Kurdistan Human Rights Bulletin #21

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Subject: Re: Kurdistan Human Rights Bulletin #21

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Kurdistan Human Rights Bulletin #21

Turkish Strike Starts To Bite

     A two-week strike by Turkish public sector employees is
beginning to hit exports, basic industries and some private
companies hard but Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is refusing to
meet union leaders' demands for large pay increases. Analysts and
business leaders said Turkey's worst strikes since 1980 were
costing the country $500m(#163#322m) a month in lost exports and
production and threatened attempts to control inflation and
restore economic stability. Ports have been closed and large
state-owned industrial and transport companies have come to a
halt. 
     The government is offering a 5.4 per cent increase for state
employees, even though inflation is running at 80 per cent a
year. The 330,000 strikers are demanding wage increases of 38 per
cent for the first half of this year and 25 per cent for the
second half. However, economists fear that giving in would swell
the government's budget deficit by roughly a third to about $6bn.
Labour unrest is interfering with Ciller's attempt to form a new
government after her coalition collapsed in September. (Financial
Times, October 4, 1995)

Talabani Is Coming To Ankara

     PUK leader Talabani, who last visited Ankara in 1992, is
expected to come to Ankara after 25 September for talks with
Mesud Barzani(KDP). Last week Talabani was taken by a Turkish
helicopter from northern Iraq to Nusaybin in Turkey. It is
believed that Talabani met with MIT( Turkish intelligence)
officials and that he may be delivering a message to PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan. In 1992 Talabani tried to initiate negotiations
for a ceasefire between the PKK and Ankara. It has been suggested
that Talabani may be planning to try and act as a mediator now.
(Hurriyet - September 11, 1995)

86 Teachers Under Arrest In Mersin

     On September 10, teachers from EGITIM-SEN (the teacher's
trade union) including the Mersin Branch leader Ali Riza Onen,
assembled outside the Mersin Governor's office. They said that
many of the teachers have been exiled to other places. To protest
against this development, they started a petition and wanted to
have a press conference. Police warned them to disperse. Despite
this, the teacher's group did not disperse and wanted to march.
86 people were arrested from the teacher's group and the police
announced that they will be charged because they had demonstrated
without permission. (Hurriyet - September 10, 1995)

Armed Forces In Battle To Modernize

     The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) are in the middle of a
comprehensive restructuring and modernization programme.
Implementing the TAF's ambitious plans, however, is complicated
by several factors.
     These include an annual inflation rate that is always in
double figures; the loss of most of the aid which Turkey received
from the USA and its other NATO allies during the Cold War, the
impact of Western public criticism of Turkey's human rights
record on the aid programes that remain and the need to maintain
forces at a high level of readiness in response to tension on
three of Turkey's borders.
     For much of the Cold War the USA, Germany, the Netherlands,
Canada and Belgium contributed to Turkey's modernization
programmes by transferring surplus, often earlier generation
equipment, to Turkey. A last massive wave of support has broken
over Turkey as CFE treaty-limited equipment (TLE) has been
'cascaded' by NATO allies. Turkey has received M60A1/A3 main
battle tanks, M113 armoured personnel carriers and M110 203mm
self-propelled howitzers from the USA; RF-4E Phantoms, Leopard
1A3MBTs, APCs and M11Os from Germany; and F-5 fighters from the
Netherlands.
     Turkey's 1995 defence budget totals $3.433 billion, which
represents 10.8 percent of government spending, showing a slight
increase from last year's allocation of 10.3 percent. About $1.7
billion of this is allocated for procurement. Defence analysts
suggest that $4 billion must be spent on acquisition programmes
alone if the TAF's modernization objectives are to be met.
(Jane's Defence Weekly - September 16, 1995)

Aycin Campaign Grows

     Turkish civil aviation union Hava-Is has distributed 20,000
posters in major towns around Turkey demanding the release of the
union president Atilay Aycin and the repeal of Article 8 of the
Anti Terrorism Act under which many political prisoners have been
detained. The union collected 30,000 signatures in three days
supporting their campaign. (ITF News - August/September 1995)

Turkey Urged To Speed Up Reforms

     Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind yesterday urged Turkey to
speed up its reforms giving greater political and civil rights to
the Kurds. At the same time, he promised that Britain would lobby
the European Parliament for ratification of Ankara's customs
union with the European Union. (The Times - September 7, 1995)

