From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Thu May  1 17:02:59 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 01 May 1997 17:02:59
Subject: Turkey/TDN: May 1 Celebrations in other cities than Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3pvvb9pos.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey/TDN: May 1 Celebrations in other cities than Istanbul
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

Istanbul prepares for May 1 



By Zeki Ayik / Turkish Daily News 



Celebrations in other cities 

The meeting in Ankara which was to be held by labor union confederations
Turk-Is, Hak-Is and DISK in the Selim Sirri Tarcan Gymnasium has been
cancelled due to lack of participation. However, May 1 will be celebrated at
another site in Turkey's capital at a meeting organized in the district of
Tandogan by the Ankara Democracy Platform. The first meeting will start on
Sihhiye Bridge in celebrations approved by the Ankara Governor's Office. At
11:30 p.m. the group will walk along Celal Bayar Boulevard and gather again
in Tandogan. 

In Izmir, workers will celebrate the day with a meeting in Cumhuriyet Square
organized by the Izmir Democracy Platform. 

The Samsun Governor's Office has barred all May 1 events due to conflicting
schedules with other week-long celebrations which are still underway, and
the fact that there was no other suitable location in the area to hold a
meeting. The Gaziantep Governor's Office have also prevented Turk-Is and
DISK celebrations, claiming they had been informed that activities would be
provoked by illegal organizations. 

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Thu May  1 17:12:08 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 01 May 1997 17:12:08
Subject: Turkey/TDN: Istanbul prepares for May 1 (more than 200 arrest in pas
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3vi53xlod.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey/TDN: Istanbul prepares for May 1 (more than 200 arrest in past copple of days
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>



Istanbul prepares for May 1 



By Zeki Ayik / Turkish Daily News 

Istanbul- While unions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
attending the May 1 "May Day" celebrations finish up their
preparations, Security Department authorities have taken extensive
measures against possible clashes.

This year's celebrations will take place at Caglayan Square. Security
has been tightened up due to May 1 clashes last year which claimed
three lives.  According to the information from security authorities,
8,000 police officers will be on duty during the event and roads in
the surrounding area will be closed to traffic.

Those wishing to attend will have to pass through 13 search stations
in order to enter the Caglayan Square area. Roughly 70-80,000
participants are expected to gather. Banners and posters which have
been banned by the Governor's office are not allowed to be flown
during the meeting and the chanting of slogans banned by the same
office is also forbidden.

The demonstration area will be controlled by helicopters, police and
cameras to prevent possible clashes. The roads around the Taksim and
Kadikoy areas will also be closed to traffic and pedestrians will be
searched by police.  The Ali Sami Yen Sports Stadium has been
designated as a location to hold any persons who are detained by
officials.

Istanbul police have raided 28 associations, cultural centers,
publication offices and houses of people known to have been involved
in various activities in the past, and have detained many individuals
with authority from the Istanbul State Security Court Prosecutor's
Office.

According to information from the Human Rights Association's Istanbul
branch, the number of those who have been detained in the past couple
of days is already above 200.

The streets close to traffic due to the celebration in Caglayan Square
are Kasimpasa and Caglayan Piyale Pasa Boulevard exit, Okmeydani,
Piyalepasa Boulevard, Vatan Avenue, Caglayan exits from Kagithane
Avenue, Sisli and Mecidiyekoy, Hurriyettepe Lights and Egitimciler
Street Exit of Abide-i Hurriyet Street, Cemil Bengu Street, Izzetpasa
Street and Akar Street.
-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Sun May  4 07:18:30 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 04 May 1997 07:18:30
Subject: FBI TRAINING FOR TURKISH POLICE CHIEFS
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3enbnuy12.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: FBI TRAINING FOR TURKISH POLICE CHIEFS
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

The daily Saba reported on may 2:

  FBI TRAINING FOR TURKISH POLICE CHIEFS

  14 police chiefs from 12 Turkish provinces will be trained by the US
  Federal Bureau for Investigations (FBI).  The course covers issues
  related to the struggle against terrorism and to criminal law
  implementations.  /Sabah/


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Sun May  4 07:18:31 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 04 May 1997 07:18:31
Subject: Turkey/Censorship/attacks by unknown perpetrators
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3hggjuy6k.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey/Censorship/attacks by unknown perpetrators
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

ANKARA, Turkey (Reuter) - Police forced a Turkish television station
off the air Saturday, a day after one of its studios was attacked by
armed assailants in apparent reaction to a program on organized crime,
the channel said.

Flash TV showed live pictures of policemen, who said they had orders
from the government to close down the station, entering its
headquarters in the western city of Bursa.

The channel went off the air three hours later.

"This is an insult, a provocation, against an independent broadcaster
carried out by a gang well known to everyone in Turkey," Flash TV
chairman Omer Goktug said before closing down.

The screen later went black apart from a small graphic announcing the
closure.

A group of up to 60 men, some of them armed, attacked Flash TV's
Megak?y studios Friday. Flash reporters said the attack may have been
a retaliation to a recent live telephone interview with leading
organised crime boss Alaattin Cakici in which he implicated several
figures in corruption.

Organized crime and its links with state and government have been on
the agenda of Turkey's parliament since a crash in November when a top
policeman and a wanted gangster were killed in the same car.

A legal investigation has implicated a government MP who was also in
the car and a former interior minister, who resigned following the
crash.

A parliamentary report painted a picture of organized crime at times
working hand-in-hand with politicians and security forces.

An Megak?y court closed a Kurdish daily newspaper Friday for a month
because of an article it published on a fatal left-wing hunger strike.

ANKARA, May 3 (AFP) - Police on Saturday closed a Turkish private
television channel following a broadcast implicating Foreign Minister
Tansu Ciller's husband in political corruption and an attack on the
networks's studios, press reports said.

The government-affiliated supervisory body, the Wireless Affairs
Directorate ordered the closure of Flash TV, based in Bursa in western
Turkey, as the channel "lacked permission to broadcast via radiolink
systems," the Anatolia news agency reported.

About fifty assailants stormed the Megak?y studios of the network on
Friday, firing shots in the air and assaulting journalists. They fled
after the attack.

"Those who are behind yesterday's attack are also responsible for
today's closure," Flash TV's owner Omer Goktug was quoted as saying by
NTV, another private channel.

Nazmi Baran, a spokesman for Flash TV's Ankara station, told reporters
after the Friday attack that the assailants were linked to Ciller's
True Path Party, conservative partners in Islamist Prime Minister
Necmettin Erbakan's coalition government. Baran alleged that the
attack was in retaliation for a report broadcast by Flash TV on
Thursday implicating the Ciller family in political corruption.

A leading member of the Turkish criminal underworld, Alaattin Cakici,
claimed in the report that Ciller's husband, Ozer Ciller, had received
20 million dollars for exerting his influence in the privatisation of
the Turkish Commercial Bank.

Baran said the network had received threats from True Path after the
airing of the report.

Cakici is being sought by police for his part in several murders and
political corruption scandals.

NTV said the closure of Flash TV had caused an outrage in Bursa, with
hundreds of people shouting slogans against Ciller and the government
on the city's streets.

Ciller last year escaped trial by Turkey's supreme court with the
support of Islamist coalition partners in three separate parliamentary
votes.

She was accused of using illegal methods in developing her personal
wealth and of corruption in connection with dealings of the state-run
electricity distribution company and the partial privatisation of a
car factory.

Megak?y, May 3 (Reuter) - A Turkish court has closed a Kurdish daily
newspaper for a month because of an article it published on a fatal
left-wing hunger strike, the paper said on Saturday.

"The state has chosen the option of closing our newspaper," the
Demokrasi daily said in a statement.

It said the Megak?y state security court on Friday ordered the paper
not to publish for a month because of an article "After the Rebellion"
about a hunger strike last year in which 12 leftist militant prisoners
died.

The article mentioned what the author said was a campaign to
assimilate Turkey's estimated 10 million Kurds. Demokrasi said the
court ruled the article broke a law against "provoking hatred by
showing differences of race, class or creed."

The paper frequently reports from a Kurdish perspective on the
12-year-old battle between separatist terrorists and security forces
in the mainly Kurdish southeast of the country.


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Sun May  4 07:31:02 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 04 May 1997 07:31:02
Subject: Turkey-press : Turkish court closes pro-Kurdish newspaper
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3d8r7uxuc.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey-press : Turkish court closes pro-Kurdish newspaper
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

Turkey-press : Turkish court closes pro-Kurdish newspaper

ANKARA, May 3 (AFP) - An Istanbul court has ordered the closure of the
pro-Kurdish daily Demokrasi for one month for publishing an article
which allegedly "incited ethnic hatred," the newspaper said Saturday.

"Istanbul's state security court has closed our newspaper in a move
violating freedom of the press," the Istanbul-based Demokrasi said.

The court ruled that the article published on August 9 last year and
entitled "The Aftermath of Resistance" incited "racial and regional
hatred" among the residents of the mainly Kurdish-populated
southeastern Turkey, scene of a separatist Kurdish uprising.

Demokrasi had been reflecting the views of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK), which leads the uprising, and publishing
statements by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Under the court ruling the newspaper's next issue will appear on June
3.

The opposition pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party denounced the
closure of Demokrasi in a statement it released, saying the move
threatened freedom of the press and democracy.

More than 24,000 people have been killed in PKK-related violence in
southeast Turkey since 1984 when the rebels launched their armed
campaign for a Kurdish homeland.
-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Mon May  5 07:47:13 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 05 May 1997 07:47:13
Subject: CPJ Names "10 Enemies"
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3bu6qgf51.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

NEW YORK, May 3 (Reuter) - The Committee to Protect Journalists on
Saturday released a list of 10 people it has singled out as "1997
enemies of the press," including the heads of state of Albania, Burma,
China, Cuba and Nigeria.

William A. Orme, Jr., CPJ's executive director, said in a statement
that the 10 had "deliberately engaged in hundreds of press freedom
violations ranging from censorship, harassment and physical attack to
imprisonment and even assassination."

The list is as follows: 

 1. Algeria's Antar Zouabri, head of the militant Armed Islamic Group;
 2. China's President Jiang Zemin;
 3. Cuban President Fidel Castro;
 4. Nigeria's leader, General Sani Abacha;
 5. Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan;
 6. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko;
 7. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi;
 8. Indonesian President Suharto;
 9. Burma's Senior General Than Shwe, and;
10. Albanian President Sali Berisha. 

"These 10 individuals are characterised by their relentless hostility
to the very concept of a free and independent press in their own
countries and around the world," said Orme.

The New York-based CPJ is an independent non-profit organization.
-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Mon May  5 07:47:14 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 05 May 1997 07:47:14
Subject: Turkey/TDN: Flash TV still on the air and ready to fight
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3d8r6gfca.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey/TDN: Flash TV still on the air and ready to fight
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

Flash TV still on the air and ready to fight 

The 'indefinite suspension' of Flash TV broadcasts followed an attack by a
group of 'unidentified' but 'well-dressed' assailants at the Istanbul office of the
company in an apparent reaction to a program on organized crime 

Turkish Daily News 

Ankara- Flash TV returned to the airwaves on Sunday after a
controversial 3-hour shutdown on Saturday reportedly brought about by
pressure from people close to Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and
because of legal problems concerning the technical equipment needed to
broadcast its programs via satellite.

A note sent by the Prime Ministry and read publicly by Welfare Party
Bursa Deputy Ertugrul Yalcinbayir authorized the TV station to resume
broadcasting to 24 provinces despite the "indefinite suspension" of
broadcasts by the private channel ordered by the Wireless General
Directorate.

The directorate -- run by the Transportation Ministry ruled by the
Ciller's True Path Party -- claimed that the "uplink" and "radio-link"
devices of the station had been "illegally imported" and were
"illegally operated."

The station's directors told TDN that the Higher Board of Radio and
Television (RTUK) would hold a meeting midday on Monday to discuss the
suspension decision.

Flash TV officials said that calling its transmitters "illegally
operated devices" was a totally fabricated reason for closing down
their channel because they have been using the same equipment since
they began broadcasting six years ago.

"Most of the private channels broadcast in the same manner, using the
same devices," an official told TDN.

Flash TV's executive board Chairman Omer Goktug said they would file
criminal charges with the prosecutor's office over the suspension, the
Anatolia news agency reported.

Goktug said that suspending the station's broadcasts was
unlawful. "Our lawyer is investigating the case. Our station was
closed down without showing us any written order, document, proof,
paper or any reason for that matter. We don't know who to address in
this situation because what we experienced was illegal. Someone gave
an order and our channel was suddenly taken off the air illegally."
-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Tue May  6 15:33:47 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 06 May 1997 15:33:47
Subject: [akin <akin@kurdish.org>] Turkisih Court Closes Another Kurdish New
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3vi4w1rr2.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: [akin <akin at kurdish.org>] Turkisih Court Closes Another Kurdish Newspaper
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

--Multipart_Tue_May__6_18:37:21_1997-1
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

--Multipart_Tue_May__6_18:37:21_1997-1
Content-Type: message/rfc822

Apparently-To: tabe
Message-Id: <199705061341.JAA07511 at mail.clark.net>
Subject: Turkisih Court Closes Another Kurdish Newspaper
Date: Tue, 6 May 97 09:44:01 -0400
From: akin <akin at kurdish.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Turkish court closes down Kurdish newspaper for one month


Text of report by London-based Kurdish MED-TV on 3rd May

The Turkish state, which tries to silence opposition voices, 
has closed down the `Demokrasi' newspaper on the very same day 
the world is marking the freedom of the press day. The Istanbul 
State Security Court, which decided to close down the 
`Demokrasi' newspaper for one month because of an article 
published in the newspaper, carried out its sentence illegally. 
The Turkish state, which could not tolerate the `Ozgur Gundem', 
`Ozgur Ulke', and `Yeni Politika' newspapers, opted for 
silencing the `Demokrasi' newspaper by taking recourse to 
illegal means. The workers of the `Demokrasi' newspaper, who 
held a news conference in Istanbul, said that the free press 
tradition would continue. 
     The court, which decided to close down the newspaper for 
one month, sentenced `Demokrasi' chief editor Ali Zeren to a 
prison term of 20 months and a fine of 700,000 Turkish lira [as 
heard]. Forty suits have been filed against Zeren in the past, 
and Istanbul Criminal Court has filed 16 suits against the 
`Demokrasi' newspaper. Several `Demokrasi' newspaper workers 
have been detained in raids carried out against the newspaper 
headquarters in Istanbul during its one-year life span. Three 
workers were arrested and two others sentenced in the wake of 
suits filed against them. In the aftermath of 11 suits filed 
against `Demokrasi', it was decided to close down the newspaper 
for five months and an additional 25 days. These sentences are 
still pending the Court of Appeals' decision. 
     The `Demokrasi' workers held a news conference at the 
Turkish Journalists' Association premises in Istanbul. Human 
rights defenders, politicians and artists participated in the 
meeting and protested against the closure of the newspaper. The 
meeting stressed that the enemies of democracy could not 
tolerate the `Demokrasi' newspaper. Noting that the last 
National Security Council report and the Interior Ministry 
directive sought to silence the opposition, the following was 
said at the meeting: The enemies of democracy are trying to 
prove that they have no qualms about applying oppression and 
repression. They should realize, however, that we do not fear 
putting up resistance. 
     Meanwhile, Murat Bozlak, HADEP [People's Democracy Party] 
leader, strongly condemned the closure of `Demokrasi' and the 
armed attack perpetrated against Flash TV. 
     In a statement he issued, Akin Birdal, head of the Human 
Rights Association, saluted a free press that is on the side of 
truth. 

Source: MED-TV, London, in Turkish 1715 gmt 3 May 97



----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public service 
to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship




--Multipart_Tue_May__6_18:37:21_1997-1--

From greenscreen at gn.apc.org  Wed May  7 06:33:48 1997
From: greenscreen at gn.apc.org (greenscreen at gn.apc.org)
Date: 07 May 1997 05:33:48 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CO's Day Activity at Turkish Embass
Message-ID: <APC.2.0.4a1526a4.870@gn.apc.org>

From: greenscreen (Umit OZTURK)
Subject: CO's Day Activity at Turkish Embassy

LEAFLETING & VIGIL OUTSIDE THE TURKISH EMBASSY, LONDON, ON
INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS' DAY 1997


43 Belgrave Square, London SW1

Thursday 15 May 1997; 12 noon - 2pm

Following is the text of a leaflet being distributed that day.


	-------------------------------------


SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO KILL


The Turkish authorities are persecuting a Turkish citizen because
he refuses to be conscripted into the military. The right to be a
conscientious objector to military conscription is internationally
recognised as a basic human right, but the Turkish authorities
will not accept this.

Osman Murat Ulke (Ossi) has faced a series of trials, under both
civilian and military law, because of his refusal to become part
of the military machine. He is currently in prison. On
International Conscientious Objectors' Day (15 May), we call upon
the Turkish authorities:

   to accept Ossi's refusal to be forced into the army;

   to release him unconditionally;

   and to fully recognise the right of all Turkish citizens to
   refuse any involvement in the armed forces.


Support the right to refuse to kill by writing in support of Ossi
to: The Ambassador of Turkey, 43 Belgrave Square, London SW1.

For more details of the struggle against militarism around the
world, contact: War Resisters' International, 5 Caledonian Road,
London N1.

Issued by The Peace Pledge Union (British affiliate of War
Resisters' International). Contact: PPU, 41b Brecknock Road,
London N7 (tel 0171-424 9444; fax 0171-482 6390; e-mail
peacenow at gn.apc.org).

SUPPORT OSMAN MURAT ULKE!

posted by:
      --------------------------------------------------
     |  Umit Ozturk, Editor, Green Screen News          |  
     |  PO Box 10386, London N16 8RQ, United Kingdom    |
     |  tel/fax: +44-171-6907103                        |
     |  email: greenscreen at gn.apc.org                   |
     /)                                                 (\
    /                                                     \
  _( (+-------------------------------------------------+) )_
 (((\ \   /_)                                     /^)   / /)))
 (\\\\ \_/ /                                      \ \_ / ////
  \       /                                        \       /
   \   __/                                          \__   /
    |   |                                            |   |


From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Wed May  7 20:34:21 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 07 May 1997 20:34:21
Subject: Turkey/Music: New Grup Yorum songs online
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3k9lais0p.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey/Music: New Grup Yorum songs online
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

http://://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

Hello,
This is an informational mail regarding Grup Yorum songs available at
http://://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

Recently we placed the Turkish version of "The International", performed
by Grup Yorum online.

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Fri May  9 07:36:37 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 09 May 1997 07:36:37
Subject: Kurdistan Report Online: For An Ind
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970509022..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Kurdistan Report Online: For An Independent Kurdistan!

KURDISTAN REPORT WILL BE WITH YOU SOON...

Long live the Kurdish people in struggle!
Down with Turkish, Iraq'i and Iranian imperialism!

*********************************
Kurdistan Report Online
http://burn.ucsd.edu/~kurdistan/
*********************************

We thank BURN for their solidarity for this project.



From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Fri May  9 05:41:34 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 09 May 1997 05:41:34
Subject: PRD statement in court
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m33erxgvcc.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

From: peace at xs4all.nl
Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970508041157.23dfd29e at xs4all.nl>
Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 04:11:57 -0100
To: info at workers.org
Subject: PRD statement in court
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Source :asietnews-l



From: tapol (Tapol)

TAPOL offers below a summary of the first part of the statement in court on
21 April made by nine activists of the Partai Rakyat Demokratik, the PRD, at
the conclusion of their trial, a week before they were all sentenced. This
is the section that deals with political structures under Suharto's New
Order regime and lambasts the five political laws of 1985, which have been
widely condemned by the pro-democracy movement in the past few years.

*****


This is not a 'pledooi' or defence plea but a Declaration of the PRD's
Responsibility addressed to the Indonesian people, not to the courts that
are trying us.

The fact that we have been accused of subversion demonstrates that the trial
is political. The decision regarding our case rests with forces outside
these walls. It has nothing to do with the law and everything to do with
politics. There is no such thing as the separation of powers - Trias
Politika - it's in the hands of a single man, General Suharto, backed by the
armed forces, ABRI, as defenders of the Five Political Laws of 1985.

We are determined to serve the people of our beautiful country so as to
ensure that it becomes the property of the people, with people's severeignty
fully established.

We have chosen democracy, a political system with parties and a Parliament.
It was for this purpose that soon after Indonesian independence was
proclaimed, Vice-President Moh. Hatta issued Declaration X enabling people
to set up political parties. It is only with the establishment of political
parties that political power can be based on the people's will. It is
unacceptable for anyone to be charged with subversion just because he or she
understands this simple truth.

The events of 27 July 1996 were the culmination of a series of events going
back to the internal disruption within the PDI under Megawati's leadership.
The bloody onslaught against the PDI head office was the opening salvo of an
operation by top army officers to clean up the forces of democracy. We first
heard of this attack on the PDI office from one of our comrades, Garda
Sembiring. We never believed that such a thing would happen because we
thought that the political costs for the government and ABRI would be far
too high. Little did we realise that the rulers had not only planned the
scenario for the attack but had also decided who would be the scapegoat.

This scenario is reminiscent of the Reichstag Fire which paved the way to
Hitler's rise to power. We stand here like the Dutch madman whom Hitler
accused of being the communist responsible for a fire that had been started
by Hitler himself. This is what gave Hitler the legitimacy to exterminate
his political opponents.

Information about the events was reported in such a way as to imply that
they were the result of a conspiracy to stage a rebellion, in which the PRD
played the leading part. Yet the National Human Rights Commission said not a
word about our being involved. As the Commission pointed out, the incident
involved violations of the freedom of assembly and association, freedom from
fear, freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment, the right to life, the right
to the security of the person, and the right to property.

At the heart of the conflict was the question of people's sovereignty and
the state of political life. Institutions of the state, the bureacracy and
the military, interfered in the internal affairs of one of the parties.

Parties do not control the government and the military; on the contrary, the
parties are totally dependent on the government. Under Law No. 3, 1985, the
parties have been turned into nothing more than fraudulent electoral
machines.

The PDI was the creation of this political system, the essence of which
rests in the ability of its bureaucrats and military in interfere in the
internal affairs of the political parties and the ability to silence all
challenges to the system. As we, standing here, have experienced ourselves,
we were only able to challenge the system by signing Interrogation Reports
to be charged under a subversion law with the threat of a death sentence
hanging over us. Such gagging methods are very effective indeed for rulers
who have no moral, constitutional or historical legitimacy.

