Kurdish News A Monthly Publication Of The Kurdistan Committee Of Canada Number 19 - August 1995 Index: 1) 10,000 Prisoners Of War Have Begun Hungerstrike In Turkey 2) An Open Letter 3) ARGK Statement Concerning The Latest Turkish Incursion Into South Kurdistan 4) Hundreds Of People Detained In Ankara 5) From Weakness To Resistance: A Portrait Of Leyla Zana 6) Women Parliamentarians Support Leyla Zana 7) The Kurdish People Will Have Victory With Dignity And Pride 8) Hungerstrike Updates 9) Huge Funeral Procession In Berlin 1) 10,000 Prisoners Of War Have Begun Hungerstrike In Turkey Press Release #1 - July 14, 1995 Since July 14, 1995, more than 10,000 Prisoners of War from Kurdistan have started an indefinite hungerstrike in Turkish prisons, using the only weapon they have, their bodies, to fight against the barbaric colonialist war of the Turkish regime and to struggle for peace for the Turkish and Kurdish peoples so as to put an end to the suffering of millions of people as fast as possible. The hungerstrikers have made the following demands: 1. In order to reach a political solution, calls made by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for a dialogue must be supported and encouraged. 2. Geneva Convention regulations covering combatants must be observed and enforced in Kurdistan. 3. Killing of civilians, summary executions, torture in prisons, and the burning of villages must come to an end. 4. All war prisoners in jails must be classified as POWs. 5. All military operations designed to destroy our people must be stopped. 6. Under the auspices of the UN and the Red Cross, committees must be formed and sent to monitor the war in Kurdistan and prison conditions. Although the Turkish state is signatory to the Geneva Convention, it has never taken these obligations seriously or abided by these regulations in its war in Kurdistan. Western states, aware of this fact, never thought to warn Turkey concerning this Convention nor urge it to abide by the regulations. Confronting this reality, the 10,000 hungerstrikers have begun their actions and are determined not to stop them unless their demands are met. Further information concerning this action may be received from the Solidarity Bureau in Brussels, Belgium at telephone +322-230- 9239 or fax +322-230-9208. 2) An Open Letter To: The United Nations, The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), The International Red Cross, The Council of Europe, The European Parliament, The European Union, and Amnesty International. The United Nations and its affiliates, having the responsibility for the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the world, are no doubt aware of the circumstances in our homeland, Kurdistan. We, the Kurdish people, as responsible members of the world community, wish to be treated fairly. We see you as a voice of responsibility and reason and hence are making this announcement to you as we do with various worldwide organizations. Our people, having been denied status even as a colonized people, before the eyes of the United Nations is left to annihilation by this century's most vicious and barbaric regimes. What Saddam saw fit to bring upon the Kurdish people has not yet left our conscience. Today, a similar savagery is being planned and executed by the Turkish regime in Kurdish lands. Our settlements are being destroyed, forests burnt, and all of our land is being systematically deprive of all life. Our people are being stripped forcibly from their lands and are condemned to die. Millions of our people are fighting disease and starvation as they flee their homeland. For those who migrate to the metropolitan areas, hunger, unemployment, and "mystery killings" are new realities. Each day, new attacks are added to the special teams and contra-guerrilla savagery. Even the dead are not exempt from the torture which is rooted in racism and fascist aggression. Today's realities include the rape of young and old women, houses burnt, and villages destroyed. It is impossible to speak of human rights while a people, its culture, its language, and its history are being denied and systematically destroyed. While the whole world watches in silence, we cannot accept the death sentences being served upon our people. The Kurdish national liberation movement, under the leadership of the PKK, represents vast portions of Kurdish society and is taking shape with great difficulty and pains. This movement has proven that despite incredible odds, our people, having begun their liberation, will not rest until they are free. Common values which enhance people's security and peace must be supported throughout our region. We believe our people are contributing to this endeavour. We ask all organizations, including yours, to show greater sensitivity towards the wishes of our people. Especially since the spring of 1995, the dirty war aimed at exterminating our people rages unabated, despite the calls for a cease-fire issued by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. We are 10,000 war prisoners. In order to call attention to the suffering in our homeland, we shall begin an indefinite hungerstrike on July 14, 1995. We shall continue our resistance until serious steps are taken to remedy our concerns outlined below. We display our personal gift of life to underline our people's right to live. We hope and wish for change with this moderate step in our people's resistance. We seek the following: 1. In order to reach a political solution, calls made by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for a dialogue must be supported and encouraged. 