From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Wed Dec  9 08:08:44 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1992 00:08:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AI EX097/92 TURKEY Fear of torture
References: <APC.1.0.54efc689.c28@igc.apc.org>
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc697.22c@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI EX097/92 TURKEY Fear of torture

/* Written  7:00 pm  Dec  8, 1992 by rmitchellai at gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI EX097/92 TURKEY Fear of torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 44/128/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC        

                                    8 December 1992        

Further information on EXTRA 97/92 (EUR 44/117/92, 6 November
1992)  - Fear of Torture/Death in Custody

TURKEY:     Sukru Yilmaz ) brothers
            Habib Yilmaz )
            Irfan Solak ] brothers
            Salih Solak ]
            Bahri Gitmez 
            Serhat Baytar
            M Sirin Dogan
            Resul Balta
            Ebubekir Gunes

            and the three brothers:
            Nuri Adlik
            Tahsin Adlik
            Haci Adlik

            and Ramazan Altunsoz (died on or about 30 October 92)

and new     Serif Argun 
names:      Tahsin Adibelli
            Yahsin Adibelli   

The major police operation in and around Batman which began on 16
October 1992 is still continuing and new detentions are constantly
being made. Some 30 to 40 people are believed still to be in police
custody, including the brothers Irfan and Salih Solak, who have been
held far beyond the legally permitted limit of 30 days. Serif Argun,
Tahsin Adibelli and Yahsin Adibelli have been newly detained in
recent days. It is feared that they are being interrogated under torture.

  Sukru Yilmaz was released on or around 20 November. It is not
known whether a court case will be opened against him. According to
reports received he was tortured during the first four to five days of
detention with electric shocks and hanging by his wrists, and was
interrogated about alleged links with guerrillas of the Kurdish Workers'
Party (PKK). Subsequently he was allowed to see members of his
family, but his brother Habib who came to visit him on the fifth day
of his detention was detained as well. Habib Yilmaz was not released
until 4 December. (For an account of Sukru Yilmaz' torture in March
1992 when yet another fellow detainee died in custody, see: EXTRA
26/92, EUR 44/28/92 of 13 March 1992 and follow-up EUR 44/32/92
of 24 March 1992)

  The brothers Tahsin and Haci Adlik were released on or around 7
November. M. Sirin Dogan was released on 30 November.

  Some of those detained have now been formally arrested.  These
include M. Nuri Adlik and others who were not named in the original
action - Mehmet Kaya, Ahmet Aydin, Osman Aslan, Ebeddin Soyut
and Fahrettin Inal. They were charged with aiding and sheltering
guerrillas of the PKK on 4 December. Some of them had been found
in the possession of firearms and were also charged with unlawful
possession of a weapon. 

  All of the detainees, except Habib Yilmaz, are said to have
reported that they were tortured while in police custody with falaka
(beating the soles of the feet) and hanging by the wrists. Fahrettin Inal
had been taken to a deserted place and then threatened that he would
be killed. None was issued with a medical certificate when examined
by a doctor at the end of the detention period as is routine procedure.

  The state prosecutor stated that he was investigating the death in
custody of Ramazan Altunsoz, the third in Batman this year. Thirteen
detainees altogether have died in police custody in Turkey this year.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters in English or your
own language:

- noting that detainees allege having been tortured at Batman Police
Headquarters where three detainees have died already this year;

- expressing concern about the safety of those detainees still held in
incommunicado detention at Batman Police Headquarters, in particular
the brothers Irfan and Salih Solak who have been held for more than
30 days, in violation of legal detention procedures;

- urging that all those still held in police custody in Batman be
permitted access to their families and to legal counsel, and that they
are not subjected to any form of torture or ill-treatment,

- repeating your call for a thorough and impartial investigation into the
death in custody of Ramazan Altunsoz who died in Batman Police
Headquarters at the end of October 1992, and that those responsible
be brought promptly to justice.

APPEALS TO:

Batman Public Prosecutor:

Mr Mustafa Yucel                [Salutation: Dear Sir]
Batman Savciligi
Batman, Turkey
Telegrams: Cumhuriyet Savcisi, Batman, Turkey

Minister of Justice:

Mr Seyfi Oktay                   [Salutation: Dear Minister]
Adalet Bakanligi
06659 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: Justice Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Faxes:     + 90 4 425 40 66   

Prime Minister:

Mr Suleyman Demirel      [Salutation: Dear Prime Minister]
Office of the Prime Minister 
Basbakanlik             
06573 Ankara, Turkey    
Telegrams: Prime Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Telexes:   44061/44062/44063 bbmt tr
           42099 basb tr, 42875 bbk tr
Faxes:     + 90 4 417 04 76
           + 90 4 230 88 96

COPIES TO: 

President of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission:

Mr Sabri Yavuz 
Insan Haklari Arastirma Komisyonu Baskani
TBMM
Ankara, Turkey

and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 4 January 1993.

From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Wed Dec  2 05:16:32 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1992 21:16:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IPS/IRAQ/DECEMBER 1992
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc694.420@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: IPS/IRAQ/DECEMBER 1992

/* Written 12:14 am  Nov 30, 1992 by newsdesk at igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "IRAQ: Mines to the North pose major" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: IRAQ: Mines to the North pose major threat /EMBARGO/


/att editors: the following is under embargo and may not be
printed or otherwise reproduced before sunday, nov. 29/

washington, nov 29 (ips) -- millions of land mines laid by the
iraqi army in northern iraq since the start of its war against
iran in 1980 remain a continuing threat to the lives and well-
being of iraqi kurds, according to a report released here sunday
by the new york-based middle east watch.

the 67-page report, entitled 'hidden death: land mines and
civilian casualties in iraqi kurdistan', charges that the mine-
laying programme, which continued until well after the 1991 gulf
war, was carried out indiscriminately in violation of customary
international law.

the report also finds that the mines were laid in areas that
restrict the agricultural use of the land, endanger the safe
return of refugees, and inhibit the rebuilding of villages
destroyed during the two wars and counter-insurgency campaigns
carried out by the army against kurdish rebels.

in the mawat district of northeast kurdistan alone, according
to the report, more than 100 kurds were killed by land mines in
the year following the mar. 1991 uprising. the devices used in
iraqi kurdistan were mostly of italian manufacture or design, the
report said.

middle east watch called on the italian government and the
european community (ec) to investigate what it called ''massive
exports'' of land mines and land mine technology by italian
companies.

in addition, it said, the ec should consider adopting an
unconditional ban on the manufacture, transfer, sale and use of
anti-personnel mines by its members that would go beyond the one-
year moratorium enacted by the u.s. congress this year on u.s.
exports of land mines.

the new report is one of a series by the regional divisions of
the u.s.-based umbrella body, human rights watch, documenting the
effects on the civilian population of land mines used in internal
conflicts.

in 1986, americas watch issued a report on land mines in el
salvador and nicaragua, while in 1991 asia watch released a study
on the effect of mines in cambodia.  africa watch is expected soon
to release reports on angola nd somalia. (more/ips)

iraq: mines to the north pose major threat /embargo/(2-e)

iraq: mines to the north (2)

human rights watch said it has been able to determine so far
that afghanistan, angola, cambodia, somalia and iraqi kurdistan
have the largest number of land mines in areas vital to civilians
among the many countries in the world where such weapons have been
planted.

the report on iraqi kurdistan resulted from surveys of 15
minefields in the erbil, sulemaniyah and dohuk governates.

it saiid that, even in this limited sample, it found five mine
fields where a total of 30 persons, mostly refugees fleeing the
iraqi army, were killed in the space of five months. all the
fields were heavily mined with a variety of sophisticated devices,
including booby traps designed to prevent easy clearance.

the most common mines found by middle east watch were the
valmara 69, the vs-50, the sb-33 and the pmn-hge.  the first three
are of italian design, while the last is a soviet-derivative.
french, u.s. and chinese mines were also found in kurdistan.

the group calls on the kurdish authorities and international
relief organisations to mount a poster and radio campaign to
inform kurdish refugees about the dangerk and to erect clear
warning signs in known minefields.

in addition, it said the need for an organised mine-clearing
operation in the region is a ''humanitarian imperative'' and
called on italy to become a major donor to such an effort in view
of its position as a major purveyor of the mines and their
technology.

greater technical and financial support should also be made
available to kurdish-run medical facilities in the region, middle
east watch said.

in addition, the group called on the united nations and the red
cross to urgently consider an unconditional ban in international
law on the manufacture, possession, transfer, sale, and use of
anti-personnel land mines in all international and internal
conflicts. (end/ips/jl/yjc/92)


