From antennae at gn.apc.org Thu Jan 28 21:28:36 1993 From: antennae at gn.apc.org (antennae at gn.apc.org) Date: 28 Jan 1993 21:28:36 +0000 (GMT) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: As the person who originally kicked off the mideast.kurds conference, you have my blessing for what it's worth to rename it to reg.kurds. i am still hoping to get the kurdish cultural centre in london online directly to greennet/APC as they have a lot of information and ideas that really should be shared and i know they would benefit from the contact with other interested people. if anyone wants to get in touch with them, please feel free to use me as an e-mail channel. indra From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Fri Jan 29 07:16:31 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 23:16:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: Hi Indra, I think it would be great to get the Kurdish Cultural Center online and if you need any help with this, I'd be happy to offer a hand. If you like, I could send you some Middle East Networking brochures and other info on how to get online which were made up by IGC and myself. I passed on your note to the folks in charge of the APC renaming in case you hadn't so that they get your feedback. Jennifer Smith middle east facilitator, peacenet From hrcoord at igc.apc.org Fri Jan 29 19:58:15 1993 From: hrcoord at igc.apc.org (hrcoord at igc.apc.org) Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1993 11:58:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: Hi Indra, Debra Guzman here. Good to hear from you again..... I have a question...are the Kurds considered indigenous and would information on them fit into the new humn rights conference: hr.indigenous Do let us know. From antennae at gn.apc.org Fri Jan 29 22:58:25 1993 From: antennae at gn.apc.org (antennae at gn.apc.org) Date: 29 Jan 1993 22:58:25 +0000 (GMT) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: Hello Debra, yes the kurds are indigenous, but the kurdish question is so complicated and fastmoving that they really do need a conference of their own. hugs, indra From antennae at gn.apc.org Fri Jan 29 23:04:34 1993 From: antennae at gn.apc.org (antennae at gn.apc.org) Date: 29 Jan 1993 23:04:34 +0000 (GMT) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: Hi Jennifer, thanks for the reply. The problem with the KCC has been the lack of hardware, chronic shortage of money. However, this is not insurmountable. The brochures you mention might well serve to demonstrate the value of networking and would be appreciated. You could send them to me c/o CDP, 110 Euston Road, London NW1 2DZ. I am seeing a couple of people from KCC next week, and will raise the subject again. Best wishes, Indra Sinha From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Sat Jan 30 05:01:34 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1993 21:01:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: Hi Indra, will send them in the mail. In the meantime, you could download the topic MIDDLE EAST NETWORKING ON IGC (really APC) which is a similar online version of the current brochure. This might be handy for your meeting next week. best, Jennifer From hrcoord at igc.apc.org Sat Jan 30 16:21:17 1993 From: hrcoord at igc.apc.org (hrcoord at igc.apc.org) Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1993 08:21:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: But, I have another question: sincer there are Kurds all over the world due to relocation, migration, immigration, etc. wouldn't it make more sense to have a conf along the naming lines of: gen.kurds This naming scheme would instantly tell the system user that this conference is for ALL material/information on the Kurds. Hoping to help out, Debra From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Sat Jan 30 22:51:26 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1993 14:51:26 -0800 (PST) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: I would concur with Debra, I think "gen.*" gives it a better issue sense. Jennifer From antennae at gn.apc.org Sun Jan 31 21:41:29 1993 From: antennae at gn.apc.org (antennae at gn.apc.org) Date: 31 Jan 1993 21:41:29 +0000 (GMT) Subject: IMPORTANT**Renaming Proposal References: Message-ID: hi again debra, does 'reg' mean 'regional'? in that case i guess you are right. 'gen.kurds' or even plain 'kurds', would be all embracing. anything, so long as there continues to be a kurds conference. all the best, indra From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Sat Jan 2 08:07:42 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1993 00:07:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: MUSLIM CONFERENCES ON APC Message-ID: From: Subject: MUSLIM CONFERENCES ON APC /* Written 11:09 pm Dec 27, 1992 by pnmideast at igc.apc.org in igc:gen.muslims */ /* ---------- "MUSLIM CONFERENCES ON APC" ---------- */ Please distribute this announcement to those who you think would be interested in this conference. Thanks! ------------------------------------------------------- MUSLIM CONFERENCES ON APC When you want to know about how Muslims see the issues then come visit the Muslim conferences on APC! GEN.ISLAM and GEN.MUSLIMS There are now TWO conferences devoted to Islam and Muslim-related issues worldwide on the APC networks. GEN.ISLAM - This is the forum for discussions about Islam the religion, its world-view and its theology. Here you will find information from and about the message of the Qur'an and the life and collected traditions of The Messenger. There will also be a range of information and discussions on other topics such as Islamic texts, Muslim views on marrige, family, society, and the world. Important events and news on the development of Islamic thought are also covered. GEN.MUSLIMS - devoted to news and discussion of Muslims and Muslim-related issues worldwide. From events in the Balkans to news from India, this conference is the place to talk about what's happening to Muslim communities around the world. Did you know that there are one billion Muslims worldwide? Did you know that there are 54 independent nations where Muslims are a majority of the population? Did