TURKEY IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC COUN

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

Subject: Re: TURKEY IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY!!!#2

-------------------- Forwarded from : Petros Liapis <hdivp> --------------------

The bellow report presented in the House of Representatives in US, proves for
one more time that Turkey and Human Rights it is a contradiction in terms !!!

Petros.




>           DELEGATION DETAILS HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IN TURKEY
> 
>                                   [Page: E705]
> 
> 
> 
>                            HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH
> 
>                                  OF NEW JERSEY
> 
>                         in the House of Representatives
> 
>                             Tuesday, March 28, 1995
> 
> Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month members of a
> Parliamentary Human Rights Foundation delegation returned from a fact-finding
> mission to Turkey . The human rights situation in that country has
> significantly deteriorated in recent years despite assurances otherwise by
> Turkey 's leaders.
> 
> At present, internal tensions have reached new heights, threatening to tear
> apart the multiethnic fabric of Turkish society while destabilizing the entire
> region. Turkey 's campaign against the Kurdish Worker's Party [PKK] has been
> used to justify the recent invasion of Northern Iraq as well as sweeping
> restrictions on pro-Kurdish expression and peaceful political activity. And,
> while the PKK continues to operate and gather support, Turkey 's democratic
> credentials are increasingly questioned.
> 
> Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask that the report of the Parliamentary Human
> Rights Foundation delegation, which outlines many of the human rights problems
> in Turkey and offers constructive recommendations on how Turkey 's Government
> might better address such problems be printed in the Record.
> 
>           REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS IN TURKEY , MARCH 2, 1995
> 
> The Parliamentary Human Rights Foundation (formerly the Congressional Human
> Rights Foundation) organized a human rights fact-finding mission to Turkey
> (2/25-3/1/95). The delegation was led by the Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell, a
> Member of the Board of Directors and former U.S. Ambassador to the United
> Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC). The delegation also included David L.
> Phillips, President of the Foundation. The purpose of the trip was to
> investigate reported human rights violations committed by the Government of
> Turkey , particularly the abuses against its citizens of Kurdish origin. The
> delegation also investigated violations by the PKK, a separatist organization
> committed to armed struggle. Based on the delegation's findings, a report has
> been submitted to officials in Geneva, Members of the U.S. Congress, the
> European Parliament, and National Assemblies in Europe.
> 
> The delegation visited Istanbul, Diyarbakir, and Ankara. In order to consider a
> broad range of views, the delegation spoke with Turkish officials from the
> Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign
> Affairs, the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the Governor and Deputy Governor
> of the Emergency Region, and Turkish Army personnel. The delegation also met
> with representatives of the Turkish Human Rights Association, the Turkish Human
> Rights Foundation, the Diyarbakir Bar Association, HADEP officials, a DEP
> Parliamentarian, lawyers representing the DEP MPs, former MPs of Kurdish
> origin, and Kurdish citizens.
> 
> Our official request for meetings with Layla Zana and Ahmet Turk, imprisoned
> parliamentarians and members of the Foundations Interparliamentary Human Rights
> Network (IPN), was declined. Despite assurances from the Governor of the
> Emergency Region, our travel to Kurdish villages outside of Diyarbakir was
> blocked at military checkpoints. The office of the Diayarbakir Human Rights
> Association was closed and four members were arrested within 24 hours of the
> delegation's meeting with representatives of the Association.
> 
> Turkish authorities are systematically violating the rights of Turkish
> citizens, including those of Kurdish origin. The Anti-Terror Act and the State
> of Emergency provide legal sanction for gross human rights violations,
> particularly in Southeast Turkey .
> 
> Turkish authorities state that their objection is to the non-combatants
> terrorism. However, many civilian non-combatants suffer human rights violations
> as a result of the struggle between Turkish authorities and the PKK. The PKK is
> an extremist, militant organization responsible for acts of terrorism in which
> Turkish military and police personnel are targeted, as are Kurdish civilians.
> It should be noted, however, that the PKK has recently called for a `civilian
> solution' to the Kurdish question and has recognized Turkey 's borders.
> 
> The Government of Turkey believes all persons who seek political and cultural
> expression for the Kurds are `separatists' and PKK sympathizers. Suspected by
> Turkish authorities as bases for PKK operations, more than one thousand Kurdish
> villages have been destroyed. Human rights monitors report instances of
> arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial killing, and restrictions on
> freedom of expression. In addition, democratically elected parliamentarians of
> Kurdish origin have been jailed and convicted for disseminating `separatist'
> propaganda and supporting an `armed band' while, in reality, they were merely
> representing the interests of their constituents. There are serious shortfalls