From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Sun Dec 27 07:35:47 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 23:35:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IPS/IRAQ/DECEMBER 1992
References: <APC.1.0.54efc694.420@igc.apc.org>
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc6a1.8ef@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: IPS/IRAQ/DECEMBER 1992

/* Written 12:03 am  Dec 25, 1992 by newsdesk at igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "IRAQ: U.N. guards assigned for huma" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: United Nations
Title: IRAQ: U.N. guards assigned for humanitarian convoys


new york, dec 21 (ips) -- expressing concern over recent incidents
in which explosive devices have been placed under u.n. trucks
carrying relief supplies to the kurds in the three northern
governorates in iraq, the united nations announced monday it has
assigned u.n. guards to protect the convoys.

in addition, iraq has agreed to joint inspection teams at two
checkpoints in the area of the 'no-fly zone', imposed by the
united nations to protect the kurdish population.

giving details about the u.n. decision monday, jan eliasson,
under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said iraqi and
u.n. guards will be deployed ''to provide additional security'' to
the convoys.

the route for relief supplies to the kurds mainly come in
convoys from turkey. the convoys then traverse a short stretch of
iraqi-controlled territory before going into kurdish-populated
areas.

eliasson said supplies coming from turkey to the kurdish areas
were being unloaded in the town of dohuk -- in the area of the
u.n.-imposed 'no-fly zone' -- instead of going ahead to iraqi-held
territory.

''our main concern is to get relief supplies to the kurds
quickly. it's a struggle against time, but till security is
ensured, we won't be able to do anything,'' eliasson said.

on dec. 16, 10 u.n. trucks were damaged by what are called
''explosive devices''. six more of the devices were discovered by
u.n. authorities when the trucks entered kurdish areas from iraqi-
controlled territory.

since the u.n. humanitarian operation began in mid-november, 25
convoys with 410 trucks have supplied more than 8,000 metric
tonnes of much-needed flour, seeds and fuel to the kurds.

eliasson said the ''devices'' which were under the trucks were
''very small'' and so far, had not caused any loss of life.

asked whether the iraqi government was ''deliberately
harassing'' u.n. convoys going into kurdish areas, eliasson
declined to comment.

''we have an memorandum of understanding (mou) with iraq. safe
passage and security of u.n. personnel is their responsibility. we
have asked for a full account of the iraqi investigation which
they say they have conducted,'' eliasson said.  (more/ips)

iraq: u.n. guards assigned for humanitarian convoys(2-e)

iraq: u.n. guards (2)

iraq has denied any involvement in the incidents claiming that
it was the work of ''agents provocateurs''.

the media in baghdad has also pointed to the fact that the
turkish parliament is debating the extension of the unpopular
decision to allow u.s. planes to operate from its bases. incidents
which purportedly show iraqi harassment are expected to help the
turkish government push through the extension. (end/ips/am/yjc/92)


From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Mon Dec  7 04:45:58 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Sun, 06 Dec 1992 20:45:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AI UA382/92 IRAN Fear of torture
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc695.b7a@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI UA382/92 IRAN Fear of torture

/* Written  4:44 pm  Dec  3, 1992 by rmitchellai at gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI UA382/92 IRAN Fear of torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index:MDE 13/22/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       

UA 382/92   Fear of torture/        3 December 1992
            Death penalty

IRAN:       Abdollah Bagheri

  Amnesty International has learned that, Abdollah Bagheri, a former
member of the Kurdish opposition group, Komala, was arrested at the
beginning of November 1992 outside Mariwan, close to the Iraq
border. The precise date of his arrest and his present whereabouts are
unknown.  Abdollah Bagheri was reportedly no longer a member of
Komala at the time of his arrest, but had been an active member of
the organization for several years.   

In a statement reported on 7 November the Information and Security
Minister, Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian, said that "Iranian intelligence
services had arrested an official of the Marxist Komala movement" and
that a military group backed by "counter-revolutionary elements" in
Iran had been dissolved and its members executed.  

He gave no further information.   According to reports the Komala
"official" the Information and Security Minister referred to is Abdollah
Bagheri.  Amnesty International fears that he is in danger of torture
or ill-treatment and possibly execution.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION  

At least two other members of Komala, Rahman and Towfiq Aliasi,
were executed earlier in the year, in June and August 1992,
respectively. No information is available about their trials and the
precise date of their executions are unknown. They had both been
arrested in September 1991, in a village in the Mariwan area, and had
been held in Sanandaj Prison until their executions. In both cases the
prison authorities merely handed over their clothes to their relatives
and informed them that they had been executed.   

The televised "confessions" of Towfiq Aliasi were reported to have
been broadcast on local television in Sanandaj in August.  Amnesty
International fears that the "confessions" were obtained as a result of
torture or ill- treatment.  

Amnesty International's long standing concerns regarding trial
procedures and torture in the Islamic Republic of Iran continue.  The
organization is particularly concerned about trials before Islamic
Revolutionary Courts where trials fall far short of internationally
recognized standards for fair trial.  These concerns include trial
hearings which are usually held in camera, inside prisons, with
summary proceedings, often lasting only for a few minutes, and
defendants having no access to legal counsel and no right of appeal.
No substantive steps have been taken to introduce safeguards for
detainees and fears continue that they are at risk of torture and
ill-treatment.   

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send telegrams/telexes/airmail
letters either in English or in your own language:  

-  expressing concern that Abdollah Bagheri may be at risk of
execution and urging the commutation of any death sentence that may
have been passed on him;  

-  seeking assurances that he is being humanely treated and urging
that he be given immediate access to a lawyer of his own choosing, his
family and an independent medical doctor;  

-  seeking information about his precise place of detention, whether he
has been charged or tried and convicted, and, if so, what sentence has
been imposed on him;  

-  urging that if he has not been charged with a recognizably criminal
offence and promptly brought to trial, he should be released.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency 
Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian                [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Minister of Information and Security
Ministry of Information and Security
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams:  Information and Security Minister, Tehran, Iran
Telexes:    214231 MITI IR; 213113 PRIM IR
            (marked for the attention of the Minister of Information
              and Security)

His Excellency Hojatoleslam               [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams:  President Rafsanjani, Tehran, Iran
Telexes:    214231 MITI IR; 213113 PRIM IR
            (marked for the attention of President Rafsanjani)

His Excellency
Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi            [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr, Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams:  Justice Minister, Tehran, Iran
Telexes:    214231 MITI IR; 213113 PRIM IR
            (marked for the attention of the Head of the Judiciary)

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

His Excellency
Dr Ali Akbar Velayati
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran 

and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY  Please do not send
appeals after 12 January 1993.

From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Thu Dec 17 06:12:31 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:12:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AI UA382/92 IRAN Fear of torture
References: <APC.1.0.54efc695.b7a@igc.apc.org>
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc699.31f@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI UA382/92 IRAN Fear of torture

/* Written  4:44 pm  Dec  3, 1992 by rmitchellai at gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI UA382/92 IRAN Fear of torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index:MDE 13/22/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       

UA 382/92   Fear of torture/        3 December 1992
            Death penalty

IRAN:       Abdollah Bagheri

  Amnesty International has learned that, Abdollah Bagheri, a former
member of the Kurdish opposition group, Komala, was arrested at the
beginning of November 1992 outside Mariwan, close to the Iraq
border. The precise date of his arrest and his present whereabouts are
unknown.  Abdollah Bagheri was reportedly no longer a member of
Komala at the time of his arrest, but had been an active member of
the organization for several years.   

In a statement reported on 7 November the Information and Security
Minister, Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian, said that "Iranian intelligence
services had arrested an official of the Marxist Komala movement" and
that a military group backed by "counter-revolutionary elements" in
Iran had been dissolved and its members executed.  

He gave no further information.   According to reports the Komala
"official" the Information and Security Minister referred to is Abdollah
Bagheri.  Amnesty International fears that he is in danger of torture
or ill-treatment and possibly execution.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION  

At least two other members of Komala, Rahman and Towfiq Aliasi,
were executed earlier in the year, in June and August 1992,
respectively. No information is available about their trials and the
precise date of their executions are unknown. They had both been
arrested in September 1991, in a village in the Mariwan area, and had
been held in Sanandaj Prison until their executions. In both cases the
prison authorities merely handed over their clothes to their relatives
and informed them that they had been executed.   

The televised "confessions" of Towfiq Aliasi were reported to have
been broadcast on local television in Sanandaj in August.  Amnesty
International fears that the "confessions" were obtained as a result of
torture or ill- treatment.  

