulation de la décision d'incarcération devant le tribunal départemental de Bingöl. Cette instance doit décider, le 19 août, du sort du journaliste et de l'activiste qui l'accompagnait.
L'agence DIHA ainsi que l'avocat du journaliste affirment également qu'il s'agit d'un complot de la part des autorités régionales. Selon eux, ces arrestations sont illégales car "le procès-verbal sur ce qui a été découvert dans le sac du journaliste n'a pas été dressé en la présence d'un témoin et les éléments pour décider d'une incarcération ne sont pas réunis.". (RSF, 17 août 2005)
Heavy fines to Turkey for violating freedom of expression
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has handed Turkey a fine of 540,000 new Turkish liras (USD 400,000) in damages so far this year in legal cases about freedom of expression and fair trial. The court had fined Turkey 224,000 new Turkish liras (USD 166,000) in similar cases last year.
The ECHR fined Turkey 426,720 new Turkish liras (241,085 Euros, USD 316,100) in damages in the first three months of this year. Although less, the ECHR handed Turkey a fine of 113,120 new Turkish liras (70,700 Euros, USD 84,000) in damages in April-May-June.
Turkey, since 2004, has been fined 764,000 new Turkish liras in damages for violating article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which oversees freedom of expression, article 6/1, which calls for a fair trial and article 2, which is about not "investigating enough" journalist deaths.
ECHR this year ruled that Turkey should pay 16,790 Euros in damages to Socialist Party (SP) leader Dogu Perincek; a total of 29,500 Euros to the chief editor Ahmet Ergin and owner Halit Keskin of the Gunluk Emek (Daily Labour) newspaper; 6,000 Euros to writer Mehmet Pamak of the "Selam" newspaper; 9,810 Euros to writer Teslim Tore of "Medya Gunesi" (Media Sun) newspaper; 3,100 Euros to writer Talat Turhan of the book titled "Special War, Terror and Contra-Guerilla;" 5,500 Euros to editor-in-chief Bulent Falakoglu of the "Yeni Evrensel" (New Universal) newspaper.
In the first three months of the year, the Strasbourg Court ruled that Turkey should pay 20,500 Euros to Omer Agan; 95,000 Euros to Ilkay Adali, the wife of journalist Kutlu Adali, who was killed in northern Cyprus; 7,710 Euros to Necati Taniyan, the owner of the "Yeni Politika" (New Politics) newspaper; 9,500 Euros to teacher Ilknur Birol, who was a member of the Education and Science Workers' Union (Egitim-Sen); 38,000 Euros to former Motherland Party (ANAP) lawmaker Ekrem Pakdemirli; 8,500 Euros to writer Muzaffer Ilhan Erdost whose book had been confiscated; 15,000 Euros to Ismail Karademirci, the head of the Izmžr branch of a healthcare union and 24 members; 5,500 Euros to Hasan Dagtekin who is responsible of the Dilan Publishing House; 9,000 Euros to the former DEP lawmaker Leyla Zana; 3,375 Euros to Atilla Halis, a manager of the "Ozgur Gundem" (Free Agenda) newspaper; a total of 17,000 Euros to Veysel Turhan, the former head of the Siirt head of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) and Hamit Geylani, the former secretary-general.
