AI: Turkey bulletin

[root at newsdesk.aps.nl]

From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl (Tabe Kooistra)
Subject: Re: AI: Turkey bulletin
Reply-To: root at newsdesk.aps.nl

---------- Forwarded from : Ray Mitchel <rmitchel at amnesty.gn.apc.org> ----------


+------------------------------------------------------+
+     AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION BULLETIN     +
+     Electronic distribution authorised               +
+     This bulletin expires: 20 March 1995.            +
+------------------------------------------------------+

EXTERNAL (for general distribution)  AI Index: EUR 44/27/95
                                     Distr: UA/SC

                                     6 February 1995

Further information on UA 450/94 (EUR 44/157/94, 22 December
1994) - and follow-up(s): EUR 44/04/95, 6 January 1995; EUR
44/12/95, 13 January 1995 - Prisoners of Conscience

TURKEY      Mahmut Sakar, lawyer, secretary of Diyarbakir
                 branch of the Turkish Human Rights
                 Association (HRA)
            Nimetullah Gunduz, lawyer, board member of
                 Diyarbakir HRA
            Abdullah Cager, lawyer, board member of Diyarbakir
                 HRA
            Melike Alp (f), board member of Diyarbakir branch
                 of HRA

On 13 February 1995 the trial of seven leading officials of
the Turkish Human Rights Association branch in Diyarbakir is
to begin. Four of the defendants - Mahmut Sakar, Nimetullah
Gunduz, Abdullah Cager and Melike Alp - are in prison and are
considered prisoners of conscience, while three (unnamed) are
still wanted by the police.

The three lawyers Mahmut Sakar, Nimetullah Gunduz, and
Abdullah Cager were arrested on 16 December 1994 and are now
in Diyarbakir E-type Prison. Melike Alp was arrested on 30
December and is now in Diyarbakir Central Closed Prison. All
seven officials of the Diyarbakir branch of the HRA were
initially imprisoned for publishing a report on human rights
violations in southeast Turkey, and charged under Article 8 of
the Anti-Terror Law with "separatist propaganda". However, the
indictment subsequently drawn up now also contains the charge
of membership of the illegal Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK),
under Article 168 of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC). Prison
sentences of up to 15 years are being sought by the
prosecution, as well as the closure of the branch of the HRA
in Diyarbakir. This branch is the last still functioning in
the 10 provinces under emergency legislation. Moreover, the
three imprisoned lawyers have acted as defence counsel in many
political cases. Having studied the indictment, Amnesty
International believes that the seven HRA officials are being
prosecuted because of their human rights work and considers
those imprisoned to be prisoners of conscience.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Sources of information on human rights abuses in southeast
Turkey are being systematically stifled. Scrutiny of the
rapidly deteriorating human rights situation by outside
agencies is becoming increasingly difficult. In its attempts
to conceal the true extent of human rights violations in
Turkey the government is prosecuting Turkish human rights
defenders, closing down branches of the Turkish Human Rights
Association and taking other measures to curtail the freedom
of opposition press and political organizations. In September
1994, Amnesty International's researcher on Turkey was refused
permission to enter the country.

----------------------------- End forwarded message --------------------------