you know that Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world? Did you know that Islam is the second largest and fastest growing religion in the United States? Please come to GEN.ISLAM and GEN.MUSLIMS to find out more! And if you've got news or announcements or questions about Islam and Muslim-related issues and events, let us know and send them to GEN.ISLAM and GEN.MUSLIMS. Very sincerely, Jennifer Smith Farzin Deravi Gen.Muslims Facilitator Gen.Islam Facilitator pnmideast at igc.apc.org f1deravi at gn.apc.org From aforum at moose.uvm.edu Tue Jan 5 01:49:03 1993 From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (aforum at moose.uvm.edu) Date: 05 Jan 1993 01:49:03 Subject: No Subject Line Message-ID: From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (autonome forum) subject: Kurdish guerrillas raid Special Forces HQ posted by: autonome forum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PKK Guerrillas raid Diyarbakir Special Forces HQ 14.December.1992 Last night (13.December) at about 19:05, a large ARGK (Kurdistan People's Army for National Liberation) unit attacked the headquarters of the Special Forces (para-military police) in the town of Diyarbakir. They raided the headquarters with heavy machine guns. The attack lasted for 46 minutes. Sources in the region put the number of police dead at 27. After the guerrilla unit had withdrawn, there were clashes in the suburbs which lasted for two hours. In these clashes, the Kurd-Ha news agency put the number of dead Turkish soldiers at 10. They also reported that police and army units made hundreds of random arrests. At about the same time, another ARGK unit ambushed a military convoy on the road from Hani to Diyarbakir, killing 11 soldiers. This battle lasted for 45 minutes. For more information on the liberation struggle being waged in Turkish-occupied Kurdistan, contact: Kurdistan Information Centre 11 Portland Gardens London N4 1HU ENGLAND tel: 081-880-1759 fax: 081-802-9963 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- autonome forum: aforum at moose.uvm.edu "solidarity is a weapon!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Thu Jan 7 04:29:09 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1993 20:29:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: AI EX001/93 TURKEY Disappearance Message-ID: From: Subject: AI EX001/93 TURKEY Disappearance /* Written 5:48 pm Jan 6, 1993 by rmitchellai at gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */ /* ---------- "AI EX001/93 TURKEY Disappearance" ---------- */ EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 44/01/93 Distr: UA/SC 6 January 1993 EXTRA 01/93 Fear of "Disappearance"/Fear of Torture TURKEY: Serdar AY Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Serday Ay who was detained in Diyarbakir on 18 December 1992 and whose detention has not been acknowledged by the authorities. On the night of 18 December 1992 at 1.30am, Serdar Ay was detained at his home in Diyarbakir by members of the gendarmerie and the police force. Serdar Ay runs a minibus service and they ostensibly wanted him to assist them as a guide. Nothing has been heard of him since. Ali Ihsan Ay, Serdar's father, has been trying to locate his son. Initially he made inquiries with the Diyarbakir Chief Prosecutor's Office, where he was told that his son was being held by the gendarmerie in the Ofis district of Diyarbakir. However, the gendarmerie there denied holding him. On 21 December, he submitted a written request to the Prosecutor's Office at the Diyarbakir State Security Court and received a written reply the same day to the effect that no person by the name of Serdar Ay was registered as being held in custody. Reportedly, there have been complaints against Serdar Ay for playing cassettes with Kurdish music on his minibus. About two months ago he was taken into detention by the gendarmerie in Pirinclik, a suburb of Diyarbakir, and held for one day. It is now 19 days since Serdar Ay was taken into custody and, in view of the large number of political killings and alleged extrajudicial executions in the region, there is grave concern for his safety. 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 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. 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 Diyarbakir province. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English or in your own language: - expressing concern that Serdar Ay has been held in unacknowledged police detention since 18 December 1992 when he was detained in Diyarbakir; - requesting to be informed of his present whereabouts; - urging that his family be informed without further delay 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. 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: 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 18 January 1993. From dkakarigi at igc.apc.org Tue Jan 12 02:29:47 1993 From: dkakarigi at igc.apc.org (Dubravko Kakarigi) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:29:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: National Conference oabout the Kur Message-ID: Message from the Badlisy Center The Badlisy Center for Kurdish Studies was founded for the purpose of conducting research on issues directly related to the Kurds and Kurdistan. In particular, the Center focuses on: Kurdish Civilization, Culture, Economy, Language, Politics, Society, in addition to Strategic studies. The Center is registered in the State of Florida as a tax-exempt, non-profit, research, and educational organization. The Badlisy Center conducts activities through lectures, panels, workshops, conferences, and publications. The Center has many projects planned for the future. The upcoming conference is one of the Center's projects for 1993. Please contact the Center for more information. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "The Kurds: Political Status and Human Rights" In the current world atmosphere of re-emerging ethnic identities, and the efforts of these people for self-determination, the Kurds and the governments of the Middle East have reached a crucial juncture in their relations. Neither side can afford the heavy economic toll of continued fighting, yet neither side can afford to be completely estranged from the other. It is in this delicate period of resolution that open discussions become increasingly important. The Badlisy Center for Kurdish Studies is sponsoring this international conference to: - define the elements of the Kurdish case, - review possible political models to resolve the Kurdish issue. - suggest economic, education, etc. priorities for the Kurds, and - discuss the possibilities of regional and international cooperation to achieve a peaceful settlement. The conference is considered a historical event. It is the first conference ever held in the U.S. that will address this wide range of topics and host this many scholars, both Kurds and non-Kurds. We look forward to your attendance and participation. Information about the conference program, speakers, registration form, & hotel reservations are included in the following pages. However, if there are any questions or comments please call The Badlisy Center: Tel. (904) 386 6573 Fax. (904) 386 6757 For Hotel reservation, please call Holiday Inn, Georgetown: Tel. (202) 338 4600 Fax. (202) 333 6113 CONFERENCE PROGRAM Wednesday, March 17 Registration and Reception Thursday, March 18 9:00 AM Chairman Remarks (SALAH AZIZ, Badlisy Center) 9:15 Congressman JAMES BILBRAY Session I: The Kurds 9:30-10:30 Chair: DELLA JAFF, Kurdish National Congress a) Culture and Language (KAMAL MERWADI, Kurdish Culture Center, London) b) Present Political Status (CHARLES MACDONALD, Florida International University) Session II: Nationalism in Conflict 11:00-12:30 Chair: BOB GOLDMAN, American University a) Nationalism (CHARLES BILLINGS, Florida State University) b) The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism (OTHMAN ALI, Badlisy Center) c) Nationalism in the Middle East (JUDITH KIPPER, Brookings Institute) Session III: Political Models for the Kurds 2:00-3:30 Chair: SALAH AZIZ, Badlisy Center a) Self Determination (RICHARD FALK, Princeton University) b) The Kurdish Political Status and the Geopolitical Developments in the Middle East. (ROBERT OLSON, University of Kentucky) Session IV: Regional Support and Cooperation 4:00-5:30 Chair: JOHN KELSAY, Florida State University a) Iraq (HANI FIKAAKI, V.P., Executive Committee, Iraqi National Congress) b) Iran (MANSOUR FARHANG, Pinnington College) c) Turkey (MICHAEL GUNTER, Tennessee Technical College) BANQUET (to be announced) Friday, March 19 Session V: Human Rights 9:00-10:30 AM Chair: DAVID PHILLIPS, Congressional Human Rights Foundations a) Human Rights Violations (MARYHAM ELAHI, Amnesty International) b) Refugees (NEIL HICKS, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights) c) Genocide (ANDREW WHITLEY, Middle East Watch) Session VI: Kurdish Federated State in Iraq 11:00-12:30 Chair: NAJMALDIN KARIM, Kurdish National Congress a) Relation with Baghdad (MOHAMMED HAMWANDI, Badlisy Center) b) Challenges (JAMAL FUAD, Middle East Consultant) c) Security (STEVE PELLETIERE, US Army War College) Session VI: Priorities for the Kurds 2:00-3:30 Chair: CHARLES BILLINGS, Florida State University a) Economic Development (HIKRAT FIKRAT, Kurdish Relief Aid) b) Education (AKRAM JAFF, International Agriculture Development Consultant.) c) Democracy (PARY KARADAGHI, Kurdish Human Rights) Session VII: The Role of the International Community 4:00-5:30 Chair: REED BRODY, International Human Rights Law Group a) The European Community (NICHOLAS NORMAND, French Embassy) b) The United States (PETER GALBRAITH, Senate Foreign Relations Committee) c) The Muslim World (SYEED SAYYID, International Islamic Institute of Thought) NEWROZ PARTY Co-Sponsors: Congressional Human Rights Foundation (Washington D.C.), International Affairs Program, Florida State University (Florida), International Human Rights Law Group (Washington D.C.), Kurdish National Congress of North America (Maryland), The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University (Washington D.C.), and Peace Studies Program, Florida State University (Florida). REGISTRATION To take advantage of the early registration discount (50% on hotel room, 20% on meals), fill out the form and return to the Center BEFORE FEBRUARY 1, 1993. The registration procedures for the conference are as follows: 1. The registration form must be filled out completely and accurately. Check or money orders (NO CASH) for the full amount must be enclosed for your form to be processed. Please make checks payable to Badlisy Center for Kurdish Studies. 2. Indicate on the registration form your choice of packages available. 3. The conference is held in Holiday Inn, Georgetown (Tel. 202-338-4600, Fax. 202-333-6113). Hotel reservations are done by individuals. The room rate for the conference (March 17-19) is $72, single/double, plus tax. Mention the BCKS conference to take advantage of the 50% discount. 4. To receive a full refund of your pre-registration fees, a written cancellation request must be received by BCKS no later than February 1, 1993. Please send this form with full payment to the BADLISY CENTER, REGISTRATION COMMITTEE, 2413-A WILLOW AVE., TALLAHASSEE, FL. 32303. Note that we will close registration for the Conference at 250 people and registration will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis. If your registration form is received AFTER FEBRUARY 1, 1993, NO DISCOUNT IS GUARANTEED. NAME _______________________ ADDRESS _____________________ _____________________________ DAYTIME TELEPHONE__________ AFFILIATION___________________ _____________________________ Registration Fee...$100 ____ Student Fee........$50 ____ Lunch (first day)..$13 ____ Lunch (second day).$13 ____ Banquet............