The ECHR fined Turkey 224,000 new Turkish liras (USD 166,000) in damages in cases brought against the country by Cemil Elden, Zubeyir Ozkaya, Medeni Ayhan, Zeynel Baran, Mehmet Hatip Dicle, Ozkan Kalin, Esref Odabasi, Recep Marasli, Veysi Varli, Huseyin Bora, Mehmet Tekin, Sadik Yasar, Hanifi Yildirim, Zulkuf Aydin, Ertugrul Kurkcu, Ragip Zarakolu and Haluk Gerger, who were all convicted in Turkey for books or speeches. (BIA News Center, Erol ONDEROGLU, August 15, 2005)
RSF scandalisée par la garde à vue arbitraire de quatre journalistes
"Il est invraisemblable que des journalistes soient soupçonnés de collaborer avec des militants du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) pour la simple raison qu'ils sont venus couvrir la libération d'un soldat turc. Nous condamnons avec la plus grande fermeté cette détention arbitraire car les journalistes n'ont fait que leur travail. La lutte légitime et nécessaire contre le terrorisme ne saurait en aucun cas justifier de telles violations de la liberté de la presse. Nous demandons au ministre de la Justice, Cemil Cicek, la libération immédiate de ces quatre journalistes", a déclaré Reporters sans frontières
Kadir Özbek et Rüstü Demirkaya, journalistes de l'agence prokurde DIHA (Agence Tigre), Ferit Demir, journaliste des agences DHA (Dogan) et Reuters, ainsi que le reporter de l'agence officielle Anatolie (AA), Haydar Toprakçi, ont été interpellés, dans le village de Gülec (province de Tunceli, est de l'Anatolie), le 4 août 2005 au soir. Ils se trouvent toujours en garde à vue au Commandement militaire central de Tunceli, soupçonnés de collaboration avec des militants du PKK.
Les quatre journalistes interpellés avaient rejoint une délégation de défenseurs des droits de l'homme qui s'étaient rendue dans le village de Gülec pour accueillir le soldat turc Coskun Kirandi, détenu par des militants du PKK depuis le 11 juillet dernier et qui venait d'être libéré.
L'ensemble des membres de cette délégation formée de Selahattin Demirtas, président de la branche locale de l'Association des droits de l'homme turque (IHD) à Diyarbakir, Mihdi Perinçek, dirigeant de IHD, Ferhat Tunç, chanteur et éditorialiste du quotidien prokurde Ülkede Özgür Gündem, Umur Hozatli, éditorialiste du même journal, Özgür Söylemez, membre du parti populaire démocratique (DEHAP, prokurde) a été immédiatement interpellée, ainsi que deux habitants du village de Gülec. Les autorités militaires ont immédiatement procédé à l'interrogatoire des personnes mises en garde à vue.
Le procureur adjoint de Tunceli, Sedat Ertaskin, a déclaré à la presse que "les personnes interpellées avaient servi d'intermédiaire et qu'il y avait une dimension de collaboration et de propagande".
Le vendredi 5 août au soir, l'avocat Selahattin Demirtas, ainsi que le soldat turc Coskun Kirandi ont été libérés, après avoir été entendus par le parquet de Tunceli. (RSF, 6 août 2005)
Journalists and human rights defenders at risk in Turkey
Human rights organizations of Turkey are concerned for the welfare of several prominent human rights defenders, journalists, politicians and Kurdish artists who remain in detention since being arrested en masse yesterday.
There is evidence to suggest the arrests were motivated by recrimination at the abduction of a Turkish soldier on 11 July 2005 by the Kurdish guerrilla group People's Defence Forces (HPG). All of those detained had acted as mediators in securing the safe release of the soldier Coskun Kirandi.
According to the information given by TIHV, they met PKK militants nearby Güleç village at about 6.30pm and Kirandi was released there. Kirandi and members of commission were taken by soldiers to Gendarmerie HQ in Tunceli and they were reportedly detained. According to the news released by Dogan News Agency HRA Chair for Diyarbakir Selahattin Demirtas, HRA Representative for the Mihdi Perinçek, musician Ferhat Tunç, Vice-chairman of DEHAP Alaaddin Erdogan, member of Tunceli municipality assembly Özgür Söylemez, writer with the daily Özgür Gündem Umur Hozatli, DHA correspondent Ferit Demir, Anadolu News Agency correspondent Haydar Toprak, Dicle News Agency correspondents Kadir Özbek and Rüstü Demirkaya would testify today to the public prosecutor. Kirandi reportedly joined a TV programme broadcasted on Roj-TV via phone before he was released.