After the 27 July events, we young people in the PRD lived through very hard
times, accused by the dictator General Suharto of being the reincarnation of
the PKI and faced with the threat of his guns. The entire state apparatus,
from top to bottom, was mobilised to conceal evils in society and alienate
the people from the PRD. Even the mass media was forced to spread these
lies.

The PRD came into existence in a situation in which none of the parties  has
the capacity to function independently or have roots in the community.

The Suharto dictatorship accused the PRD of being the reincarnation of the
PKI because, like the PKI, we have affiliated organisations - a workers
union, a peasants union, a students union and a union of cultural workers.
But all parties in the old days had similar structures. This is quite
normal. Even GOLKAR has its mass organisations.

When the PDI showed signs of becoming an alternative party and restoring
links with its mass basis, everything was done to prevent it from
consolidating itself. Despite all attempts to prevent this from happening,
the PDI was able, at its conference in December 1993 to elect Megawati
Sukarnoputri as its chairperson. Under her leadership, the PDI was
transformed from an electoral machine into a party dealing with peoples'
problems. Issues like reform, the party's independence and upholding the
sovereignty of the people were frequently mentioned in her speeches. It's
one thing for ideas like these to be discussed in seminars or in journals
but quite another thing if they are talked about before the masses.

In the eyes of the rulers, it was one thing for such matters to be raised by
extra-parliamentary pro-democracy forces but quite another for them to be
raised by a political movement that had representatives in Parliament. The
combination of these forces, the extra-parliamentary and
intra-parliamentary, terrified the New Order rulers, especially as the 1997
elections and the 1998 MPR session drew near. It gave a new meaning to party
political life, with the rulers being forced to accept that this challenge
had penetrated the very system which it had created.

>From this platform, we want to unmask the system created in a conspiracy
between the government and the armed forces. The falsehoods that have
stifled the political life of the people are known as the Five Political
Laws of 1985, the laws which became the bastion to defend and perpetuate the
dictatorial powers of the New Order which is now more than 30 years old. Let
us take a closer look at the the evil and falsehoods embedded in these five
laws.

Pwrticipation by the people in the political process will always be bereft
of meaning where people do not have the freedom to create their own
independent parties. Article 1 of Paragraph (1) of Law No 3, 1985 on
political parties names three parties, the PDI, the PPP and Golkar. Under
this law, no other partiers are allowed to exist. Furthermore these parties
are only allowed to have officials at the national capital, the provincial
capitals and the district capitals. Below that, they may only have
commissioners. This means that parties are prevented from having contact
with the masses of the people down to the village level.

Article 10 of this Law establishes the principle of the floating mass,
forcing people to become a-political. The people are only allowed a platform
once every five years, at the time of an election. This aims to demonstrate
that people are only interested in basic needs like food and clothing; their
political rights, their concerns for their own future, have been
sub-contracted to the rulers.

It is no exaggeration to say that the mass riots that have erupted in the
past few months have occurred because people don't have any political
channels through which to express their aspirations and find solutions to
their problems.

Law No 8, 1985 on social organisations had a direct impact on destroying
democratic life in Indonesia by placing social organisations under
government guidance, giving the government powers to remove elected leaders
if an organisation is deemed to have violated provisions of the Law.
Furthermore these organisations may not affiliate to a political party. We
state clearly that the basic objective of a political party is to struggle
for the interests of its members and therefore needs affiliated
organisations.

This Law puts social organisations into the regime's armpit, having
destroyed their right to an independent existence. Furthermore the Law
stipulates that there may only be a single organisation for each sector, an
impossible state of affairs in a society which is so pluralistic in its
culture and interests. The prime purpose of this Law is to prevent these
organisations from getting involved in practical politics.

As for Law No 5, 1985 on a Referendum, the purpose of this Law was simply to
protect the interests of the rulers. The Law is intended to prevent any move
to amend the 1945 Constitution. Suharto said at the time that any move to
end representation of the armed forces in Parliament would pose a threat to
national security. A Referendum is supposed to be a way of testing the
opinion of the general public, but not here in Indonesia, where the aim of a
Referendum is to protect the interests of those in power.

The Law on Elections is profoundly anti-democratic. It regulates everything
in very general terms, leaving it up to the Executive to work out the
details. A general election is supposed to provide a constitution basis for
changing the government. But under the New Order regime, it is nothing but a
farce. It involves a huge squandering of money on somethings that has
nothing to do with people's sovereignty. The purpose of the five-yearly
exercise is nothing more than to legitimise the regime. All people should
have the right to vote and be elected. But here, all candidates are screened
according to very vague criteria. The purpose is simply to select
individuals who are in tune with the rulers.

The Law says nothing about screening candidates. Article 19 says that
candidates may be rejected if they fail to comply with Article 16 but
Article 16 says nothing about screening; it only regulates material things.
However, Article 19 says that the government will introduce regulations
about the nomination of candidates. Presidential Decree No 10/1995 states
that the Election Committee shall conduct investigations regarding the
nomination of candidates, which only goes to show that the rulers can do
just as they like.

The Election Law provides for the establishment of an Election Institute
headed by the Minister of the Interior in Jakarta and Election Institutes in
the provincial and district capitals, as well as vote-counting committees
and voter-registration committees in every village.

This means that the election is completely in the hands of GOLKAR because
all officials involved, from the Interior Minister down, are members of
GOLKAR. Under such circumstances, how can the fairness of the elections
possibly be guaranteed?

The election law turns the other contesting parties into nothing more than
'also-rans', without any chance of playing a significant role in the
process. Everything is arranged in such a way that the men in power have
conceptualised the system, they are the ones who implement it and and they
are the ones who will win. Never imagine for a moment that it will be
possible to have free, fair and honest  elections until this Election Law
has been replaced.

Any political system will have methods for recruitment of people to
political positions. In a democracy this should be open and transparent but
under the Five Laws, everything is hidden and conspiratorial. A Parliament
should be the expression of people's sovereignty with powers to criticise
and control the Executive but what we have here is a Parliament composed of
people selected by those in power.

There is also a law providing for the appointment of 75 members of
Parliament from the armed forces. They are chosen, not elected, and members
of the armed forces do not vote. If the armed forces want to have members of
Parliament, they should set up their own political party and take part in
the election.

The force blocking democracy in Parliament is the alliance between GOLKAR
and the armed forces. There can never been any rational, open political
dialogue if one side threatens the other with the use of weapons.

The method that has been devised for appointing representatives of the
people is the most conservative, authoritarian and anti-democratic aspect of
the election law.

****************************************************************************
***************
A free vote for Megawati, the PRD and a free East Timor!
Free Xanana, Dita Sari and all political prisoners!
No military ties with Suharto dictatorship!

****************************************************************************
******************

****************************************************************************
**************

Amsterdam,  1st May 1997


URGENT CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIAN PRD-PEOPLE's
DEMOCRATIC PARTY- DURING THE EUROPE SPEAKING TOUR IN NETHERLAND


Dear comrades,

In  solidarity, we inform you that  Hendrianto (based in Indonesia)
Coordinator of International Relation Department  for Indonesian Student
Solidarity for Democracy (SMID), the student wing of PRD-People's
Democratic Party, will be able to meet us in the Netherland during his
European Speaking Tour.


On behalf of the Indonesian comrades of the People's Democratic Party
(PRD), Hendrianto will   request  that you will
Join in International Solidarity and support the PRD struggle for democracy
and the Freedom of Association and Freedom of Speech,  and >the most basic
right of people sovereignty  in the form of the working struggle.

It is appropriate that  Hendrianto, as an eyewitness to  and one of those
forced underground by the military regime by
accusations of masterminding  the 27 July riots,  is able to make speaking
tour of Europe, including the Netherlands.

The crucial struggle of the PRD activists and the formation of the PRD on
22.7.96 as  a political party operating outside the parliamentary  system
of the New Order regime to implement its programme and slogans has been
taken up by thousands of workers and students. Furthermore, the struggle
for democracy and opposition to the regime has developed rapid momentum
across the numerous cities.

The candidates put forwrd by Megawati's PDI have not been allowed to take
part in the  29 th May 1997 elections and therefore reject legality.,  The
PRD activists who are also supporters of popular oposition figure Megawati
Soekarnoputri are among those who feel  widespread anger at the ousting of
popular oppositon figure Megawati Soekarnoputri form her position as
legally and democratically elected  leader of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI).   The call for a  boycott of the 1997 election was choed by Mr
Budiman Sudjatmiko, 27, Chair Person of PRD after his Defence Speech in
trial for Subversion, 21th April 1997, under Indonesian' s sedition law.

On this  occasion,  Hendrianto would very pleased to arrange a  meeting with
you all/  all comrades which  work on aspects of  international solidarity
and who are concerned with the long term struggle in Indonesia.


Yours comradely,

Mira



-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From dhkc at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl  Sun May 11 11:16:12 1997
From: dhkc at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (dhkc at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl)
Date: 11 May 1997 11:16:12
Subject: Pictures May 1, 1997 Istanbul Turkey
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m0wQcwB.001sAOC@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

From: DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam <dhkc at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>
Subject: Pictures May 1, 1997 Istanbul Turkey

For your information:

We added a link on our homepage to a page with photographs taken on
May 1 1997 in istanbul.

More than a 100.000 people went on the streets on this day against the
repressive turkish regime. More then 30.000 of them marched under the
flag of the DHKP/C

Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Mon May 12 02:47:21 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 12 May 1997 02:47:21
Subject: Pictures From May Day In Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970511214..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

For your information:

We added a link on our homepage to a page with photographs taken on
May 1, 1997 in Istanbul.

More than 100,000 people went on the streets on this day against the
repressive Turkish regime. More than 30,000 of them marched under the
flag of the DHKP/C (Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front).

Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Mon May 12 06:16:52 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 12 May 1997 06:16:52
Subject: Turkish Court Closes Down Kurdish N
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970512011..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Turkish Court Closes Down Kurdish Newspaper 'Demokrasi'

Turkish Court Closes Down Kurdish Newspaper 'Demokrasi'

Text of report by London-based Kurdish MED-TV on May 3, 1997:

The Turkish state, which tries to silence opposition voices, 
has closed down the 'Demokrasi' newspaper on the very same day 
the world is marking the freedom of the press day. The Istanbul 
State Security Court, which decided to close down the 
Demokrasi newspaper for one month because of an article 
published in the newspaper, carried out its sentence illegally. 
The Turkish state, which could not tolerate the Ozgur Gundem, 
Ozgur Ulke, and Yeni Politika newspapers, opted for 
silencing the Demokrasi newspaper by taking recourse to 
illegal means. The workers of the Demokrasi newspaper, who 
held a news conference in Istanbul, said that the free press 
tradition would continue. 
     The court, which decided to close down the newspaper for 
one month, sentenced Demokrasi chief editor Ali Zeren to a 
prison term of 20 months and a fine of 700,000 Turkish lira [as 
heard]. Forty suits have been filed against Zeren in the past, 
and Istanbul Criminal Court has filed 16 suits against the 
Demokrasi newspaper. Several Demokrasi newspaper workers 
have been detained in raids carried out against the newspaper 
headquarters in Istanbul during its one-year life span. Three 
workers were arrested and two others sentenced in the wake of 
suits filed against them. In the aftermath of 11 suits filed 
against Demokrasi, it was decided to close down the newspaper 
for five months and an additional 25 days. These sentences are 
still pending the Court of Appeals' decision. 
     The Demokrasi workers held a news conference at the 
Turkish Journalists' Association premises in Istanbul. Human 
rights defenders, politicians, and artists participated in the 
meeting and protested against the closure of the newspaper. The 
meeting stressed that the enemies of democracy could not 
tolerate the Demokrasi newspaper. Noting that the last 
National Security Council report and the Interior Ministry 
directive sought to silence the opposition, the following was 
said at the meeting: The enemies of democracy are trying to 
prove that they have no qualms about applying oppression and 
repression. They should realize, however, that we do not fear 
putting up resistance. 
     Meanwhile, Murat Bozlak, HADEP [People's Democracy Party] 
leader, strongly condemned the closure of Demokrasi and the 
armed attack perpetrated against Flash TV [police sprayed the
building with automatic weapons wire after an interview with
a convicted drug dealer and gangster who claimed to be a close
personal friend of former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller - ATS]. 
     In a statement he issued, Akin Birdal, head of the Human 
Rights Association (IHD), saluted a free press that is on the side of 
truth.

(Source: MED-TV, London - May 3, 1997)

----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public service 
to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Mon May 12 12:08:14 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 12 May 1997 12:08:14
Subject: Turkey: Bergama/Eurogold mainstream news
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3ohagttk8.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey: Bergama/Eurogold mainstream news
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>


Bergama group comes to the capitol to be heard

  * Baykal: 'You came here not because of a need for a political
 struggle or for ideological reasons. You came here because your
 lives are threatened. Nothing can be more important than a human
 life.'
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara- Two hundred people, opposed to the multinational Eurogold
company's controversial gold mining project, came to Ankara today from
17 Bergama villages, accompanied by supportive nongovernmental
organizations, the Anatolia news agency reported on Thursday.

Bergama Mayor Sefa Taskin was among the group who came to Ankara in 26
buses. "We came to Ankara to be heard. We will demand an end to the
cyanide leaching project," stated Taskin. At first, the Bergama
contingent was prevented by security forces from entering the city,
and they had to wait for one-and-a-half hours. Finally, they were
allowed entry, but only by bus.

The Bergama villagers first visited the Republican People's Party
(CHP) headquarters where, after a small demonstration, the CHP General
Secretary Adnan Keskin and CHP deputies welcomed them.

Keskin said that the Bergama people had come to Ankara to secure their
future, adding, "We will support you however we can in your struggle,
and we will be close to you all the time."

The villagers were later received by CHP leader Deniz Baykal. Speaking
to the villagers, Baykal said that the party would visit Bergama as
soon as possible, stating that, "In a democratic order, because of the
people, no policy can be implemented against them.

"You came here not because of a need for a political struggle, or for
ideological reasons. You came here because your lives are threatened.
Nothing can be more important than a human life," continued Baykal.

He noted that the only strategy necessary was to hold a referendum in
which all the villagers in that region would participate.

Baykal also said that, regarding the controversial cyanide leaching
process, the CHP deputies had prepared a draft law and presented it to
a Parliamentary commission, calling on all the political parties to
support the Bergama citizens in this regard.

The Bergama group will also call on Speaker of Parliament Mustafa
Kalemli, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller,
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit, and Motherland Party
(ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz.


12 May,1997, Copyright ? Turkish Daily News
  

  _________________________________________________________________
  
 Minister offers comfort but no help to Bergama

  * 'The region's bad luck is that the gold mining first started in
 Bergama'
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara- State Minister Teoman Riza Guneri said the government was
investigating the reports and licensing documents of Eurogold, the
multinational company which received authorization to use the
controversial cyanide leaching process in its mining operations in
the Bergama region, the Anatolia news agency reported over the
weekend.

Guneri held a five-and-a-half hour meeting with 2,000 local
citizens on Saturday during which the provincial chairmen of the
political parties, the headmen of the region's villages and
villagers demanded that the gold mine be closed down.

Guneri, however, said that nothing could be done about the public's
demand. "On Thursday, at the Cabinet meeting, I will say that the
villagers do not want the mine."

Guneri continued: "The region's bad luck is that the gold mining
first started in Bergama. Eight of the 11 companies who have
applied to mine gold have been rejected. Those who were rejected
all agree that Turkey takes this process seriously, that it gives
importance to the licence-granting procedures. While France issued
the CED report in one or two years, Eurogold had to wait for three
years. The cyanide leaching process has been discussed in Bergama
for seven years. There were licences given to this company. The
licenses were given by the state and the environment ministry. Time
is the only way to reverse this decision. The CED report will be
reinvestigated. The permissions given by the ministries of Health,
Forestry and Environment will be checked again. If the lives of the
villagers are threatened, I will not let the gold mine continue."

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Tue May 13 07:55:42 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 13 May 1997 07:55:42
Subject: MRTA - DHKC Unity In The Struggle
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970513025..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

Dear Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKC),

     Thank you for your solidarity, your hope that those who
violate human rights, those who carry out gruesome executions,
those who commit genocide in our country, on our continent, and in
all the world, will not go unpunished. We will continue our
struggle for peace and justice, and one day our people will live
in peace and justice.
     It is now clear that the terrorists are not those who respect
the Geneva Convention, at the cost of their own lives. The
terrorists are those who carry out state terrorism in Peru. The
costs were high. We lost 14 very valuable comrades. We sacrificed
14 defenders of the rights of prisoners, 14 defenders of human
rights, 14 people who struggled against state terrorism and neo-liberalism.

Con las masas y las armas, patria o muerte ... VENCEREMOS!

Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)

----
Con las Masas y las Armas, Patria o Muerte ... VENCEREMOS!
MRTA Solidarity Page - http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm



From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Tue May 13 13:31:02 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 13 May 1997 13:31:02
Subject: Turkey: Hunger strike in Erzurum Prison on its 50th Day
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3bu6fnr66.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey: Hunger strike in Erzurum Prison on its 50th Day
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>


Hunger strike in Erzurum Prison on its 50th Day

29 April 1997

On 10 March 1997 over 40 POW's from Kurdistan (southeast Turkey) went on an
indefinite hunger strike in the Erzurum E Type Prison demanding humane
treatment. Following the demands of the relatives of the prisoners,
representatives from the Human Right Association (HRA), the Foundation for
Social and Legal Research (TOHAV), the Contemporary Lawyers Association (CHD),
MAZLUM-DER and the Istanbul Bar Association travelled to Erzurum on 16 april
1997 in order to investigate the situation and contribute to a solution.

Below we print an excerpt from the statement of the CHD on behalf of the
delegation. The statement is signed by Kazim Genc, a lawyer:

"As a result of our meetings with the prisoners we have reached the
following conclusion:

It was revealed to us that the main problem between the prisoners and the
prison authorities was the lack of a dialogue. The attitude of the authorities
could summarised thus: &quot;Not what you want, but what we [the authorities]
want will be implemented.&quot; Thus the slightest difference or the smallest
problem os exaggerated and arguments between the authorities and prisoners
became confrontational. It was said that the authorities sought a solution based
on harassment, threat of torture, use of abusive language, isolation of 10
prisoners, preventing communication between prison wings and not allowing any
medical assistance to the hunger strikers during the first 30 days of the
strike. Despite this the prisoners stressed that their demands were that they be
treated like `human beings', and to have meetings between authorities and
representatives of prisoners at least once a week to discuss the problems, to
end the isolation of 10 prisoners, and to allow communications and sport
activities between different wings.

We have also met the Erzurum Republican Chief-Prosecutor, Hakki Koylu
and the Prison Deputy Prosecutor, Hasan Kanli. The both insisted that they were
only public servants, and that they have to abide by the laws and regulations
and that furthermore they can do nothing without a written instruction from the
Justice Ministry.

They have also stated that three of the prisoners who refused treatment were
taken to hospital. We were not given the names of the three prisoners. We later
found out from the prisoners that the names of the three were Maruf Turkan, A.
Kerim Turan ans Murat Akoglu.

The severity of the treatment of the prisoners, harassment, use of abusive
language, threats etc, was incontrovertibly evident.

Despite the fact that the delegation consisted of lawyers and that we had
power of an attorney to see the prisoners, we were not allowed into the prison
at first on the pretext that we did not have permission for a visit from the
regional Chief Prosecutor. However it is perfectly legal for a lawyer to visit
his/her client during working hours without permit. This arbitrary treatment was
clear evidence of the intimidation of the prisoners by the authorities. As a
result our delegation, which arrived at prison at 10.30 a.m., was not allowed in
till 13.30 p.m.

The Chief-Prosecutor, prison authorities and the staff at the prison are all
involved in a cynical attempt to prove that they are omnipotent and that it is
going to be `what they want and how they they want it'. One of the tasks of the
authorities and the staff working at prisons is to protect the legal rights of
prisoners and to combine authority and discipline within adhorence of sadistic
treatment. However what we have seen at Erzurum Prison and at the Chief
Prosecution Office was the opposite: the provocation of prisoners instead of
adopting measures to alloviate and solve the problems. They continue to
aggravate an already difficult situation and by their arbitrariness and
arrogance become part of the problem.

The prisoners made the following demands:
1. Meetings op appointed representatives from the prison block must take 
place at least once a week,
2. 10 Prisoners, who initially launched the hunger strike, must be transferred 
to the wings in block `B',
3. The prisoners must receive humane treatment from the prison authorities,
4. If the above conditions are met then hunger strikers who have been on the 
strike since the beginning will give up the strike. The rest will follow 
depending on the implementation of the above demands.

Yusuf Alatas, Kazim Genc and Nuri Ozmen from Ankara, Burcin Aybay,
Musa Akgundogdu, Gulizar Tuncer and Filiz Kostak from Istanbul have participated
in the delegation."

We call on all progressive forces and individuals to protest at the
situation in Erzurum Prison which is driving prisoners to imminent death at the
hands of the prison authorities. Last year in June political prisoners again
protested against the conditions in prisons and ignorance of the authorities
resulted with the death of 12 prisoners.

Please send your letters of protest to the Turkish Justice Minister and the
Erzurum Chief-Prosecutor on the below fax numbers. Please send us the copies of
your protest letters!

Justice Minister
Mr Sevket Kazan
Fax: 00 90 312 417 3954

Erzurum Chief-Prosecutor
Mr. Hakki Koylu
Fax: 00 90 442 234 9823




-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 14 06:21:12 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 14 May 1997 06:21:12
Subject: Ozgur Politika Online!
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970514011..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

Dear Friends,

The Kurdish daily, Ozgur Politika, has gone online. It is one of the 
best sources of information about the Kurds and Kurdistan.  

Since its inception in early 1991, the paper has had 8 of its reporters 
murdered; 1 was seriously injured and is now in a wheelchair; 2 have 
been kidnapped; 15 of its distributors have been killed.

If there were an award for the most dangerously threatened newspaper in 
the world, Ozgur Politika, we feel, would be somewhere near the top of that 
list.

So for those interested in Kurdish politics, and who are versed in Turkish, 
this online service is an invaluable development. 

