AI EX074/92 TURKEY Fear of torture

[PeaceNet Middle East Team]

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI EX074/92 TURKEY Fear of torture

/* Written  8:22 pm  Sep 14, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in cdp:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI EX074/92 TURKEY Fear of torture" ---------- */
Subject: AI EX074/92 TURKEY Fear of torture

EXTERNAL (for general distribution)        AI Index: EUR 44/83/92
                                           Distr: UA/SC       

EXTRA 74/92            Fear of Torture     4 September 1992

TURKEY:                Diyadin Koc, electrician aged 30
										
										
			(cedilla on the c)

Amnesty International has recently learned that on 15 August 1992,
Diyadin Ko
, board member of the People's Labour Party (HEP) in
Diyarbakir, was detained. It is not known to Amnesty International
where in Diyarbakir he is being held in incommunicado detention. He
is said to have been severely tortured [presumably witnessed by
fellow-detainees who have been released meanwhile] and his family
fear for his life. Under current legislation he may be held until 15
September.  

   On and around 15 August, the anniversary of the day when the
Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) started its insurgency against the
security forces eight years ago, scores of people were detained in the
Kurdish provinces under State of Emergency.

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 Kurdish Workers' Party (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 4,000 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. Under current legislation the maximum
period a detainee may be held before being formally charged or
released is 24 hours; in cases involving three or more suspects or due
to the 'nature of the crime' it may be extended to 15 days. This period
may be extended to 30 days in areas under emergency legislation or
martial law. A State of Emergency is in force in Diyarbakir province.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters:

- urging that Diyadin Koc is granted prompt access to his family and
lawyer;

- seeking assurances that he is not ill-treated while being held in
police custody;

- requesting to be informed of any charges brought against him.

APPEALS TO:

Emergency Legislation Governor:

Mr Unal Erkan                 [Salutation: Dear Governor]
Olaganustu Hal Valisi
Diyarbakir, Turkey
Telegrams:      Olaganustu Hal Valisi, Diyarbakir, Turkey
Telexes:  72110 OHVT TR; 72084 DYVA TR  
										
"please forward to the Governor"; 
          72090 JASY TR

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 PRIME MINISTER; + 90 4 230 88 96 
          (attn: Prime Minister)

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 of Turkey in your country - see
the responses to this topic for further details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.