2. Geneva Convention regulations covering combatants must be observed and enforced in Kurdistan. 3. Killing of civilians, summary executions, torture in prisons, and the burning of villages must come to an end. 4. All war prisoners in jails must be classified as POWs. 5. All military operations designed to destroy our people must be stopped. 6. Under the auspices of the UN and the Red Cross, committees must be formed and sent to monitor the war in Kurdistan and prison conditions. This dirty war, and all killings, can be stopped by common and cohesive action. We believe not in war but in an honourable peace. We hope that you share our views and desires and we appreciate your understanding. 10,000 Prisoners of War from Kurdistan and Turkey July 14, 1995 3) ARGK Statement Concerning The Latest Turkish Incursion Into South Kurdistan The latest military incursion of the Turkish army into South Kurdistan (northern Iraq) is, in fact, not a new development. The area around the Iraqi border and the Zagros region (where the borders of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey meet) has been a constant area of conflict for a long time now. During the course of this conflict, the Turkish military authorities have had to evacuate 4 military bases and some village guard settlements and has attempted to centralize them in so-called "strategic villages". Having lost control in this region, the Turkish authorities are now finding it impossible to get village guard militias to participate in military operations and fear they may turn against them. Therefore, the Turkish army has concentrated its forces in certain areas which are now coming under guerrilla attacks. The latest military operation is an attempt to prevent guerrilla attacks on the remaining bases. The areas on the side of the Iraqi border that have been targeted are those areas that could be used for launching attacks on these bases. Clashes over the last few days have occurred all along the border as far as Xankurke and have been concentrated in the Gerdi region. The first Turkish units were ambushed and the Turkish forces have been attempting to reach Avashin and Munzuri for 4 days now. They have suffered heavy casualties and succeeded in getting as far as Miroz, an area controlled by Barzani's forces. 7 villages in the area have been bombarded and villagers have been massacred on the orders of the 'Cevik' headquarters. We heard the order being given over walkie-talkie and we heard that it had been carried out, but we have not yet confirmed this. There have also been clashes in the border region around Cukurca. The Turkish forces have been unable to advance from this area. East of Cukurca there have also been clashes around Mt. Cilo and the Turkish forces have advanced into Iraqi territory in the Burcela area, but they have not been able to advance very far. During these clashes, we have lost a total of 3 guerillas with another 7 slightly wounded. Turkish army casualties are in the hundreds. Our forces have seized many weapons. The enemy is prepared to suffer these casualties solely in order to protect their limited forces in the area, for unless they do this it will be impossible for them to defend these targets. They are endeavouring to prevent us from carrying out our plans. We are aware of this and yesterday they themselves admitted as much. The enemy is also trying to conceal the reality in the region by waging a psychological war to make it seem like they are able to carry out such operations. In reality, they are not in a position to advance very far. They now only have 4 battalions in the Cukurca area, 1 in Gerdi, and several in Gewer. This summer we will attack and destroy these targets. The enemy, aware of our intentions, is endeavouring to prolong the existence of these bases by going on the offensive. Our forces, however, are prepared and we are intensifying our activities. We have plans to defeat the efforts of the enemy and we are determined to carry out our objective of destroying the Turkish bases in the area, thereby establishing our authority over an extensive area. This is our goal for the summer. We will not accept anything less. People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK) July 7, 1995 4) Hundreds Of People Detained In Ankara A total of 244 people, including 2 children, were detained in Ankara on July 6. Among those detained were Yavuz Onen, President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and Chairman of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, Husnu Ondul, Secretary General of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Nazmi Gur, Vice Secretary General of IHD, and Sirri Sakik, former Democracy Party (DEP) Member of Parliament. Out of the detainees, Husnu Ondul was released on the evening of July 6, and Yavuz Onen and Nazmi Gur were released on the evening of July 7. Sirri Sakik and the remaining 240 people are still in police custody. The incident took place during the trial launched against leaders of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP). HADEP Vice Chairpersons Sahabettin Ozarslaner and Hikmet Fidan, HADEP Vice Secretary General Seyhmus Cagro, and Ferhan Turk, one of the administrators of the HADEP Ankara Provincial Organization, are all facing 15 years in prison on charges of being members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This trial started in Ankara State Security Court on July 6. At the first hearing of the trial, persons wishing