Regards,
AKIN

ps: the URL is http://www.kurdit.se/op/

----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public service 
to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 14 06:26:33 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 14 May 1997 06:26:33
Subject: IHD Balance Of Human Rights Abuses
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970514012..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: IHD Balance Of Human Rights Abuses In Turkey, March 1997

Human Rights Association (IHD)
Balance Of Human Rights Abuses In Turkey/Kurdistan - March 1997

Crimes by unknown assailants: .......................... 8
Extrajudicial killings or deaths by torture: ........... 7
Deaths in battle: ...................................... 168
Disappeared persons: ................................... 11
Reported cases of torture: ............................. 48
Persons arrested: ...................................... 2,910
Persons imprisoned: .................................... 107
Villages depopulated: .................................. 4
Bomb attacks: .......................................... 10
Unions or other associations closed: ................... 6
Arrested press workers: ................................ 41
Confiscated publications: .............................. 26
People in prison for "thought crimes": ................. 164

(Source: Kurdistan-Rundbrief, Nr. 9, Vol. 10, 6.5.1997)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Wed May 14 02:06:39 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 14 May 1997 02:06:39
Subject: IHD Balance Of Human Rights Abuses
References: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970514012..@burn.ucsd.edu>
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3rafamoqr.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: IHD Balance Of Human Rights Abuses In Turkey, March 1997
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

Human Rights Association (IHD)
Balance Of Human Rights Abuses In Turkey/Kurdistan - March 1997

Crimes by unknown assailants: .......................... 8
Extrajudicial killings or deaths by torture: ........... 7
Deaths in battle: ...................................... 168
Disappeared persons: ................................... 11
Reported cases of torture: ............................. 48
Persons arrested: ...................................... 2,910
Persons imprisoned: .................................... 107
Villages depopulated: .................................. 4
Bomb attacks: .......................................... 10
Unions or other associations closed: ................... 6
Arrested press workers: ................................ 41
Confiscated publications: .............................. 26
People in prison for "thought crimes": ................. 164

(Source: Kurdistan-Rundbrief, Nr. 9, Vol. 10, 6.5.1997)


delivered by ATS

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Thu May 15 13:19:34 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 15 May 1997 13:19:34
Subject: Greek MPs Invite PKK Leader To Gree
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970514205..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Greek MPs Invite PKK Leader To Greece

Greek MPs Send Invitation To Abdullah Ocalan

     The daily paper 'Guc', published in Greece, recently printed
a letter of invitation to PKK Chairman Abdullah Ocalan to visit
Athens, signed by 111 members of the Greek parliament, the mayors
of Saloniki, Athens, and Heraklion (Crete), and the rector of
Athens University. The signers of the letter support efforts for a
political solution to the Kurdish question. In a telephone
conversation with the representative of the National Liberation
Front of Kurdistan (ERNK) in Athens, the Greek Communist Party
(KKE) also expressed their support.
     The Members of Parliament who signed the invitation were from
all the major political parties in Greece: 74 from the Socialist
Party (PASOK), 25 from New Democracy (ND), 6 from the Democratic
Unity Movement (DIKKI), and 6 from the Left Development Coalition
(SYNASPISMOS).

(Source: Kurdistan-Rundbrief, Nr. 9, Vol. 10, 6.5.1997)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Thu May 15 13:20:46 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 15 May 1997 13:20:46
Subject: War News From Kurdistan - March/Apr
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970514205..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: War News From Kurdistan - March/April 1997

War News From Kurdistan - March/April 1997

Military Operations On The Increase

     In the regions of Ovacik, Hozat, Nazimiye, and Mazgirt,
operations by state forces are on the increase. There are no
reports yet of any clashes.
     In central Dersim, an army base recently set up 10 km outside
the city was attacked by the ARGK (People's Liberation Army of
Kurdistan) with rockets and automatic weapons. 3 soldiers were
killed and several others wounded.
     In Baykan (Siirt), operations with over 20,000 soldiers,
underway since March 30, have ended. During clashes with
guerrillas, 30 soldiers and 4 village guards were killed, and 30
soldiers and village guards were wounded.
     Near Gabar (Sirnak) and Mt. Cirav (Eruh) there were clashes
between the ARGK and the army. 3 soldiers were wounded in one
attack near Gabar. During another attack on March 31 near Eruh, 7
soldiers were wounded.
     In conjunction with the military operations in Dersim, the
main road between Dersim and Erzincan was closed off. Only
military convoy vehicles were allowed to use the road.
     In total, 100,000 soldiers with air support were on
operations in the province.

Military Operations Over, But Repression Continues

     The military operations in Lice, Hani, and Kulp, which began
on March 29, have ended. 12 villagers from Hezan who were arrested
have been released. Villagers from Goma Kazo, whose houses were
burned down by the military, have had to flee. Because they lost
most of their livestock of 100 cattle due to air attacks from
helicopters, the villagers have appealed to the Human Rights
Association (IHD) for assistance.

Attacks By The ARGK

     During clashes in Gercus (Batman) between an ARGK unit and
the Turkish army, 1 officer and 3 soldiers were killed.
     A military operation on Mt. Gabar (Sirnak) with the support
of village guards from the Batuyan clan was ended after one week
on April 7. During clashes on April 2, several soldiers and 5
village guards were wounded, 3 seriously. During a six-hour battle
near the villages of Comak and Acikguney (Bingol), wounded
soldiers were taken away in helicopters.
     Further reports are not yet available.

Actions Against Village Guards

     On April 5, the ARGK raided the village guard settlement of
Tepe, 10 km from Lice, and searched the homes of village guards H.
Laleal and H. Selahattin. H. Laleal had organized an assembly to
convince other Kurds to become village guards. H. Laleal and 6
other participants in this assembly were taken prisoner by the
ARGK.

Arrested Guerrillas Murdered By The Military

     In the village of Hethetke (Dogankavak), Batman province, 3
ARGK guerrillas were taken captive following clashes. They had run
out of ammunition. Together with one civilian, whose name is not
known, they were taken to the military station Bolinde Kayu and
shot.

Soldiers' Leave Canceled

     The head of the gendarmerie has immediately suspended all
soldiers' leave. After operations were started in Dersim and
Bingol, the daily paper  Ozgur Politika' has written that further
operations are to be expected by the Turkish military in the
provinces of Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Agri, Sirnak, Mardin, and in
South Kurdistan. These had been delayed due to the lingering
winter which dropped heavy snow in the area recently.

Clashes And Military Operations In Several Provinces

     Bitlis/Siirt - Military convoy attacked by ARGK units; more
than 10 soldiers killed.

     Mardin - Military convoy of more than 100 vehicles in the
Kiziltepe area.

     Siirt/Sirnak - The Bestler region has been bombarded by
artillery and from the air. No more information presently
available.

     During clashes between units of the ARGK and Turkish forces
in the Siirt/Eruh/Sirnak region, 17 soldiers were killed and 30
wounded. 2 helicopters were shot down on April 20. Another 7
soldiers were killed in Garisa/Elp and 7 others wounded. A village
guard from Bingol was killed during clashes in Lice/Kulp/Genc.

(Translated from Kurdistan-Rundbrief, Nr. 9, Vol. 10, 6.5.1997)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Fri May 16 05:51:46 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 16 May 1997 05:51:46
Subject: AKIN Press Release On Turkey's Inva
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970516004..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: AKIN Press Release On Turkey's Invasion Of South Kurdistan

Turkey Deserves Reprimand For Assault Across Border

American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
Press Release #20
May 15, 1997

     Approximately 50,000 Turkish troops have crossed a so-called
"international" border, allegedly to defend themselves. The border
they have crossed sits on the land of the Kurds and the defending
they have done is, in reality, an assault on the Kurdish nation
and its forces who seek self-rule.
        The crossing took place in the early hours of Wednesday,
May 14. Apparently, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq, the
KDP, invited the Turkish army to invade "their" Kurdistan.
Washington was quick to express "understanding" for the move. Thus
far, only France, through its spokesperson, Jacques Rummelhardt,
has expressed alarm.
        The members of the People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan,
the ARGK, the armed wing of the PKK, have responded with a total
mobilization. Small, mobile, lightly armed but hardened Kurdish
guerrillas have vowed to turn Kurdistan into a graveyard for the
invading Turkish forces and their treacherous Kurdish Quislings.
        Daren Butler of Reuters News Agency, reporting from the
war front, notes that the forces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party
have confiscated all cellular telephones, cameras, and video
footage belonging to journalists in the area.  Their masters, the
Turkish forces, have said to the media, "You will not get in [to
the war zone]."
        This assault, christened by the Turkish Defense Minister
as "humanitarian" in nature, is nothing less than organized crime
unleashed on the peoples of occupied Kurdistan. This Orwellian
double talk the Turkish minister utters is nonsense, seconded as
it is by the U.S. Department of State.
        This same war was unleashed on the peoples of Kurdistan in
March 1995 by approximately 30,000 Turkish troops, and nothing was
accomplished then. In October 1992, there was another attempt to
undo Kurdish resistance, again with assistance from treacherous
Kurdish elements, and again the outcome was a great disappointment
for the Turkish military.
        Each of these incursions have only resulted in increased
bloodshed and the destruction of Kurdish property. These invasions
have occurred while the so-called Operation Provide Comfort, a
U.S.-led Allied force, has inhabited the region to "protect" the
Kurds. This force -- it is now becoming increasingly apparent --
has given the green light to the Turkish army to pursue its costly
mirage. While the war mongers are benefiting from this carnage,
the victims are the Turkish soldiers and the peoples of
Kurdistan.
        The nations of the world would do well to condemn this
unbridled oppression by the Turkish government against the Kurdish
nation. Condemning a people to slavery with double talk while
supporting its treacherous elements who despicably coddle Baghdad
and Ankara is deplorable.
        This war will only come to an end when the political will
of the Kurds is respected and accepted. Expressing support for
Turkey in not the counsel Ankara needs.


----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite # 1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476

E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public
service to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Fri May 16 11:24:18 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 16 May 1997 11:24:18
Subject: EU-mony for strategic villages in Kurdistan
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3hgg3pbdq.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: EU-mony for strategic villages in Kurdistan
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

TDN, May 16, 1997
  
  _________________________________________________________________
  
 Public housing for terrorism-stricken families

  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara- Public Housing Authority (TOKI) President Hamdi Karadas said
his agency was developing a project to provide housing for low-income
victims of terrorism, the Anatolia news agency reported. Karadas said
the project would first be implemented in Tunceli and then expanded
throughout the region.

The project is a joint effort by TOKI, the Tunceli Governor's Office
and the municipality and the initial development will cover 47
hectares.

Karadas noted that 60 percent of the funds needed would be granted by
the European Commission, and said the feasibility studies for the
project had been completed and submitted to the EC for evaluation.

Karadas also pointed out that project and implementation studies had
started in the East and Southeast, adding that Adana and Sanliurfa had
been chosen as pilot areas to identify the needs and preferences of
the target group. Twenty-four model houses are under construction in
Adana and 36 in Sanliurfa. The project envisages that 2,000 houses
will be built in Adana, in Gaziantep, in Sanliurfa and in Diyarbakir.
Another 2,000 will be spread throughout other cities in southeastern
or eastern regions.

Karadas said the total cost of the project was $100 million and World
Bank credits and domestic resources would be used to finance the
project in part.


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From IHD-DIYARBAKIR at INFO-IST.comlink.apc.org  Mon May 19 13:01:00 1997
From: IHD-DIYARBAKIR at INFO-IST.comlink.apc.org (IHD-DIYARBAKIR at INFO-IST.comlink.apc.org)
Date: 19 May 1997 13:01:00
Subject: NORTH.TXT
Message-ID: <6X8EU.HtWyB@xp-ihddi.info-ist.comlink.apc.org>


CALL TO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

As you known in 14 May Turkish army by emergency forces
passed to north Irak.Like before operation of further border on
North Irak's field. Will be understood a lot of sivil people
murdered with bomb attacked and life rights or safety them in
the dangerous.
In that means there is  a arbitrary violation on
international law norm. International human rights defender
must never give support to Turkish goverment.
On North Irak in Erbil city   some cultur center and press
centers attacked on nine people and five of them women murdered
by Turkish people. And then fastened behind of panzer carried
those people and .
We call to all of that Human Rights defenders have to make
a pressure on their goverments  that situation obviously
violation that common 3. Article of Geneve convention and
operation of further border must be finished.   19 May 1997

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION DIYARBAKIR BRANCH
## CrossPoint v3.11 ##


From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Tue May 20 03:00:34 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 20 May 1997 03:00:34
Subject: Lord Avebury On Turkey's Invasion O
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970519202..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Lord Avebury On Turkey's Invasion Of South Kurdistan

Extract from a speech by Lord Avebury, chairman of the
Parliamentary Human Rights Group, in the debate on the Queen's
Speech in the House of Lords, May 15, 1997

     The Turkish armed forces have crossed the frontier into
northern Iraq in great strength, accompanied by large quantities
of armour and artillery, violating Article 2(4) of the United
Nations Charter. This is not the first time that they have done
it. It is a repeated violation of the charter, which has always
been allowed tacitly by the international community because it
does not protest. On this occasion, Mr. Doug Henderson issued a
statement urging the Turks not to exceed the measures necessary to
protect their legitimate security interests and asserting that the
problem in south-east Turkey is not one that can be solved by
military means alone. That is an advance on the policies of the
previous government, who were always silent on these occasions. Is
it not apparent that the military force that Turkey uses in such
circumstances is always grossly disproportionate to the security
objectives sought, and that no care has been taken in any of those
military operations, contrary to the code of conduct on
politico-military aspects of security of the OSCE, to ensure that
no harm comes to civilians or their property? 
     Therefore, I wonder whether Ministers will consider - not
today, but in due course as they come to develop their human
rights policies - whether the OSCE could develop means of
evaluating internal armed conflicts and deciding in each
case to which of them common Article 3 applies? If they did that
and if there was an official declaration by the chairman-in-office
or by the Council of Ministers that Article 3 applied in a
particular case, that would add force to the requests made by the
ICRC to be allowed to deliver its humanitarian and compliance
services in such conflicts, and it would then be more difficult
for, in this case, Turkey to resist those demands. 
     The OSCE does have the power to take initiatives through its
chairman-in-office, and the previous occupant of the chair, Swiss
Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti, worked hard to achieve a solution
of the Chechnya conflict. Nothing similar has been attempted in
the case of Turkey because Ankara has always been adamant that
it does not want the OSCE to advise it or to make any
recommendations with regard to the conflict in its south-east
region. How can we get round the problem? The UK should give
notice that at the next periodic human dimension review meeting,
which is to take place at the end of this year, we shall
concentrate exclusively on better enforcement of the OSCE's
declarations, including particularly those dealing with internal
armed conflicts and minorities. 



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Tue May 20 03:07:59 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 20 May 1997 03:07:59
Subject: Kurdish Guerrillas Strike Back
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970519205..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

[Turkey has once again invaded South Kurdistan, the part of
Kurdistan occupied by Iraq. News reports of the invasion are hard
to come by, mostly since the Turkish army won't allow journalists
into the area so its that human rights abuses won't be viewed by
the world, and so that independent observers can't dispute their
ridiculous claims that "1,000 or more" PKK guerrillas have been
killed. The Turkish invasion was once again made possible by the
traitors of the KDP, the poorly named Kurdistan Democratic Party,
a group which can't decide who it likes better, the genocidal
Saddam Hussein of Iraq or the fascist-militarist rulers in
Ankara. - ATS]

Kurdish Rebels Hit Back In Turkey As Troops Chase Them In Iraq

Associated Press, 05/19/97

     DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AP) - While Turkey's army moved against
their bases in Iraq, Kurdish rebels retaliated on Monday by
blocking a highway and attacking government buildings in Turkey's
southeast. 
     The guerrillas briefly blocked a main road linking Diyarbakir
to the Iraqi border, burning two oil tankers before they
disappeared into the darkness, local journalists said. 
     Sixty miles to the south of Diyarbakir, the rebels fired
rockets at government buildings in the town of Derik, causing
damage but no injuries.
     Turkey's military is in the middle of an offensive against
Kurdish separatists in southeast Turkey and across the border in
Iraq. Over the past four days, Turkish forces have killed 17
Kurdish fighters in the southeast, Anatolia said. 
     The rebels' attacks were seen as a show of strength during
the major military campaign against their comrades in the
mountains of northern Iraq. An estimated 25,000 to 50,000 Turkish
troops crossed the border Wednesday to pursue rebels of
the Kurdistan Workers Party. 
     Journalists have been barred from entering Iraq since the
offensive began, and rebels and the Turkish military offer widely
varying accounts of the fighting and casualties. 
     The Brussels-based, pro-rebel MED-TV said Monday that Turkish
troops have taken up positions in the city of Dohuk, 30 miles
south of the border. 
     MED-TV official Irfan Dogan claimed the rebels shot down two
helicopter gunships Monday, and said the guerrillas have killed 64
soldiers since the offensive began. 
     In a phone interview broadcast on MED-TV, Kurdistan Workers
Party leader Abdullah Ocalan claimed rebel losses were "less than
ten".
     For its part, the military says it has killed 1,081 rebels,
and lost only 14 soldiers. 
     Iraqi Kurds established a de facto state in northern Iraq
after the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and the Kurdistan Workers Party
took advantage of the power vacuum to set up bases there. 
     For four springs in a row, Turkey has launched cross-border
offensives. This time, it has claimed the invitation came from an
Iraqi Kurdish faction upset by the Kurdistan Workers Party's
increasing power in northern Iraq. 
     The Kurdistan Workers Party started fighting for autonomy in
Turkey 13 years ago; 28,000 people have been killed in the battles
since then.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Tue May 20 11:54:58 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 20 May 1997 11:54:58
Subject: Public Meeting: Who are the real terrorists? (London)
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3enb28ln4.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Public Meeting: Who are the real terrorists? (London)
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

Public Meeting

Thursday 29th May

People's Cultural Center

84 Balls Pond Road

Dalston

East London


Who are the real terrorists?

The Imperialists!



Since the collapse of the socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe, the imperialists keep telling us communism is dead and
capitalism has won the Cold War. In triumph they tell us that this is
the end of history: capitalist "democracy" is the highest form of
society, and it has proven its superiority in practice.

The imperialists used to tell us that the socialist countries were the
"Evil Empire". Now, they are talking about a new enemy: terrorism.

Who are the terrorists? The capitalist media have a simple answer:
anyone who fights back against this system. In Ireland, in the Basque
Country, in Turkey and Kurdistan, in Peru: it does not matter where -
whenever the people start to fight back, they are branded terrorists.

Socialist Cuba is called a terrorist state. Iraq was described the same
way - even though it was the west who put Saddam into power. Iran is
used as the bogeyman in the middle east. At the same time, pro-Western
dictatorships are praised to the skies, and presented as defenders of
democracy.

This is the language of this new period. Fascist states like Turkey are
called democracies, and a country like Cuba, where the workers are in
control of society, is painted as a criminal totalitarian dictatorship.
Contra-guerrilla murder gangs are the allies of "democracy", while
freedom fighters are branded terrorists.

The people of the world reject these lies. The voice of the
revolutionaries will not be silenced.

Tonight we will hear the voice of resistance: from Turkey and Kurdistan,
from Ireland and the Basque country, and from the imperialist heartlands
themselves. Tonight we will be putting the real terrorists in the dock:
the imperialists and their allies who try to drown the spirit of freedom
in the blood of the people.

We will fight!
We will win!
Long Live Revolution!

Revolutionary People's Liberation Front - Revolutionary Peopole's Forces
(DHKC-DHG) (London) and Communist Action Group.


From dhkc at dds.nl  Tue May 20 14:40:40 1997
From: dhkc at dds.nl (dhkc at dds.nl)
Date: 20 May 1997 14:40:40
Subject: Turkey/DHKC statement THE FASCIST ARMY, THE USA AND ZIONISM: HAND IN
Message-ID: <bac1c849.lz2071g803.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey/DHKC statement THE FASCIST ARMY, THE USA AND ZIONISM: HAND IN HAND
From: DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam <dhkc at dds.nl>

THE FASCIST ARMY, THE USA AND ZIONISM: HAND IN HAND

THOSE WHO NOW ATTACK NORTHERN IRAQ WILL BE THE LOSERS

The collaborators of imperialism, the fascist army, is in Northern
Iraq once again. This time it is viewed as the "largest offensive in
history", and the offensive by the special units and the village
guards, supported by the collaborating forces of Barzani, is still
going now. The fascist state tries to strangle Northern Iraq with this
operation. With mobilising the major part of the military forces
against the guerrillas, they try to break the ties between the people
and the guerrilla. The fascist regime is unable to find another
solution against the Kurdish people, they are only able to shed
blood. All bourgeois parties and all segments of the ruling classes
are part of this crime, they belong to the designers of this
offensive. It is their aim to continue their exploitative and cruel
order, to continue their oppression and intimidation. To achieve this,
they will try everything, from massacres to disappearances, from
torture to famine. The attack in Kurdistan is part of this.  This is
not the first time. The fascist regime has started many offensives of
this kind in the past. And every time they were forced to use more
forces, to mobilise more soldiers. But they were unable to achieve
successes, they were unable to defeat the resistance and the anger of
the people. Neither Zionism in the Middle East, nor the open support
by US-imperialism will achieve this. The people have the strength to
defeat imperialism, fascism and Zionism. These acts by the fascist
state will be unsuccessful as well. The offensives in the past were
given names like "Operation Hammer" and Offensive Sledge-hammer". This
time they call it "Offensive Lance". These offensives and these
massacres can only be ended by bringing down the Mafia
contra-guerrilla state, this murder machine.  The Kurdish and the
Turkish people will turn this lance against the fascist state.

This time they will fail again!

Revolutionary People's Liberation Front
European Organisation
May 17, 1997
-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 21 08:29:59 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 21 May 1997 08:29:59
Subject: DHKC Statement On Turkey's Invasion
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970521032..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: DHKC Statement On Turkey's Invasion Of South Kurdistan

The Fascist Army, The USA, And Zionism: Hand In Hand!
Those Who Now Attack Northern Iraq Will Be The Losers!

     The collaborators of imperialism, Turkey's fascist army, are
in Northern Iraq once again. This time it is viewed as the
"largest offensive in history", and the offensive by the special
units and the village guards, supported by the collaborating
forces of Barzani [KDP], is still going now. The fascist state
tries to strangle Northern Iraq with this operation. With
mobilizing the major part of the military forces against the
guerrillas, they try to break the ties between the people and the
guerrilla. The fascist regime is unable to find another solution
against the Kurdish people, they are only able to shed blood.
     All bourgeois parties and all segments of the ruling classes
are part of this crime, they belong to the designers of this
offensive. It is their aim to continue their exploitative and
cruel order, to continue their oppression and intimidation. To
achieve this, they will try everything, from massacres to
disappearances, from torture to famine. The attack in Kurdistan is
part of this. This is not the first time. The fascist regime has
started many offensives of this kind in the past. And every time
they were forced to use more forces, to mobilize more soldiers.
But they were unable to achieve successes, they were unable to
defeat the resistance and the anger of the people. Neither Zionism
in the Middle East, nor the open support by US-imperialism will
achieve this. The people have the strength to defeat imperialism,
fascism and Zionism. These acts by the fascist state will be
unsuccessful as well.
     The offensives in the past were given names like "Operation
Hammer" and "Offensive Sledgehammer". This time they call it
"Offensive Lance". These offensives and these massacres can only
be ended by bringing down the Mafia contra-guerrilla state, this
murder machine. The Kurdish and the Turkish people will turn this
lance against the fascist state.