Amnesty International's long standing concerns regarding trial
procedures and torture in the Islamic Republic of Iran continue.  The
organization is particularly concerned about trials before Islamic
Revolutionary Courts where trials fall far short of internationally
recognized standards for fair trial.  These concerns include trial
hearings which are usually held in camera, inside prisons, with
summary proceedings, often lasting only for a few minutes, and
defendants having no access to legal counsel and no right of appeal.
No substantive steps have been taken to introduce safeguards for
detainees and fears continue that they are at risk of torture and
ill-treatment.   

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send telegrams/telexes/airmail
letters either in English or in your own language:  

-  expressing concern that Abdollah Bagheri may be at risk of
execution and urging the commutation of any death sentence that may
have been passed on him;  

-  seeking assurances that he is being humanely treated and urging
that he be given immediate access to a lawyer of his own choosing, his
family and an independent medical doctor;  

-  seeking information about his precise place of detention, whether he
has been charged or tried and convicted, and, if so, what sentence has
been imposed on him;  

-  urging that if he has not been charged with a recognizably criminal
offence and promptly brought to trial, he should be released.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency 
Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian                [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Minister of Information and Security
Ministry of Information and Security
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams:  Information and Security Minister, Tehran, Iran
Telexes:    214231 MITI IR; 213113 PRIM IR
            (marked for the attention of the Minister of Information
              and Security)

His Excellency Hojatoleslam               [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams:  President Rafsanjani, Tehran, Iran
Telexes:    214231 MITI IR; 213113 PRIM IR
            (marked for the attention of President Rafsanjani)

His Excellency
Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi            [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr, Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams:  Justice Minister, Tehran, Iran
Telexes:    214231 MITI IR; 213113 PRIM IR
            (marked for the attention of the Head of the Judiciary)

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

His Excellency
Dr Ali Akbar Velayati
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran 

and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY  Please do not send
appeals after 12 January 1993.

From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Mon Dec  7 04:46:51 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Sun, 06 Dec 1992 20:46:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AI UA383/92 SYRIA Torture
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc696.bb3@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI UA383/92 SYRIA Torture

/* Written  4:54 pm  Dec  4, 1992 by rmitchellai at gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI UA383/92 SYRIA Torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: MDE 24/27/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       

UA 383/92    Torture/               4 December 1992
             Possible prisoners of conscience

SYRIA       More than 200 Syrian Kurds arrested including:

            'Ala'uddin Hamam Ahmad, 35, arrested 10 October 
            Ibrahim Wiso Buzan, 31, arrested 10 October 
            Muhammad 'Ali Ousman 'Ali, 24, arrested 10 October 
            Khalil Mustafa Musta, 18, arrested 10 October 
            'Umar Haj 'Ali 'Ammo, 32, arrested 15 October 
            Musa Hassan Hyssain, 33, arrested 15 October 
            Sharif Ahmad Shukri, 31, arrested 15 October 
            Muhammad Saleh Hamo, 30, arrested 17 October 
            Muhammad Hanifa 'Abrash, 26, arrested 17 October 
            Muhammad 'Ali Muhammad, 29, arrested 18 October 
            Muhammad 'Ali Basus, 30, arrested 18 October

            Mahmoud 'Ammo, released

 Amnesty International is gravely concerned about reports that over
200  Syrian Kurds were arrested in October 1992, many of whom may
be possible prisoners of conscience. Some of them, including Mahmoud
'Ammo, member of the joint leadership of Kurdish political groups in
Syria, were released after a few days and are reported to have been
treated in a hospital in al- Qamishli for injuries resulting from torture
during interrogation. 

All were reported to have been arrested by members of the security
forces, namely al-Amn al-Siyassi (Political Security),  Amn al-Dawla
(State Security) and al-Amn al-'Askari (Military Security). Amnesty
International has received the names of 11 people arrested between 10
and 18 October, listed above who, in addition to others, are believed
to remain in detention.   

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Since the beginning of October 1992, Syrian security forces have
carried out widespread arrests of Kurds, especially in the areas of
al-Hassakeh, Ra's al-'Ain, al-Qamishli, Aleppo, 'Afrin and Kubbaniya.
More than 200 people are reported to have been taken in for
interrogation so far, and others are being sought by the authorities.

The arrests apparently began after a leaflet was issued on 5 October
by the joint leadership of three Kurdish political groups in Syria: The
Kurdish Popular Union, United Democratic Kurdish Party, and Kurdish
Democratic Workers. The leaflet stated that it was being issued to
mark the 30th anniversary of the introduction of a law which stripped
tens of thousands of Kurds of their Syrian nationality and has since
deprived them of all basic civil rights despite many of them having
served in the Syrian armed forces.  The leaflet was in the form of a
public appeal for support for Syrian Kurds to regain their fundamental
civil rights.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send telegrams/telexes/express
and airmail letters in Arabic, French, English or your own language:

- expressing grave concern about reports that Mahmoud 'Ammo and
others have been tortured; requesting that these allegations be
immediately investigated, that the findings be made public and, if the
reports are confirmed, those found responsible for the torture be
brought to justice;

- seeking information about the names and personal details of all
others arrested in the same connection since early October 1992, the
reasons for their arrest, and places of detention of all those who
continue to be held;

- requesting that all detainees be given prompt access to their families
and lawyers, and that all necessary medical care be provided;

- seeking assurances that they are being treated humanely and are not
being subjected to torture or ill-treatment;

- asking for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who
are being held solely for the non-violent expression of their political
beliefs and all others who are not to be charged with an
internationally recognisable criminal offence. 

APPEALS TO

His Excellency
President Hafez al-Assad            [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Presidential Palace
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Telegrams:  President al-Assad, Damascus, Syria
Telexes:    419160 munjed sy

His Excellency Muhammad Harba       [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Telegrams:  Interior Minister, Damascus, Syria

His Excellency 'Abdallah Tulba      [Salutation: Your Excellency]
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Nasr Street
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
Telegrams:  Justice Minister, Damascus, Syria

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: The diplomatic representative in
your country - please see the responses to this topic for details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 15 January 1993.

From nytransfer at igc.apc.org  Wed Dec  9 20:34:34 1992
From: nytransfer at igc.apc.org (Blythe Systems)
Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1992 12:34:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Kurdistan Update 12/5 Aforum
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc698.8a2@igc.apc.org>

From: Blythe Systems <nytransfer>
Subject: Kurdistan Update 12/5 Aforum

/* Written  3:45 pm  Dec  5, 1992 by aforum at moose.uvm.edu in igc:gen.anarchism */
/* ---------- "Kurdistan Update" ---------- */
From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (Autonome Forum)


subject: Kurdistan update 5.12.92
posted by: AF/ATS
--

Turkish State Terror In Cizre

     On November 7, in Cizre, in the Cudi region, a mine laid by
the guerrillas of the ARGK (People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan -
 armed wing of the PKK) was hit by a Panzer carrying 12 special
counterinsurgency forces who were killed outright. The Turkish
state retaliated by firing on the civilian residential area for
four hours with German BRT 60 Panzers and other tanks and heavy
artillery. In these attacks a shell hit the house of Haci Cekirge.
9 people were killed, 5 of whom were children. The people killed
are:

Haci Cekirge, 65; Leyla Cekirge, 60; Ismail Cekirge, 25; Nadire
Cekirge, 10; Sinem Cekirge, 13; Fatma Cekirge, 9; Sivan Cekirge,
3; Hanife Cekirge, 2. A guest staying at the house, Seyhmus, 70
whose surname we don't know, was also killed.

     In the same house, Emine Cekirge, 25; Meyrem Cekirge, 36,
Hacim Cekirge, 3, and Musa Cekirge were seriously injured. 7 other
people were also injured in the attack. They are being treated in
Cizre State Hospital. The 9 dead were buried yesterday. Tens of
thousands of people attended the funerals, shouting "Long live the
PKK!", "Long live APO!", "Down with the enemy" and "Kurdistan will
become the graveyard of the Turkish state!"
     In an interview with the BER-HA press agency, Emine Cekirge
said: "We heard an explosion and then our house came under fire.
It was a Panzer shell which hit the house, and then it caught fire
and nine of the family died."
     During the attack by the army, the office of Sabah (Morning
- biggest Turkish daily), the shop of Emin Sores, the house of
Orhan Dogan, MP for Sirnak (from HEP - People's Labour Party), and
many other buildings suffered severe damage.
     Kadooglu Oteli (Hotel) was also badly damaged. Sirnak's high
court judge was staying in the hotel at the time. In a telephone
conversation to police headquarters he asked them to stop firing
on the hotel. The firing on the hotel stopped, but continued in
other areas.
     Hasim Hasimi, the independent mayor of Cizre said: "As mayor
of the city, I do not blame the local officers for this. I blame
the central government as this is their policy. They say things
like 'the Turkish people's patience is running out'. They're trying
to incite racial hatred between the Turks and the Kurds."
     In Alayne, Kurdish people have been unable to leave their
homes since the funeral of some Turkish soldiers on October 29, dur
to attacks on them and their property by government supported
extremists. So far 54 houses and shops have been destroyed.
Glaziers have been warned not to replace broken windows. The
government has taken no action, and has covertly encouraged the
attacks.