$50 ____ Contribution (tax-deductible) ____ TOTAL ____ * Students must submit a letter from an advisor. ** No charge for Press with valid ID. From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Tue Jan 12 04:53:18 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 20:53:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: National Conference oabout the Kur References: Message-ID: This looks like an impressive undertaking. Let me know if you would like help in forwarding this to other conferences or newsgroups. Jennifer Smith Middle East facilitator, PeaceNet pnmideast at igc.apc.org From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Wed Jan 13 06:29:07 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 22:29:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: IPS/TURKEY/JANUARY 1993 Message-ID: From: Subject: IPS/TURKEY/JANUARY 1993 /* Written 12:07 am Jan 11, 1993 by newsdesk at igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary */ /* ---------- "TURKEY: Kurds blame the state for u" ---------- */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved. Permission to re- print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'. Area: Asia, eastern Title: TURKEY: Kurds blame the state for unidentified assassins an inter press service feature by nadire mater istanbul, jan 8 (ips) -- ali erdocan left his home in the south- eastern kurdish town of batman this week to go to work as usual. he never made it. instead he became yet another victim of the ''single bullet'' assassins that are plaguing the region. friends of the 30-year-old car mechanic in batman's industrial district closed down their shops in protest when he was buried on wednesday. they accuse the turkish government of allowing covert hit squads from the security forces to target suspects at will in their war on kurdish nationalists -- and killing the innocent. concentrated mainly in the south-eastern provinces of turkey, the kurds -- are estimated to constitute around a third of the 60 million population. batman, recently incorporated as a city with 150,000 residents, has become the centre for such murders. in the last seven days four were committed, not all of them for ideological reasons, city governor zeki sanal told ips after the last incident. ''our main problem is that although we know what is behind these ongoing incidents, we are unable to arrest the criminals and the citizens here are unwilling to help. we can't find any eyewitnesses.'' in the eight years of ongoing clashes in the region that began with the first raid by the kurdish separatist guerrillas of the pkk (kurdistan workers party) on a police station in 1984, about 7,000 people -- security forces, guerrillas and civilians -- have died. however in most of these cases who killed whom was quite evident. the problem is the approximately 350 murders -- all committed after the present coalition took office in november 1991 -- officially committed by ''unidentified criminals.'' most of the locals believe that the ''criminal'' is most probably the state. of the 350 assassinations of this type, ''at least 100'' were committed in batman, according to governor sanal. in many cases the victim is approached from behind while walking alone on his way to or back from work and shot with a single bullet to the neck. quickly mingling into the crowd, the murderer effortlessly escapes the scene. the victims come from various subgroups like the leaders and members of the pro-kurdish hep (peoples labour party), teachers, students, shopkeepers, workers, doctors, union leaders and human rights activists. (more/ips) turkey: kurds blame the state for unidentified assassins(2) since 12 journalists were killed during 1992 in the region, these acts are also commonly attributed to the same source -- the secret counter-insurgency organisation. the relatives of the victims unanimously accuse either the counter-insurgency units of the state or the fundamentalist islamic group 'hizbullah' -- alleged locally to be working in cooperation with turkish security forces in a curious twist to the factional divides that rent the islamic world's guerrilla forces. arabic for 'party of allah,' 'hizbullah' is used as a blanket term for pro-iranian groups within the islamic world. twenty or more members of this clandestine organisation are thought to operate in batman, though turkish minister of interior ismet sezgin denies the existence of hizbullah in turkey. sanal admits that hizbullah operates in his own region but dismisses claims of a link between it and the state. ''speaking only for the town of batman, i do not agree with the charges,'' he says. in this he is backed by the town's chief of police; ''that the security forces are helping hizbullah is a lie,'' he told the newspaper 'ozgur gundem'. ''hizbullah seconds the pkk as the worst danger we face.'' but batman's hep deputy nizamettin tonguc is convinced that the murders are committed with state support. ''according to the information i gathered from the people, the police are directly involved in the murders,'' he said. he cites the fact that police immediately appeared on the scene after the murder of ali erdogan on tuesday, yet were unable to detain anyone. ''poor and ignorant people are bribed to commit the crimes and the 'hizbullah' is a fictitious organization; even if it does exist, it is under state control.'' the assassins' use of bullets made in turkey's state-owned mechanical chemical industries suggests a link between the killers and the secret services, whoever they are. fear is widespread. batman has become a city where people live every day of their lives with the prospect of an imminent death. no one knows when, how and why he might be killed. even journalists are targets. of 12 reporters killed in the region, three were murdered in batman, all by the ''single- bullet'' assassins. no one has been arrested so far. the distribution of newspapers -- particularly the opposition paper ozgur gundem -- is also being targeted. halil adanir, a volunteer distributor, was burnt to death in his car by unknown assailants and last month the region was left without newspapers for several days when the regional distributor quit following death threats. (more/ips) turkey: kurds blame the state for unidentified assassins(3-e) tonguc was pessimistic about the prospect of the incidents subsiding. ''they are linked to the state and everything is done not to catch the criminals,'' he says. he mentions another incident: a 'hizbullah' suspect alleged to have killed 13 people was found dead with a wounded colleague. tonguc has not been able to obtain a single piece of information about the case despite his privileges as a deputy. governor sanal told ips