to observe the proceedings were not allowed to enter the court. Some people then protested by starting to clap their hands and the defence attorneys walked out of the hearing room. Then, Nusret Demiral, Chief Prosecutor of the Ankara State Security Court, ordered that everyone be arrested, including the lawyers. Upon the orders of the prosecutor, 244 persons were arrested. The detainees were then taken by police buses to the sports hall of the Ankara Security Directorate. Except for the three men released, the prosecutor has asked that all 241 people be detained until at least July 12. Mr. Onen, President of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, had this to say about the incident: "A total of 244 people were detained on the orders of the State Security Court prosecutor. The detainees were divided into four groups and were interrogated. I was interrogated twice. During the interrogation, 4 women were beaten. We were kept in abnormal conditions. Our group was taken to the Narcotics Branch. The cells were not open, so we had to stay on the concrete floor in the hall. Besides, nobody met the needs of the detainees. Me and Nazmi were released on the condition that we appear before the State Security Court on July 12. I can say that this detention was truly an arbitrary one." The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects call upon the Turkish government to release the detainees immediately, and we call upon the international public and all democratic organizations to be aware of these events. We invite you to join in our struggle for democracy in our country and to protest with us against this violation of human rights. Turkiye Insan Haklari Vakfi/Human Rights Foundation of Turkey July 7, 1995 5) From Weakness To Resistance: A Portrait Of Leyla Zana Not long after she was sentenced to prison, Leyla Zana was honoured with several international peace prizes. She was given the Rosa Prize from Denmark, the Aachen Alternative Peace Prize, and the Rafto Association's Peace Prize from Norway, and most recently she was awarded the Bruno Kreisky Peace Prize from Austria. In addition to all of this, Norway has nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize. Who is Leyla Zana, and why have so many people across the world given her so many prizes in such a short period of time? Leyla Zana, who is known well beyond the borders of Turkey and Kurdistan, and who has been imprisoned in Ankara since March 1994, caused quite a sensation when she was elected to the Turkish Parliament in 1991 and, along with her male colleague Hatip Dicle, added a referenced to "Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood" in her inaugural oath. For the first time since the founding of the Turkish Republic, someone dared to speak in the Kurdish language before the eyes of watching Members of Parliament and TV viewers. And in yet another first, she took hear inaugural oath wearing the Kurdish national colours, red, green, and yellow. Together with her other colleagues from the Democracy Party (DEP), Leyla Zana attempted to deal with the Kurdish problem at the political level. She made it her task to make the Kurdish question an issue in the Turkish Parliament. But she knew from day one that this would be a very difficult task. Would a Parliament that did not even allow people to wear the Kurdish national colours allow a discussion of the situation of the Kurds? It was a heavy task which this young MP took on. Where did she get so much courage? A close examination will reveal that the life and personal development of Leyla Zana closely mirrors that of the uprising of the Kurdish people; a sort of microcosm of the entire Kurdish resistance movement. The will for social and personal freedom was the basis for her activities. It was this resistance throughout her entire life that made it possible for her to fight to change the present conditions. The female gender in the village of Bahce, where Leyla Zana was born in 1961, had very little to do and was supposed to stay hidden. But Leyla was never easy to control and she rebelled even then. Before her wedding, she had never worn a head garment, and even then she only wore it for a short time. She didn't seem too concerned when everyone thought she was crazy for tossing the head garment on the ground. She was just 14 years old in 1975 when she was forced to marry her father's cousin, a man 20 years older than she. Even when she reacted angrily to the idea of this marriage and beat her father with her fists, something no other Kurdish girl would surely ever do, she still had an amazingly clear analysis of her situation: "I don't blame my family or my husband, rather I blame the social conditions. These must be changed." The possibilities for changing both personal and social conditions actually improved after her marriage to Mehdi Zana, an active Kurd. It was through him that Leyla first encountered state repression, and this was what politicized her. In 1976, Leyla went with her husband to Diyarbakir and soon the illiterate woman, still only 15, gave birth to a son. The following year, her husband was elected Mayor of Diyarbakir. After the 1980 military coup, Mehdi Zana was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Leyla Zana was now a young, single mother, her son Ronay was 5 and she was pregnant with her daughter Ruken. Whereas before she had been heavily influenced by her relatives, now she was forced "to think for myself and act for myself". During the next few years, she followed her husband from