November 9, 1992              Kurdistan Information Centre


Guerrilla Raid On Hani

     A telephone interview with ARGK commander Semdin Sekik of Amed
(Diyarbakir) province by the Kurdish newsagency Berxwedan.

     Semdin Sekik phoned Berxwedan at about 22:45 last night and
made the following statement:
     "At 21:00 hours, 200 ARGK guerrillas surrounded the town of
Hani. They attacked the main military garrison with mortars and
rocket propelled grenades, and it was completely destroyed by
exploding ammunition dumps. They then went on to attack government
buildings - the governor's office, post office and the main police
station all suffered heavy damage. The guerrillas ambushed military
reinforcements coming into the town, destroying 4 Panzers and 2
armoured personnel carriers. All of the police officers defending
the governor's office were killed. 3 ARGK guerrillas died during
the attack. After the ARGK had withdrawn, the government forces
began to attack the residential areas of the city. Houses caught
fire and it is feared that the soldiers will revenge themselves for
their defeat on the innocent civilians of Hani.

November 10, 1992             Kurdistan Information Centre


Mayor Of Diyarbakir Attacked By Government-Backed Contraguerrillas

     Yesterday at about 22:00, the mayor of Diyarbakir (Amed) city,
Turgut Atalay, his chauffeur, Mehmet Bayar, and his bodyguard,
Orhan Karadag, were shot at as they were on their way into the
mayor's house. Three men aged around 25, dressed casually in
leather jackets shot at them with pistols and then threw hand
grenades. They got away in a Dogan car with the registration number
47 AV 666. The mayor, his chauffeur and his bodyguard were all
seriously injured. The mayor was taken to Bayindir hospital in
Ankara, where he is said to be in critical condition.
     Four cars and houses in the area were also damaged by the
grenades. 15 minutes later the attackers, using the same car, were
seen in the Madinkapi suburb of Diyarbakir, playing loud music. As
usual the Turkish government blamed the PKK for the attack. No
efforts have been made to trace the car. PKK sources in the area
deny that they had anything to do with the attack: "This is an act
designed to intimidate the Kurdish people and stop their support
for national liberation. The mayor is a well respected person, and
he is the man who invited Musa Anter to Diyarbakir, before he too
was shot by contraguerrillas. We condemn these attacks aimed at
annihilating the Kurdish people."
     Eighteen MP's of the People's Labour Party (HEP) have been on
indefinite hungerstrike since yesterday in their Central Office in
Ankara. They are protesting against ever increasing arbitrary
killings by security forces, the destruction of villages and towns,
and the practice of declaring people "missing", who were in
detention.
     Leyla Zana, MP for Diyarbakir, said, "I am on hungerstrike
with seventeen of my colleagues to protest about the increased
number of killings lately in Kurdistan. The parliament does not
want to do anything, is not doing anything, and has no power to do
anything. We are prevented from even speaking about the situation
in our constituencies. Even when they were debating the extension
of the regional governorship, we were not allowed to express our
views. The Kurdish question cannot be solved in the Turkish
parliament."
     The MP's made a plea to international bodies to stop
supporting and giving aid to the Turkish state terror, and asked
the international public to put pressure in any way they could on
the Turkish government.

November 13, 1992             Kurdistan Information Centre


Istanbul Kurdish Institute Raided

     On Sunday, November 15, at 1 pm, the Kurdish Institute in
Istanbul was raided by the political police. The police, who stated
they had a search warrant from Istanbul No. 1 State Security Court,
conducted a thorough search, confiscating all works on Kurdish
language, literature and history in Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic and
Persian.
     Huseyin Keytan, who was on duty in the Institute at the time,
his friends Bazin Uysal, Sedat Tuncer and two people from Mardin
whose names we do not know were arrested. A sigh above the inner
door reading "Kurdish Institute" was taken down. The police also
confiscated a large number of books and magazines about the Kurds,
handwritten material in Kurdish, Turkish and Arabic, and films,
cassettes and computer disks.
     These things were all removed despite the fact that nothing
they contained constituted an offence, and despite that under
Turkish law, published works may only be confiscated if more than
one copy of the offending work is found.
     The Kurdish Institute Management Committee has commented:
"This raid is part of the general oppressive policy being
implemented against the Kurdish people at the present time.
Although the Turkish President Ozal and the Prime Minister Suleyman
Demirel often mention the Kurdish people and the Kurdish reality,
in truth they are constantly proving their insincerity and their
double standards in relation to all the values of the Kurdish
people.
     The material that was confiscated belongs to the cultural
commonwealth of humanity and we are concerned as to its fate. Its
destruction would be a great loss for humanity and for the Kurdish
people. We demand that these works are returned to our Institute.
     We will pursue this matter nationally and internationally and
call on the international press and the wider public to protest
vehemently against this raid."

November 16, 1992             Kurdistan Information Centre


ARGK Commanders: We Will Win This War Too!

The clashes between the ARGK guerrillas and the KDP/PUK in south
Kurdistan which started on October 1st with attacks by the KDP/PUK
peshmerga against ARGK units are increasing dramatically. We
reproduce here the translation of a telephone conversation between
the newspaper 'Berxwedan' and ARGK commanders in south Kurdistan
on October 8, 1992.

Berxwedan: Could you tell us about the recent clashes?

Commander: We are now in Zakho. KDP unbits have surrounded the city
but we control large parts of the city. The KDP has tried to incite
patriotic and other sympathizers against us. Almost all important
connections to the outside world have been cut. It is difficult to
get through by phone...

Berxwedan: Can you tell us what is happening there?

Commander: As you know the KDP/PUK forces have been attackiing
since October 1st. We called on them to stop attacking us. But they
killed three of our comrades in Zakho. And thousands of peshmergas
started to launch attacks against us in the area of Hakurke, Zap,
Suberge and Pervari but we refused to retaliate. When they kept up
their attacks we were forced to defend ourselves. When we found out
that among the prisoners we had taken were also Turkish officers
and when they refused to repond to our call to stop fighting we
mobilized our forces. However strong they are, they will not be
able to defeat us.

Berxwedan: Why?

Commander: Because you need a firm conviction and good reason to
fight a war but they have neither. What are they fighting for? To
please the Turkish state. Many peshmergas have refused to fight
against us. Those especially who know us, are totally opposed to
it. Everyone knows about the war we are fighting in north
Kurdistan. The people know about it and respect us. We have told
the people in south Kurdistan why we are fighting this war and what
our aims are. They know the reasons very well. And that is why
especially among the KDP peshmergas there is great disquiet.

Berxwedan: In the statements by the KDP leader Barzani he was
claiming that they are in control of your bases. Is this true?

Commander: The KDP peshmergas have no chance to win militarily
against us. They orientate themselves on the classical rules of
war, they are only used to retreat. And their lack of conviction
about this war will lead to a situation where they will lose this
war. We never wanted this conflict but they force us to fight.

Berxwedan: They also claim that they want to settle Kurdish
villagers there but that the PKK is preventing it. Can you explain
this?

Commander: First of all it is necessary to look at the places where
they apparently want to settle villagers. Yes, there are settlement
areas in Hakurk and Loan. It is also known that as a result of the
bombing by the Turkish air forces, civilians were killed and
injured. But that means, there are people living there already.
This area has been under our control since 1982. Many of the
villagers have fled from there following attacks by Saddam Hussein,
although not a single shot was fired in this area. We were already
there at that time, fighting both Saddam's army and the Turkish
army and we lost hundreds of our fighters. Their claims are a ploy
and propaganda.

Berxwedan: How many losses have you had and how many have they had?