This time they will fail again!

Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKC)
European Organization
May 17, 1997

-- 
DHKC Information Bureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++




From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 21 08:51:30 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 21 May 1997 08:51:30
Subject: Kurdish Leader Vows To Fight On Aga
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970521001..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Kurdish Leader Vows To Fight On Against Turkish Offensive

Kurdish Leader Vows To Fight On Against Turkish Military Offensive

Associated Press, 05/20/97

     DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AP) - A Kurdish rebel
leader vowed to fight a week-old Turkish army
offensive in northern Iraq that escalated Tuesday
into reported strafing by Turkish jets and ground
clashes. 
     "Kurdish forces will resist to the end against the
fascist Turkish state," Abdullah Ocalan said in a
statement released in Nicosia, Cyprus. 
     Only a day earlier, he reportedly was seeking a
cease-fire. 
     On Tuesday, Turkish jets bombed the areas of
Gara, Hakurki and Lolan in northern Iraq while
ground troops fought with separatist guerrillas in the
area of Amadiyah, along the Turkish border, said
Osman Ali, an official for pro-Kurdish MED-TV. 
     Turkey poured an estimated 25,000-50,000 troops
into northern Iraq last Wednesday to wipe out
Turkish rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party,
or PKK, who launch cross-border raids from bases
inside Iraq. 
     Turkey's official Anatolia news agency said 1,088
rebels have been killed since the offensive began;
136 rebels have been wounded, and 15 others have
given themselves up. The Turkish army has lost 16
soldiers, Anatolia said. 
     MED-TV reported Tuesday that the Iraqi
government had moved about 50 tanks within a
mile of a border separating regions controlled by
Iraqi Kurds from those under Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein's domain. The move came after Turkish
troops set up checkpoints on the Dohuk-to-Mosul
road, the report said. 
     The Kurdish city of Dohuk is 30 miles south of the
Turkish border. Mosul, under Saddam's control, is
45 miles farther south. 
     There was no immediate comment from the Turkish
or Iraqi governments on the MED-TV reports. 
     The television station, quoting rebel commander
Halil Atac, also claimed the guerrillas used
surface-to-air missiles to hit four Turkish
helicopters. The Turkish military has acknowledged
losing one copter, a U.S.-made Cobra, but said the
cause was technical failure. 
     Turkish military officials said recently they believed
the rebels have missile capabilities. 
     Since 1984, PKK guerrillas have been waging a
war for autonomy within Turkey that has claimed
28,000 lives. Iraqi Kurds established a de facto
state in northern Iraq after the 1991 Persian Gulf
War, and the Turkish Kurdish rebels took
advantage of the power vacuum to set up bases
there. 
     The Kurdistan Democratic Party, or KDP, a rival
of the PKK, has been aiding the Turkish troops in
this week's offensive. 
     Ali, the MED-TV official, said the PKK guerrillas
have killed 200 KDP fighters in Hakurki since
Monday. 
     Anatolia reported that guerrillas were fleeing toward
the Iranian border. 
     At a military hospital in Diyarbakir, the main city in
southeastern Turkey, a score of Turkish soldiers
were being treated on Tuesday. One said he
stepped on a mine. The arm of another was
punctured with bullet holes. 
     The Turkish daily Radikal reported Tuesday that
the army had poured another 5,000 soldiers into
northern Iraq at midnight Sunday. 
     Journalists have been barred from entering Iraq
since the offensive began last week. 


From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Thu May 22 01:24:00 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 22 May 1997 01:24:00
Subject: Preparations For A Kurdistan Nation
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970521201..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Preparations For A Kurdistan National Congress

Preparations For A Kurdistan National Congress

Interview With Yasar Kaya, Member Of The Kurdistan Parliament In
Exile

The Kurdistan Parliament in Exile decided during its 7th Session
in Brussels in April to "return to the homeland". Was the
Parliament's work in exile without success?

        Quite the contrary. The Kurdistan Parliament in Exile
carried out very useful work in foreign countries. It represented
the name of Kurdish diplomacy and made people listen to the voice
of the Kurdish freedom struggle. Our efforts were the first
organized diplomacy efforts undertaken by Kurds outside of
Kurdistan and Turkey. Despite massive pressure, repression, and
attempts by the Turkish government to shut us down, the Kurdistan
Parliament in Exile managed to hold sessions every three months.
        Following the opening session in The Hague, there were
sessions in Vienna, Moscow, Copenhagen, and Rome. There were also
sessions in Oslo and Brussels. These were very comprehensive. If
we had been unsuccessful, the governments of the nations mentioned
above would not have opened up their Parliament buildings to us
and received us. During most of these sessions, parliamentarians,
experts, and politicians, who are friends of the Kurdish people,
were present.
        We are defending a just cause. Following the banning of
the Democracy Party (DEP) by the Turkish government, there was no
chance any more to operate on a legal basis in Ankara. We are an
institution which defends the national and democratic rights of
the Kurds. The Kurdistan Parliament in Exile is a pluralistic
body. Its internal makeup is very rich and diverse.

So the decision to return to Kurdistan has nothing to do with a
lack of success?

        First of all, we can't stay in exile forever. The
Parliament has fulfilled its mission. From Scandinavia to the
Black Sea, from America to Russia, the Parliament has represented
Kurdish diplomacy and made itself known to the international
community.
        Secondly, the Kurdish liberation struggle continues to
gain in military strength and its liberated zones are expanding.
We are militarily represented in Kurdistan, but we also need a
political presence. We want to come to power there in the next few
months. How else can we build up a legal system? We can't continue
to carry on the war and the social life in Kurdistan without a
legal system, or with a feudal outlook and methods. A
representative expression of popular will is needed there.
        The Parliament should, according to our experiences, be
expanded and broadened with the participation of regional
personalities, regional parliaments, and the guerrilla. It should
represent all of the Kurdish people and build up a corresponding
legal system. That's why it must be based in Kurdistan, although
its representatives will continue to work at the diplomatic level
in Europe.

Does this decision have something to do with the negative position
relative to the Kurdish question taken by so many Western nations?

        Our return to Kurdistan for the necessary reasons stated
above has nothing to do with the attitude of Western nations. At
present, no Western nation can afford a negative position with
respect to the Kurdish question. That would mean turning their
backs on law and humanity. That is no longer possible. No one can
deny that the Kurds are a force to be reckoned with in the Near
East. Of course we are critical of the Kurdistan politics of the
Western nations. The Kurdish question is no longer simply a matter
of human rights, rather it is a national and an international
problem. As long as this problem is not solved through democratic
means, there can be no talk of peace in the Middle East. The West
needs to recognize this very clearly, otherwise their own economic
and political interests will be at risk.

Have you considered the opinions of other Kurdish organizations,
such as the PUK and the KDP? Will these organizations accept the
Parliament in their region?

        We never received any proposals from the KDP or the PUK.
Nor are they necessary. The liberation movement in North Kurdistan
now has a strong military and ideological base in South Kurdistan
as well. That's why we don't need their proposals or their
permission. To say it bluntly, Kurdistan belongs to us all and the
division between the North and the South has been de facto
abolished. A geographic and military unity has actually already
been established. There is a protocol in the South whereby all
parties and organizations have the possibility for political
activity. So there can't be any talk of problems of acceptance in
the South.
        Beside from the fact that the PUK and the KDP still don't
understand that they wasted the opportunities of the Gulf War to
build up the "federal state" as the heretofore highest status
achieved by the Kurds. This important possibility was not taken
advantage of due to feudal and clan-based conduct. The KDP and PUK
fought against each other and have hardly been good examples for
the people until now. The poverty and divisions in South Kurdistan
are their fault. Even today, they have no plan or program for
brining peace to Kurdistan.

Do the KDP, PUK, or other organizations have any interest in
participating in the Parliament?

        Our efforts to work towards a National Congress are
becoming more important and necessary with each passing day. As a
Parliament, we carried out various activities in this direction.
If all Kurdish political parties, organizations, and personalities
participate in the National Congress, the KDP and the PUK will
have no choice but to take part. In that event, the National
Congress can then elect a National Parliament, which can in turn
form a government and establish organs of power. We stress that
such a step is necessary for national unity among the Kurdish
people. Time and events are pressing us towards this. From the
point of view of the Kurdish questions, it doesn't matter if
Barzani in the Barzan district or Talibani in the Behdinan
district can make little regional governments work. These will
always be damned, defeated, and oppressed.

Will the Parliament have relations with the regional parliaments
in the liberated territories of South Kurdistan?

        Of course, our Parliament will cultivate good relations
with other parliaments. The Kurds can't continue living without
laws and statutes. If the parliaments in South Kurdistan attempt
to unite all parties in the South according to democratic
principles, then they can count on our friendship and support.
There are regional parliaments elected by the people in the
liberated zones of South Kurdistan. They will be included under
the one roof of our Parliament and they will give the Parliament
strength. This integration is unavoidable.

(Interview by Thomas Ruttig, 'Neues Deutschland'; Translated by
Arm The Spirit from Kurdistan-Rundbrief #10, 20.5.1997)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++




From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Thu May 22 03:59:36 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 22 May 1997 03:59:36
Subject: [friends2 <friends@kurdish.org>] News From the War Front in Kurdista
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3raf0uv0a.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: [friends2 <friends at kurdish.org>] News From the War Front in Kurdistan # 1
From: Press at asterix.xs4all.nl, Agency at asterix.xs4all.nl,        Ozgurluk at asterix.xs4all.nl

Message-Id: <199705220059.UAA03372 at mail.clark.net>
Subject: News From the War Front in Kurdistan # 1
Date: Wed, 21 May 97 21:01:45 -0400
From: friends2 <friends at kurdish.org>
To: "friends" <friends2 at mail.clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Massacre in Arbil

Med-TV Correspondent Disappears

After a massacre in Arbil on 16 May, Med-TV's correspondent, Bekir Dogan,
has disappeared. Bekir Dogan was covering the fighting in Iraq (South
Kurdistan) since the 14 May invasion by Turkish troops and their Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP) allies. 

In Arbil, on 16 May, Turkish and KDP forces launched an attack on Kurdish
institutions, using heavy artillery against the hospital of the Kurdish 
Red
Crescent. Kurdish Red Crescent spokesman, Herbiji Ozkan, called Med-TV to
beg for an international investigation, and Med-TV has contacted the
offices of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC).

News media and cultural institutions were also targets, including the
Mesopotamian Cultural Centre, where Bekir Dogan was last seen, the
newspapers Welat, Welate Roje, Rizgari and Nistiman radio.

Local sources report more than 100 killed, including nine patients in the
hospital. Five women patients are said to have been seized, paraded around
the city, and publicly executed.

Med-TV Director, Hikmet Tabak, urged international institutions to assist
Med-TV in locating Bekir Dogan. "Bekir Dogan was a target because he was
doing his job as a journalist, reporting for Med-TV. The war zone has been
officially closed to journalists; we fear the full extent of human rights
violations in Arbil may never be known."

Today, Lord Avebury, Chairman of the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group,
wrote to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, condemning atrocities
committed by the KDP military in Arbil.

For further information, please contact:
Med-TV Newsroom - Tel: 011 32 53 641 249/220
Fax: 011 32 53 641 279


From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Fri May 23 01:00:17 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 23 May 1997 01:00:17
Subject: Massacre In Arbil; Med-TV Correspon
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970522195..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Massacre In Arbil; Med-TV Correspondent Disappears

Massacre In Arbil; Med-TV Correspondent Disappears

May 20, 1997 - London and Brussels

     After a massacre in Arbil on May 16, Med-TV's correspondent,
Bekir Dogan, has disappeared. Bekir Dogan was covering the
fighting in northern Iraq (South Kurdistan) since the May 14
invasion by Turkish troops and their Kurdistan Democratic Party
(KDP) allies. 
     In Arbil on May 16, Turkish and KDP forces launched an attack
on Kurdish institutions, using heavy artillery against the
hospital of the Kurdish Red Crescent. Kurdish Red Crescent
spokesman, Herbiji Ozkan, called Med-TV to ask for an
international investigation, and Med-TV has contacted the
offices of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC).
News media and cultural institutions were also targets, including
the Mesopotamian Cultural Centre (where Bekir Dogan was last seen)
and the newspapers Welat, Welate Roje, Rizgari, and Nistiman
radio.
     Local sources report more than 100 killed, including nine
patients in the hospital. Five women patients are said to have
been seized, paraded around the city, and publicly executed.
     Med-TV Director, Hikmet Tabak, urged international
institutions to assist Med-TV in locating Bekir Dogan: "Bekir
Dogan was a target because he was doing his job as a journalist,
reporting for Med-TV. The war zone has been officially closed to
journalists; we fear the full extent of human rights violations in
Arbil may never be known."
     Today, Lord Avebury, Chairman of the UK Parliamentary Human
Rights Group, wrote to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
condemning the atrocities committed by the KDP military in Arbil.

For further information, please contact:
Med-TV Newsroom
Tel: +32-53-641-249/220
Fax: +32-53-641-279


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials in our magazine and
bulletins called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Fri May 23 07:21:40 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 23 May 1997 07:21:40
Subject: Mainstream News On Turkey's Invasio
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970523021..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Mainstream News On Turkey's Invasion Of South Kurdistan

Kurds Occupy UN Building, Protest Turkish Move 
May 22, 1997

        GENEVA (Reuter) - Some 200 Kurds [waving flags of the
National Liberation Front of Kurdistan, ERNK] ended a five-hour
occupation of part of the United Nations European headquarters
Thursday which they staged in protest at the Turkish army's
incursion into Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. 
        A protest spokeswoman said they agreed to go after
negotiations with U.N. officials during which they were promised a
statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemning Turkey's
cross-border incursion. 
        "Our action has been successful. We are leaving now," the
spokeswoman, Elif Aktas, told reporters. 
        But although the protesters left the building, they stayed
just outside the main gate -- encircled by about 150 Swiss riot
police in full gear. 
        Aktas said a delegation from the protesters had been shown
a text of comments by Annan on the Turkish action and was to be
given a copy. They also hoped for U.N. Security Council
condemnation of Ankara. 
        "This will show that the Kurds should not be ignored."
        U.N. officials expressed relief that the occupation -- at
the start of which glass doors were smashed in the world body's
Palais des Nations -- had ended peacefully. The Annan statement
had been issued on May 20, they added. 
        More than 10,000 Turkish troops, allied with the local
Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), poured into northern Iraq last
week in pursuit of activists from the Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) who want a separate state in Turkey. 
        Thursday, they were reported 200 km (125 miles) inside
northern Iraq on what was officially announced as a nine-day
offensive.


Turkish troops move deep into northern Iraq 
May 22, 1997

        DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, May 22 (Reuter) - Turkish troops have
pushed 200 km (125 miles) into northern Iraq in a nine-day
cross-border offensive against Kurdish guerrillas, Iraqi Kurdish
officials in Turkey said on Thursday. 
        This represents a far deeper penetration of Iraqi
territory than past incursions, and follows Turkish reports that
Iraq, Syria and Iran have all built up forces in the region. 
        "Turkish soldiers have set up a checkpoint near the town
of Aqra which is 200 kilometres by road from the Turkish border,"
a KDP official in Diyarbakir told Reuters. 
        Aqra is 100 km (60 miles) east of the provincial capital
Dohuk. 
        More than 10,000 Turkish troops, allied with the local
KDP, poured into northern Iraq last week in a major operation in
pursuit of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatists who use
northern Iraq as a base to launch raids into southeast Turkey. 
        The operation has been criticised by Turkey's Western
allies and the United Nations, and unnerved its neighbours. 
        The KDP official, who asked not to be identified, said
Turkish forces had also established a presence in Atrush, the site
of a former U.N. refugee camp, east of Dohuk. 
        "Some Turkish army units were installed in the former
Atrush camp yesterday (Wednesday)," he said. 
        Iraqi Kurdish sources say the camp is now empty but it is
of symbolic significance for Turkey which always maintained the
camp was controlled by the PKK. 
        The Turkish army said on Wednesday it had killed 1,146 PKK
rebels during the incursion and captured the Zap valley which it
says was the main base for the PKK in the area. 
        Sources close to the PKK say these figures are
exaggerated. 
        An Iraqi opposition group reported heavy fighting between
Turkish troops and the PKK around Chamcha, to the north of Dohuk
in the Mateen mountains, 60 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of
Dohuk. 
        The Iraqi National Congress spokesman said Turkish
artillery bombarded PKK positions on the nearby Gara mountains
from morning to nightfall on Wednesday, inflicting heavy
casualties. He gave no figures. 
        On Thursday, Turkish security forces ferried further
supplies into northern Iraq through the Habur border crossing,
witnesses said.


Kurd Rebels Attack Turkish Oil Installation 
May 22, 1997

        DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, May 22 (Reuter) - Kurdish rebels
attacked an oil installation in southeast Turkey, killing one
soldier and causing light damage, oil company officials said on
Thursday. 
        "A group of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members
attempted last night to attack the Bati Raman oil installation
owned by the state-owned TPAO oil company," a company official in
Batman province told Reuters by telephone. 
        He said one soldier died and parts of an oil pipeline were
damaged by gun fire in a clash between the rebels and security
forces guarding the site on Wednesday night. 
        There were no reports of casualties among the guerrillas,
who fled the scene, he said. 
        The rebel group has stepped up actions in Turkey since the
armed forces began a cross-border operation in northern Iraq nine
days ago in pursuit of PKK guerrillas. 
        On Monday night, rebels fired on a small oil installation
in the southeastern Turkish town of Adiyaman. Workers declined to
say if there was damage to the installation, which also belonged
to TPAO. 
        In other recent attacks, the guerrillas cut the main
Turkish road into Iraq at the weekend and set fire to two petrol
tankers. 
        State-run Anatolian news agency said on Thursday 22 PKK
fighters were killed in two days of clashes inside Turkey, on the
Duap plateau of remote southeastern Bitlis province. 
        More than 23,000 people have been killed in the rebels
12-year-old armed struggle with the military for self-rule in
southeast Turkey.


Clash At Istanbul University Injures 9
Associated Press, 05/22/97

        ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - University students fought one
other with clubs, knives and stones Thursday when a demonstration
against Turkey's assault on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq turned
violent. 
        Eight students and a police officer were injured, the
Anatolia news agency reported. Two of the students were shot and
another was stabbed, it said. 
        Private NTV television said the students also attacked one
another with clubs and stones. 
        Police fired into the air to disperse the students at
Istanbul University, but it was not clear whether the wounded
students were injured by stray police bullets or if some students
in the crowd had guns.
        Anatolia said 27 students were detained. 
        Turkish troops have been going after the northern Iraq
hideouts of Kurdish rebels who have been fighting for autonomy
within Turkey since 1984. 


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv
called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~archive/ats-l
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++




From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Sun May 25 08:29:45 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 25 May 1997 08:29:45
Subject: Turkey: Police raid IHD's Diyarbakir branch
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3206vvbro.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey: Police raid IHD's Diyarbakir branch
From: Press at asterix.xs4all.nl, Agency at asterix.xs4all.nl,        Ozgurluk at asterix.xs4all.nl

24 May,1997, Copyright ? Turkish Daily News

                    Police raid IHD's Diyarbakir branch
                                       
     * Police take three IHD directors from Istanbul to Diyarbakir
       
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara- A police team from the anti-terrorist department raided and
searched the offices of the Human Rights Organization's (IHD)
Diyarbakir branch on Thursday. Mahmut Sakar, the vice president of IHD
and head of the Diyarbakir branch, was detained along with eight other
IHD members. Sinan Tanrikulu, Vedat Cetin, Ozlem Cetin, Pirozhan
Dogrul, Nebahat Akkoc, Haydar Kilicoglu, Yusuf Akgun and Ahmet
Altindag are the other detainees. The IHD was established in 1986.

Mahmut Sakar had condemned the cross-border operation of Turkish armed
forces in northern Iraq in a statement released on May 19 and had
urged the Red Cross and the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe to take action.

Meanwhile, three IHD members, Hasan Karakoc, Munevver Ilktemur and
Birsen Gulunay were brought from Istanbul to Diyarbakir by the police,
reportedly for questioning, according to IHD officials. Hasan Karakoc
and Birsen Gulunay are the relatives of two "disappeared persons,"
Ridvan Karakoc and Hasan Gulunay.

"The aim of the raid is to silence the human rights activists who are
witnesses to the dirty war in the region. The activists will continue
resisting oppression," IHD official Nazmi Gur told TDN.

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Sun May 25 08:31:48 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 25 May 1997 08:31:48
Subject: Students clash in Istanbul University
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3yb93twx0.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Students clash in Istanbul University
From: Press at asterix.xs4all.nl, Agency at asterix.xs4all.nl,        Ozgurluk at asterix.xs4all.nl

 23 May,1997, Copyright ? Turkish Daily News  
Students clash in Istanbul University

  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Istanbul- Students from opposite political groups clashed in Istanbul
University on Thursday afternoon, leaving three students heavily
injured according to reports.

Police fired in the air to disperse students gathered in the
courtyard. A group of students organized a forum in Law Faculty to
commemorate the death anniversary of an illegal left wing organization
militia.

Following speeches in the canteen, the students started to chant
slogans. The opposition right wing group tried to prevent the activity
which resulted in clashes. The clashes with rocks and sticks continued
in the campus. Total four students were injured and taken to the
Istanbul University Medical Faculty hospital for treatment.

Police opened fire in the air to prevent the further clashes between
the opposition group who interfered with the forum and the left wing
students. One student was detained by the police who was trying to
escape.

Huseyin Ozdemir, Zafer Ozbek and Veysel Yildiz were detained and taken
to court by the police following the clashes. It was reported that
Huseyin Ozdemir was to prison with the decision of thew Criminal Court
No.5 following the clashes in the same university on December 5 last
year and was on the run since than.

Huseyin Ozdemir denied the accusations that he fired upon the students
in the canteen, he took the gun from the left wing students by force
and fired in the air to scare the crowd who, he claimed, attacked in a
group of 40 people with iron sticks in the canteen.

According to the charges of the Criminal Court, Huseyin Ozdemir
entered the canteen during the forum with a cleaver, attacked to the
students and opened fire with a gun upon the students who tried to
stop him.

One of the suspects Zafer Ozbek, claimed that he was in his lecturer's
room during the clashes and the lecturer Dr. Necip Cakir confirmed his
alibi.