prison to prison, from Diyarbakir to Aydin, from Afyon to Askisehir. While doing so, she learned to speak Turkish so that she could be more effective outside the prisons, and she even managed to study on her own. In Diyarbakir, she became the first woman ever to get a high school diploma without ever attending school. She eventually became the spokesperson for all the women who were waiting for their husbands in prison and her personal authority continued to grow. In the 1980s, she was active in promoting women's self-organization and she founded and chaired a women's group which eventually opened offices in Istanbul and Diyarbakir. She also became active as a journalist for 'Yeni Ulke', eventually becoming editor at the Diyarbakir office. These and many other examples clearly show that her personal development was virtually synonymous with the development of the Kurdish liberation struggle, and this culminated with her candidacy for Parliament in the 1991 elections. Leyla Zana was the first Kurdish woman ever elected to the Turkish Parliament. She received 45,000 votes in her district in Diyarbakir, more than any other candidate. After her election, she moved to Ankara. Her incredible energy and courageous actions on behalf of the 16 million Kurds in Turkey made her famous throughout the entire country: hungerstrike to protest army attacks on the Kurdish New Year festival 'Newroz'; funeral march for a leading Kurdish politician, whose murdered body had been found near a beach; countless visits to families who had been victims of state violence and who had been deprived of their means for existence. Leyla Zana, who has been in prison in Ankara for more than 15 months now, has become a symbol for the Kurdish resistance. Her life and her fate are directly tied to the fate of the Kurdish people. In Leyla Zana's own words: "Freedom has its price." And she is prepared to pay it. It was predictable that she would one day end up in prison, and she was prepared for this. The important thing is that she is helping to solve the problems of the Kurdish people. Immediately after being sentenced to prison, Leyla Zana was showered with several international peace awards, and the Norwegian Parliament has nominated her for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Her struggle, therefore, is no longer confined to the borders of Kurdistan, rather hers is an international struggle, one which is increasing in international resonance with each passing day. In a recent interview, a spokesperson for the Bruno Kreisky Association, Stefan August, answered the question as to why Leyla Zana had been awarded the association's Peace Prize that year: "We nominated Leyla Zana as a candidate to the independent jury. We clearly explained the situation in both Turkey and Kurdistan. The development of the struggle in Kurdistan has meant that not only Austria has closely followed the events, but all the countries of Europe have been able to see things unfold from very close by. The discussion about Turkey's acceptance into the Customs Union and Austria's ties to Turkey motivated our decision. The lifting of the immunity of the DEP parliamentarians and the verdict of Turkey's State Security Court, which functioned as a special court for this trial, clearly revealed Turkey's attitude with respect to the Kurdish question. We think this is a serious situation. When we look at the Kurdish question in its historical context, we think also of Africa or Russia. This is a fundamental problem. That's why we made our decision the way we did...Leyla Zana was awarded our prize for human rights achievements as a representative of all the imprisoned DEP parliamentarians." Norway gave the following reason for nominating Leyla Zana for the Nobel Peace Prize: "Leyla Zana carried out courageous politics in the interest of democratic rights for the Kurdish people and for human rights. If she were not brave then she would not have struggled to end this war and to find a peaceful solution to the problem. The Turkish government put Leyla Zana and her colleagues in prison illegally. We, as representatives of the Norwegian people, would like to see Leyla Zana awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, because in that way we could show solidarity with their struggle for peace and democracy." July 1995 Kurdistan Informations-Zentrum Cologne, Germany 6) Women Parliamentarians Support Leyla Zana The 4th Annual Parliamentary session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was held in Ottawa, Canada from July 4-8, 1995. At this meeting, a Green Member of Parliament from Finland, Tuija Maaret Pykalainen, distributed a petition during the women's caucus which called for the immediate release of Leyla Zana from prison. This petition was signed by nearly all the women delegates present at the caucus. Appeal To The Turkish Government From Members Of The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly July 6, 1995 We, as Members of Parliament from a variety of nations, and as women, are concerned about the fate of a fellow woman Member of Parliament from Turkey, Leyla Zana. Mrs. Zana was duly elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in October 1991. She was arrested in March 1994 and charged with "high treason". The Prosecutor asked for the death penalty, but she and five other Members of Parliament were sentenced to prison. Leyla Zana herself was given a sentence of 15 years. Her only crime was being a Kurd and speaking out in the Turkish Parliament for the rights of the Kurdish