the person is currently under arrest and no more. furthermore, ''during the funerals of known members of hizbullah, no intervention takes place,'' adds tonguc. ''at the funerals of victims, ids are asked for, people are provoked to violence, some are taken into custody.'' the minister of state responsible for human rights, mehmet kahraman, voices governmental desperation: ''of the number of problems over the past months, chief among them was the unidentified murders. ''when the perpetrators remain unidentified then the law has no force. the people refuse to collaborate. especially in the south- east the situation is complicated. people are extremely worried,'' the minister admits. (end/ips/rp/nm/jm/93) From aforum at moose.uvm.edu Tue Jan 19 01:30:50 1993 From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (aforum at moose.uvm.edu) Date: 19 Jan 1993 01:30:50 Subject: No Subject Line Message-ID: From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (autonome forum) subject: Kurdish villagers face starvation posted by: autonome forum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: newsdesk at mit.hacktic.nl (Newsdesk Amsterdam) Kurdistan Information Centre 11 Portland Gardens London N4 1HU Tel:081-8801759 Fax:081-8029963 7 January 1993 Pressrelease 3.500 KURDISH VILLAGERS FACE STARVATION For the past week, Turkish security forces have prevented any suplies from reaching the 7 villages of Dersev (Altkemer), Meydin (Seslice), Karne ( Gunedogmus), Sorefi (Boyanbey), Dasatdele (Kirrikuyu), Basret (Inciler), Oro (Kapanli) between Sirnak and Cizre. "Village guards" in the first three of these villages gave up their postst two months ago, refusing to continue fighting other Kurds on behalf of the Turkish state. No foodstuffs are reaching the villagers and the army are justifying the embargo saying the villagers are giving food to the geurrillas of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party). The combined population of the villages is approximately 3.500. BOY SHOT BY TROOPS 5 January 1993. In Bestin (Grml) village near Silopi a 16 Year old shepherd, Abdulmenaf Bahsis, was shot by Turkish troops and seriously injured. After the shooting 60-70 villagers marched on the military garrison in protest. VILLAGERS INTIMIDATED In the vicinty of the town of Eruh in Siirt province, villagers are being used as forced labour to rebuild a military post damaged by a geurrilla attack. The villagers report that they are under constant military surveillance and are harassed to become "village guards". PAPERBOYS ATTACKED In Diyarbakir Ali Ihsan Kaya (19) was attacked by six people with clubs and knives while distributing the pro-Kurdish paper GUNDEM. In hospital, police who came to take his statement beat him so badly that some of his stitches were burst. Also in Diyarbakir Enver Yakut (15) was threatened by plain clothes police and his papers confiscated, and Hamit Yakut (13) was beaten up. He had previously been threatened. Police protection for newspapersellers in Diyarbakir has been withdrawn by order of the interior ministry. In Batman, Shirin Ates (12) and Islam Nahirci (11) were beaten up and had their newspapers confiscated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- autonome forum: aforum at moose.uvm.edu "solidarity is a weapon!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Wed Jan 20 05:35:57 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 21:35:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: Turks say they killed 150 rebels... Message-ID: From: Subject: Turks say they killed 150 rebels... /* Written 5:14 pm Jan 18, 1993 by sehari at iastate.edu in igc:soc.culture.ir */ TURKS SAY THEY KILLED 150 REBELS IN AIR RAIDS ANKARA, Jan 15, Reuter - Up to 150 separatist Kurds are estimated to have been killed in two days of Turkish air raids on a mountain rebel camp in the east, the semi-official Anatolian news agency said on Friday. It quoted unnamed military officials in the Bingol province as saying the estimation was based on video recordings made by attacking Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters. The helicopters launched the raid on Thursday on about 300 rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who have established a camp on Serik Hill in a mountainous region of the province. REUTER AS SY JCH -- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Wed Jan 20 05:37:40 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 21:37:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: More news on attack on PKK Message-ID: From: Subject: More news on attack on PKK /* Written 5:13 pm Jan 18, 1993 by sehari at iastate.edu in igc:soc.culture.ir */ ``The area is completely surrounded by security troops. The PKK has received a very severe blow,'' Anatolian quoted an official as saying. ``The raiding helicopters have very sophisticated systems. They take recordings of the targets they hit and destroy. We are basing our estimates on such data.'' Officials said they expected the raid to continue unless weather conditions turned bad. Up to three metres (yards) of snow in the area kept troops from entering the camp, they said. About 5,300 people have died in Turkey since 1984 when the PKK launched a violent campaign for an independent state in the southeast. REUTER AS SY JCH -- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Wed Jan 20 05:38:55 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 21:38:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: Turks Claim 150 Kurds Killed in Air Message-ID: From: Subject: Turks Claim 150 Kurds Killed in Air /* Written 5:12 pm Jan 18, 1993 by sehari at iastate.edu in igc:soc.culture.ir */ TURKS CLAIM 150 KURDS KILLED IN AIR RAIDS ANKARA, Jan 15, Reuter - About 150 Kurdish separatists, half the population of a rebel camp in the eastern mountains, are believed to have been killed in two days of Turkish air raids, the Anatolian news agency said on Friday. Unidentified military officials in Bingol province said the estimate was based on video recordings made by attacking Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters, the semi-official agency said. A senior regional official in Diyarbakir city said the