Yeni Politika News Briefs

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

Reply-To: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu
From: Kurdistan Committee of Canada <kcc at magi.com>
Subject: Yeni Politika News Briefs

Weekly News Briefs From Kurdistan
May 7-14, 1995

Yeni Politika / May 7, 1995 -- Yashar Kemal, the most famous writer
in Turkey, went on trial accusing the Turkish government of
atrocities against the Kurds. In a lengthy defense, he cited forest
burning, unidentified murders, and bombed out villages as the deeds
of the government. He said the country was number one in the world
in torture.

Yeni Politika / May 7, 1995 -- The shepherds of Halemi village in
Dersim province were fired on by Turkish soldiers stationed nearby.
Haydar Cakmak, Hidir Cakmak, and Nuray Sevim notified the Turkish
authorities but were told that the area was a sanctuary for Kurdish
fighters and hence a free-fire zone for Turkish soldiers.

Yeni Politika / May 8, 1995 -- Aziz Budak was taken away from his
shop at about 2:00 pm by the Turkish secret police in Adana. A few
hours later, Zabir Aktas had the same fate in another part of the
same city. On May 2, the Ak family in Ziyapasa district, also in
Adana, were visited by the Turkish police and harassed. Salih Ak
was later taken into custody and his family is fearing for his
safety.

Yeni Politika / May 9, 1995 -- An 11-year old girl, R.U., was taken
into custody in Adana and was harassed while in custody. Cigarette
burns were noted on her body and she is accusing the Turkish police
of abuse which includes the pulling of her hair.

Yeni Politika / May 9, 1995 -- Villages guards attacked the house
of Kurdish patriot Sehmus Ilhan on May 2. They kidnapped his two
sons, Zeyneddin and Mehmet, and his grandson, Mahmut. They have
posted a bail for their release in the amount of 45 million lira.

Yeni Politika / May 9, 1995 -- Bedri Durmaz, a 19-year old Kurdish
youth, was taken into custody in the Baglar district of Diyarbakir 
by Turkish police. The Turkish authorities, however, are denying
any knowledge of his whereabouts.

Yeni Politika / May 10, 1995 -- The villages of Gazi Kusagi, Nani
Kusagi, and Gevrik in Dersim province were set on fire by the
Turkish security forces.

Yeni Politika / May 10, 1995 -- Necla Bicer, the mother of Ertan
Bicer who was taken into custody in the city of Mersin on April 24,
is fearing for the safety of her son and is accusing the Turkish
authorities of denying any knowledge of him.

Yeni Politika / May 11, 1995 -- Viewing Med-TV, a Kurdish
television channel broadcast from Europe, is becoming a crime in
Turkey. The Turkish authorities are collecting satellite dishes and
taking people into custody for watching the programme.

Yeni Politika / May 11, 1995 -- The village of Hakis in Nazimiye,
Dersim province, was set on fire on May 6 by Turkish soldiers.

Yeni Politika / May 11, 1995 -- Nimet Can, a 23-year old Kurdish
youth, was attacked with a butcher knife and seriously injured in
Diyarbakir.

Yeni Politika / May 12, 1995 -- Village guards acting as mercenary
forces for the Turkish army visited the villages of Meskina,
Siltok, Kodore, Robelme, Varga, Xemse, Kizil, Kizlere, Remok, and
Sayhan. They collected all satellite dishes from the villagers and
warned them not to watch the Kurdish television channel Med-TV.

Yeni Politika / May 12, 1995 -- Hasan Ezer, a 34-year old Kurd, was
murdered in the Huzur Evleri district of Diyarbakir.

Yeni Politika / May 13, 1995 -- Villages in the vicinity of
Diyarbakir now have a new policy to follow: they all have to buy
Turkish flags to hang on their houses to prove their loyalty to
visiting foreign delegations.

Yeni Politika / May 14, 1995 -- Mehmet Alcan, another Kurdish
youth, was taken into custody in the Baglar district of Diyarbakir.
His family is fearing for his life since the Turkish authorities
are denying any knowledge of his whereabouts.

Yeni Politika / May 14, 1995 -- A total of 146 people have applied
to the Turkish Human Rights Foundation in the first four months of
this year for help at its rehabilitation centres. The total number
for last year was 472.