people. An OSCE Parliamentary Delegation visited Leyla Zana in prison during its visit to Turkey from May 1-6 of this year. This OSCE Delegation has called for the immediate release of the imprisoned Kurdish Members of Parliament, perhaps by means of an amnesty. We would like to support this call for the release of the MPs imprisoned in Turkey, in particular our colleague Leyla Zana. Sincerely, Women delegates to the 4th OSCE Parliamentary Assembly: -Ms. Tuija Maaret Pykalainen, MP, Finland -Ms. Kaisa Maria Aula, MP, Finland -Mrs. Maija Perho-Santala, MP, Finland -Mrs. Elena B. Mizulina, MP, Russia -Mrs. Maria Gaidash, MP, Russia -Ms. Nina Markovsky, MP, Ukraine -Mrs. Lili Nabholz, MP, Switzerland -Mrs. Feroniki Tzavella, MP, Greece -Mrs. Paddy Torsney, MP, Canada -Mrs. Anne-Marie Lizin, MP, Belgium -Mrs. Josi Meier, MP, Switzerland -Mrs. Edith Haller, MP, Austria -Mrs. Kristina Svensson, MP, Sweden -Mrs. Dorota Simonides, MP, Poland -Mrs. Maud Bjornemalm, MP, Sweden -Mrs. Karin Wegestal, MP, Sweden -Mrs. Helle Degn, MP, Denmark -Ms. Bjorg Hope Galtung, MP, Norway -Ms. Kirsti Kolle Groendahl, MP, Norway -Mrs. Helena Nilsson, MP, Sweden -Ms. Katrin Fuchs, MP, Germany 7) The Kurdish People Will Have Victory With Dignity And Pride On July 25, 1995 Kani Yilmaz, European representative of the ERNK, appeared in court for the fourth and final extradition hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates Court. Kani has been confined to Belmarsh Prison in South East London as a 'Category A' prisoner since January, following his October 26, 1994 arrest by the Special Branch outside Westminster tube station. Initially on his way to address MPs and peers on a political solution to the Kurdish question, and having previously entered Britain numerous times unhindered, Kani soon found himself facing deportation on supposed 'national security' grounds. On November 10, 1994 an extradition request was made by the German government for offences connected with Kani's membership in the PKK and related activities. Having committed no crime, Kani, like many Kurds before him, has faced torture and persecution at the hands of the Turkish state for simply advocating civil and human rights for the Kurdish people. Now, he languishes in a British prison under a justice system and security service which has aligned itself with Turkish state fascism. Since the arrest of Kani Yilmaz, the campaign for his release and for a halt to the criminalisation of the Kurds in Britain and Europe has gathered momentum. On July 14, 10,000 prisoners of war from Kurdistan went on indefinite hungerstrikes in Turkish prisons in resistance to Turkey's escalation of the war in Kurdistan and have demanded a negotiated political solution to the Kurdish question. Solidarity hungerstrikes were started on July 20 in cities all over the world including Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, Geneva, Stockholm, The Hague, Athens, and Washington DC. In London, Kurdish people are presently on hungerstrike outside Westminster Cathedral in Victoria Street. On July 25, Kani himself commenced a hungerstrike in solidarity with the Kurdish people. On the day of July 25, a picket and demonstration was held in London at Kani Yilmaz's committal hearing to bring the Kurdish question into the public eye and to continue the campaign for Kani's release. 2,000 Kurds and their supporters, including the hungerstrikers, were present on the day. At noon, an overwhelmingly heavy riot police presence were on the scene as protesters participated in traditional Kurdish dances and listened to a variety of speeches. A few hours later an announcement was made that Kani Yilmaz was to be deported. This was returned by strong silence and an atmosphere of disbelief, then the protest returned to Westminster Cathedral to bring the situation of the Kurds in Turkey into focus. At this point a sit-down protest took place, followed by a continuation of the march which would have continued if not for the riot police who formed a line against the confused demonstrators and Kurdish families, lashing out against them with truncheons. Following this sustained attack, enraged marchers fought back with sticks and bottles. Running battles continued until police effectively fenced-in the entire demonstration. Close to midnight, the protesters dispersed themselves into the underground subway. The press later claimed that 12 police were injured in the melee, while downplaying the casualties on the demonstrators' side which included a young woman and hungerstriker who had her leg broken in several places by police batons. Considering the nature of the demonstrators, who by and large restrained themselves against police forces which from the outset sought to menace any display of Kurdish protest, it seems quite hard to believe statements from the police who claim that the Kurds had planned the violence. One officer claimed his partner had been "stabbed in the chest", while another claims to have caught demonstrators in the possession of petrol bombs. None of these claims actually came to ground. For the Kurds, Turkish state fascism has again shown its interests met by the hands of the British authorities. An extract from Abdullah Ocalan, PKK chairman, to the people of Britain reads: "Our British friends must raise their voice to stop the killings which are ten times worse than Saddam's atrocities across the border. There was only one Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan but in Turkey, the whole southeast is becoming one enormous