operation was over but did not confirm the casualty toll. The helicopters launched the raid on Thursday against about 300 rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) hiding in a camp on Serik Hill in the mountains of the province. ``The area is completely surrounded by security troops. The PKK has received a very severe blow,'' Anatolian quoted an official as saying. Mountain commandos and special police teams backed the air operation. ``The raiding helicopters have very sophisticated systems. They take recordings of the targets they hit and destroy. We are basing our estimates on such data,'' he said. Officials said they expected the raids to continue unless weather conditions turned bad. Up to three metres (yards) of snow in the area kept troops from entering the camp, they said. About 5,300 people have died since 1984 when the PKK started a campaign for an independent state in the southeast. The military strike was the bloodiest in a single battle inside Turkey since September, when 174 PKK guerrillas and 29 soldiers were killed. The regional official said Turkey had to give the PKK a serious blow before March, when weather conditions improve. ``Winter and snow hamper our operations, but it affects the PKK too. We're technically superior to them,'' he added. ``We should do something during the winter. Otherwise we may lose our advantage we gained after the northern Iraq operation.'' The official was referring to a four-week cross-border operation in northern Iraq by Turkish troops aimed at securing the 330-km (210-mile) frontier against separatist infiltrators. That operation, in October, was backed by Iraqi Kurdish guerrillas. The Turks gave the number of PKK losses including wounded and surrendered guerrillas, at 2,000. The guerrillas said they they lost 150 men. The government has said an internal crackdown on the rebels would follow the cross-border operation. REUTER SY AM -- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Wed Jan 20 05:40:13 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 21:40:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: Turkish Helicopters Strike Kurd... Message-ID: From: Subject: Turkish Helicopters Strike Kurd... /* Written 5:15 pm Jan 18, 1993 by sehari at iastate.edu in igc:soc.culture.ir */ TURKISH HELICOPTERS STRIKE KURD CAMP, KILL 35 (Eds: clarifies attack by helicopters, not planes) ANKARA, Jan 14, Reuter - Turkish military helicopters attacked a Kurdish rebel camp in the mountains of eastern Turkey on Thursday, killing at least 35 guerrillas, the Anatolian news agency said. A senior security official confirmed the raid but said the exact number of PKK casualties was not available. ``There are other operations going on in the region,'' he told Reuters by telephone from Diyarbakir city. About 300 rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were based in the camp on Serik Hill in Bingol province, the semi-official Anatolian agency said. Troops had recovered 35 bodies so far, it said. Six Cobra and Sikorsky helicopter gunships took part in the strike, local journalists said. Mountain commandos and special police teams backed the air operation but were hampered by deep snow. The agency quoted security sources as saying the rebels were believed to have crossed into Turkey from northern Iraq. The PKK group was the largest reported inside Turkey since a four-week cross-border operation in northern Iraq by Turkish troops aimed at securing the 330-km (210-mile) frontier against separatist infiltrators. That operation, in October, was backed by Iraqi Kurdish guerrillas. The Turks gave the number of PKK losses including wounded and surrendered guerrillas, at 2,000. The guerrillas said they they lost 150 men. The government has said an internal crackdown on the rebels would follow the cross-border operation. Security officials in the region say tracking PKK groups in the rugged terrain is hampered by heavy snows but report many detentions in towns and cities where the PKK has established a popular support base. About 5,300 people have been killed in Turkey in the PKK's nine-year-old struggle for an independent Kurdish state. REUTER SY AS AM -- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Sat Jan 23 06:10:30 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 22:10:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: Turkey: Kurds Kill Soldiers Message-ID: From: Subject: Turkey: Kurds Kill Soldiers /* Written 12:39 pm Jan 22, 1993 by hrcoord at igc.apc.org in igc:hr.eurmideast */ /* ---------- "Turkey: Kurds Kill Soldiers" ---------- */ From: Human Rights Coordinator Subject: Turkey: Kurds Kill Soldiers /* Written 8:49 pm Jan 20, 1993 by sehari at iastate.edu in igc:soc.culture.ir */ SEPARATIST KURD REBELS KILL FOUR TURKISH SOLDIERS ANKARA, Jan 20, Reuter - Separatist Kurdish rebels killed four Turkish soldiers and wounded six others in an ambush in southeast Turkey, the Anatolian news agency said on Wednesday. It said Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas late on Tuesday raked with machinegun fire two military vehicles patrolling a road from Mardin city to Omerli town, 1,000 km (625 miles) southeast of Ankara. More than 5,400 people have been killed since 1984, when the PKK launched its independence war in southeast Turkey. REUTER ERC BSB -- From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Thu Jan 28 09:31:46 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 01:31:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: IPS:SWEDEN:Crisis over influx of Ku Message-ID: From: Subject: IPS:SWEDEN:Crisis over influx of Kurdish /* Written 12:12 am Jan 23, 1993 by newsdesk at igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary */ /* ---------- "SWEDEN: Crisis over influx of Kurdi" ---------- */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved. Permission to re- print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'. Title: SWEDEN: Crisis over influx of Kurdish 'boat people' stockholm, jan 20 (ips/greg mcivor) -- new laws may be drafted to curb the rising tide of ''boat people'' from the east after 391 mainly kurdish refugees landed wednesday on a baltic island. the refugees, many in poor