The group is believed to be held at the Central Gendarme Commandership in Tunceli and includes:
Ferit Aslan (Journalist)
Rustu Demirkaya (Journalist)
Selahattin Demirtas (Head of the Human Rights Association Diyarbakir Branch)
Alaaddin Erdogan (Vice-President of the DEHAP political party)
Umur Hozatli (Journalist)
Kadir Ozbek (Journalist)
Mihdi Perincek (Human Rights Association Southeast Turkey Coordinator)
Ozgur Soylemez (Councillor at Tunceli Municipality Assembly)
Haydar Toprakci (Journalist)
Ferhat Tunc (Kurdish Singer)There is concern that the detainees may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.(IHD-TIHV-KHRP, August 6, 2005)
Recent pressures on the media and intellectuals (TIHV)
August 25, 2005
Journalist Beaten... Servet Alçinkaya, correspondent with daily Cumhuriyet in Istanbul, announced that he was beaten by police officers on 23 August. He said that after having attended an activity he was walking on Istiklal Avenue with his friend Ahmet Biberoglu at about 9.30pm and 4 police officers stopped them in front of Galatasaray Lyceum to check their IDs: "I asked them to show me their police IDs on the grounds that I could not know whether they were although they were wearing uniforms. Upon this they said they would show me IDs and took me in a police vehicle. My friend tried to stop the car by standing in front of the car, but officers beat him. They took me to Taksim Central Police Station and I was heavily beaten there. They kept me in detention for the night and I was released by the Public Prosecutor on 24 August." He also stressed that he was not allowed to call his family. (Cumhuriyet)
August 16, 2005
Ban on publication... Tunceli Peace Penal Court banned on 12 August the publication of photographs and broadcasting of video recording concerning the release of abducted private Coskun Kirandi. The decision was taken upon applicaition of public prosecutor and relying on the Article 28 of Constitution, 3 and 19 of Law on Press, 4/a, b, y of Law on Radios and TVs alleging that photos and video recording were evidences. (Zaman)
August 15, 2005
Journalist under arrest... Birol Duru, correspondent with Dicle News Agency, and Daimi Açik, IHD member, who were detained in Yedisu region in Bingöl on 10 August, were arrested on 11 August. Kemal Okuyucu was released. Duru and Açik were reportedly arrested on charges of "aiding an illegal organisation". Duru reportedly went to Yedisu district to get information concerning the allegations of Yedisu Gendarmerie HQ Commander Ahmet Yanaral on cuitivating cannabis. But a videotape for PKK propaganda was found there in his bag, Duru and 2 villagers were detained. Duru testified to the public prosecutor to the effect that the videotape was first erased and then recorded the picture of PKK militants. By the way Daimi Açik was allegedly testified that he was previously threatened by Ahmet Yanaral. He was allegedly threatened by Yanaral while waiting to testify. (Özgür Gündem, August 13, 2005)
August 12, 2005
Journalist Detained... Correspondent with Dicle News Agency Birol Duru was detained on 10 August in Yedisu district of Bingöl. Daimi Açik and another persons were reportedly detained together with Duru. (Özgür Gündem)
August 8, 2005
Journal Confiscated... Beyoglu (Istanbul) Peace Penal Court No 2 ordered the confiscation of the 2nd issue of the journal "Kaide (Quaide)" that has an Islamic tendency supporting IBDA-C, on the allegations of "inciting people to hatred and enmity" according to the Article 25 of Law on Press. (7 August, Aksam)
Journal Distributors Detained... Elif Almakça, Cüneyt Tiskaya, Mehmet and Mustafa (surnames not known) who were distributing the journal Azadi published in Kurdish in Narli district of Maras on 4 August were detained. (5 August, Atilim)
August 2, 2005
Transfert of the detained journalistŠ 30 prisoners who started hunger strike on 30 July in Tekirdag F-type Prison in order to protest the new Turkish Penal Code and Law on Execution of Sentences were sent to other prisons forcibly after the raid conducted to the cells on 31 July. Memik Horuz, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Isçi-Köylü, was reportedly sent to Bolu F-type Prison. (Atilim)
Publisher on TrialŠ A court case was launched against the responsible of Belge Publishing House Ragip Zarakolu in connection of the Turkish translation of Professor Dora Sakayan's book titled "An Armenian Doctor in Turkey: Garabed Hatcherian: My Smyrna Ordeal of 1922 (Bir Ermeni Doktorun Yasadiklari-Garabet Haçeryan'in Izmir Güncesi)". The indictment wants Zarakolu to be sentenced according to the Article 301 TPC (article 159 of the former TPC). The case will commence on 21 September at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2. (BIA)
Kurdish Question / Question kurde
A Kurdish Demonstrator Killedby security forces in Batman
Hasan Is who was killed during the incidents broke out in the funeral ceremony of militants who were killed nearby Tepecik village of Besiri district (Batman) was buried on 29 August. In the autopsy report prepared by Batman State Hospital it was alleged that Hasan Is died some hours before the funeral ceremony.