Halabja. This war is worse than Chechnya, yet it is being ignored. Can you possibly justify these double standards?" Yesterday Vietnam, Today Kurdistan! Yesterday Hitler, Today Ciller! Release Kani Yilmaz - Victory to the Honourable Kurdish Struggle! London, England - July 28, 1995 Written by a comrade from Arm The Spirit 8) Hungerstrike Updates --- Press Release #4 - July 24, 1995 In Paris, Police Trap 300 Hungerstrikers In St. Eustache Since authorities in Paris would not grant the Kurdish hungerstrikers any appropriate location for their event, they commenced their event in the Kurdish community centre in Paris. After police attempts to disturb their action, the 300 participants headed for the centrally-located church of St. Eustache. They held a meeting there declaring the church the new location of the hungerstrike. Police forces reacted by assaulting the house of prayer and blocking all the exits. Several hundred supporters of the strike protesting against the trapping of the hungerstrikers clashed with police and a French journalist was wounded. When the police stopped trapping the hungerstrikers at 11:00 PM, the crowd held a spontaneous rally through the streets of Paris. In London, Police Provoke Hungerstrikers The London hungerstrike became a target of provocations by the British police. However, the many attempts to escalate the situation did not succeed due to the high morale of the hungerstrikers. A spokesperson for the London Hungerstrike Committee stated that the provocations must be seen in context with the trial of National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK) representative Kani Yilmaz after 9 months of detention in Belmarsh prison. In Frankfurt, Church Opens Gates While Police Attack Kurds The hungerstrike of about 250 Kurds in Frankfurt enjoys growing public response after having been outlawed initially. Representatives of the University Students Parliament, a Tamil organization, the Church of Unification, and the German Communist Party (DKP) held speeches at the location. Meanwhile, police tried to rip down flags of the ERNK and pictures of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, attacking the participants four times. In a press release, Father Dr. Stoodt of the neighboring Katharinenkirche declared that he would open the gates of his church to give shelter to the hungerstrikers. Today, Members of Parliament will have a discussion at the location on "the German state's hostile policies towards the Kurds". The Hague: Members of the Kurdistan Parliament in Exile, founded in April, visited the hungerstrikers. Ali Yigit, MP and Nizamettin Toguc, MP declared that the Parliament would always approve of and support actions like this hungerstrike. Further, they stated that Turkey must immediately respect the Geneva Conventions and answer the appeals of the Kurdish side. There was no other way to go, they said. Geneva: A hungerstrike commenced by 80 persons on July 21. The local Hungerstrike Committee announced a press conference. Berlin: The hungerstrike event on the central Kurfurstendamm enjoys broad response. Except police confiscating materials on Kurdistan, the event was calm. --- Press Release #5 - July 24, 1995 The Hague: A group of Dutch supporters held a vigil at the location of the hungerstrike on the 22nd. On the 23rd, the European spokesperson for the National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK), Ali Sapan, gave a speech at the location and stressed the historical importance of the 14th of July, the anniversary of the prison resistance of 1982. On that day, Kurdish political prisoners in the military prison in Diyarbakir started a hungerstrike to the death in order to protest against torture and ill-treatment in the prisons. This fast until death, which cost 4 people their lives, was a central event in the birth of the national liberation movement of Kurdistan, Sapan stated. He pointed out that this year's protest action, which began in the prisons, has spread out not only across the metropoles of Turkey and Kurdistan but all over Europe and other continents as well. Today, the Turkish government has lost in terms of economy and politics, he said. Also, several Alevi associations visited the location of the hungerstrike. Rochester: In a prison in the British town of Rochester, 69 prisoners have started a hungerstrike in solidarity with the 10,000 Prisoners of War from Kurdistan on July 20. This group consists of 31 Bosnians, 15 Rumanians, 12 Indians, 8 Pakistanis, 1 Arab, 1 person from Zaire, and 1 Turkish prisoner. Washington: Remzi Kartal, member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Parliament in Exile, opened this hungerstrike on July 20. He stated that the 12 hungerstrikers were not alone in their convictions, but rather were together with more than 10,000 people across the world. The interest of the American public as well as the Kurdish population in exile in America in the hungerstrike and its backgrounds in growing. Geneva: A delegation of scholars attending a historical congress in Lausanne visited the location of the hungerstrike and expressed their support for the demands brought forth. The latest figures for the solidarity hungerstrikes: Stockholm 100 The Hague 150 Paris 300 London 70 Athens 50 Washington 12 Geneva 80 Moscow 70 Frankfurt 300 Berlin 200 Rochester 69 --- Press Release #6 - July 24, 1995 PKK Prisoner of War Fesih Beyazcicek Ended His Life In Yozgurt Prison Today's events in Yozgurt prison are an example of the way Turkey treats the Kurds. The Prisoner