health, had been crammed aboard a 30- metre latvian-registered trawler which set sail from the latvian capital of riga more than a week ago. it is the fourth such incident in the past three months which together involved a total of 500 refugees. storm force winds and high seas forced the boat to put in at the port of slite on the island of gotland. four crew members were arrested by the police and face smuggling charges. twenty six refugees were taken to hospital, most suffering from lack of food and exposure. others were on wednesday night being given temporary shelter in schools while the authorities made arrangements to transport them to the mainland. ''the conditions aboard were diabolical,'' said one of the asylum- seekers. ''we were packed in like sardines and there was no food like we had been promised, not even milk for the babies.'' ''we were afraid. the boat was being tossed about by the waves and was beginning to sink,'' said another refugee from iraq. the swedish news agency tt said that many of the passengers had used their life savings to pay the 2,500-dollar fee for the voyage. it said the arrangements had been made in moscow. it is unclear whether the intended destination was sweden or denmark. it was also unknown whether any of the refugees had applied for asylum. an uncertain future awaits them. under swedish law, everyone has a right to claim asylum, but they must prove they are fleeing from political or religious persecution as defined in the geneva conventions. concern is mounting in sweden that its liberal asylum laws have made the country a magnet for refugees who pay large sums to have themselves smuggled to a new life via russia or the baltic states, often aboard boats which are undermanned and in poor repair. ''these people haven't come from the cold of the kurdish mountains, but from moscow, where some of them have been living for some time,'' said anders ullenius of stockholm police's aliens department. calls for action to stem the tide of refugees grew more strident wednesday in the wake of the fresh arrivals.(more/ips) sweden: crisis over influx of kurdish 'boat people'(2-e) ''the major problem is the lack of border controls between russia and the baltic states,'' said daniel andersson, an immigration ministry official. ''the best way to combat this kind of smuggling is to increase the penalties on those who try and bring them in,'' he said. ''we will investigate new legislation to achieve that.'' last week the captain of a russian boat apprehended after illicitly transporting 76 kurds to sweden received a four-month prison sentence. three other crew members were jailed for three months. the crews in two previous incidents escaped merely with fines which they were subsequently excused from paying. andersson said the swedish police recently began helping to train border officials in estonia. the government would now press for that cooperation to be extended to latvia and lithuania. berit olssen, of the national immigration board, urged the government to put pressure on russia and the baltic countries to sign the geneva convention on refugees. peter martenssen, of the swedish red cross, said the current situation was ''lamentable and uncontrolled''. he said he had information that there were hundreds of kurds waiting in moscow, kiev and tallinn to register for one-way trips across the baltic. ''these people's lives are not under threat, nor do they lack food,'' he said. ''they have become economic migrants.''(end/ips/pr/gm/jm/93) From pnmideast at igc.apc.org Fri Jan 29 07:20:10 1993 From: pnmideast at igc.apc.org (PeaceNet Middle East Team) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 23:20:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: sos/torture: Turkey action Message-ID: From: Subject: sos/torture: Turkey action /* Written 4:15 pm Jan 27, 1993 by geonet at gn.apc.org in igc:omct.sostortur */ /* ---------- "Turkey" ---------- */ Subject: Turkey From: OMCT at GEO2.geomail.org Date: 27-01-93, 15:42:44 To: OMCT-SOSTORTURE Case TUR 270193 The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture calls upon you to intervene on behalf of the following situation in Turkey. Brief description of the situation: According to information received from Antenna International, a member of our network, and the Association Suisse-Kurdistan, on 12 January 1992 in the Village of Guclu, near Cizre a Kurdish family was assassinated. The father Davut ERGUN, his wife, Nasibe and their three children, Lokman, aged 20, Nezir, aged 8 and Hacer, aged 6, were killed by masked men. One year previously, the father Davut ERGN had been released from jail where he had been detained for supposedly aiding the PKK. This information gives rise to particular concern given that according to the information, 1992 saw some 20,000 arrests; the assassination of some 385 Kurdish civilians, including 37 politicians and 13 journalists, by counter-guerrilla forces; the destruction of 300 villages; the bombardment of 9 towns, including Sirnak - which was almost entirely destroyed - Lice, Kulp, Cizre and Varto amongst others. Action requested: Please write to the Turkish authorities to demand that they open a thorough and impartial inquiry into the murder of the ERGUN family in order to identify those responsible and punish them in accordance with the law. Insist that they put an end to gross violations of human rights perpetrated against the civilian population, and the bombardments of villages. Urge them to ensure the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country at all times in accordance with international standards. Addresses: Mr. Turgut Ozal, President of the Republic of Turkey, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey // Mr. Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, Basbakanlik, 06573 Ankara, Turkey - Fax: + 230 88 96 or 117 04 76 // Mr. Seyfi Oktay, Minister of Justice, Adalet Bakanligi, Ankara, Turkey. // Mr. Ismet Sezgin, Minister of the Interior, Icisleri Bakanligi, 06644 Ankara, Turkey - Tlx: 46369 ICSL TR - Fax: + 118 17 95 // Mr. Ahmet Turk, President of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, Ankara, Turkey -Fax: + 420 69 41 or 119 16 64 Geneva, 27 January 1993 Please inform us of any action undertaken, (kindly quote the code number of our appeal in any related correspondence). LAYOUT 000 From aforum at moose.uvm.edu Sat Jan 30 15:22:46 1993 From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (aforum at moose.uvm.edu) Date: 30 Jan 1993 15:22:46 Subject: No Subject Line Message-ID: From: aforum at moose.uvm.edu (autonome forum) subject: a history of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) posted by: autonome forum -- A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT IN NORTH-WEST KURDISTAN Starting in the early 1970's, some young people of humble origins, who had been able to travel to Istanbul and Ankara to further their education, began to do research into the realities of Kurdistan and on the Kurdish nation's place in the world. Although political organiziations already existed, they were not intent on calling for self-determination, but rather on providing aid for the "Eastern population", as the Kurds were called by the Turkish government. These organizations demanded roads, water supplies, and schools for Kurdistan. In 1975, these young intellectuals returned to Kurdistan after a period of research. Shortly thereafter, they began spreading new ideas among the population in the form of their booklet called "The Manifesto". Initially popular among youths, their ideas were soon accepted by the general population. This ideology represented one of the greatest dangers to the Turkish State since the 1930's. As a result, Haki Karer, one of the group's founders, was killed by Turkish agents in Antep. Nonethless, on November 27/78, the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan (PKK), the Worker's Party of Kurdistan, was founded. The PKK's program calls for a united, independent, and democratic Kurdistan. Its aims and means can be summarized as follows: "The revolution is two-fold, that is, national and democratic. The national revolution will be responsible for political, military, and cultural power. The second phase will be that of democracy. The democratic revolution will strive to eliminate social contradictions stemming from the Middle Ages." These contradictions are "feudal exploitation, tribalism, religious sectarianism, and the slave-like dependency of women." The revolution's task is "to put an end to all forms of domination by Turkish colonialization, to set up an independent economy, and to strive for the unity of Kurdistan." Thanks to its dynamics, the PKK rapidly managed to win a large following among workers, peasants, students, artisans, and the different social classes and strata. It organized factory strikes, led student demonstrations, and conducted the struggles of peasants against land-owners. In town and country alike, it has been active and inflicted many major blows to the reactionary network of land-owners. In an attempt to stop these developments, the Turkish State resorted to arrests, massacres, infiltration, and torture. But nothing could stop the development of the movement. At a meeting of the Turkish General Staff, it was admitted that "Despite all the precautions we have taken, we cannot stop the separatist activities." On September 12/80, the Turkish armed forces took power in a coup d'Etat. One of the coup's main aims was to organize the suppression of the Kurdish national liberation movement, and a campaign of terror was started in Kurdistan and Turkey. Thousands of persons were tortured and sentenced to death, including 122 PKK militants. Under intense pressure from the military regime, the PKK withdrew many of its members from Turkey and began a period of intensive political and military preparation. The first PKK congress was held between July 15-26/81. At the second congress from August 20-25/82, the decision was made to return to Kurdistan and resume the struggle. On August 15/84, the PKK announced the formation of the Kurdistan Liberation Units (HRK). This event was marked by a series of actions, including the occupation of two small towns, Eruh and Shemdinli. The aims of the HRK were as follows: "The aim of the HRK is to conduct an armed struggle to put an end to fascist colonialism and to achieve the national and social liberation of the Kurdish people...It will use revolutionary violence to counteract fascist-colonialist terror and will develop the revolutionary strength of our people...The HRK was born in an environment of fascist-colonialist terror, and whilst struggling against it, they aim at developing the national-democratic awareness of the people and creating national unity...The struggle of the HRK has points in common with the struggle of the Turkish people's resistance to fascist cruelty." As a consequence of the struggle led by the PKK, the National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK) was founded on March 21/85. Although based in the Turkish-occupied region of North-West Kurdistan, the ultimate goal of the PKK/ERNK is a an independent Kurdistan, with all the various Kurdish regions (which are now under occupation by Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria) united together. In this way, the PKK differs from other groups who claim to represent the "will" of the Kurdish people, groups who seek to make deals with the leaders of the oppressor nations, including Saddam Hussein, to gain mere autonomy, and not full independence, for Kurdish regions. During the third PKK congress from October 25-30/86, the Kurdistan People's Army for National Liberation (ARGK) was formed to expand on the initial gains made by the HRK. Ever since 1987, the ARGK has carried out successful military operations against the Turkish army. Thanks to these successes, the ARGK has taken root and consolidated its positions within certain zones in North-West Kurdistan. Also in place now are several mass-movements created by the PKK after 1987: the Workers' Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (YKWK), the Womens' Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (YJWK), and the Revolutionary Patriotic Youths' Union of Kurdistan (YXK). Adapted from Voice of Kurdistan #1 -- Autonome Forum: aforum at moose.uvm.edu "Solidarity is a Weapon!" --