Ministers In Talks Over Iraq

     Foreign ministers of Syria, Iran and Turkey are due to meet
in Tehran, the Iranian capital, tomorrow for talks on the
situation in Iraq following the defections last month of members
of Saddam Hussein's family. Officials have expressed concern over
the threat to Iraq's territorial integrity. All three countries
have sizable Kurdish minorities adjacent to Iraq's own 3m Kurdish
population in the north. And Iran has a strong affiliation with
Iraq's Shia living in the south. Each country, however, also
hosts members of Iraq's disparate opposition. (Financial Times -
September 7, 1995)

Protests Against Closure Of Yeni Politika

     Turkish and Kurdish intellectuals condemned the court
closure of the country's biggest pro-Kurdish newspaper and some
called for defiance of Turkey's strict limits on freedom of
expression.
     "Despite being considered illegal there are things that must
be done and I encourage everyone to keep pushing the issue of
freedom of expression," Turkish musician Sanar Yurdatapan told a
news conference called by the newspaper, Yeni Politika, to
announce its demise. Yurdatapan leads a campaign in which 1,080
people - among them leading writers, actors and journalists -
have demanded the prosecutor charge them for publishing a book of
articles banned by the court.
     The trial against 99 of the signatories, charged with
violating article eight of the anti-terror law, starts next week.
Yurdatapan said the closure of Yeni Politika signalled the need
for further action. "It's no use just to collect signatures and
give speeches. But if the state has to put all of us in prison,
then it becomes an impossible situation for them," he said. Yeni
Politika's publishing life ended after five months, when a court
on Wednesday ruled the paper was a continuation of two banned
pro-Kurdish newspapers. The closure follows years of difficulties
faced by Kurdish publications, which started up in strength after
the government in 1991 lifted a formal eight-year ban on the use
of Kurdish. (Reuter - August 17, 1995)

Bar Association Chairman Killed By Fundamentalists

     The chairman of the Gumushane Bar Association, Ali Gunday,
was assassinated on 25 July by an Islamic fundamentalist, Izzet
Kirac, following the expulsion of two veil-wearing female lawyers
from the Bar.
     Onder Sav, chairman of the Turkish Bar Association (TBB),
said that reactionary forces were trying to send Turkey back to
the Middle Ages and those who encourage the murder of people in
the name of religion are also responsible for the murder.
(Info-Turk - #221)

Villagers Suffering As Turks Try To Starve Kurdish Rebels

     "'Scorched earth' tactics aimed at Kurdish rebels are
hitting the wrong people and could rebound on Ankara". Last week,
Algan Hacaloglu, the Turkish minister in charge of human rights
was comparing Tunceli to Bosnia: "The hunger, the suffering of
the people ... it's the same," he said.
     His remarks followed a tour of Tunceli to investigate
allegations that the Turkish security forces had imposed what
outraged locals described as a "food embargo" on their province.
"They burnt our villages, killed our animals and now they want us
to starve," said Hasan Solmaz, a farmer from Pinarlar village, 20
miles west of Tunceli. Mr Solmaz had just discovered that like
any other villager who came to buy food here, he too had to fill
out a form at an army checkpoint at the town entrance listing
every item he bought, where he was taking it to, and the names of
all his family members, before being allowed to return home. The
government has justified the measures by saying they are aimed at
preventing food from reaching the PKK. The outspoken local CHP
boss, Bekir Gundogar believes otherwise. "It is us the state is
finishing off, not the PKK," he said. (The Times - August 29,
1995)

EU Warns Ankara Over Kurdish Rights

     Turkey was told over the weekend that, unless it made
constitutional concessions to the Kurdish minority, the European
Parliament might veto a treaty binding Ankara closer to the West.
But European Union foreign ministers who met in Spain reaffirmed
their determination to push for ratification of the new EUcustoms
union with Turkey.
     At an informal meeting in Santander, Britain supported the
Spanish presidency in urging EU governments to lobby hard for a
treaty with the Western Alliance. Foreign Secretary Malcolm
Rifkind said Britain would urge Strasbourg to pass the treaty,
facing opposition because of Turkey's human rights record. Mr.
Rifkind and other foreign ministers fear that if Turkey is
rebuffed over the customs union, the backlash may be so strong
that Turkey's entire post-Ataturk political orientation to the
West may be undermined. However, the tough Turkish laws designed
to suppress the Kurds have soured relations with many European
human rights activists and have been strongly criticised by the
European Parliament, which will give the final vote later this
year on whether to veto the customs union. (The Times - September
12, 1995)