Huseyin Ozdemir, Zafer Ozbek and Veysel Yildiz will be sentenced to
between 2 and 43 three years if convicted.
-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Mon May 26 01:51:31 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 26 May 1997 01:51:31
Subject: PKK Commander Says Turkey Occupying
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970525204..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: PKK Commander Says Turkey Occupying Buffer Zone

Rebel Commander Says Turkey Occupying Buffer Zone;
Threatens Attacks

Associated Press, 05/24/97

     ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A Kurdish rebel
commander has accused Turkey of occupying a
buffer zone in northern Iraq and threatened attacks
if Turkey does not withdraw. 
     "Suicide attacks will be carried out inside Turkey,"
Semdin Sakik, a senior guerrilla commander, said
on Kurdish television. 
     He spoke with London-based MED TV on Friday;
the text of the interview was made available to The
Associated Press on Saturday. 
     Suicide bombings by Turkish Kurds have claimed
10 lives in Turkey in the past two years. 
     Turkey sent an estimated 25,000-50,000 troops
into northern Iraq on May 14 to in a bid to wipe out
rebel bases used for cross-border attacks. Turkish
troops have fanned out over a 200-mile strip
extending 40 miles into Iraq and reportedly taken
several rebel strongholds. 
     Sakik said the Turkish army was trying to occupy a
buffer zone. Turkey said last fall it wanted to
establish such a zone inside Iraq and Washington
approved the plan. 
     MED TV said Turkish troops are setting up bases
at the towns of Atroush, Sarsang, and Sumall, about
35 miles from the Turkish border. It said the bases
are encircle by barbed wire and mines. 
     This is the fourth year in a row that Turkey has
carried out a major spring offensive in northern
Iraq. Each time the guerrillas have regrouped and
returned to their strongholds once the Turkish
troops were gone. 
     Iraqi Kurds established a de facto state in northern
Iraq after the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The Turkish
Kurdish rebels took advantage of the power
vacuum to set up bases there. 
     Arab countries have demanded quick exit of
Turkish troops from northern Iraq and Italy has
urged Turkey to seek a political - not a military -
solution to the Kurdish problem. 
     The guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
have been fighting for autonomy in southeastern
Turkey for 13 years. The war has killed 28,000
people so far. 



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Mon May 26 07:32:24 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 26 May 1997 07:32:24
Subject: Nobel Prize Winner To Speak On The
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970526023..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Nobel Prize Winner To Speak On The Plight Of Leyla Zana

American Kurdish Information Network
Press Release #21
May 23, 1997
Contact: Noah A. Weiss
Tel: (202) 483-6444

Nobel Prize Winner Jose Ramos-Horta 
To Speak On Behalf of Leyla Zana

     On Wednesday, May 28, 1997, Jose Ramos-Horta, 1996 Nobel
Peace Prize Co-Laureate, will speak on behalf of Leyla Zana at a
reception sponsored by the American Kurdish Information Network
and the East Timor Action Network. Mr. Ramos-Horta will also
discuss his work toward human rights and self-determination for
the people of East Timor.
     Leyla Zana was elected to the Turkish Parliament in October
1991 with 84% of the electoral vote from her heavily
Kurdish-populated hometown of Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. 
Mrs. Zana, recipient of the 1995 Sakharov Freedom Award, was one
of seven Kurdish members of the Turkish Parliament imprisoned in
December 1994, having been prosecuted for engaging in "separatist
speech" stemming from her non-violent expression of political
beliefs.
     Leyla Zana became the first Kurd to break the ban on the
Kurdish language in the Turkish Parliament, for which she was
later tried and convicted. She had uttered the following words: "I
am taking this [constitutional] oath for the brotherhood of the
Turkish and Kurdish peoples." In May 1993, Leyla Zana testified
before the Helsinki Commission of the U.S. Congress regarding the
status of human rights in Turkey. The Turkish government branded
her testimony treasonous and used it to convict her as well.  
     Leyla Zana's pursuit of democratic change through non-violent
means landed her in prison in Turkey. Thousands of others like
Leyla Zana have suffered the same fate for the same reasons, not
only in Kurdistan but also in East Timor. The Indonesian invasion
and occupation of East Timor has claimed the lives of over 200,000
Timorese since 1975.
     Jose Ramos-Horta is Special Representative of the National
Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM), the umbrella organization of
the East Timorese resistance. He received the 1996 Nobel Peace
Prize, along with Catholic Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, for
their work towards a peaceful and democratic solution to the
conflict between the Indonesian government and the Timorese claim
to self-determination.
     The reception will be hosted by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver
& Jacobson from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #
800. Free copies of the soon-to-be-published book "Free Leyla
Zana!" will be available at the event.

----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public
service to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship



From ozgurluk at xs4all.Nl  Mon May 26 15:06:06 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.Nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.Nl)
Date: 26 May 1997 15:06:06
Subject: Scared Yankees in Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3d8qdzywz.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.Nl>

May 26 1997

"DID THE TUPAC AMARU COME?"

Istanbul Tepebasi, the garden of the American consulate...  The
evening has just started. The street, leading from Tarlabasi to MayDay
Square is full of people. The workers quickly walk home, people are
waiting at the bus stops, the traffic is breaking the silence of the
crowds. 
There are more people on the streets, not just the working people who
want to go home to their families. The Mafia gangs, looking at their
prey like a wolf, are also waiting there. Some of them are walking
round. 
The people who pass by see a building, hidden behind huge walls,
resembling the ghettos of the large landowners in the Middle
Ages. This building is the consulate of the Yankees, the wildest
bandits of the New Age. 
A pompous party is held in the garden of this ghetto behind the huge
walls. There are a lot of people. Agents who act like diplomats, high
officials, "teachers", loyal scribblers, dressed like
journalists... It is the evening of the welfare party for consul Mark
Grossman who likes to present himself like some kind of "Efendi". But
in fact it is no "welfare" party, it's more like a rescue for Grossman
who possibly celebrates that he is able to leave the country in one
piece. That's how we see it.
Because this enemy of the people, this murderer knows very well about
his crimes against our people, against the people in the Middle East
and the rest of the world. But it seems that the raid by the immortal
fighters of Tupac Amaru against the Japanese embassy in Peru has
increased their fear. 
Yes, every day is becoming a living nightmare for them. Their fear is
justified and not without reason.  
Because they know that there is Tupac Amaru in Peru and that there is
the Party Front in Anatolia and they know they will meet the never
ending anger of the people, the rifles of the liberation fighters,
some day in another part of the world. That's why they panic, that's
why they live in fear. Every shot that is fired frightens the
imperialists, the bosses, the collaborators and the murderers and they
can not sleep in peace anymore. Their faces become pale.  
Another example that fear turns every day for them into a nightmare
was shown on May 2. As a result of the war between the gangs of
Susurluk, a Mafia group - Ciller's dogs - which likes to sit on
Clinton's lap - the boss of the gangsters - raided the television
station Flash TV. They spread their terror and used their guns. And
these gunmen caused panic among the Yankees, as if their shots were
aimed at them. The psychological situation of the Yankees and the
collaborators, described by one of the scribblers which can be bought:
"(...) A large group of people was gathered in the garden. Diplomats,
businessmen, professors of the university and journalists filled the
garden of the consulate.  
Suddenly there were gunshots. At first three shots could be heard. The
invited guests, some 150 people, fell silent. It became so silent, a
fly could be heard.  Mrs. Huffins, a diplomat of the consulate, said:
"Do not go outside". Because of the raid against the Japanese embassy
in Peru, everybody believed there was an attack against the American
consulate. The faces of the invited people became pale. One of them
joked: "Will they take us hostage for 500 days as well?" The
atmosphere in the garden became tense. The silence continued. There
were another 7 shots. The tension rose even more. One of the guests
said: "Probably the Tupac Amaru have come. (...)"

Yes, the action by the Tupac Amaru caused such a fear among the
imperialists and the people's enemies that every shot which could be
heard sounded like a shot by the people's liberation fighters to
them. Of course, it weren't the shots themselves which caused this
fear among the murderers. Their fear was caused because these shots
were fired on Anatolian soil, in Istanbul. They knew that they were at
the soil of there arch enemy, the Party-Front. The shots, fired from
the weapons from the Tupac Amaru, expressed the anger and hatred,
gathered through the centuries. They expressed the demand for a human
and just life for the people. That's what they are afraid for
really. 
They knew that like the Tupac Amaru attacked in Peru, the people of
the Party-Front could attack here as well. They knew the sympathisers
of the Party-Front from Elrom, from the Yankees from the 6th. fleet,
thrown into the sea, from the car of Commer, set on fire because of
Vietnam. They knew because of the attacks against the oppressed Arab
people (Iraq) and the retaliation attack against their base in
Istanbul, from the generals in Izmir and from the bullets which
exploded in the brains of the army officers. 
They knew that the red flag, waving on the roof of the embassy in
Peru, was also waving above the three bodies of Kizildere (in the
resistance of Kizildere on March 30, 1971), in Ciftehavuzlar (in the
resistance of Sabahat Karatas on April 17, 1992), and that it was
waving against the bastards, representing the hope and the bond with
the people, representing the victory of socialism.  We will increase
their fear. 
Let them yell victory because of the heroic martyrs of the Tupac
Amaru, in fact they are scared. They are scared because of us. 
They are scared because of the Tupac Amaru and the anger of all the
people in the world. 
We will detonate like a bomb in their heads, their secure bases, their
ghettos.

DOWN WITH ALL IMPERIALISTS, LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION STRUGGLE
-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com


From greenscreen at gn.apc.org  Tue May 27 00:36:00 1997
From: greenscreen at gn.apc.org (greenscreen at gn.apc.org)
Date: 26 May 1997 23:36:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: IPS: KURDISTAN: Protests Against Tu
Message-ID: <APC.2.0.4a1526a5.900@gn.apc.org>

From: greenscreen (Umit OZTURK)
Subject: IPS: KURDISTAN: Protests Against Turkish Invasion of Iraq
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 20:49:08 GMT

In apc.mideast.news, newsdesk at igc.apc.org wrote:

>       Copyright 1997 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
>          Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.

>                      *** 22-May-97 ***

>Title: KURDISTAN: Protests Against Turkish Invasion of Iraq in Europe

>By Gustavo Gonzalez

>GENEVA, May 22 (IPS) - The Turkish army offensive against the
>Kurdish guerrilla position in the North of Iraq had repercussions
>in European cities today, where Kurdish demonstrators called for
>international condemnation.

>In Geneva, the Kurdish militants occupied one wing of the
>United Nations (UN) building in Geneva for five hours. Other
>demonstrations were held in Brussels opposite the European Union
>headquarters, and in Strasbourg, France, opposite the European
>Parliament building.

>The Turkish army launched a combined attack on May 14,
>penetrating up to 200 km into Iraqi territory.

>In one week, the Turkish troops killed more than 1,300 Kurdish
>Workers' Party (PKK) guerrillas and many civilians, according to
>international despatches.

>The occupants of the UN building accused the international
>community of indifference. ''War for Kuwait. Silence for
>Kurdistan. Why the double standards,'' read a sign in the hall
>which normally houses press conferences with foreign dignitaries.

>A declaration distributed by the demonstrators said the attack
>''of the colonial and fascist Turkish army'' had been supported by
>the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP).

>The Turkish Foreign Minister said last week the sally into Iraq
>had been requested by Massoud Barzani, the KDP leader, to dislodge
>the PKK fighters from the frontier zone.

>The third fighting group, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
>(PUK), has so far kept out of the affair. A deeply entrenched
>rivalry separates the UPK from the KDP.

>Under pressure from the United States, Britain and Turkey,
>Barzani's KDP and the PUK, led by Jalal Talabani, agreed a treaty
>last October, the details of which are still being worked out.

>The Kurd nation, with an estimated population of more than 20
>million people, is spread across territory in four states of the
>region: Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.

>Those occupying the UN building said Turkey had carried out
>similar armed operations in 1992 and 1995. On both occasions, the
>European countries and the European Parliament threatened Turkey
>with sanctions in order to make it withdraw.

>The Kurdish rebels said that from the initiation of operations,
>a hundred or so people had been killed in the offices of various
>Kurd organisations in the town of Erbil.

>The Turkish soldiers and their KDP collaborators killed the
>sick and injured in a hospital of the Red Crescent in Kurdistan,
>and employees of the publications ''Welat'' and ''Welate Roj,'' of
>the Cultural Centre of Mesapotamia and the Socialist Party of
>Kurdistan, they added.

>However, the Turkish army simply declared Wednesday that more
>than 1,000 PKK fighters had fallen during the first week of the
>military offensive in Iraqi territory.

>The declarations of the Kurdish demonstrators distributed
>around Geneva, omitted all mention of these supposed deaths, but
>recognised that ''more than 1,000 Kurds are in the hands of the
>Turkish army, the Turkoman forces and the KDP bands.''

>''The lives of these people is in danger,'' they added.

>The occupation of the UN building ended after nearly five hours
>of negotiations, with the participation of the head of the Office
>of Legal Affairs, Ulrich von Blumenthal, and officials from the
>human rights areas.

>''We tried to solve the problem in a peaceful manner and we
>achieved it,'' explained Jameleddine Ben Yahmed, one of the UN
>representatives in Geneva.

>But ''this violation of the United Nations headquarters is
>unacceptable,'' he added.

>The demonstrators said they were satisfied with the draft
>declaration on the Turkish attack on Iraq made last week in Vienna
>by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General.

>''The integrity of Iraqi territory must be respected and I have
>demanded the withdrawal of the Turkish troops as soon as
>possible,'' he said. (END/IPS/tra-so/pc/dg/sm/97)

>Origin: Montevideo/KURDISTAN/
>                              ----

>       [c] 1997, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
>                     All rights reserved

>  May not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or
>  service outside  of  the  APC  networks,  without  specific
>  permission from IPS.  This limitation includes distribution
>  via  Usenet News,  bulletin board  systems, mailing  lists,
>  print media  and broadcast.   For information about  cross-
>  posting,  send   a   message  to   <online at ips.org>.    For
>  information  about  print or  broadcast reproduction please 
>  contact the IPS coordinator at <online at ips.org>.




From SysAdmin at msn.com  Mon May 26 18:26:47 1997
From: SysAdmin at msn.com (SysAdmin at msn.com)
Date: 26 May 1997 18:26:47
Subject: Undeliverable:Scared Yankees in Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.UPMAIL13.199705262157510818@msn.com>

From: "System Administrator" <SysAdmin at msn.com>
Subject: Undeliverable:Scared Yankees in Istanbul

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

	Subject	Scared Yankees in Istanbul
	Sent	Mon, 26 May 97 21:49:48 UT

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

	jim_hillier at msn.com  On  Mon, 26 May 97 21:57:51 UT
		The Microsoft Network member inbox is full.

Date: Mon, 26 May 97 21:49:48 UT
From: "Press Agency Ozgurluk" <ozgurluk at xs4all.Nl>
Sender: "english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl" <english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>
To: english at asterix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Scared Yankees in Istanbul

May 26 1997

"DID THE TUPAC AMARU COME?"

Istanbul Tepebasi, the garden of the American consulate...  The
evening has just started. The street, leading from Tarlabasi to MayDay
Square is full of people. The workers quickly walk home, people are
waiting at the bus stops, the traffic is breaking the silence of the
crowds. 
There are more people on the streets, not just the working people who
want to go home to their families. The Mafia gangs, looking at their
prey like a wolf, are also waiting there. Some of them are walking
round. 
The people who pass by see a building, hidden behind huge walls,
resembling the ghettos of the large landowners in the Middle
Ages. This building is the consulate of the Yankees, the wildest
bandits of the New Age. 
A pompous party is held in the garden of this ghetto behind the huge
walls. There are a lot of people. Agents who act like diplomats, high
officials, "teachers", loyal scribblers, dressed like
journalists... It is the evening of the welfare party for consul Mark
Grossman who likes to present himself like some kind of "Efendi". But
in fact it is no "welfare" party, it's more like a rescue for Grossman
who possibly celebrates that he is able to leave the country in one
piece. That's how we see it.
Because this enemy of the people, this murderer knows very well about
his crimes against our people, against the people in the Middle East
and the rest of the world. But it seems that the raid by the immortal
fighters of Tupac Amaru against the Japanese embassy in Peru has
increased their fear. 
Yes, every day is becoming a living nightmare for them. Their fear is
justified and not without reason.  
Because they know that there is Tupac Amaru in Peru and that there is
the Party Front in Anatolia and they know they will meet the never
ending anger of the people, the rifles of the liberation fighters,
some day in another part of the world. That's why they panic, that's
why they live in fear. Every shot that is fired frightens the
imperialists, the bosses, the collaborators and the murderers and they
can not sleep in peace anymore. Their faces become pale.  
Another example that fear turns every day for them into a nightmare
was shown on May 2. As a result of the war between the gangs of
Susurluk, a Mafia group - Ciller's dogs - which likes to sit on
Clinton's lap - the boss of the gangsters - raided the television
station Flash TV. They spread their terror and used their guns. And
these gunmen caused panic among the Yankees, as if their shots were
aimed at them. The psychological situation of the Yankees and the
collaborators, described by one of the scribblers which can be bought:
"(...) A large group of people was gathered in the garden. Diplomats,
businessmen, professors of the university and journalists filled the
garden of the consulate.  
Suddenly there were gunshots. At first three shots could be heard. The
invited guests, some 150 people, fell silent. It became so silent, a
fly could be heard.  Mrs. Huffins, a diplomat of the consulate, said:
"Do not go outside". Because of the raid against the Japanese embassy
in Peru, everybody believed there was an attack against the American
consulate. The faces of the invited people became pale. One of them
joked: "Will they take us hostage for 500 days as well?" The
atmosphere in the garden became tense. The silence continued. There
were another 7 shots. The tension rose even more. One of the guests
said: "Probably the Tupac Amaru have come. (...)"

Yes, the action by the Tupac Amaru caused such a fear among the
imperialists and the people's enemies that every shot which could be
heard sounded like a shot by the people's liberation fighters to
them. Of course, it weren't the shots themselves which caused this
fear among the murderers. Their fear was caused because these shots
were fired on Anatolian soil, in Istanbul. They knew that they were at
the soil of there arch enemy, the Party-Front. The shots, fired from
the weapons from the Tupac Amaru, expressed the anger and hatred,
gathered through the centuries. They expressed the demand for a human
and just life for the people. That's what they are afraid for
really. 
They knew that like the Tupac Amaru attacked in Peru, the people of
the Party-Front could attack here as well. They knew the sympathisers
of the Party-Front from Elrom, from the Yankees from the 6th. fleet,
thrown into the sea, from the car of Commer, set on fire because of
Vietnam. They knew because of the attacks against the oppressed Arab
people (Iraq) and the retaliation attack against their base in
Istanbul, from the generals in Izmir and from the bullets which
exploded in the brains of the army officers. 
They knew that the red flag, waving on the roof of the embassy in
Peru, was also waving above the three bodies of Kizildere (in the
resistance of Kizildere on March 30, 1971), in Ciftehavuzlar (in the
resistance of Sabahat Karatas on April 17, 1992), and that it was
waving against the bastards, representing the hope and the bond with
the people, representing the victory of socialism.  We will increase
their fear. 
Let them yell victory because of the heroic martyrs of the Tupac
Amaru, in fact they are scared. They are scared because of us. 
They are scared because of the Tupac Amaru and the anger of all the
people in the world. 
We will detonate like a bomb in their heads, their secure bases, their
ghettos.

DOWN WITH ALL IMPERIALISTS, LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION STRUGGLE
-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com


From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Mon May 26 18:41:20 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 26 May 1997 18:41:20
Subject: Turkey: People's Council in Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m367w5zoxe.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey: People's Council in Istanbul
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

THE LIBERATED LAND STARTS IN ISTANBUL

Gazi, March 12, 1995: Fascists in a taxi open up fire against several
coffeeshops which are known as meeting places for the left. The murderers are
allowed to escape by the police.

That same day, tens of thousands of people take to the street. They
demand justice. This time the police the police intervenes and uses
armoured cars and bullets against the people. More than 60 people die
on this day and the following ones by the hands and the weapons of the
police.  The people in Gazi are declared public enemy and subjected to
an increased state terror. But the people know how to fight back.

Gazi, March 12, 1996: More than 20.000 people join a huge
demonstration to commemorate the people who fell one year ago.

Already days before, the police surrounded the neighbourhood and
everybody who wants to enter Gazi is checked by them. But nevertheless
the flags of the left revolutionary organisations are waving in the
demonstration, especially the flag of "public enemy no.1", the
DHKP-C. No policemen dares to enter the neighbourhood on this
day. Since then the organised resistance continued to grow in Gazi.

On October 5, 1996, the grass root organisation in Gazi entered a new
phase. On this day a People's Council was founded in Gazi and the
neighbouring area of Zuebeyde Hanim. 

This People's Council is seen as the legitimate representative and
government of their neighbourhood by the people in Gazi. With this
People's Council, the inhabitants of Gazi will solve their own
problems. Since 1970, Alevites, Sunni, Laz and Kurds, coming to
Istanbul to secure their survival, have been living in Gazi. The state
did not take care about the neighbourhood and until 1984 there was no
electricity at all, and there was no water till 1987. Not a single bus
entered the area. Children were murdered in Gazi, the people were
being exploited, arrested and tortured at any given time. 

The People's Council will take the solution of the problems in Gazi
and Zuebeyde Hanim into its own hands, in participation with all the
people in the neighbourhood. It will take care of things the people
can not allow, like for example festivities. The founding of the
People's Council was celebrated with a festivity as well. Several
children were circumcised at this festivity which was witnessed by a
Sunni, as well as a Alevi clergy. 

One of the participants described the founding of the People's
Council: "On March 12, 1995, some coffeeshops in our neighbourhood
were shot to provoke conflicts and trouble between the people, the
different nationalities and religious beliefs. While the people waited
for justice, the murderers were allowed to escape. Day long protests
erupted against this, the people were on the streets for days, showing
their anger and their hatred against those who were responsible. Many
people were killed during these protests and hundreds of people were
wounded and tortured, just because they demanded justice. It is a goal
of the People's Council to create solidarity between the people,
against the armoured police vehicles, the arrests, torture and abuse,
without making a difference because of nationality or religious
creed. We will bring down unemployment, improve the water and
electricity supply, social security, the housing conditions and
education. We want to develop a culture of solidarity. Now the health
care situation is tackled, within the framework of our financial
possibilities. The people are being g examined for free. This will we
done on a permanent basis in the future. The people will be able to
celebrate their festivities, for example marriages, together. It's our
goal to solve the problems together and to create solidarity within
the collective. One of the most important rules of our People's
Council is the participation of the people in its leadership. The
co-operation is based on voluntariness. It is tried to tackle all the
problems which concern the people in our neighbourhood, developing
possible solutions. It was shown in Gazi that the People's Council is
there for the people. No matter whether they are Turks, Kurds ... all
of them will see that the council is there for them, we want to show
that we want to live that way, all of us together. In our People's
Council there is no one who doesn't co-operate. Gazi should be an
example for all. A People's Council is an organisation which lets the
people decide for themselves. It will not be the rich which will
decide here, on the contrary, the poor will decide. The people here
have been oppressed for years, they were the people who were neglected
by the state. The People's Council is the best solution for all of
this."


