Tension in Turkish prison continues

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

HALKIN HUKUK BUROSU

Tel/Fax 0090 212 631 36 94 - 531 77 65 - 532 63 99
Millet Caddesi Dedepasa Sokak 5/1
Findikzade/Aksaray

Date: December 15, 1998
ISTANBUL/TURKEY

THE TENSION FOMENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF SAKARYA PRISON IS
CONTINUING

The tension in Sakarya prison, which began when soldiers who were let
into prison on the pretext that they were "transferring the social
prisoners" and who then headed for the cells of the political
prisoners, is continuing.  After a dispute which arose when soldiers,
who were allegedly commanded to enter the cells of social prisoners in
order to empty them, tried to get into the cells of political
prisoners, the political prisoners whose "lives were in danger"
responded by setting up barricades in front of their cells.  The state
attorney who talked to the political prisoners after the barricades
were set up, said the provocations would continue: "It's not
surprising, it has happened because the soldiers became a little bit
angry with you."

The gendarmes who were let into the prison are still there. Yesterday,
on the visiting day for the families of DHKP-C inmates, the relatives
of the prisoners were removed from the prison by force and were then
beaten by members of fascist groups outside the prison. The physical
assaults continued outside the bus station with the police also taking
part in the attacks. As a result, eight of the relatives had to be
treated in the Sakarya state hospital.

As a result of the tension which has been whipped up by the
administration of Sakarya prison, inmates in Bayrampasa, Ümraniye and
Bursa prisons carried out actions such as refusing to be counted and
occupying the corridor. In Bayrampasa, the administration ordered C
Block's entitlement to receive visits to be suspended on the pretext
that the prisoners there had "refused to be counted". In Sakarya
prison, the barricade action is still going on.

HALKIN HUKUK BUROSU
People's Law Bureau

-- 
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