of War Fesih Beyazcicek from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), born in Bitlis-Guroymak, fell seriously ill after the hungerstrike in Yozgurt had been commenced by 170 prisoners from the PKK, DHKP-C, TKP-L, MLKP-K, and TKP-ML on July 14. However, he was transferred to a medical station much too late, fellow prisoners stated. Beyazcicek died because medical aid had been refused to him by the prison guards for too long. Beyazcicek was arrested in March 1994 when security forces accused him of "distributing propaganda for the PKK" at the Kurdish new year's celebration Newroz. He probably would have been released in 20 days. In face of these events, the Bureau for Solidarity with the Hungerstrike of the 10,000 Prisoners of War reiterates its appeal to the media, democratic organizations and institutions, and the progressive public to pay adequate attention to the dirty war in Kurdistan and to contribute to the fulfilling of the demands made by the 10,000 Prisoners of War. These demands are: 1. In order to reach a political solution, calls made by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for a dialogue must be supported and encouraged. 2. Geneva Convention regulations covering combatants must be observed and enforced in Kurdistan. 3. Killing of civilians, summary executions, torture in prisons, and the burning of villages must come to an end. 4. All war prisoners in jails must be classified as POWs. 5. All military operations designed to destroy our people must be stopped. 6. Under the auspices of the UN and the Red Cross, committees must be formed and sent to monitor the war in Kurdistan and prison conditions. ---- Press Release #8 - July 27, 1995 In Istanbul, Families Of Prisoners March On Galatasaray The families of Prisoners of War, who are themselves on hungerstrike in Baheieviler, rallied in Istanbul on July 23. Despite massive hindrances from the security forces, they were able to achieve their aim by having a sit-down strike until the security forces let them march to the headquarters of the United Socialist Party (BSP) in Galatasaray. The families sent petition telegrams to several Turkish ministers and to organizations and associations from the post office in Galatasaray. About 1,000 members of the "Association for Solidarity with the Families of the Prisoners" also sent telegrams from there at night to the United Nations, the Red Cross, various international human rights organizations, the Turkish National Council, and to President Demirel. In South Kurdistan, Broad Support For The Demands Of The Prisoners Awakes Meanwhile, in South Kurdistan, a number of parties have expressed their support for the hungerstrikers and their demands, among them the Kurdistan Independent Workers Party, the National Democratic Association of Kurdistan, the Kurdish Labour Party of Iraq, Kurdistan Workers Struggle, the Democratic Party of Iran, the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDP-Iran), and the KDP-Iran Revolutionary Leadership, and others. Wave Of Hungerstrikes Across Kurdistan And Turkey The hungerstrikes by relatives of the Prisoners of War in the offices of the Peoples Democracy Party (HADEP) in Adana, Seyhan, and Yuregir suffer from a lack of space. HADEP has issued an appeal calling on democratic organizations to open their premises to the hungerstrikers. As the number of hungerstrikers was growing daily, there was an acute lack of space in the offices of the party. Meanwhile, hungerstrikes have also started in the HADEP offices in Mersin and Hatay. The HADEP office in Diyarbakir must turn away new participants, since there are already 100 PKK relatives there who have been fasting since July 18. According to the latest news, the hungerstrike in Antalya which started on July 22 is being threatened by security forces. The building is surrounded and visitors are refused entry and taken to the police station. HADEP spokesperson Murat Yucel has stated that this repression is the result of the unease felt by the police because of the ongoing hungerstrike and the many visitors to the office. The party has condemned the police action. Urfa: 16 women Prisoners of War from the PKK are boycotting their court hearings. They must be brought to court by force now. In a statement, the hungerstrikers explained that prior to the boycott they hadn't been taken to court because transport costs were deemed too high. Only since the strike began have they been dragged to court by force. The boycott will continue, they said. Ankara: The detainees in Merkes Kapali prison in Ankara are also boycotting their trials. Since the beginning of the hungerstrike, paramilitary gendarmes have been deployed instead of the normal prison guards. Security measures have been increased, such as the installation of additional iron bars. Because the gendarmes are also present during visits, these are boycotted as well. Mersin: The Human Rights Association (IHD) has published a statement saying that they would like to mediate in talks between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Turkish government in order to see the demands of the war prisoners fulfilled. As the IHD are concerned about the health of the hungerstrikers, the statement said it would conduct every possible mediating function necessary. The war is no solution, so both sides must sit down at a round table in order to avoid further bloodshed. --- Kurdish Woman Hungerstriker Killed By Police In Berlin (The Toronto Star, July 28, 1995) Hunger Strike Claims Kurd, 41 Activists in Germany press