Commander: Since the fighting began nine of our friends have been
killed. The peshmergas had about 200 losses and the hospitals are
full of injured peshmergas. In Zakho and the area surrounding it
they attacked patriots and 25 to 20 of them were executed by them
on the spot. They attacked us from different sides but each time
they suffered great losses. They claim to have taken over our camps
but let anyone come and check it out for themselves if that is
true. We have invited journalists to visit the war zone and see for
themselves.

Berxwedan: They also claim that a great number of guerrillas had
come from Iran.

Commander: Yes, we heard this on the radio too. But our own forces
stationed in the area are sufficient. And we have no camps in Iran.
Our people come to help us from all parts of Kurdistan. Thousands
are joining our ranks. What the peshmergas really mean with their
claim is that we are getting help from the Kurdish people.

Berxwedan: We heard that among your prisoners you have also
captured Turkish officers, is that true?

Commander: Yes, it is true. In the Hakruke area we caught two
officers together with peshmergas. And in Zakho we captured four
Turkish officers. We will show them to the press.

Berxwedan: How is this war going to end if the Trukish state
intervenes?

Commander: As I said before, we have not started this war. We will
fight until the KDP/PUK forces have given up the fight. But they
won't be able to hold out against us for a long period of time and
there are already signs that they are weakening. In the event that
the Turkish state tries to annex the area, a huge revolutionary
resistance front is going to emerge because the peoples in the
Middle East are not going to accept such an attack passively.
Through our fight in the north we have already pushed the Turkish
state into a blind alley. What is going to happen? The same thing
that happened when the U.S. marched into Vietnam, if not worse.

Berxwedan: You have imposed an economic embargo?

Commander: Yes, our people have imposed an embargo. No one in the
north buys the goods of these collaborators. They have refused to
take merchandise from the lorries. This is the attitude of our
people. As I said in the beginning these collaborators will not be
able to hold out against us. The peshmergas are becoming a tool of
policy which encourages Kurds to fight Kurds, it leads to a
situation where we have to slow down our struggle for a short time.
But of course, this is only to prepare for an even bigger and
better fight at a higher level in north Kurdistan.

(From Kurdistan Report #12, November/December 1992)


Protest Letter From An Iraqi Kurd

Dear Editor,
     I cannot express adequately my detestation of the tragedy
which has engulfed my country. The traitors among our people have
endangered our cause and created an extremely grave situation by
their bare-faced treachery towards the ARGK. The ARGK has
completely overturned the calculation of the Turkish Ataturkists
in Ankara and terrified the other occupiers of our Kurdistan.
     It is nothing short of disgraceful for these traitors not only
to collaborate in providing logistical bases and information but
more so in participating alongside the Ataturkists to kill our
brothers and sisters.
     An unspeakable dishonour was bestowed on them when the Turkish
Minister of Defense cynically declared: "We are merely helping the
Kurds of Iraq." Really! Our principal and mortal enemy has decided
to come to the help of the Kurds in the south! No! As history is
our witness this is unthinkable and impossible.
     It is public knowledge that the regimes in Tehran, Baghdad and
Damascus are watching these clashes with obvious satisfaction. We
saw how the Prime Minister of Turkey flew to Tehran where he and
the Ayatollahs agreed to a summit conference of regional powers
aimed against the Kurds. These oppressor regimes know that there
are feudal and tribal-minded traitors who cannot survive without
collaborating and that this has been their vocation in history.
These traitors are spreading slanderous and lying propaganda that
the PKK is collaborating with the enemy of the Kurds. This provokes
people to ask: who led the Turkish assassins into the south and who
fights beside them? Who indeed?
     In the wake of the change in the region, namely the uprising
of our people, the withdrawal of the felonius Baathist Arabs and
the imperialist presence in south Kurdistan, our so-called leaders
are once again inviting our enemies to Kurdistan and proposing a
coalition and federation to them. But the Shiite clerics in Tehran
have ruled out this idea. The unity of Iraq, they state
categorically, is indivisible and absolute and Islam only permits
a theocratic state, not secularism. So they will extend to us only
these "rights" which they have given to our brothers in the East,
in Iran.
     Rumours are circulating in the south which suggest that the
next uprising in the south will be directed against the so-called
leaders whose actions are absolutely opposed to the interests of
the Kurdish nation.
     Neither these traitorous actions nor the filthy conspiracies
of the Turks can or will prevent or divert the onward march of the
ARGK. On the contrary the onward march of the ARGK will attract
hundreds of thousands of Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan to its
banner and leadership. Every Kurd now realizes that the sole aim
of Damascus, Baghdad, Tehran and Ankara is to kill Kurds and
exterminate Kurdistan.
     If, instead of collaborating with the enemy, all the Kurdish
groups united and intensified the national liberation struggle then
no pasdaran, no gendarmes, no Baathists could resist them. It is
clear that our so-called leaders are unwilling to do that but it
will not stop our people from joining the ARGK. The many protests
against the shameful attempts of the collaborators, coming from all
parts of Kurdistan are the clearest proof of such a development in
the near future.

          Yours Midea,
               from the south of Kurdistan, Halabja

November 2, 1992

(From Kurdistan Report #12, November/December 1992)


PKK Lifts Embargo On Border Trade

     Kurd-ha press agency have been informed that the embargo which
was imposed after the KDP-PUK attacks on the PKK (Kurdistan Workers
Party) bases in south Kurdistan, has now been lifted. In an
interview with an ERNK (National Liberation Front of Kurdistan)
spokesperson, he confirmed that the embargo was over, and further
stated:
     "A short time ago negotiations started between the PKK and the
Kurdish Front in south Kurdistan. These negotiations ended with a
political settlement, part of which was the lifting of the embargo.
Our forces are operating in south Kurdistan freely, as was
guaranteed under the terms of the negotiations. The embargo was
imposed because the attacks were no ordinary attacks - they were
planned well in advance with thousands of Turkish troops involved,
in what they called a 'sandwich operation' against the PKK, and
this operation was fully supported by Western governments. This was
the biggest provocation the PKK has so far faced. They all hoped
that we would be eradicated. We had to prevent this vicious plot
from having the desired effect. The embargo was not designed to
hurt the people of south Kurdistan. It was aimed at the
collaborators."

PKK To Release Three Turkish POW's

     On November 16, Kurd-ha news agency interviewed the central
commander of the ARGK, who said that they intended to release three
Turkish POW's as a goodwill gesture for the fourteenth anniveersary
of the PKK. They will release the soldiers through the Red Cross.
The soldiers are Hasan Tunc from Sinop, Sali Acikgoz from Corum,
Mirza Baran from Van.

Kurd-ha: You are releasing three POW's. Does this mean there are
others?

ARGK: Yes, we have others. We will obey the Geneva Convention and
other charters. We will only release these people through the Red
Cross and other international organizations. Families of the
prisoners should apply to the Red Cross or other bodies, and we
will consider each case individually. We wish to appeal to the
families to prevent their sons and relatives from taking part in
Turkish military service and killing innocent civilians.

November 16, 1992             Kurdistan Information Centre


--
                     Autonome Forum: aforum at moose.uvm.edu
                          "Solidarity is a Weapon!"
--



From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Thu Dec 17 06:13:39 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:13:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AI EX105/92 TURKEY Fear of torture
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc69a.367@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI EX105/92 TURKEY Fear of torture

/* Written  6:38 pm  Dec 14, 1992 by rmitchellai at gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI EX105/92 TURKEY Fear of torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 44/130/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC        

EXTRA 105/92      Fear of Torture/  14 December 1992
                  Fear of "Disappearance"

TURKEY:           Ekrem Kas

 Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Ekrem Kas who
was arrested on 10 December 1992 in Diyarbakir and whose detention
has not been acknowledged by the police.

On the evening of 10 December 1992 at around 10 pm plainclothes
police officers came to the house of Ekrem Kas in Diyarbakir,
identified themselves as police and detained Ekrem Kas. When his
relatives made inquiries with Diyarbakir Police Headquarters and the
prosecutor's office they were unable to find out where he was being
held. They then submitted a written application to the prosecutor's
office at Diyarbakir State Security Court on 11 December and received
a reply that same day saying that a person by the name of Ekrem Kas
was not registered as being in detention. Given the high incidence of
political killings and alleged extrajudicial executions in the region
including Diyarbakir town and province, there are grave fears for the
life of Ekrem Kas.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Turkey has a Kurdish ethnic minority which is estimated to number
some 10 million people, living mainly in southeastern Turkey. Since
August 1984, when guerrillas of the PKK started armed attacks against
the security forces, an alarming number of reports of ill-treatment of
detainees by the security forces have come from the eastern and
southeastern provinces. Furthermore, allegations of over 100
extrajudicial executions have been received during the past 12 months.
More than 5,000 lives have so far been lost on both sides and among
the civilian population in the context of the continuing fighting.
Emergency legislation is in force in 10 provinces in the region and the
Emergency Legislation Governor in Diyarbakir has extraordinary
powers over three additional provinces. 