Two Persons Arrested In Diyarbakir

     Police attacked a house and arrested Lezgin (21) and
Gulbahar (19) brother and sister of a journalist who had worked
on the old newspaper Ozgur Ulke in Diyarbakir. The police did not
gave any justification for their arrest. The police had also
arrested another person called Erhan Bakan in the same part of
Diyarbakir on 28 August. At the time of his arrest they said that
they didn't know anybody with this name. After 8 days they
admitted that he was in police custody in Diyarbakir. Abdullah
Alici and Bakan's wife went to the Human Rights organisation to
apply for these people because they were concerned for their
lives. (Ozgur Politika - September 7, 1995)

Turkish Coalition Collapses

     Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller offered her resignation
yesterday after talks designed to prop up her four-year-old
coalition government suddenly collapsed. She will now be asked to
form a new administration, although the possibility of her
forging a new alliance to last her final year in office is
remote. Ciller's surprise announcement came after her first
meeting with Deniz Baykal, the new leader of her junior coalition
partner. He left the meeting announcing that despite "the
pleasant chat", the Government was finished and elections were
inevitable. Mr Baykal's apparent determination to break up the
coalition was prompted by the risky calculation that his
Republican People's Party can revive its poor standing by
distancing itself from Ciller's right-of-centre policies. Some of
the traditional leftwing support has drifted to the pro-Islamic
Welfare Party, which promises a "just order". Ciller is likely to
soldier on until the spring with a minority government. (The
Times - September 21, 1995)
     Amnesty International, in a report to be published today,
accuses Turkey of failing to enact simple and practical reforms
to improve human rights. The reforms include the abolition of
article eight of the notorious anti-terror law. (The Guardian -
September 21, 1995)
     "There is no telling what will happen, a period of great
instability lies ahead." said Tayla Erten, a leading columnist
for the financial daily, Dunya. Businessmen expressed fears of a
fresh economic crisis as shares on the Istanbul stock exchange
continued to slide along with the Turkish lira, despite the
intervention of the Central Bank. (Daily Telegraph - September
22, 1995)
     Tansu Ciller faced added pressure for early elections with
the resignation of the speaker of parliament. Husamettin
Cindoruk, a member of Mrs Ciller's centre-right True Path Party
but a long-time adversary, said that elections should be held
every four years, rather than five as under the present
constitution. General elections are now scheduled for next
autumn. Mrs Ciller's coalition collapsed on 20 September and her
party has been unable to find a new coalition partner. (The Times
- October 2, 1995)

129a Trial Against Kurds In Frankfurt

     On September 25, 1995, a trial against 3 Kurdish defendants
will open at the State Supreme Court in Frankfurt, Germany with
the aim of proving that one part of the Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) is a "terrorist organization". By using crown witnesses,
the state prosecutor hopes to prove that the accused, in their
roles as party functionaries or as the heads of a Kurdish
association in Frankfurt, were responsible for criminal acts and
thus constituted a "terrorist organization". According to the
Working Group Against The Kurd Trial (Arbeitskreis gegen den
Kurdenprozess): "What is really being put on trial is the right
of the Kurdish people to engage in political and public
activity." The Working Group has issued a leaflet calling on
people to visit this trial and to protest against it. (Kurdistan
Rundbrief #18)

HADEP Is Raided Twice In One Week

     Peoples Democratic Party (HADEP) Diyarbakir city
administator M. Can Ekin's house and business premises were
raided by police. A HADEP spokesperson said the reason for this
is "Mr Ekin's active role in supporting close relatives of
prisoners of war. Meanwhile peace posters were prepared by HADEP.
When they were being posted up by HADEP members and directors,
'anti-terror' police destroyed the posters. The raid which was
planned by the anti-terror police destroyed Mr. Ekin's house and
business premises, and property. His wife and workers were abused
and assaulted. HADEP workers organized a meeting to discuss the
raid. They said they believe that the reason for the raid was Mr.
Erkins active role in helping the relatives close of the war and
prisoners on hunger strike. (Ozgur Politika - September 8, 1995)

HADEP's Flyposter Team Arrested

     HADEP directors Hanifi Akboga, Hanifi Baran, HADEP members
Cemil Krem and the taxi driver who carried the posters, were
attacked by 'anti-terror' police and arrested when they were
fly-posting in Diyarbakir. Although HADEP had received official
permission to fly-post, the police tore the posters down and
threatened to kill them if they did not stop putting up posters.
(Ozgur Politika - September 8, 1995)