> in Turkey 's administration of justice.
> 
> The Interior Ministry indicates that 1,046 villages in the emergency region
> have been evacuated; human rights monitors say several thousand villages have
> been destroyed; homes and their claimed inhabitants have been burned; use of
> chemical agents and poison gas are reported. The Government acknowledges that
> 940 combatants have been killed; however, other reports claim that thousands
> have died. The population of Diyarbakir has doubled to more than 1.2 million as
> internally displaced persons have sought refuge in the city.
> 
> The DEP parliamentarians were convicted in proceedings many observers labelled
> a `show-trial.' The Government of Turkey indicates that 8,682 persons have been
> sentenced under its Anti-Terror Act, which permits arbitrary arrest. Many of
> those known to be arrested, as well as persons who have disappeared, were just
> attempting to peacefully exercise freedoms of speech, association, or other
> internationally recognized human rights. The Turkish Human Rights Association
> reports instances of extrajudicial killings and torture of persons held in
> incommunicado for political crimes. There are 250 cases/appeals presently
> before the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission on Human
> Rights.
> 
> The Constitutional Court of Turkey has no right of review for `decrees with the
> force of law' issued under the state of emergency. The Anti-Terror Act, adopted
> in 1991, restricts many civil liberties, including attorney access to, as well
> as the rights of, persons in detention. The Anti-Terror Act and state of
> emergency provisions also restrict freedom of expression. Government agencies
> harass and imprison human rights minors, journalists, lawyers, and professors.
> The Act's broad and ambiguous definition of terrorism, particularly Article 8,
> has led to widespread abuses of innocent civilians.
> 
> In addition, the Constitutional Court has banned the DEP party, a vehicle for
> the expression of Kurdish cultural identity and full citizenship rights. In the
> past two years, 26 DEP and HADEP members have been killed. In the run-up to
> recent elections, the DEP headquarters was bombed. The press law permits
> banning of publications with a court order and states that `responsible
> editors' bear responsibility for the content of their publications; 19
> journalists have been tried under the Anti-Terror Act. On December 3, 1994, a
> journal reputed to be pro-PKK, the `Izgur Ulke' was bombed. There are no
> independent Kurdish language newspapers, television, or radio. Regarding
> cultural expression, the Constitution does not recognize Kurds as a national,
> racial, or ethnic minority. Two hundred Kurds were arrested during Newroz New
> Year celebrations in Diyarbakir.
> 
> It is important to note that the PKK, itself, is responsible for gross human
> rights violations by targeting village officials, guards, informants, teachers,
> and young men who refuse to take up arms against the authorities. By the
> admission of its own representatives, the PKK has recently killed 179 village
> guards, 66 collaborators, and police officials. The well-being of almost every
> Kurd is adversely affected by the conflict.
> 
> As a result of the conflict, Turkey 's citizens of Kurdish origin have become
> bereft of many democratic rights and are denied effective political and
> cultural expression. The resulting radicalization of the Kurds is contributing
> to a worsening security situation throughout the country. An increasing number
> of Kurds are turning to the pro-Muslim Welfare Party.
> 
>                                   [Page: E706]
> 
> The international community should promote improvement in human rights
> conditions in Turkey by encouraging a dialogue between Turkish authorities and
> legitimate representatives of Kurdish interests. To this end, amnesty should be
> provided to convicted DEP parliaments so that they can participate in a
> dialogue concerning the reduction of tensions and the normalization of
> relations between Turkish authorities and Turkey 's citizens of Kurdish origin.
> 
> Within the competence of the UNHRC, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention,
> and the Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Freedom of Expression should
> investigate human rights conditions in Turkey . The Government of Turkey has
> `invited' the Special Rapporteur on Summary Executions to visit Turkey . A
> suitable itinerary and near term date should be finalized.
> 
> Efforts should be made by the U.S. and the E.U. to establish mutual reinforcing
> restrictions on the sale of military equipment which might be used against
> civilian populations. The US and EU should also coordinate the extension and/or
> relaxation of tariff and trade privileges based on Turkey 's overall human
> rights performance.
> 
> Technical assistance programs in the rule of law should be undertaken among
> Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, European Parliament, and U.S.
> Congress in order to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in
> constitutional and legislative reform. The Anti-Terror Act should be amended so
> that the rights of Turkish citizens are safeguarded, as is the right of the
> state to protect its territorial integrity. Electronic computer networks should
> be established between the TGNA and parliamentary bodies in other countries.
> 
> These recommendations are provided so that the international community can
> become fully seized by the worsening human rights conditions in Turkey . The
> authors of this report hope for reconciliation through dialogue so that peace,
> prosperity, and democracy may flourish for all citizens of the Turkish
> Republic.
> 
> -


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