Turkey ratified the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture
on 25 February 1988 and the UN Convention Against Torture on 2
August 1988. However, all information available to Amnesty
International indicates that torture is still widespread and systematic in
Turkey. Most allegations relate to ill-treatment of detainees in police
custody during their initial interrogation when they are usually denied
access to relatives or a lawyer. In August 1990, the government
derogated from Articles 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 13 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, all of which contain important
safeguards for human rights. New legislation to shorten the maximum
detention period came into force on 1 December 1992. Now the
normal maximum period of 24 hours, for which a non-political
detainee may be held before being formally charged or released, may
be extended to eight days in cases of ordinary crimes involving three
or more suspects. Detainees held on suspicion of political offences to
be tried in State Security Courts may be held without charge for 15
days. This period may be extended to 30 days in provinces under
emergency legislation or martial law. Emergency legislation is currently
in force in 10 provinces, including Diyarbakir. 

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English or
in your own language:

-  expressing grave concern that Ekrem Kas has been held in
unacknowledged police detention since 10 December 1992 when he
was arrested in Diyarbakir;

-  requesting to be informed of his present whereabouts;

-  urging that his family be informed promptly of his place of
detention and be granted access to him;

-  seeking assurances that he is not subjected to any form of torture or
ill-treatment while being held.

APPEALS TO

Chief of the Turkish General Staff:

General Dogan Gures           [Salutation: Dear General]
Bakanliklar
06100 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: General Gures, Bakanliklar, Ankara, Turkey

Minister of the Interior:

Mr Ismet Sezgin               [Salutation: Dear Minister]
Icisleri Bakanligi
06644 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: Interior Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Telexes:   46369 ICSL TR
Faxes:     + 90 4 418 1795

Prime Minister:

Mr Suleyman Demirel           [Salutation: Dear Prime Minister]
Office of the Prime Minister 
Basbakanlik                         
06573 Ankara, Turkey                     
Telegrams: Prime Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Telexes:   44061/44062/44063 bbmt tr, 42099 basb tr
           42875 bbk tr
Faxes:     + 90 4 417 04 76
           + 90 4 230 88 96

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

President of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission

Insan Haklari Arastirma Komisyonu Baskani
TBMM
Ankara, Turkey

and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 15 January 1993.

From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Sat Dec 19 08:45:30 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:45:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc69b.b5e@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal

IMPORTANT 

APC has announced a proposal to rename the conferences in this
network. Under the present proposal, the Middle East conferences
would be significantly changed. The proposed changes are as follows:

in (l)ist      New Name        Current Name   Category

APC Public  reg.kurds         mideast.kurds  Regional
APC Public  reg.levant         mideast.levant Regional
(merge)        reg.mideast       mideast.action Regional
(merge)        reg.mideast       mideast.forum  Regional
(merge)        reg.mideast       mideast.genera Regional
(merge)        reg.mideast       mideast.media  Regional
APC Public  reg.nafrica        mideast.nafric Regional
APC Public  reg.persiangul   mideast.gulf   Regional

Your input is very important. Attached is information 
from APC management for clarification.

Please share your comments here in the conference or with

jillaine at igc.apc.org (Jillaine Smith)

and send a copy to me as well. 

Thank you very much.

Jennifer Smith
pnmideast at igc.apc.org
Middle East facilitator, PeaceNet


From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Sat Dec 19 08:48:22 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:48:22 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal
References: <APC.1.0.54efc69b.b5e@igc.apc.org>
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc69c.c16@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal

/* Written  6:17 pm  Oct  8, 1992 by apcadmin at igc.apc.org in igc:ideas */
/* ---------- "IMPORTANT: Conf Renaming Proposal" ---------- */
From: Edie Farwell <apcadmin>
Subject: IMPORTANT: Conf Renaming Proposal



*** PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND READ THIS MESSAGE!! ***

Dear Friends,

We, the member networks the make up the Association for Progressive 
Communication (EcoNet, PeaceNet, ConflictNet, Web, NordNet, GreenNet, 
Pegasus, ComLink, AlterNex, Nicarao, Huracan, Ecuanex and GlasNet), 
are planning to implement a conference-naming policy that 
will result in the renaming of most of the public conferences on our 
combined networks, as well as a policy to guide all of us in the 
selection of names for new public conferences.

We have been working on this project off and on for the last three 
years, but especially hard these last several months.  We have brought 
in consultants to advise us; we have analyzed usage (including the birth 
and death) of conferences; we have incorporated feedback from users.

Because we value you as readers of and participants in the electronic 
conferences that make up our networks, we appreciate any feedback you 
have on this plan.  We do not expect to diverge from this naming scheme 
in any substantial way.  However, we do appreciate your input and we 
will respond to each of your concerns, should you have any.

We ask that you send any comments via email to the account 'apcadmin'-- 
an account used by APC administrative staff.

BACKGROUND:

Why we are doing this:

Many of the APC partner networks started out as independent systems with 
their own set of conferences.  In acknowledgement of our GLOBAL network 
of conferences, used by people all over the world, and in line with our 
desire to have global cooperation on global issues, we seek an APC-wide 
standard for conference organization and naming. In addition, we are 
guided by the following goals:

a)  simple conference names that best describe the purpose of the
conference;

b)  an easier way for users to find and participate in conferences of
interest to them;

c)  a clear set of APC-wide main issue conferences; and

d)  a decrease of duplication across conferences.

Types of Conferences on the APC

In considering a consistent naming convention, we identified four types 
of conferences on our system:

1.  Private conferences - a conference set up for and used by a defined 
group of people usually for organizing purposes;

2.  Organization-sponsored public conferences - conferences set up for 
and used by a particular organization as a distribution vehicle for 
their information or services;

3.  Public issue-based conferences - public conferences, open to all 
users, focusing on particular issue areas.  Usually not sponsored by a 
particular group or organization, but can be.  This category is further 
defined into (1) networked conferences (conferences shared across more 
than one APC partner network), and (2) non-networked conferences 
(conferences of use by only members of one particular network).

4.  Imported Conferences - Conferences or other materials that we import 
from other computer systems (UseNet, BitNet, GeoNet, etc.)

In the area of private (1) and organization-sponsored conferences (2), 
the naming convention will be as follows:

   <org-acronym>.<content/purpose>

For example, ai.students is a conference sponsored by Amnesty 
International for their student membership.

Most existing organization-sponsored and private conferences already 
follow this convention and will not be subject to a renaming unless 
requested by the sponsoring organization, or unless recommended by an 
APC staff person.

For imported conferences (4), we will either continue to use the name as 
it originates on the system from which we import it (as in the case of 
Usenet newsgroups), or we will identify it in some way with the 
originating system.  For example, all conferences that generate from 
BitNet mailing lists will start with 'bitl.'.

In the case of public issue-based conferences (3), the naming convention 
will be as follows:

    <issue_area_prefix>.<subject_focus>.<optional_specificity>

The <issue_area_prefix>es have been defined by APC staff; the list of 
pre-defined prefixes follows.  The <subject_focus> should define the 
purpose or focus of the conference as much as possible.  The 
<optional_specificity> might be one of the pre-defined suffixes listed 
below, or could be further specificity added to the conference names.

For example:

hr.news - news articles about human rights abuses world wide.
hr.refugees - information and discussion about human rights abuses
      specific to refugees
hr.child - information and discussion about human rights abuses
      specific to children.

Conference names will continue to be limited to 14 characters (including 
periods).

We will implement this renaming over the next several months, working in 
batches of conferences, and working directly with conference 
facilitators and other active conference users.  From a technical 
aspect, the renaming will be invisible to users.  As a conference is 
renamed, it is also renamed if it exists on your visit or regular list 
of conferences.  The program that keeps track of what you've read and 
haven't read is also updated.  As a user, you will not have to make any 
changes to your account.  There will also be a short period of time when 
the conference has both the old and new names-- this is done in an 
effort to let people continue to use the old name.  Even after the 
rename is complete, a pointer will exist for up to a year in the old 
conference, letting people know how to find the new conference name.  
All material in a conference will be copied over to the new conference.

Below we list the prefixes that have been identified as best 
representing the materials covered in our existing collection of 
conferences.  Following the prefixes are suggested 
<optional_specificity> suffixes that will also guide our naming policy.