Son Disappeared - Mother Attempts To Burn Herself

     In Diyarbakir's Kulk county on 24 August Osman Bulutekin's
house was raided by police and he was arrested. There is no news
from him now. His mother Mrs. Bulutekin atempted to burn herself
in order that her son be found. Mrs. Bullutekin, who was released
3 days ago from Diyarbakir closed prison, has requently received
threatening phone calls. From the day of the arrest of her son
she has been trying to get them to accept responsibility for his
arrest, but she has not been successful. Mrs. Bullutekin went to
Kulp police station and in the garden of the station poured
diesel over herself to burn herself, but was stopped by security
guards. Mrs. Bullutekin stated that the four people who took her
son away had introduced themselves as policemen and before they
left the house they cut the telephone wire. "If my son Osman is
not found, I will burn myself. I want the government to know
this." (Ozgur Politika - September 15, 1995)

KDP Meet Turkish Military Plan For Joint Cross-Border Operation

     According to Milpa correspondent Seymus Cakan, high ranking
officials of the KDP and Turkish foreign Ministry officials met
on 30 August in the town of Silopi in Sirnak province to discuss
a new cross-border operation. The information received revealed
that the KDP officials gave details of the PKK's numerical
strength in northern Iraq, the areas in which it is situated and
the areas which it controls. The opinion of the KDP was obtained
as to whether a need exists for a new cross-border operation. A
guarantee was given at the end of the meeting that in the event
of the KDP requesting it, a comprehensive cross-border operation
against the PKK would be undertaken. Milha Adana correspondent
Murat Dogukanli claims that 10 trucks carrying containers with
"USA" inscribed on them entered nothern Iraq at Habur. The word
"explosives" on each container attracted attention and officials
avoided giving information concerning the contents of the
containers, weighing approximately 22 tons each, from where they
had come and their destination. On the front page next to the
photo of the trucks it states that the trucks were part of a
"Provide Comfort" convoy that had set out from Incirlik. The
caption states that the trucks had Turkish number plates and were
accompanied by American officers. (Milliyet - September 1, 1995)

8 Dead And 63 Political Prisoners Injured In Buca Prison

     Prison guards helped by Turkish gendarmes attacked left-wing
political prisoners in Buca prison on 28 September 1995. Ahmet
Turan Demir a representative of the Human Rights Organization
said "after the attack fifteen ambulances were required to take
the dead and wounded." The prisoners, protesting against
continuous torture and the refusal of the authorities to allow
family and legal visits had refused to take part in prison roll
calls. The attack took place in the cells of the prisoners and
all of Buca's political prisoners were attacked. This is denied
by the authorities. Families and friends of the prisoners who
were waiting outside the prison were also attacked. Mr Dinir, who
accompanied lawyers to Buca prison afther the incident, reported
that the prison guards were continuing to attack the prisoners,
throwing tear gas into their cells. He also reported that while
he was there he heard gun shots. Ten of the authority's attackers
were wounded. (Ozgur Politika - September 23, 1995)

Explosion Hits Pro-Kurdish Office In Turkey

     An explosion rocked a building housing the pro-Kurdish
People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in Turkey's port city of Izmir
on Wednesday, shattering windows but causing no injuries, local
HADEP officials said.
     Turkish police said the early morning explosion in the
three-storey building was caused by a leaky gas canister, but
HADEP officials said a bomb had been placed outside the door. The
explosion at the Gaziemir district building comes three days
after a bomb placed at a nearby cafe frequented by off-duty
Turkish soldiers killed five people and wounded 24. HADEP
officials said the explosion at their building might have been in
retaliation for the bombing, which Turkish newspapers blamed on
separatist Kurdish guerrillas fighting for independence in
southeast Turkey. Numerous HADEP officials throughout Turkey are
on trial for alleged membership in the Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK), but HADEP officials dismiss the charges as a smear
campaign aimed at weakening Kurdish demands for broader cultural
and political rights. (Extract from Reuters News Service, 1995)

PKK Seeks Dialogue With Germany

     The leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has
signalled a change in his political approach with respect to
Germany. "We don't wish to disrupt the security and order of
Germany, or to concern ourselves with Germany's foreign affairs,"
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan told West German Radio (WDR) during an
interview in his headquarters. Ocalan told the station that the
PKK was willing to call off all of its attack

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