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From SysAdmin at msn.com  Mon May 26 19:11:06 1997
From: SysAdmin at msn.com (SysAdmin at msn.com)
Date: 26 May 1997 19:11:06
Subject: Undeliverable:Undeliverable:Scared Yankees in Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.UPMAIL13.199705270127360566@msn.com>

From: "System Administrator" <SysAdmin at msn.com>
Subject: Undeliverable:Undeliverable:Scared Yankees in Istanbul

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

	Subject	Undeliverable:Scared Yankees in Istanbul
	Sent	Mon, 26 May 97 21:49:48 UT

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

	jim_hillier at msn.com  On  Tue, 27 May 97 01:27:35 UT
		The Microsoft Network member inbox is full.

Date: Mon, 26 May 97 21:49:48 UT
From: "MSN Forum Management Team  " <SysAdmin at msn.com>
Sender: "english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl" <english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>
To: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl
Subject: Undeliverable:Scared Yankees in Istanbul

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

	Subject	Scared Yankees in Istanbul
	Sent	Mon, 26 May 97 21:49:48 UT

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

	jim_hillier at msn.com  On  Mon, 26 May 97 21:57:51 UT
		The Microsoft Network member inbox is full.

Date: Mon, 26 May 97 21:49:48 UT
From: "Press Agency Ozgurluk" <ozgurluk at xs4all.Nl>
Sender: "english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl" <english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>
To: english at asterix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Scared Yankees in Istanbul

May 26 1997

"DID THE TUPAC AMARU COME?"

Istanbul Tepebasi, the garden of the American consulate...  The
evening has just started. The street, leading from Tarlabasi to MayDay
Square is full of people. The workers quickly walk home, people are
waiting at the bus stops, the traffic is breaking the silence of the
crowds. 
There are more people on the streets, not just the working people who
want to go home to their families. The Mafia gangs, looking at their
prey like a wolf, are also waiting there. Some of them are walking
round. 
The people who pass by see a building, hidden behind huge walls,
resembling the ghettos of the large landowners in the Middle
Ages. This building is the consulate of the Yankees, the wildest
bandits of the New Age. 
A pompous party is held in the garden of this ghetto behind the huge
walls. There are a lot of people. Agents who act like diplomats, high
officials, "teachers", loyal scribblers, dressed like
journalists... It is the evening of the welfare party for consul Mark
Grossman who likes to present himself like some kind of "Efendi". But
in fact it is no "welfare" party, it's more like a rescue for Grossman
who possibly celebrates that he is able to leave the country in one
piece. That's how we see it.
Because this enemy of the people, this murderer knows very well about
his crimes against our people, against the people in the Middle East
and the rest of the world. But it seems that the raid by the immortal
fighters of Tupac Amaru against the Japanese embassy in Peru has
increased their fear. 
Yes, every day is becoming a living nightmare for them. Their fear is
justified and not without reason.  
Because they know that there is Tupac Amaru in Peru and that there is
the Party Front in Anatolia and they know they will meet the never
ending anger of the people, the rifles of the liberation fighters,
some day in another part of the world. That's why they panic, that's
why they live in fear. Every shot that is fired frightens the
imperialists, the bosses, the collaborators and the murderers and they
can not sleep in peace anymore. Their faces become pale.  
Another example that fear turns every day for them into a nightmare
was shown on May 2. As a result of the war between the gangs of
Susurluk, a Mafia group - Ciller's dogs - which likes to sit on
Clinton's lap - the boss of the gangsters - raided the television
station Flash TV. They spread their terror and used their guns. And
these gunmen caused panic among the Yankees, as if their shots were
aimed at them. The psychological situation of the Yankees and the
collaborators, described by one of the scribblers which can be bought:
"(...) A large group of people was gathered in the garden. Diplomats,
businessmen, professors of the university and journalists filled the
garden of the consulate.  
Suddenly there were gunshots. At first three shots could be heard. The
invited guests, some 150 people, fell silent. It became so silent, a
fly could be heard.  Mrs. Huffins, a diplomat of the consulate, said:
"Do not go outside". Because of the raid against the Japanese embassy
in Peru, everybody believed there was an attack against the American
consulate. The faces of the invited people became pale. One of them
joked: "Will they take us hostage for 500 days as well?" The
atmosphere in the garden became tense. The silence continued. There
were another 7 shots. The tension rose even more. One of the guests
said: "Probably the Tupac Amaru have come. (...)"

Yes, the action by the Tupac Amaru caused such a fear among the
imperialists and the people's enemies that every shot which could be
heard sounded like a shot by the people's liberation fighters to
them. Of course, it weren't the shots themselves which caused this
fear among the murderers. Their fear was caused because these shots
were fired on Anatolian soil, in Istanbul. They knew that they were at
the soil of there arch enemy, the Party-Front. The shots, fired from
the weapons from the Tupac Amaru, expressed the anger and hatred,
gathered through the centuries. They expressed the demand for a human
and just life for the people. That's what they are afraid for
really. 
They knew that like the Tupac Amaru attacked in Peru, the people of
the Party-Front could attack here as well. They knew the sympathisers
of the Party-Front from Elrom, from the Yankees from the 6th. fleet,
thrown into the sea, from the car of Commer, set on fire because of
Vietnam. They knew because of the attacks against the oppressed Arab
people (Iraq) and the retaliation attack against their base in
Istanbul, from the generals in Izmir and from the bullets which
exploded in the brains of the army officers. 
They knew that the red flag, waving on the roof of the embassy in
Peru, was also waving above the three bodies of Kizildere (in the
resistance of Kizildere on March 30, 1971), in Ciftehavuzlar (in the
resistance of Sabahat Karatas on April 17, 1992), and that it was
waving against the bastards, representing the hope and the bond with
the people, representing the victory of socialism.  We will increase
their fear. 
Let them yell victory because of the heroic martyrs of the Tupac
Amaru, in fact they are scared. They are scared because of us. 
They are scared because of the Tupac Amaru and the anger of all the
people in the world. 
We will detonate like a bomb in their heads, their secure bases, their
ghettos.

DOWN WITH ALL IMPERIALISTS, LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION STRUGGLE
-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com


From SysAdmin at msn.com  Mon May 26 19:42:26 1997
From: SysAdmin at msn.com (SysAdmin at msn.com)
Date: 26 May 1997 19:42:26
Subject: Undeliverable:Turkey: People's Council in Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.UPMAIL13.199705270142150832@msn.com>

From: "System Administrator" <SysAdmin at msn.com>
Subject: Undeliverable:Turkey: People's Council in Istanbul

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

	Subject	Turkey: People's Council in Istanbul
	Sent	Tue, 27 May 97 01:25:33 UT

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

	jim_hillier at msn.com  On  Tue, 27 May 97 01:42:15 UT
		The Microsoft Network member inbox is full.

Date: Tue, 27 May 97 01:25:33 UT
From: "Press Agency Ozgurluk" <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>
Sender: "english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl" <english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>
To: english at asterix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Turkey: People's Council in Istanbul

THE LIBERATED LAND STARTS IN ISTANBUL

Gazi, March 12, 1995: Fascists in a taxi open up fire against several
coffeeshops which are known as meeting places for the left. The murderers are
allowed to escape by the police.

That same day, tens of thousands of people take to the street. They
demand justice. This time the police the police intervenes and uses
armoured cars and bullets against the people. More than 60 people die
on this day and the following ones by the hands and the weapons of the
police.  The people in Gazi are declared public enemy and subjected to
an increased state terror. But the people know how to fight back.

Gazi, March 12, 1996: More than 20.000 people join a huge
demonstration to commemorate the people who fell one year ago.

Already days before, the police surrounded the neighbourhood and
everybody who wants to enter Gazi is checked by them. But nevertheless
the flags of the left revolutionary organisations are waving in the
demonstration, especially the flag of "public enemy no.1", the
DHKP-C. No policemen dares to enter the neighbourhood on this
day. Since then the organised resistance continued to grow in Gazi.

On October 5, 1996, the grass root organisation in Gazi entered a new
phase. On this day a People's Council was founded in Gazi and the
neighbouring area of Zuebeyde Hanim. 

This People's Council is seen as the legitimate representative and
government of their neighbourhood by the people in Gazi. With this
People's Council, the inhabitants of Gazi will solve their own
problems. Since 1970, Alevites, Sunni, Laz and Kurds, coming to
Istanbul to secure their survival, have been living in Gazi. The state
did not take care about the neighbourhood and until 1984 there was no
electricity at all, and there was no water till 1987. Not a single bus
entered the area. Children were murdered in Gazi, the people were
being exploited, arrested and tortured at any given time. 

The People's Council will take the solution of the problems in Gazi
and Zuebeyde Hanim into its own hands, in participation with all the
people in the neighbourhood. It will take care of things the people
can not allow, like for example festivities. The founding of the
People's Council was celebrated with a festivity as well. Several
children were circumcised at this festivity which was witnessed by a
Sunni, as well as a Alevi clergy. 

One of the participants described the founding of the People's
Council: "On March 12, 1995, some coffeeshops in our neighbourhood
were shot to provoke conflicts and trouble between the people, the
different nationalities and religious beliefs. While the people waited
for justice, the murderers were allowed to escape. Day long protests
erupted against this, the people were on the streets for days, showing
their anger and their hatred against those who were responsible. Many
people were killed during these protests and hundreds of people were
wounded and tortured, just because they demanded justice. It is a goal
of the People's Council to create solidarity between the people,
against the armoured police vehicles, the arrests, torture and abuse,
without making a difference because of nationality or religious
creed. We will bring down unemployment, improve the water and
electricity supply, social security, the housing conditions and
education. We want to develop a culture of solidarity. Now the health
care situation is tackled, within the framework of our financial
possibilities. The people are being g examined for free. This will we
done on a permanent basis in the future. The people will be able to
celebrate their festivities, for example marriages, together. It's our
goal to solve the problems together and to create solidarity within
the collective. One of the most important rules of our People's
Council is the participation of the people in its leadership. The
co-operation is based on voluntariness. It is tried to tackle all the
problems which concern the people in our neighbourhood, developing
possible solutions. It was shown in Gazi that the People's Council is
there for the people. No matter whether they are Turks, Kurds ... all
of them will see that the council is there for them, we want to show
that we want to live that way, all of us together. In our People's
Council there is no one who doesn't co-operate. Gazi should be an
example for all. A People's Council is an organisation which lets the
people decide for themselves. It will not be the rich which will
decide here, on the contrary, the poor will decide. The people here
have been oppressed for years, they were the people who were neglected
by the state. The People's Council is the best solution for all of
this."


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Tue May 27 07:22:00 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 27 May 1997 07:22:00
Subject: excuses for slipped mail
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3206tzlqi.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

Excuse us!

Some receipents recently received a message that slipped through our
mailinglist.


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From IHD-DIYARBAKIR at INFO-IST.comlink.apc.org  Thu May 22 05:28:00 1997
From: IHD-DIYARBAKIR at INFO-IST.comlink.apc.org (IHD-DIYARBAKIR at INFO-IST.comlink.apc.org)
Date: 22 May 1997 05:28:00
Subject: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DETA NED
Message-ID: <6XKEkMuOWyB@xp-ihddi.info-ist.comlink.apc.org>

Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DETA?NED BY POICEMAN
SEKRETER?ET OF HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION DIYARBAKIR BRANCH LAWYER NAMED  
SINAN TANRIKULU THIS MORNING DETA?NED BY POLICEMAN.

Human Rights Association Diyarbakir Branch
Tel:00.90.412.2234526
Fax:00.90.412.2246814
## CrossPoint v3.11 ##

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 28 01:52:21 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 28 May 1997 01:52:21
Subject: ERNK Statement On Turkey's Invasion
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970527204..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: ERNK Statement On Turkey's Invasion Of South Kurdistan

[The following statement was made at a press conference on May 16,
1997 in Brussels by ERNK spokesperson Dogan Cudi.]

Dear members of the press, 

     I thank you for attending this press conference which we have
organized in order to evaluate the latest Turkish military
incursion into south Kurdistan. 
     Turkish military forces, in collaboration with the KDP,
commenced a military offensive against the southern part of our
country (northern Iraq) on May 14, 1997 at 3 o'clock in the
morning. 60,000 Turkish troops, backed by tanks and Sikorsky
helicopters, marched into Kurdistan from Silopi at Habur border
point and have moved down further towards the areas of Haftanin,
Metina, Ciyayi Spi, and the Brenes mountains. Air bombings and
shellings continue as we speak. 
     The Turkish state, unable to proceed with the incursion
without the active support of her Western allies and the
treacherous KDP, launched its invasion after receiving the full
support of its Western allies, in particular the U.S., and the
KDP.
     We are aware, since April this year, that the U.S., Israel,
and Turkey, together with the KDP, have been making plans against
our struggle as they did in 1992 and 1995. We are also aware that
the so-called Peace Monitoring Force (PMF), which was based near
Arbil - an area between the KDP and PUK forces - was set up in
order to contribute to their plans in the region. The
establishment of the PMF, under the pretext that there are
Turkomen in south Kurdistan, aim to create a second Cyprus
situation. It is clear that through the armament of this so-called
Peace Monitoring Force they attempt to create their own war force.
On the other hand, the strategic allegiance between Turkey and
Israel will no doubt create new forces of alliance in the region.
The U.S., Israel, and Turkey alliance aims to strengthen
imperialism, Zionism, and Kemalism in the region. 

Dear members of the press, 

     Whatever the different points of views are, the recently
emerged forces of alliance and the incursion undoubtedly mean the
beginning of a new era in south Kurdistan. The latest developments
in the region are not just another simple invasion of Turkish
forces and its effects will be shown in the long term. The U.S.
will not only remain as a political player in the region, but will
be directly involved in every development. 
     Thus the current military incursion into southern Kurdistan
is not only an assault against the Kurds, Kurdistan, or the PKK.
The Turkish state has been waging a dirty war against our people
in northwestern Kurdistan for the last 14 years without success.
As a result of this war, Turkey suffers from a deepening economic,
political, and social crisis. Considering the economic and
political consequences of the war and involvement of the state in
the drug trade at its highest levels, Turkey is striving to give
the impression that they are "winning the war". This military
offensive is not only an all-out attack against the Kurds, Arabs,
Persians, and other peoples, but it is also an attack against the
developing unity of these peoples and their very existence in the
region. The scale of the incursion and the reaction of other
states proves that the latest development will affect the status
quo in the region. This operation, also aimed to force 15,000
Kurdish refugees back into Turkey to weaken the PKK, which has
become the only hope of the Kurds living in all parts of
Kurdistan, and this operation is aimed at stopping our efforts to
defeat national treachery. Turkey and her allies intend to place a
de facto puppet force in south Kurdistan and declare their rule in
the region.

Dear members of the press, 

     Taking this opportunity, we would like to clarify several
points.
     Never mind that the territorial integrity of Iraq is being
violated, innocent civilian people have been targeted, the whole
area is bombarded, international law is breached, and yet it is
not the Turkish state but the PKK which is branded as terrorist
and its acts as illegitimate. Those who accuse us are the real
terrorists and this definition is being used for their narrow
imperialist interests.
     We ask those who claim that "the PKK is finished, we killed
hundreds of them, its back has been broken, it is marginalized",
why are you in such a panic? Why send thousands of troops after
the PKK? Why do you declare the PKK as your strategic enemy? It is
clear that you have been defeated before and you will suffer the
same defeat in this latest operation.
     Why do the European states, who support Turkey under the
pretext that the "PKK threatens the territorial integrity of
Turkey" and "Turkey has a right to protect its borders and fight
against terrorist threat", remain silent when Turkey carries out
"cross-border operations". Isn't this a violation of the
"territorial integrity" of Iraq? Isn't Turkey breaching the
so-called "safe haven"? 
     The Turkish state, which foolishly believes in military
solutions, gives the impression to its supporters that a military
solution is closer than ever, and it will once more face the
reality that a military victory is impossible for Turkey. These
incursions have become periodic events for the ARGK (People's
Liberation Army of Kurdistan). The ARGK has in the past defeated
similar offensives and it will do the same this year. 
     Those circles, who over the years insisted on the political
and peaceful solution of the Kurdish question, must know that
Turkey does not favor such a solution and that the recent
incursion will complicate things more. The silence of European
states, as in the past, encourages Turkey in its official policy. 
     According to our information sources, on the second day of
the operation 8 village guards were killed in Silopi, 2 armored
vehicles were destroyed, 2 military jeeps were hit by our
guerrillas in Derkar Passage, 6 soldiers were killed during a
clash in Sinaht Passage, 2 soldiers died when they stepped on land
mines in Beri Sosen area, and 5 soldiers were killed and their
weapons confiscated in Dersim area. This information is proof of
Turkey's continuing losses leading to another defeat. 

Dear members of the press, 

     Taking this opportunity, I would also like to call on our
people and all Kurdish organizations regarding this very historic
moment in our struggle: Kurds living in exile and our cadres and
supporters must take on their responsibility with respect to an
all-out mobilization. We call on our people to take their position
opposing the invasion and treachery, to organize joint protests,
meetings, and pickets, and to expose the true face of the forces
collaborating with the enemy. At this historic time of our
struggle, Kurdish people should work 24 hours a day. 
     We would also like to condemn and warn the KDP and other
forces who are in collaboration with Turkey: Unless they change
their ways, their fate will be no different than that of the
Turkish state. We warn them, before it is too late, to oppose this
occupation of our country and take their place alongside the
Kurdish people.
     Our call to the Western powers who have economically,
politically, and militarily contributed to the barbarism and the
invasion of the Turkish army: European countries must oppose this
invasion and condemn it, and, if they are sincere, they should
take concrete steps for a political solution to the Kurdish
question. They should impose sanctions against Turkey. Silence
will confirm their approval of this act and their stance on the
issue.

National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK)
May 16, 1997


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv
called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/archives/ats-l
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++


From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 28 06:28:48 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 28 May 1997 06:28:48
Subject: Kurdish Satellite TV's Second Anniv
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970528012..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Kurdish Satellite TV's Second Anniversary

Kurdish Satellite TV's Second Anniversary

By Phil Hearse 

        BRUSSELS -- Two hundred European parliamentarians,
journalists, academics, and human rights activists gathered here
May 17, 1997, at the studios of Med-TV, the Kurdish satellite TV
station, to celebrate its second anniversary.
        Med-TV beams eight hours of programming daily to Kurds
living within the state borders of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and
other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Also available in
Europe on cable TV, the station carries everything from children's
cartoons to drama and political debates. 
        In a message of support, John Pilger said: "I think Med-TV
is a wonderful idea. Where battles are being won and lost now
through information, it's a critical weapon for people struggling
for their freedom like the Kurds. It's about a people's voice
being heard, and there are great forces trying to stop the Kurds
from being heard." 
        Throughout its two years of broadcasting, Med-TV has faced
a campaign of harassment from the Turkish government, which claims
it is the propaganda arm of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the
organization waging an armed struggle for Kurdish
self-determination. This is denied by the station, which points to
the wide spectrum of Kurdish political opinion which has been
expressed on air. 
        By coincidence, the celebration of Med-TV's birthday came
just three days after a spectacular demonstration of the
repression of Kurdish identity -- another Turkish invasion of the
Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. On May 14, tens of thousands of
Turkish troops invaded as part of the ongoing campaign to crush
the Kurdish PKK resistance. 
        Despite a virtual media blackout, eyewitness reports said
Turkish troops had gone deep into the former UN-designated "safe
haven", including the major Kurdish town of Irbil, and were
carrying out dozens of executions of suspects. 
        Med-TV is a unique experiment. Nowhere else has a people
struggling for its liberation managed to find such an effective
means to express their national and cultural rights. Med-TV is
vital for the Kurds. Kurdistan is not only occupied (split between
Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria), but any form of Kurdish
expression, for example the use of the Kurdish language, is
prohibited and repressed, especially in south-east Turkey. 
        Med-TV has broken through that cultural repression because
it is broadcast by satellite. Kurds gather in groups to watch the
only existing broadcasting to use the major Kurdish dialects. 
        The Turkish state -- for the moment at least -- is
powerless to stop Med-TV broadcasts. However, Turkish security
forces have been trying to track down and smash TV satellite
dishes in Kurdish areas. Med-TV's supporters expect this tactic to
become progressively less successful as new, small, easily hidden
"fold-up" dishes are introduced. 
        Med-TV, whose main studios are in Brussels but which is
headquartered in London, is broadcast from the commercial Eutelsat
television satellite. This is made possible by the granting of an
official license to the channel by Britain's Independent
Television Commission (ITC), which has repeatedly stated that
Med-TV meets all the criteria of quality and content needed for
official approval.
        Attempts by the Turkish ambassador in Britain to claim
Med-TV is a political front have been rebuffed by the ITC. In
1995, British prime minister John Major was forced to tell former
Turkish premier (now foreign minister) Tansu Ciller that the
British government could not interfere in the decisions of the
ITC.
        Med-TV is the first satellite TV station whose broadcasts
have been jammed. In December 1995, a program in which PKK
chairman Abdullah Ocalan was being interviewed was hit by up-link
interference. The source was unknown (but might be guessed). 
        The station also was the target of coordinated
"anti-terrorist" police raids in London and Brussels last year,
evidently at the behest of the Turkish government. No one was
charged with any crime and nothing illegal was found. 
        A young Kurdish woman working at the studios told me: "I
was brought up in Melbourne, where my parents and family still
live as part of the 10,000-strong Kurdish community in Australia.
I have never seen Kurdistan, but I feel I know it better now
through Med-TV. Our station is a key way for the people of
Kurdistan to talk to one another -- not just the ethnic Kurds, but
also the minority national groupings, like the Alevis, Christians,
and Assyrians, who have their own spaces on the station. Asserting
our diverse cultural identities is a key part of building a
nation. Now we have got onto some European cable networks, let's
hope we succeed in extending our coverage so all Kurdish people
worldwide, including in Australia, get a chance to see it
regularly." 