Prefixes:

agri.     Agriculture
biodiv.   Biodiversity
clim.     Climate
cr.       Conflict Resolution
dev.      Development
disarm.   Disarmament
econ.     Economics
edu.      Education
energy.   Energy
env.      Environment
enved.    Environmental Education
for.      Forests
gen.      General Interest, including computers, technology, health
gendr.    Gender Issues
haz.      Hazardous materials (aka Toxics)
hn.       Homeopathy 
hr.       Human Rights
labr.     Labor/Labour
loc.      Local Conferences (loc.usa.dc)
media.    Media
mil.      Military
nativ.    Native/Indigenous Issues
net.      Network Resources
pax.      Peace & Social Justice
pol.      Politics (domestic and international) 
reg.      Regional
trade.    Trade
trans.    Transportation
women.      Women's Issues

The creation of new prefixes will be considered by the APC community if 
there are enough conferences to warrant such a creation.  Prefixes must 
be no longer than five characters (plus the period) in order to allow 
enough room for further descriptive information.  Proposals for new 
prefixes will take place in the 'ideas' conference, as do proposals for 
new public conferences.

Recommended Optional Suffixes:

*.alerts            Alerts
*.ann               Announcements
*.legis             Legislative Alerts/Information
*.news              News Services/NewsLetters
*.ref               References
*.lib               Library
*.dir               Directory
*.jobs              Job Listings
*.<country acronym> Geographical-focused issue area (to be used
                      for ISSUE conferences that focus on a
                      geographical area; for example: hr.india
                      for human rights information specific to
                      India.

We realize that this is a very big project, and we hope you will support 
us in our effort to build a global information network committed to 
environmental sustainability, human rights, peace, and economic and 
social justice.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

The Staff of Each APC Network






From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Wed Dec 23 08:59:26 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 00:59:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal
References: <APC.1.0.54efc69b.b5e@igc.apc.org>
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc69e.eda@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal

/* Written 12:36 am  Dec 20, 1992 by pnmideast at igc.apc.org in igc:mideast.forum */
/* ---------- "IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal" ---------- */
Joe,

I'm not sure I follow what you're saying--ie. 
keep mideast.action and mideast.forum separated out (?). Part of this
proposal by APC is merging these conferences, and part of it is 
renaming. If this is what you're saying, I agree with you. I think at least 
there should still be a mideast.action conference, whatever its 
name is going to be. This conference I think is important as a specific 
tool for action alerts and organizing. As far as a specific forum conference,
I think we can work on encouraging discussion in all of the conferences, 
so I myself am less attached to keeping the forum conference, but I would 
like to know what others think.

I apologize if the conferences have not been as consistently kept these past 
few weeks. The amount of work I have had to take on lately both at 
my work and with other PeaceNet related activity has not allowed me to 
be able to post everyday like I usually have. I'm open to suggestions on 
better "refinement"--would you like to be more specific?

Thank you for responding by the way, it is much appreciated.

The issue of conference renaming was more actively brought to my 
attention within the context of discussion by PeaceNet management. I 
proposed some of my thoughts and alternatives which I would like to 
share here. I hope they can spur further discussion. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Re: Merging mideast.general, mideast.forum, mideast.action and 
mideast.media into one conference reg.mideast:

1) The mideast.media conference facilitator, Peter Frank, should be 
consulted as well. I have been posting material there but maybe we 
can put it out there more for people to know about, ie put in a pointer 
from media.issues. This conference is not that active so I agree 
something needs to be done about it.

2) The mideast.general conference includes a variety of material but 
its parameters and purpose are clear. This is a very important conference 
for material that does not fit in the other conferences, and it also brings 
the Middle East together as a region. I think we should keep this 
conference as is.

 3) I think we need to keep mideast.action for action alerts and 
organizing. Mideast.forum could perhaps be eliminated, but I'm not 
sure how I feel about this. Of course discussion and action is to be
encouraged on all the conferences, but keeping mideast.action will act as a 
specific tool and includes alerts from all areas of the Middle East.

I've recently been doing an outreach campaign using IGC's
new "Middle East Networking" brochure (which I'll put online shortly;
let me know if any of you would like hardcopies) and I think that if new or 
current subscribers see all of these Middle East conferences on 
our new Middle East Networking brochure merged into one, this 
may give the impression that the Middle East is no longer considered as 
important on APC. 

I think it is important to keep the word "mideast" 
somewhere in the name of the conference to make it clear what 
regional rubric the conferences are under. 

The following is what I came up with for the Middle East conferences.

mideast.general >> reg.mideastgen or reg.mideast  
mideast.action >>  reg.me.action or reg.meast.act
mideast.levant >>  reg.me.levant 
mideast.gulf >>   reg.me.gulf 
mideast.nafrica >>  reg.me.nafrica 
mideast.kurds >>  reg.me.kurds
mideast.media >> reg.me.media or reg.meastmedia

The point for APC is to fit the conferences into the new prefix and suffix
renaming scheme; "reg" is for "regional", and within the 14-character limit,
which I understand is technically not negotiable.

I would appreciate any feedback or additional ideas from readers and 
contributors which should also be sent to APC. **Specifically, do people
think a Middle East prefix should be kept, dropping the "reg.", which
would be an exception to the APC renaming scheme?**

(According to APC's statement on exceptions regarding prefixes:
<The creation of new prefixes will be considered by the APC community if 
<there are enough conferences to warrant such a creation.  Prefixes must 
<be no longer than five characters (plus the period) in order to allow 
<enough room for further descriptive information.  Proposals for new 
<prefixes will take place in the 'ideas' conference, as do proposals for 
<new public conferences.)

Another option is to put Middle East conferences under other issue-based
prefixes. Does that make sense at this time?

Thanks,

Jennifer Smith
Middle East facilitator, PeaceNet
pnmideast at igc.apc.org


From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Mon Dec 21 09:21:41 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 01:21:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Kurdish/Iranian Music Concert(s) in
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc69d.569@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: Kurdish/Iranian Music Concert(s) in

/* Written  3:48 pm  Dec 18, 1992 by fbahrami at ucselx.sdsu.edu in igc:soc.culture.ir */
/* ---------- "Kurdish/Iranian Music Concert(s) in" ---------- */

*******************************************************************************
*********************             *******                   *******************
******************                 *****                      *****************
***************                     ***                          **************
*************                        *                             ************
***********                                                          **********
*********                                                              ********
*******                                                                  ******
*****                                                                      ****
***                                                                          **
**                                                                            *
**                     IRANIAN & KURDISH MUSIC CONCERT                        *
**                                                                            *
**                                  by                                        *
**                                                                            *
**                        SHAHRAM NAZERI, Vocalist                            *
**                                                                            *
**                             accompanied by                                 *
**                                                                            *
**                         JALAL ZOLFONOON, Sehtar                            *
**                                                                            *
**                       and the SHAMS Tambour Players                        *
**                                                                            *
**                                                                            *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
**                                                                            *
**                                                                            *
**              December 19, @8:00 pm Royce Hall UCLA, Los Angeles            *
**                                                                            *
**           December 26, @8:00 pm Symphony Hall (8th & B), San Diego         *
**                                                                            *
***                                                                          **
*****                                                                      ****
*******                                                                  ******
*********                                                              ********
***********                                                          **********
*************                        *                             ************
***************                     ***                          **************
******************                 *****                      *****************
*********************             *******                   *******************
*******************************************************************************

For San Diego info please call (619)566-8147.

Posted by a music-lover in no way affiliated with the the artists.

From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Wed Dec 23 23:00:36 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:00:36 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING ON IGC
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc69f.024@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING ON IGC

/* Written  2:57 pm  Dec 23, 1992 by pnmideast at igc.apc.org in igc:mideast.nafric */
/* ---------- "MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING ON IGC" ---------- */
From: <pnmideast>
Subject: MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING ON IGC


Hi-this is an online version of the new Middle East
Networking brochure for IGC. If you would like hardcopies
of it sent to you, just let us know. Please distribute
this to others who you think would be interested. And
if you have any comments, please send them!

Thanks :)

Jennifer Smith
Middle East facilitator, PeaceNet
pnmideast at igc.apc.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO ALL:  Please distribute the following brochure to all networks-- 
Thanks!	

	MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING ON THE IGC NETWORKS


Among the many conferences and services provided on the IGC networks, 
a whole set of conferences are devoted just to Middle East related issues. 
For discussion and news on the latest events and how you can promote 
human rights and networking for change--come and visit the Middle East 
conferences!