for end of war Bonn, Germany - A woman on a hungerstrike died in Berlin yesterday amid a wave of protests and attacks on Turkish properties in Germany that police have linked to Kurdish activists. Police said the dead woman was among a group of several hundred Kurds in Germany showing solidarity with imprisoned members of the separtist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey. A Belgian-based Kurdish organization, in a statement distributed in Germany, named the dead woman as Gulnaz Bagiztani, 41, and said she had been on the hungerstrike for eight days. Imprisoned PKK members, who are fighting an 11-year battle for independence or autonomy in southeast Turkey, started the hunger strike on July 14 to demand Ankara open talks to end the war. Ankara has not yet responded to the hungerstrike. The pro-Kurdish newspaper Yeni Politika said hundreds of Kurds in Europe were also on sympathy hungerstrikes or had occupied buildings in support. Between 8,000 and 10,000 people in 22 Turkish jails joined the hungerstrike, the Human Rights Association of Turkey said. Turkish Kurds in Germany and Britain have protested over various Kurdish issues this week. Police detained about 80 Kurds in Frankfurt as they broke up a week-long vigil for displaying the symbols of the PKK, which is banned in Germany for extremism. Eight Turkish properties were firebombed during the night in Germany. It was the third consecutive night of such attacks, and police said some of the incidents were the work of the PKK. Prosecutors in the south-western city of Stuttgart said police had detained five suspects after a firebombing in the town of Villingen Schweningen took the total of such attacks in the area in the last three days to 12. Two Kurds made confessions that indicated "the majority or all of the attacks were probably masterminded by the banned Kurdistan Workers Party", a police spokesperson said. Interior Minister Manfred Kanther called on Kurds living in Germany not to support political extremists. "We must proceed against PKK terror with resolve and determination", he said in a statement. Stuttgart investigators have linked some of the attacks to the planned extradition to Germany from Britain of PKK member Kani Yilmaz, who has been given 14 days to return to Germany. Bonn is seeking Yilmaz on suspicion of helping to organize, as European head of the PKK, the series of Europe-wide attacks on Turkish properties in 1993 and 1994 that led to the banning of the PKK in Germany. --- Press Release #10 - July 28, 1995 Berlin: After the death of Gulnaz Bagiztani in Berlin, more than 1,000 Kurdish people have gathered in the Kurdistan House where the hungerstrike is continued. The husband of the fallen Gulnaz Bagiztani held a speech in front of the crowd. Police surrounded the building but did not attack because of the death. One of two arrested persons has been released in the meantime. Frankfurt: Following the police attacks and break-up of the hungerstrike, a new group of 60 hungerstrikers has formed on July 27. It increased to 300 persons in the evening and was then again subjected to police assaults resulting in serious clashes. During a demonstration in the city centre, several shops were damaged. Dusseldorf: Nine Alevi community centres in Germany have expressed their support for the hungerstrike by the Prisoners of War. Their members will go on hungerstrike on July 28 at 3:00 PM in the Alevi Pir House of Culture in Dusseldorf in order to protest against the dirty war in Turkey and to stop the bloodshed. Geneva: The strike continues with high motivation and broad support, most recently expressed by the group LIDLIP and the International Association of Democratic Youth. Paris: The hungerstrike by 103 participants including 40 women was attended to by delegations of the International Medical Association, the Red Cross, and the group New Human Rights. Furthermore, the Federation of Institutions for Human Rights (FIDH), France Liberte, the Socialist Party, and the Organization of Political Prisoners have called the strike a positive step towards a political dialogue. Stockholm: Talks with the Middle East regional officer of the International Red Cross resulted in a promise to involve the Scandanavian Red Cross committees in medical care for the hungerstrikers and to distribute the demands of the PKK Prisoners of War. A representative of the Internationalist Social Democratic Party, Conny Fredrikson, offered to mediate in talks between Ocalan and officials of the Turkish state. Breda: In a refugee camp in the Dutch town of Gilse near Breda, 20 Kurdish refugees began a hungerstrike on July 23 after the warden refused to let them participate in the central hungerstrike in The Hague. 9) Huge Funeral Procession In Berlin On August 1, 1995, there was a massive funeral procession to honor Gulnaz Bagiztani, a Kurdish mother of five who was killed in a police attack on Kurdish hungerstrikers in Berlin. According to the KURD-A news agency, around 35,000 people marched through Berlin waving flags of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK) and pictures of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Kurds in Germany have vowed to continue their hungerstrikes and they have called on the German police to cease their attacks on Kurdish protestors. Kurdish News is published by: Kurdistan Committee of Canada 2487 Kaladar Ave. Suite 203 Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 8B9 tel: (613) 733-9634 fax: (613) 733-0090 email: kcc@magi.com http://infoweb.magi.com/~kcc