(Source: Green Left Weekly, http://www.peg.apc.org/~greenleft/)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv
called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/archives/ats-l
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++


From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 28 06:31:47 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 28 May 1997 06:31:47
Subject: Cuba And Turkey To Expand Their Tie
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970528013..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Cuba And Turkey To Expand Their Ties?

CUBA AND TURKEY TO BROADEN BILATERAL RELATIONS
 
Havana, May 27 (RHC)-- Tourism, agriculture and the
pharmaceutical and construction industries are seen as among
the most promising sectors in bilateral trade links between
Turkey and Cuba. The Mayor of the Turkish city of Izmir, Dr.
Burhan Ozfatura, made the announcement Tuesday as part of his
tour of the island.  Ozfatura -- who has been in Cuba since
Sunday at the invitation of local authorities -- told
reporters in Havana, that he will do whatever possible to
broaden and diversify bilateral cooperation between Istanbul
and Havana.  The Turkish government official said that
although projects are already underway in Turkey with the
assistance of Cuban scientists and professors, the upcoming
inauguration of an honorary Cuban consul in his city will
promote economic and cultural links with the island.
 
Last November, municipal authorities from Izmir and Havana
signed a sister-city accord.

(Source: Radio Havanna Cuba, http://www.radiohc.org)


From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 28 06:32:47 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 28 May 1997 06:32:47
Subject: Kurdish Protest In Washington, D.C.
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970528013..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

Dear Friends,

Come join the members of the American Kurdish community at the White 
House Sidewalk to protest the Turkish invasion of the Safe Haven in 
southern Kurdistan, a.k.a., northern Iraq.  

The protesters, the Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan, Quisling types are 
not invited, and their American friends, will gather in Lafayette park 
tomorrow, May 28, 1997, at 11:30 am.  They will be holding signs that 
read:

National Security is no excuse for Slavery!
Kick Turkey out of Kurdistan!
Free Kurdistan Now!
Dismantle Turkish Fascism!
Stop Turkish Fascism!
Let Status Quo Crumble!
Support Self Determination!
Say Yes to Kurdistan!
Stop US Arms Sales To Turkey!

We hope you will be able to join us.

AKIN

----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public service 
to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship



From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Wed May 28 06:35:25 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 28 May 1997 06:35:25
Subject: Scared Yankees In Istanbul: Did The
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970528013..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Scared Yankees In Istanbul: Did The Tupac Amaru Come?

"Scared Yankees In Istanbul: Did The Tupac Amaru Come?"

Statement By The Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKC)
May 26, 1997

     Istanbul Tepebasi, the garden of the American consulate. The
evening has just started. The street, leading from Tarlabasi to
May Day Square, is full of people. The workers quickly walk home,
people are waiting at the bus stops, the traffic is breaking the
silence of the crowds. 
     There are more people on the streets, not just the working
people who want to go home to their families. The Mafia gangs,
looking at their prey like a wolf, are also waiting there. Some of
them are walking round. 
     The people who pass by see a building, hidden behind huge
walls, resembling the ghettos of the large landowners in the
Middle Ages. This building is the consulate of the Yankees, the
wildest bandits of the New Age. 
     A pompous party is held in the garden of this ghetto behind
the huge walls. There are a lot of people. Agents who act like
diplomats, high officials, "teachers", loyal scribblers, dressed
like journalists. It is the evening of the farewell party for
consul Mark Grossman who likes to present himself like some kind
of "Efendi". But in fact it is no "farewell" party, it's more like
a rescue for Grossman who possibly celebrates that he is able to
leave the country in one piece. That's how we see it.
     Because this enemy of the people, this murderer knows very
well about his crimes against our people, against the people in
the Middle East and the rest of the world. But it seems that the
raid by the immortal fighters of Tupac Amaru against the Japanese
embassy in Peru has increased their fear. 
     Yes, every day is becoming a living nightmare for them. Their
fear is justified and not without reason.
     Because they know that there is Tupac Amaru in Peru and that
there is the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front in
Anatolia, and they know they will meet the never ending anger of
the people, the rifles of the liberation fighters, some day in
another part of the world. That's why they panic, that's why they
live in fear. Every shot that is fired frightens the imperialists,
the bosses, the collaborators, and the murderers and they can not
sleep in peace anymore. Their faces become pale.
     Another example that fear turns every day for them into a
nightmare was shown on May 2. As a result of the war between the
gangs of Susurluk, a Mafia group - Ciller's dogs, who like to sit
on lap of Mr. Clinton, the boss of the gangsters - raided the
television station Flash TV. They spread their terror and used
their guns. And these gunmen caused panic among the Yankees, as if
their shots were aimed at them. The psychological situation of the
Yankees and the collaborators, described by one of the scribblers
who can be bought: "A large group of people was gathered in the
garden. Diplomats, businessmen, professors of the university, and
journalists filled the garden of the consulate. Suddenly there
were gunshots. At first three shots could be heard. The invited
guests, some 150 people, fell silent. It became so silent, a fly
could be heard. Mrs. Huffins, a diplomat of the consulate, said:
 Do not go outside'. Because of the raid against the Japanese
embassy in Peru, everybody believed there was an attack against
the American consulate. The faces of the invited people became
pale. One of them joked:  Will they take us hostage for 500 days
as well?' The atmosphere in the garden became tense. The silence
continued. There were another 7 shots. The tension rose even more.
One of the guests said:  Probably the Tupac Amaru have come....'."
     Yes, the action by the Tupac Amaru caused such a fear among
the imperialists and the people's enemies that every shot which
could be heard sounded like a shot by the people's liberation
fighters to them. Of course, it wasn't the shots themselves which
caused this fear among the murderers. Their fear was caused
because these shots were fired on Anatolian soil, in Istanbul.
They knew that they were on the soil of their arch enemy, the
Party-Front. The shots in Lima, fired from the weapons from the
Tupac Amaru, expressed anger and hatred gathered through the
centuries. They expressed the demand for a humane and just life
for the people.
     That's what they are afraid for really. They knew that just
as the Tupac Amaru attacked in Peru, the people of the Party-Front
could attack here as well. They knew the sympathisers of the
Party-Front from Elrom, from the Yankees of the 6th Fleet thrown
into the sea, from the car of Commer, set on fire because of
Vietnam. They knew because of the attacks against the oppressed
Arab people (Iraq) and the retaliation attack against their base
in Istanbul, from the generals in Izmir, and from the bullets
which exploded in the brains of the army officers.
     They knew that the red flag, waving on the roof of the
embassy in Peru, was also waving above the three bodies of
Kizildere (in the resistance of Kizildere on March 30, 1971), in
Ciftehavuzlar (in the resistance of Sabahat Karatas on April 17,
1992), and that it was waving against the bastards, representing
the hope and the bond with the people, representing the victory of
socialism. We will increase their fear. 
     Let them yell victory because of the heroic martyrs of the
Tupac Amaru, in fact they are scared. They are scared because of
us. They are scared because of the Tupac Amaru and the anger of
all the people in the world. We will detonate like a bomb in their
heads, their secure bases, their ghettos.

Down With All Imperialists!
Long Live The People's Liberation Struggle!

Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKC)

-- 
DHKC Informationbureau Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/dhkc1.html
mailto: dhkc at dds.nl
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv
called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/archives/ats-l
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++


From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Wed May 28 20:59:33 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 28 May 1997 20:59:33
Subject: [konfront@xs4all.nl] Konfrontatie nr. 20
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3bu5vm5pn.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: [konfront at xs4all.nl] Konfrontatie nr. 20
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

*  KONFRONTATIE  **   KONFRONTATIE  **   KONFRONTATIE  **  KONFRONTATIE   *
 __________________________________________________________

 **********************************************************
 * Konfrontatie verschijnt 2 wekelijks in gratis E-mail vorm. Voor
abonnement    *
 * of opzegging hiervan stuur een verzoek aan konfront at xs4all.nl. Ook
reacties     *
 * zijn welkom. Oude nummers en diverse andere artikelen zijn te vinden op
*
 *  http://www.xs4all.nl/~konfront.
*
 **********************************************************
Konfr.nr.20  / 28 mei '97   konfront at xs4all.nl   http://www.xs4all.nl/~konfront

Inhoud:
Corporate Europe Observatory: "Europe Inc.";
------------------------------------------------------------
datum: 28 mei '97
auteur:  Corporate Europe Observatory/ A Seed
thema: Europa

(kop)
Europe Inc.
(subkop)
Dangerous Liaisons between the EU and the European Roundtable of Industrialists

(lead)
Although still largely unknown among the general public, the
European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT) is a leading
political force on the European Union scene. Thanks to its close
connections with top European politicians, the ERT played a
crucial role in pushing for the Internal Market in the 1980s, it
put the trans-European infrastructure networks (TENs) on the
political agenda, and left clear fingerprints on the 1991
Maastricht Treaty. Today, the ERT and its offshoots fight for
further deregulation within Europe ("completing the Internal
Market"), global free trade, and its new buzzword "benchmarking"
as a way to institutionalize international competitiveness as the
Union's primary objective. Now that many of its earlier demands
have been reproduced as official EU goals, the Roundtable will
urge the June 1997 Intergovernmental Conference to hasten
expansion towards the East and to shun anti-competitive social
and environmental elements in the revised Maastricht Treaty.

(article)
The ERT, founded in 1983, consists of more than 45 "captains of
industry" from large European transnational corporations
including Asea Brown Boveri, British Petroleum, Daimler-Benz,
Fiat, ICI, Nestle, Philips, Renault, Shell, Siemens and
Unilever. The ERT differs from other industry lobby groups in
Brussels in its disdain for lobbying on detailed legislation,
preferring to fill the EU's agenda with grand new projects. As
ERT Secretary-General Keith Richardson puts it: "We don't deal
with sectoral issues. We don't deal with national issues. We only
talk about the overall questions."

The Founding Fathers
The cosy collaboration between the ERT and the European
Commission began with the founding of the Roundtable in 1983 by
Umberto Agnelli of Fiat, Wisse Dekker of Philips and Pehr
Gyllenhammer of Volvo. Their venture was enthusiastically
supported by European Commissioners Etienne Davignon, then
Commissioner for Industry and the Internal Market, and former
Commissioner for Finance, Francois Xavier Ortoli. During the
presidency of Jacques Delors, links between Europe's industrial
leaders and the Commissioners were made even tighter.

This Commission-industry alliance played a crucial role during
preparations for the Internal Market. In 1985, ERT chairman Wisse
Dekker launched a proposal and timetable for the removal of all
obstacles to trade. The ERT's goal was to convince EU member
state governments that a unified home market -- strengthening the
competitiveness of European industry against rivals in Japan and
the United States -- was the only way out of the economic crisis.
A few months later, Lord Cockfield, Commissioner for Industry,
published his White Paper, which bore remarkable resemblance to
the ERT's proposal and became the basis for the Single European
Act. According to the ERT's Keith Richardson, "Bearing in mind
that when it was first launched governments were not very keen,
we helped a lot to push it [the Internal Market] through."

After this first success, the ERT turned to its next priority:
European transport infrastructure. Arguing that existing
infrastructure was a barrier to economic growth, the ERT worked
side by side with the Commission to successfully argue for the
environmentally controversial Trans-European Networks (TENs). The
ERT took part in the official Motorway Working group, and saw its
dreams come true when a commitment to construct the TENs was
written into the Maastricht Treaty. TENs are the largest
transport infrastructure plan in history, and include 12,000
kilometres of new motorways as well as high-speed train links and
airport expansions. Although neither the ERT nor the Commission
has displayed any concern about the environmental impacts of such
enormous plans, Greenpeace has estimated that TENs will result
in a 15-18% increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the
transport sector. After its transport coup, the ERT set up a
new body -- ECIS, the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies
-- to deal with the nitty gritty of finding funds and overcoming
technical barriers to the implementation of TENs.

The Maastricht Treaty and EMU
ERT members met regularly with commissioners and national policy-
makers during negotiations about the Maastricht Treaty. For the
ERT, one of the most desired and tangible results of the Treaty
was the project for a European Monetary Union (EMU). As early as
1985, the Roundtable had argued that the Internal Market must be
completed with a single currency, and in 1991 proposed a
timetable for EMU implementation bearing remarkable similarity
to the one incorporated soon afterwards in the Maastricht Treaty.
In fact, the main work preparing the ground for the EMU was done
not by the ERT itself, but by the Association for the Monetary
Union of Europe (AMUE). The AMUE was founded in 1987 by a few
TNCs (Fiat, Philips, Rhone Poulenc, Solvay and Total), each of
which was also represented in the ERT. The first chairman of the
AMUE was Wisse Decker, then also chairing both the ERT and
Philips. (see box)

------------------ in box -------------------
AMUE
While enjoying similar privileged access as the ERT to high-level
decisions-makers on both the national and European levels, the
Association for a Monetary Union of Europe (AMUE) played an
important role in putting the economic and monetary union (EMU)
on track. AMUE works closely with EU institutions, such as the
European Monetary Institute (EMI) and the Commission. Besides
providing financial support to the AMUE, the European Commission
frequently consults the group on monetary questions. Secretary-
General Bertrand de Maigret explains that this cooperation takes
place both formally and informally. "It's a very confident way
of working. They call us, we call them, they see us, we discuss
matters. They are quite flexible".

Etienne Davignon, currently board member of both ERT and AMUE,
explains that governments have always been interested in
listening to AMUE and that "they gladly come to our general
assemblies in various countries. Prime Ministers usually come to
address these, and also governors of central banks attend". Such
meetings occur without protest from other interests in the EU.
Davignon explains "in these issues, industry is much less
suspected than in other issues. This is not the lobby for the car
industry, or for electronics, or multimedia, or the deregulation
of banks or whatever, but the discussion over the improved use
of the internal market."

How important has the AMUE been in setting the agenda for EMU?
There is no doubt that European politicians have been dreaming
about a more integrated economy for many years and that
significant political will existed. However, when political
doubts existed about the alternatives of setting precise dates
for implementation of the Maastricht Treaty or leaving the
timetables more open, the AMUE successfully pressed for the
former. As Maigret explains, governments "were very glad to find
the support of industry and the bank community in preparations
for the writing of the treaty, where we had discussions on
various high levels".

Now that nearly every government has demonstrated its commitment
to EMU, the role of the AMUE will change. The debate is no longer
if, but how, and the Association is now more focused on
monitoring the strict application of the timetables and criteria.

---end box---

Delors, the White Paper and GATT
Perhaps the most noteworthy example of symbiotic relations
between the ERT and the Commission President is Delors' December
1993 White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment. The
White Paper, endorsed by heads of state and government at the
1993 EU Summit in Brussels, was prepared in close cooperation
with members of the Roundtable. During the autumn of 1993, drafts
of the ERT report Beating the Crisis and the Commission White
Paper circulated back and forth. At the press launch for the
White Paper, Delors thanked the ERT for its support in the
preparations; a week earlier, he had attended the release of
Beating the Crisis. Side by side, the two reports are strikingly
uniform in their calls for competition, deregulation, flexible
labour markets and transport infrastructure investments.

Relations with Santer
The ERT's intimate relations with the previous Commission have
not been spoiled by new Commission President Jacques Santer. "In
many ways we have a common interest," explains Richardson. "By
and large, our main priorities are the same." For example,
Santer's Confidence Pact: Action for Employment in Europe,
launched at the Florence EU Summit in June of 1996, is largely
a reworked version of Delors' 1993 White Paper and a new attempt
to increase financing for TENs. Santer's job creation strategy
neatly follows industry's agenda: progress towards the single
currency ("future generations' best friend"), completion of
the single market, deregulation of biotechnology legislation,
strengthening of the World Trade Organization and flexible labour
markets.

The Competitiveness Advisory Group (CAG) is another example of
the ERT's fruitful cooperation with Santer. The ERT originally
proposed the idea in a 1993 report, and the following year, "the
final idea was accepted at the Essen Summit." The CAG, a
motley collection of business leaders, trade unionists,
politicians and academics, is an official working group to advise
the EU on economic policies. Jacques Santer personally selected
the members in early 1995, giving leading ERT members a central
role. Since its founding, the CAG has produced four reports,
each one published shortly before a European Council meeting, and
including recommendations to decision-makers which bear close
resemblance to the advice given by the ERT.

Internal Market Revisited
In its most recent reports, the ERT has pushed hard for further
deregulation, arguing that the Internal Market is not yet
complete. Its main demands are the liberalization of the
telecommunications, transport and energy markets, and the
harmonization of national taxation systems. All of these demands
have now become official EU policy. In late 1996, Commissioner
Monti's report on the Internal Market came to conclusions along
the same lines as those in the ERT report entitled European
Competitiveness (see box). And in December 1996, the Dublin EU
Summit gave the Commission the mandate to launch an action plan
about the completion of the Single Market. Neither the ERT nor
the European Commission seem concerned about the negative effects
that the proposed deregulation and privatization (for example of
the transport sector) would have on employment levels or the
environment in Europe. The deregulation of energy markets, for
example, will result in lower prices which will encourage higher
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

--- in box ---
MAGICAL MONTI
In the autumn of 1996, the European Commission published The
Single Market and Tomorrow's Europe, which was meant to evaluate
the first few years of the Internal Market. Internal Market
Commissioner Mario Monti concluded that the European free trade
zone has been an enormous success, not only increasing trade
within the EU, but also boosting external trade, employment,
investment, air traffic and much more. Monti also claims that the
Internal Market has increased cohesion in Europe, allowing the
GDP of the poorer EU member states to approach that of richer
ones.

Monti's only negative finding was that small and medium-sized
companies have profited less than large corporations from the
yet-to-be completed market, due to the fact that "the full
effects in terms of competitiveness for European business have
yet to be realized". As a remedy, he proposed a long list of
measures to complete the Internal Market, including the
liberalization of electricity and telecommunications markets, the
completion of the TENs and the deregulation of transport markets,
and the harmonization of tax policies within the Internal Market
(for instance, the VAT).

Although the Monti report is based on more than 10,000 pages of
background research, it remains remarkably superficial. For
example, it claims that because national GDP figures have become
less disparate, the Internal Market has increased cohesion in the
European Union. Yet just a few weeks before the launch of the
Monti report, five other Commissioners presented a report which
concluded that the differences between regions in Europe are
increasing on measures of both income and unemployment. Economic
development in Europe is concentrated in a number of increasingly
rich regions, such as the so-called 'golden banana' area (London,
Rotterdam, Paris, Munich, Milan), whereas many other regions are
left in the dust with high unemployment levels. However, social
inequalities are on the rise even within the "prosperous"
regions.
--- end box ---

Benchmarking
The latest tool proposed by the ERT in its relentless search for
competitiveness is "benchmarking". In its 1996 report
Benchmarking for Policy-Makers: The Way to Competitiveness,
Growth and Job Creation, the ERT explains that benchmarking means
"scanning the world to see what is the very best that anybody
else anywhere is achieving, and then finding a way to do as well
or better". The report describes how the government of the
Netherlands used benchmarking to evaluate the competitiveness of
the Dutch economy; this exercise "demonstrated a failure to
exploit its [the economy's] full potential". The comparison
between the Netherlands and its competitors showed, among other
things, that "the ports were good, but not the roads that served
them". To improve competitiveness, the Dutch government has taken
steps to "reduce the 'wedge' of tax and social security charges,
to simplify regulations and to open markets for new
entrepreneurs, and to strengthen both the intellectual and the
physical infrastructure".

The benchmarking gospel has been received with open arms by the
European Commission. The ERT has organized several seminars on
benchmarking with Commission and government officials, and the
Commission recently established a special working group, led by
Industry Commissioner Bangemann, with the mission of introducing
benchmarking as a leading principle in EU policy-making. If the
ERT's benchmarking mission succeeds, and it looks as if it will,
international competitiveness will be institutionalized as the
primary criterium for decision-making. It will move decision-
making away from the political towards the technical sphere, and
will consolidate the dominance of neo-liberal policies in
virtually every field of policy-making.

EMU Criteria as Benchmarking
For the ERT, the criteria for European Monetary Union as laid out
in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty are an example of "what
benchmarking is about". According to Keith Richardson,
"Maastricht has put enormous pressure on every country in the EU,
even on those which do not intend to join the Monetary Union, to
bring their finances in better order and to keep them there."
And the ERT does not limit its enthusiasm for benchmarking to
Europe. In late 1996, the Roundtable produced a survey called
Investment in the Developing World: New Openings and Challenges
for European Industry. The ERT prides itself in the fact that
governments in the South have used the 1993 survey as a
benchmarking tool "by assessing themselves against their
neighbours and then implementing further concrete improvements.
[...] Thanks to this global benchmarking exercise, many countries
in the so-called 'developing world' now offer a significantly
better environment for investment than they used to."

The ERT's purpose is to make European governments look nervously
over their shoulders in an endless competitive race with Southern
countries. Global benchmarking as proposed by the ERT can be
applied to virtually every area imaginable: "In more and more
areas, less developed countries and their policies are even
getting ahead of Europe. Patentability of genetically modified
plants is now possible in several developing countries, but not
yet in Europe."

The EU continues to fuel economic globalization with a conscious
set of policy choices which remove control from capital and
trade. Global free trade is one of the EU's current main
objectives. This is visible in efforts by Directorate General I
(External Trade) to "prize open world markets" or by
Directorate General XV (Internal Market) to "complete the single
market". Hundreds of people in national and European trade and
industry departments are fighting hard to "sustain the process
of opening and modernization". Of course, these people have
little interest in informing the general public about the
unpopular side-effects of their efforts. They have learned that
policies which are difficult to sell -- like budget cuts in
social expenditures in order to fulfil EMU criteria -- can be
made more palatable by repeating: "There is no alternative".

--- in box ---
Blaming TNCs
Recent examples of corporate relocations with disastrous effects
on employment, such as the closure of the Renault plant in
Vilvoorde, Belgium have increased the image problems of ERT-type
corporations. The ERT is aware that rising unemployment in Europe
may result in resentment and blame being sent in its direction,
and in defense has prepared a clever public relations strategy.
This was made clear with the release of its latest report in
April 1997. A Stimulus to Job Creation: Practical Relationships
Between Large and Small Companies claims that "economic
restructuring [...] can be carried out in a socially responsible
way".  The report gives a number of examples of plant closures
in which TNCs have tried to circumvent disastrous effects for
local communities. Renault, for instance, is praised for its
company programme which offers employees practical help in the
setting up of small businesses.