WHAT ARE IGC NETWORKS?

The Institute for Global Communications (IGC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) 
tax-exempt organization providing computer networking tools for 
international communications and information exchange. The IGC 
Networks - PeaceNet, EcoNet, LaborNet and ConflictNet - are dedicated 
solely to human rights, justice and peace, and environmental preservation. 

By subscribing to any one of the IGC Networks, you have full access to 
the resources of any of the other IGC Networks. In addition, IGC is a 
member of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), a 
global network linking over 16,000 activists in 94 countries.

WHAT IS THE APC?

The Association for Progressive Communications is a worldwide 
partnership of member networks dedicated to providing low-cost 
computer communications services for individuals and organizations 
working for the environment, peace and justice, development, health, and 
public interest. The focus of the APCUs work is to empower local 
organizations by encouraging expertise in and technology for computer 
networking. All APC members are independent organizations who retain 
full control of their network. The member networks of APC include 
AlterNex (Brazil), Chasque (Uruguay), ComLink (Germany), EcuaNex 
(Ecuador), GlasNet (Russia), GreenNet (England), Institute for Global 
Communications (USA), Lega per L'Ambiente (Italy), Nicarao 
(Nicaragua), NordNet (Sweden), Pegasus Networks (Australia), and 
Web (Canada).

WHY USE THE IGC/APC NETWORKS? -- What People Are Saying

"The Gulf war proved that the IGC Networks are invaluable in gathering 
news deliberately filtered out by the established press." -- Larry Bensky, 
National Affairs Correspondent, Pacifica Radio

"It's invaluable to have instant access to information from inside the 
Middle East, the United Nations, OPEC and local activists around the 
world. We have also used the system to coordinate work with people 
internationally." -- Denis Doyon, National Coordinator, AFSC Middle 
East Peace Education Project

"I use the system to communicate with other Amnesty members, 
exchange information, discuss issues, plan actions, write documents and 
get updates on different countries in the region. We probably are saving 
money by using the system rather than using phone or fax...Now that I 
am used to using the system I don't know how I got along without it." -- 
Ali Azizi, Amnesty International Middle East Coordination Group

"At AWAIR we upload material which helps broaden debates on the net 
and make others aware of valuable information sources, for example 
articles from the Palestinian and Israeli press, action alerts from other 
Middle East NGOs not (yet) online, etc." -- Jennifer Smith, Program 
Director, AWAIR: Arab World and Islamic Resources and School 
Services

	MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCES ON IGC/APC

	*Mideast.action*--For specific actions, alerts and events concerning 
			the Middle East.
	*Mideast.forum*--Discussion and debate forum on Middle East 
			politics, views and opinions.
	*Mideast.gulf*-- Events and issues related to countries and peoples 
			in the Persian/Arabian Gulf region, especially 
			Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab 
			emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kurdistan, 
			Yemen.
	*Mideast.levant*--Issues and events of the countries of the Levant - 
			Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon.
	*Mideast.nafrica*--News and actions of North Africa (the 	
			Maghreb), including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, 
			Sahrawi Western Sahara, Libya, Sudan and 
			Egypt.
	*Mideast.kurds*--Communication between the Kurdish people and 
			the rest of the world, including news and 
			information.
	*Mideast.general*--Events and issues pertaining to the Middle East 
			that do not fit into other, more specific 	
			conferences.

HOW DO MIDDLE EAST ACTIVISTS USE THE NETWORKS?

ORGANIZE, COORDINATE AND GET INTERNATIONAL 
EXPOSURE-- Communicate with your membership, subscribers, 
constituency and community. Make an impact on debates and policy on 
the Middle East. Through IGC's sister networks, you can increase your 
organization's exposure ten-fold with a worldwide community of activists 
in 94 countries, including Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. In addition, IGC is 
currently developing a connection to organizations in the West Bank.

NEWS-- IGC features news from *alternative* sources not found in the 
mainstream media. IGC has news about the Middle East from various 
sources including the Inter Press Service, the OPEC News Agency, the 
United Nations Information Center, Leb-Net Digest and academic digests 
from other communities. In addition, organizations and academic 
institutions post reports and analyses of developments and issues, 
including the peace process, disarmament and human rights.

ACTION ALERTS-- Use IGC's conferencing system to issue and 
respond to action alerts on important issues. Organizations such as 
Amnesty International as well as individuals issue alerts about 
developments in the region, pending actions by the U.S. Congress or 
media bias. Readers of the conference then write to or fax (using IGC's 
inexpensive fax service) to members of Congress, world leaders or the 
media. Any subscriber to the IGC networks can post action alerts.

SOME ORGANIZATIONS USING THE IGC NETWORKS FOR 
MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Washington, DC
Amnesty International
AWAIR: Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services, 
Berkeley, CA
Coalition to Stop US Intervention in the Middle East
American Friends Service Committee
Institute for a New Middle East Policy, Seattle, WA
International Committee for Human Rights, Washington, DC
Israel/Palestine Center for Research, Jerusalem
Libyan Arab Cultural Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Middle East Children's Alliance, Berkeley, CA
Middle East Justice Network, Cambridge, MA
Palestine Aid Society of America, New York, NY
The Arab Thought Forum, East Jerusalem
UNICEF, Amman, Jordan
Union of Palestinian Women Associations, Chicago, IL

IGC RATES

After a one-time $15 sign-up fee, the monthly subscription is $10, which 
includes one free hour of off-peak time (after 6 pm and on weekends) and 
phone support. Domestic connect time is $5/hour for off-peak and $10 for 
peak time (M-F 7 am to 6 pm). Alaska and Hawaii users are subject to 
slightly higher rates. Internet connectivity is available from most locations 
for $3 per hour. International connect rates vary with each country's 
public data network. Some gateways and storage space are extra.

HOW CAN I JOIN?

To sign up online, have your computer dial (415) 322-0284 (N-8-1) -- 
have your credit card ready! Type 'new' at the LOGIN prompt hit 
<RETURN> at the PASSWORD prompt, then follow the step-by-step 
instructions. 

Or, you can fill out the coupon below and send/fax it to us:

The Institute for Global Communications
18 De Boom Street
San Francisco, CA  94107
tel. (415) 442-0220
fax. (415) 546-1794

For additional information or questions, you can contact IGC by sending 
email to peacenet at igc.apc.org, or to the Middle East conferences 
facilitator at pnmideast at igc.apc.org

Select: [ ] EcoNet   [ ] PeaceNet  [ ] ConflictNet   [ ] LaborNet

_______________________________________________
Name

_______________________________________________
Organization

_______________________________________________
Address

_______________________________________________
City, State, Zip

_______________________________________________
Telephone

_______________________________________________
Major Areas of Interest

_______________________________________________
Referred by

May we list your address in our online directory? Y/N
May we list your phone number?  Y/N

[ ] Charge my subscription directly:
________________________________________________
Name as it appears on card

________________________________________________
Acct #/Exp. Date

________________________________________________
Signature

[ ] I prefer to be billed monthly; enclosed is a refundable deposit for 
US$50.00.




From pnmideast at igc.apc.org  Thu Dec 24 02:50:03 1992
From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 18:50:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Turkey: Shaky Ally
Message-ID: <APC.1.0.54efc6a0.c83@igc.apc.org>

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: Turkey: Shaky Ally

/* Written  2:10 pm  Dec 22, 1992 by hrcoord at igc.apc.org in igc:hr.eurmideast */
/* ---------- "Turkey: Shaky Ally" ---------- */
World Press Review
December 1992

(c) 1992 The Stanley Foundation

Regional Report: Europe

Shaky Ally

Turkey, "one of the West's staunchest allies in the region," writes
Ismet G. Imset in the English-language weekly Jerusalem Report, "is again
becoming one of its least stable, after a nine-year lull of civilian
rule." Confidence in Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel is so low that
the local press and Western diplomats are asking "whether plans might 
be brewing for another military coup," Imset says.

Demirel promised to "curb the country's runaway inflation and improve
its political image to match that of the democratic West" when he took
office last year, Imset notes. However, inflation remains at 70 percent,
and Turkey's human-rights record has worsened.

Human-rights groups are increasingly criticizing the government for its
treatment of the Kurdish minority in southeastern Turkey and for
practicing "censorship by the bullet," Imset says.

The independent Neue Zurcher Zeitung of Zurich reports that nine Turkish
journalists have been "cold-bloodedly murdered" this year, allegedly
by forces close to the government. The victims all worked for Kurdish-
language publications, some of which have been reporting on human-rights
violations in the southeast.