According to the announcement made by Batman Security Directorate police allegedly had no relation with the killing of Hasan Is. Batman Security Directorate Arif Öksüz told the following concerning the incident: "The person was shot from 5-10 cm distance. There were meters of distance between the demonstrators and the police when police opened fire into air. We believe that the incident was either an accident or a murder. He may have been killed at the same time when the police officer nearby him held his gun. Because he was shot from his temple from a parallel point."
Ferhat Bayindir, lawyer of Is family, announced that according to the report prepared by Diyarbakir Forensic Institute Hasan Is shot from his ear.
According to the news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, one of the eyewitnesses Abdulselam Yildiz told the followings: "They opened fire against us during the demonstration. Meanwhile Hasan Is fell down. We intervened the incident with friends. It took 10-15 minutes. We took a taxi but we also called an ambulance. We got out the taxi when we saw the ambulance. When we attempted to get into the ambulance two civilian dressed police officers pointed their guns against me and said: 'We'll shoot you if you move'. They seized the corpse".
Another eyewitness Nuri Kilit said: "Hasan was with us during the demonstration. They opened fire against Hasan's head. He was shot from his right ear".
Ayse Toprak, who was also eyewitness told: "Hasan Is was nearby us during the incident. When police started to open fire from the panzers Hasan was shot and fell down. He was killed nearby us".
4 of the 10 persons who were detained during the funeral ceremony of Hasan Is were arrested on 30 August. (Özgür Gündem-TIHV, August 31, 2005)
Clashes and Attacks in the Southeast, Extra-Judicial Execution
The HPG militants who were killed during the clashes that started on 25 August and lasted for three days nearby Tepecik village of Besiri district in Batman are reportedly Cennet Dirlik, Fuat Becene, Ali Ekber Kalsen, Yusuf Avdoyan, Ridvan Karakus, Abbas Emani and Kawa Kobani.
According to the announcement made by the HPG, seven militants, a civilian, a non-commissioned officer and 11 soldiers were reportedly killed in the clashes. It was alleged in the announcement that the civilian person was a person who came from Maras to work.
The HPG militant having nickname Ruken Keles and Ramazan (surname not known) were reportedly captured alive. According to a news appeared on the daily Özgür Politika on 30 August, a female militant who lost one of her hands and two legs during the clash was killed by a non-commissioned officer and another militant who was wounded was killed by firing the bushes in which he hid.
In the news it was also alleged that a militant (Iranian citizen) was killed after having being interrogated one day by the soldiers. His corpse was reportedly taken to the place of the operation. (Özgür Gündem-TIHV, August 31, 2005)
New claims on the killing of a Kurdish militant in Maçka
HPG militant Mesut Isa (Syrian citizen) who was killed during the clas
