Latest News on Osman Murat Uelke, 27.12.96, 18 hrs

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WRI-AG der FoGA                            Tel.: +49-441-203864
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Here are the last news concerning Osman Murat Uelke, who was to  
be tried in military court today. Bart Horeman, from the  
Netherlands, who together with Albert Beale (from the United  
Kingdom) was in Eskisehir as an international observer for the  
trial, reports:

"Today, 27.12.1996, 14 hrs (Turkish time), Osman Murat Uelke was  
tried before military court in Eskisehir. The charge was  
"continuous (or 'repeated') disobedience (Art. 87 of Turkish  
military Law). Osman could not claim that his conscience did not  
allow to obey, because according to art. 45 of Turkish Military  
Law this cannot be used as a reason for disobedience.
All Turkish people were allowed to enter the military area to  
attend the trial. The two international observers (form the  
Netherlands and the United Kingdom) were not allowed because they  
allegedly needed a permission to enter the military area.
The trial was postponed to January 30th, 1997, and according to  
the procedure, Osman was sent to the recruitment office in  
Eskisehir. At 16:30 (Turkish time) Osman arrived at the office,  
awaited by sympathisers. He was handed out a call-up and money to  
report himself to the commander of the 9th Gendarmerie in Bilecik  
the same day, and could leave the office freely.

After this the support group and Osman decided that the release  
of Osman shall not be mentioned to the press before 28.12.1996, 9  
hrs (Turkish time). At 9.00 hrs there will be the announcement  
for a press conference that will take place at 11.00 hrs in  
Istanbul at the IHD office. Osman will be there, as well as many  
others, including Bart Horeman and Albert Beale."

We were able to speek very shortly to Osman on the telephone, and  
he gave the following statement:
"Well ... I am still very confused. Of course this is the very  
last thing I ever expected to happen. But well, my conviction is  
still the same. As I said one year ago, I am not a soldier and  
never will be. I will not report to the barracks, nor will I  
flee. If the military want to take me, they will have to come and  
pick me up."

We expect to get an update tomorrow after the press conference.

That's all for now.

Anton Luccioni
Marc Stolwijk
Vereniging Dienstweigeraars
Postbus 94802
NL-1090 GV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 6680999
Fax:   +31 20 6652422
email: vd at vd.antenna.nl
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"Wenn ich in der Revolution nicht tanzen kann, dann will ich  
daran auch nicht teilnehmen"                   Emma Goldmann
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Tel.: +49 441 2489 663                Fax:  +49 441 2489 661
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