--- in box ---


THE ERT AND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
The European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT) has shown great
interest in the process and outcomes of the Intergovernmental
Conference (IGC). The IGC, which hopes to be concluded at the
June 1997 European Summit in Amsterdam, is responsible for the
revision of the Maastricht Treaty. Main ERT priorities for the
IGC are strengthening the EU's ability to act, further
deregulation, and expanding the EU to include Central and Eastern
European member countries. Prior to the end of the IGC, the ERT
seemed very confident about the direction the negotiations were
taking.

In terms of influencing the IGC, perhaps the most strategic
meeting to be had is with the head of the government holding the
EU Presidency, since January of 1997 the Dutch Prime Minister Wim
Kok. The ERT has been efficient and methodical in its lobbying
of key IGC figures: "We try to see every government that deals
with the European presidency," says Richardson. "For example, we
have met and talked to Wim Kok early on this year because he's
got the presidency." Other governments were also approached:
"We've talked to the Spaniards, the Italians, the Irish, the
Dutch, and we've talked to the Germans and the French because
they are lead players." Richardson explains: "What we've got
to offer is that if Wim Kok meets the ERT, he meets with 5 or 6
company chairman. And they talk with a certain personal
authority."


Getting the Structure Right
The advantages enjoyed by the EU's main competitors Japan and the
United States -- single governments, markets and currencies --
are a source of envy in the relatively fragmented Europe. "The
United States could do nothing if every decision had to be
ratified by 52 states," argues Richardson.

Thus, the EU's inability to act is viewed by the ERT as an
impediment to the intensified competitiveness of Europe as a
whole. "We feel very strongly that Europe can not move at the
pace of the slowest," stresses Richardson. The ERT supports
two possible solutions to this obstacle: a change in the
definition of majority voting in a way that favours more powerful
countries as well as the more frequent use of this kind of
voting, or the adoption of the flexibility clause as proposed by
France and Germany, which would permit the core governments to
steamroll ahead without unprepared or unwilling minority
countries. However, even flexibility has its limits: the ERT
believes that "whatever is done should not damage the Single
Market."

The ERT is also not entirely satisfied with the existing balance
of powers between the various EU decision-making branches. In
direct contradiction to widespread public opinion on democracy
and transparency issues within the EU, the ERT believes "that the
Commission would work better if the president had more
authority". This would no doubt make the EU more efficient,
but certainly not more democratic.

The Bigger the Better
The ERT is quite keen about the enlargement of the EU to include
Central and Eastern European countries, as is evidenced in their
IGC position papers. As the ERT Secretary-General explains,
broadening of the EU "is fundamental indeed. It will bring great
economic benefits. These countries will bring new people, a lot
of skills, technology, education, know-how. They will bring
material resources including land and energy, and they will bring
markets for our products." Indeed, the prospect of increasing
the EU home market from 360 to 500 million people is wildly
exciting from an industry perspective -- "as if we had discovered
a new Southeast Asia on our doorstep." According to
Richardson, "once these countries are launched on the path of
negotiations, this will lift up the confidence of western
industrialists -- who of course can invest more money there".

Employment and Environment
The ERT is also not concerned about the idea that the new treaty
will most likely have a chapter on employment, which may include
elements of job creation that run counter to the ERT's
competitiveness dreams. According to the Roundtable, jobs are
best created through the undisturbed functioning of the single
market, which the EU is doing its best to implement. The ERT
wisely recognizes that such an employment chapter will likely do
no more than allay public fears about Europe's rising
unemployment, as long as it remains on general terms (which it
is sure to do).

To the ERT, environmental regulations are simply another barrier
to unfettered competitiveness. They feel that government
regulation must be minimized, and voluntary action by industry
encouraged as much as possible. So what worries the ERT more than
the anticipated employment chapter is the environmental
movement's request that environmental issues be integrated into
every chapter of t treaty. "This is really much more damaging,"
says Richardson. "If you write environment into every chapter of
the treaty, you might as well write everything else into every
chapter of the treaty [...] I think they are asking for too
much."

The ERT Outside Europe
The ERT also sees the IGC as an instrument for increasing its
influence outside of Europe. The general wish to hurry the EU
along and "increase its ability to act" has specifically been
directed towards negotiations on foreign affairs issues. The ERT
appreciated the results of the Uruguay Round of the GATT, where
the EU negotiated on behalf of all 15 members states, and wants
this block bargaining to happen in all fields. "The IGC should
equip the EU with a strong and unified voice on all matters of
external economic relations," reads the ERT position paper for
the Irish presidency. "The all-important Common Commercial Policy
should be extended to ensure unified negotiating positions on all
external commercial issues, including trade in services,
investment and the protection of intellectual property." These
sentiments were echoed in the Irish draft paper prepared for the
Dublin summit in December 1996, which proposes a new draft for
Article 113 on common commercial policy. This article in the
Maastricht treaty allows the EU to negotiate on behalf of the 15
EU countries in matters concerning international trade of goods.
Extending the scope of this chapter to trade in services,
intellectual property and public procurement would mean a big
step down the path towards global free trade as promoted by the
ERT.

How Do We Get Where We're Going?
The EU - and most prominently the European Commission - has shown
itself to be disturbingly receptive to the political agenda of
corporate lobby groups. While unemployment figures in Europe have
risen above 20 million, social and regional inequalities are
increasing, and the destruction of the environment is
accelerating, the EU continues to turn Europe and the whole world
into a single free trade zone. A 'logical' prerequisite for
following this path towards economic globalization is the
fundamental restructuring of Europe's economy to make it globally
competitive. Social cuts and dismantling of public services
(related with the single currency), the environmentally-
destructive large-scale expansion of infrastructure, and the
deregulation of biotechnology are just a few examples of what
comes to pass when international competitiveness becomes the
overarching goal.

The EU political system is a wonderful place for organizations
like the ERT to do business: decisions with far-reaching effects
are made behind closed doors and in secretive committees,
invisible to and far removed from the many people affected by the
resulting deals. The powerful European Commissioners give scarce
thought to the reactions of voters, as they are not elected. The
decision-making procedures of the Council of Ministers also lack
transparency, making this body largely unaccountable as well.
Finally, the powers of the European Parliament are far too
limited to compensate for the overall lack of democracy in the
Union.

The centralization of power in Brussels has given business an
enormous advantage over social movements. The social groups that
sometimes hamper corporate activities at the local and national
level are relatively weak at the European level, and as a result
have lost numerous battles. Both the Single Market and the EMU
are projects in which social, environmental and democratic
concerns have been largely bypassed. The power bases of trade
unionists, as well as environmentalists, remain on the local,
regional or national level. These movements are now racing to
catch up, but their limited resources, the unequal access, and
perhaps most of all their lack of a European constituency makes
this an extremely difficult task.

It is not enough only to look at the democratic gaps in the EU
decision-making structure to explain why corporate lobby groups
have gained such a strong foothold in the apparatus. The strong
grip of TNCs on European economies, which is a direct consequence
of the creation of the Internal Market and increasing
globalization, must be challenged. In a globalized economy,
governments have little choice but to do their best to attract
investments. Economic dependency upon TNCs leaves governments
with little option but to adapt to the agenda proposed by
corporate lobby groups. This entails adapting regulations and
freeing economic resources to serve the needs of corporations,
at the expense of people and the environment. Corporate lobby
groups are working at full speed in order to tell politicians how
this can best be done. To effectively reduce the political
influence of TNCs, European economies must be weaned from their
dependence upon corporations.

------------ box ---------------
ERT Assistant Secretary-General Caroline Walcott says: "Lobbying
at the Commission is not a problem. But at the national level you
often find a lack of continuity. The problem is that in
individual countries, the politicians have to gather votes. But
in the European Union they can see the whole picture."
----------------------------------

No Alternative?

Because the assumption that globalization is unavoidable has
never been seriously challenged, there has been no real public
debate about the political choices that are leading Europe
further and further down the path of sacrificing social services,
environmental policies and public expenditure to international
competitiveness. It is high time that this path itself is
questioned.

Today's footloose and fancy-free corporations as well as the
global marketplace within which they operate are neither
economically necessary nor immune to change. Viable and socially
fulfilling alternatives exist. Citizens all over the world start
rejecting the corporate agenda by way of strikes, demonstrations
and civil disobedience. As these initiatives begin to gather
momentum, the strong corporate hold over people's work,
communities and lives starts to crumble. It is this diversely-
spun web of struggles which gives hope for the future.


---box----
Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue (TABD)

The TABD was a joint initiative of the European Commission (led
by Commission Vice President Sir Leon Brittan and Commissioner
for Industrial Affairs Martin Bangemann) and the US Department
of Commerce. The ERT was also a driving force behind the
initiative. Sir Brittan explained the necessity of such a
dialogue: "The task of ensuring that economic decision-making in
the global economy that is acceptable to our peoples is not only
for governments. As companies and financial institutions become
bigger players, they must also be aware of their political
responsibilities. We should continue to examine new ways of
involving leaders of the private sector in discussions about
international economic policy priorities."

The goal of this hybrid animal is "the realization of a true
transatlantic marketplace through developing an action plan for
the removal of obstacles to trade and investment flows across the
Atlantic." The obstacles that the TABD is eager to remove
include environmental, safety, health and worker regulations as
well as restrictions protecting local and traditional markets.
The TABD's position on environmental legislation is spelled out
clearly in the Chicago Declaration: "We urge governments not to
undermine the international trading system through the use of
trade measures to enforce environmental regulations."

The TABD's inaugural conference was held in Seville, Spain in
November of 1995. A second meeting took place the following year
in Chicago. After Seville, Jan Timmer of Philips (a leading
member of the ERT) concluded that: "There was absolute agreement
that there are far too many rules now, and that they are great
and unnecessary impediments to trade." According to Sir Leon
Brittan, the follow-up gathering in Chicago was "an innovative
and exciting occasion. We and the American government had asked
businessmen from both sides of the Atlantic to get together and
see if they could reach agreement on what needed to be done next.
If they could, governments would be hard put to explain why it
couldn't be done. The result was dramatic. European and American
business leaders united in demanding more and faster trade
liberalization. And that had an immediate impact..."

The TABD has attracted a familiar crowd. Jan Timmer, chairman of
Philips, is the current co-chairman (the other co-chair is Dana
Mead, chairman of US-based oil company Tenneco). Many ERT member
companies are also eager to extend their transatlantic contacts,
including Asea Brown Boveri, Bayer, Bertelsmann, Ericsson, ICI,
Olivetti, Pirelli, Philips, Siemens, Solvay and Unilever. Some
of the influential TABD companies on the other side of the ocean
are Boeing, Enron, Federal Express, Ford, IBM, Motorola, Nokia,
Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Time Warner, Westinghouse and Xerox.
Other big hitters include the US Treasury, EU Directorate General
XXI (Customs and Indirect Taxation), the US State Department, and
former GATT Secretary-General Peter Sutherland. The Chicago
conference drew some 300 participants: 200 from industry, and the
remaining 100 from government.


                                         ---> Out now! <---
*********************************************************
* Europe, Inc.
		*
* - Dangerous Liaisons between EU Institutions and Industry
*
*********************************************************

New 72-page report on corporate lobbying and the European Union, with a
large section on the activities of corporate lobby groups concerning the
revision of the Maastricht Treaty.

Europe, Inc. gives a disturbing insight into the systematic way in which
transnational corporations, through bodies like the European Roundtable of
Industrialists, work to shape European Union policies in their interest.

No explanation of the EU's current neoliberal strategies - which promote an
unrestricted "free" market in virtually al fields - can ignore the
activities of corporate lobby groups. Europe, Inc., looks at all the major
actors and provides information about their overall strategies and
successes. It proposes political and economic changes to reduce the
influence of transnational corporations

Europe, Inc. exposes a side to the EU which has gone unnoticed for far too
long. It should spark a reaction from politicians, media, citizens groups
and others committed to democracy in Europe.

Copies can be ordered now

Price: 15 guilders (incl. postage) or an equivalent (270 BF, 5 UK pound, 50
Danish Crowns, etc.). With orders of more than 10 copies, there is a
reduced price of 12,50 guilders per copy (incl. postage).

----------------------------------------------------------------

Send me (     ) copies of Europe, Inc.

Name:
Organisation:
Address:
Town:
Country:
Tel:
Fax:
Email:

As payment I include:


---> Please send to:

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
c/o A SEED Europe
P.O. Box 92066
1090 AB Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Email: ceo at xs4all.nl
World Wide Web: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ceo/




From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Thu May 29 06:43:12 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 29 May 1997 06:43:12
Subject: Intellectuals And The Struggle In T
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970529013..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>
Subject: Intellectuals And The Struggle In Turkey

"Intellectuals And The Struggle In Turkey"

(Reprinted from 'Kurtulus')

The State Of Law, Freedom Of Speech, And Understanding Our People
And Our Country

     Words like "clean society" and "a state of law" are
frequently used nowadays.  The state of law is demanded in unison.
But what is it, a state of law? When it comes, will all problems
be solved like with some kind of magic? The interpretation of such
notions is important. Notions like these can describe a problem of
the people concretely and precisely, but facts can be twisted as
well, the consciousness of the people could be confused. For a
long time, notions like freedom of speech and a state of law have
only played a minor role in our country.
     We demand freedom for our country and our people. We demand
an independent and a democratic country. The legitimacy of such
demands is obvious.
     There cannot be independence in a system of exploitation and
cruelty. Our demands are democratic demands which reject a
exploiting and cruel system. What does the notion "state of law"
mean? In itself, it means nothing.
     "We want a state of law", they say, referring to European
countries as an example "where such things do not happen". Will
they really cease to exist in such a state of law? What does a
civic, imperialist state really look like? Don't there exist gangs
like the one from Susurluk? Of course there are. Were the
"Gladios" not discovered there? "But they were exposed", one might
say. But one could also say that they managed for years to hide
their existence. And who can guarantee us that new Gladios do not
exist? The prime ministers, several members of parliament, and the
chiefs of the state security services knew about the existence of
the Gladios from the beginning. The stomach of an "ideal" state of
law was apparently big enough to digest it all. Indeed, the
abstract "state of law" does not exist. Justice is  the "legalized
will" of the ruling classes. Within the existing bourgeois class
system, demanding a state of law within the framework of the
system means legitimizing the system. However well the system of
the rules is designed, in the face of a threatening organized
people's movement, all kinds of oppression, intimidation, and
cruelty will be legalized. For instance, in the European states
which are presented as examples, laws exist which can easily stand
in comparison to the Anti-Terror Law in our own country.  The only
reason why they are seldom applied lies in the fact that there are
no organized people's movements in these countries which are able
to wage a revolutionary struggle.
     When we demand a really democratic and independent country,
we need to define these notions carefully. When we are really
serious about these demands, we have to show the people the right
road to achieve them. The "intellectuals" have an important task
in this. It's no sign of education, it's an expression of
ignorance or cowardice to re-interpret notions, or develop new
notions, to justify the violence of the system.

Freedom Of Speech Is A Democratic Demand, But...

        The system is paralyzed. To free itself from this
paralysis, it falls back on the only method it knows: violence.
Some petite bourgeois intellectuals and members of legal parties,
who still have difficulties with really understanding the country
and the people, close their eyes to reality, really believing that
"freedom of speech" can solve everything. We often see statements
of such people in which they claim that "all this happens because
there is no freedom of speech".
     Although they demand freedom of speech, they are still
backward because they have no thoughts about changing the system.
This backwardness is already reflected in their definition of
"thought crimes". They condemn thousands of revolutionary and
patriotic prisoners, their ideas, their justified and legitimate
struggle, they exclude them, and the only way they try to solve
this problem of "thought crimes" is by writing books.
     In essence, they only care about the freedom of a handful of
intellectuals. If they would watch carefully, they would see it
precisely fits the interests of the oligarchy.
     Are the prisoners behind bars because they carried out their
actions for their own personal interests? Why did those who are
now in prison take to the streets on May Day?
     The intellectuals, who look for a solution within the system,
go as far as founding legal parties which do not represent a
radical alternative to the system. They are attacked by fascism
also. To protect themselves against this, to refuse to go on the
streets and they even forbid their supporters to do so. How can a
right be gained with such an attitude? Imprisoned in the system,
they are afraid to fight. They act and think within the borders
set by the system.
     In reality, we cannot speak of "freedom of speech" in our
country. The contradiction between those who rule and those who
are ruled has reached a point at which fascism has become afraid
because resistance against the system is growing among all
segments of the population. The people do not hope anymore that
the system's parties will find solutions for their problems. This
was also recognized and stated by the bourgeois press and some
bourgeois-liberal politicians. The bourgeois press is full with
statistics and reports, stating that "the system is bankrupt" and
"the people are separating from the system".  And at exactly this
point, they want to stop the people: "There is no problem which
cannot be solved by discussions." Really? What problems have been
solved till now by discussions? How serious are those who say that
"freedom of speech will be guaranteed, all problems will be solved
by discussions"? Caution. The real spokespersons of the
intellectuals and reformists are the bourgeois ideologues and
those who have been responsible for years that the problems are
not being solved and that the freedom of speech has been
restricted. The intellectuals and the reformists are
nothing but their mouthpiece.
     For this reason all parties and intellectuals who claim to be
leftist, socialist, revolutionary, and democratic should express
the differences between their views and those of the bourgeoisie
when they speak about the state of law and freedom.
     The reality of the class struggles exists of vigorous
battles, fought with "an eye for an eye" and "a tooth for a
tooth". When the revolutionaries are now able to express their
views without being restricted by the system, this has only one
reason: the legitimate and justified struggle they wage. The
people's struggle legitimates what is not legal.
     Those who do not know the truth about our country and our
people cannot enlighten the people.
     A sort of curtain separates their writings, their actions and
their art from the truth in our country. When we move this curtain
a little, we see despair, chaos, and ignorance.
     One of these intellectuals wrote in his column in a bourgeois
paper a piece called "I Do Not Understand": "I do want to
understand. I do want to understand the people who blow up
themselves. I try to understand the crazy anger, the hatred which
blew up this person and four other young people. I try to
understand the willingness of these people to use violence. (...)
We were forced to witness the decay of society and the
disappearances of people in press articles and in the
television news. We discussed it during open meetings, we wrote
about it in our articles. All these writings were dragged into
this vigorous battle. The struggle could not tolerate neutrality.
They can only see friends and enemies, one is either attacked as a
traitor or congratulated as a hero. But in reality we would rather
feel the need to explain things, rather than to condemn them,
without choosing one of the sides."
     Is this thought, which they try to understand, really that
twisted? Is it really not understood or do the intellectuals not
want to understand it? Is it that hard to understand that it is
the truth in our country and the fight which sends our people to
the front? Can a result of the struggle be more natural?
     There are facts we all know about. In our country, people are
made to disappear, they are tortured, killed, their villages are
burned down. The most moderate demands are met with bloodshed.
There is a state which burns down, which massacres, which rapes,
which fills the dungeons with people, which bans people. There is
a state which violates its own justice. There is a state which
directs the gangs of Susurluk. Trillions of Turkish lira are spent
on this fight.
     On the other hand there is another fact. There are people who
will not bow down to these inhumane practices and who give their
lives to resist these attacks. A young girl: Ayce Idil Erkmen. She
sacrificed her life for a free land and for the end of injustice,
dying cell by cell in the Death Fast. A young girl: Zeynep Kinaci.
She blows up her own body for her people who has been suffering
for centuries. There are many others who did things like that, and
there are new Ayces and Zeyneps... They fought and they fell...
They prefer death to surrender.... These were heroic deeds,
shocking the world, appealing to the conscience of the people. The
intellectuals try not to understand this heroism, in stead they
write stories about "terror", "people with a problem", "no
future", stories which are dictated to them by the bourgeoisie.
They really believe their own stories. This is the so-called
curtain, separating real life from the intellectuals.
     It wasn't desperation which caused them to say "We will never
surrender", they weren't afraid of the torture centers either.
They represented the struggle and they had the courage to defend
the legitimacy of the struggle with their life. It wasn't a lover
who caused them to pull the trigger, it wasn't blind violence. It
was the anger they felt for their enemies who destroy the land and
who exploit the people. This anger was neither crazy, nor
pointless. Did the Death Fast not extend the hope, the honor, and
the dignity of millions? Yes, this is obvious. When these facts
are overlooked, the events cannot be understood. We cannot explain
anything when we do not see that the state has started the war
against the people and sends thousands of youngsters into death,
ostensibly to "prevent further deaths". Can we really understand
the pain of the mothers who keep on searching for their sons and
daughters day and night, despite the truncheons, when we do not
act against the disappearances? Can we understand the worries of
the unemployed, the homeless, and those who were forced to leave
their villages when we do not look for the causes? So how can we
develop a definition of "thought crime" according to bourgeois
standards when all this is obvious? How can an abstract "freedom
of speech" and an abstract "state of law" act against these
problems? A conduct which ignores these facts and statements like
"let us not take sides" are not intellectual. An intellectual who
acts in accordance with the exploiting and cruel state in his
thinking, his acts, and his ideology should really criticize
himself.
     Why do our intellectuals not show their internationalist
solidarity and their understanding when our country and our people
are concerned? Did we describe the struggle against Hitler as
"blind violence"? Did we ever wonder about the 15-year-old Tanja
who went to the gallows, yelling at the Gestapo people? Yes, we
learn a lot from books. We learn from history. Using art as a
means, we pay tribute to the history of mankind. We watch a film,
are impressed, think about it, and we agree with a lot of the
statements. For instance, many intellectuals have surely seen the
movie "Salvador". There is a priest in this movie, Romero, who
said "Violence causes violence". He was shot by the fascists. Was
he wrong? Did you get agitated, did you think "No, Romero, you
were wrong. Your death was in vain"? When we saw "Mother" (Maxim
Gorki), did our hearts not beat for the mothers and the prisoners
or did the reality of this movie seem like a dream in Turkey in
1996. In the movie "Braveheart", a young girl is raped on
her wedding day by the English and her body is buried in secret.
Did you not look at the fight of the Scottish against the British,
wondering? Do we not experience these things in our own country,
day by day? Are our people not kidnapped by the police, are they
not raped under torture, are we did the target of fascist bullets?
So why is it so hard to choose the right thing, to take a stand?
Do we not feel the sorrow of the people in our land, just as in
these movies and novels?
     Yes, we condemn the destruction of Palestine by Zionism, we
condemn the war cries of the imperialists in Bosnia and Africa,
but what is our stand in the same struggle which wages on our
soil? All is decided at this point: Whose side are we on? Thinking
like a true intellectual means standing at the side of those who
are right, it means producing something for the people, it means
feeling the people's pain in your heart.
     "We need a revolution of emotions", Ahmet Altan (*) said. But
neither emotion nor good will suffice. We may not separate our
emotions from the events. The lack of solidarity, the
estrangement, and the degeneration are products of the system
itself. This filth is defiling our feelings, it's stealing our
values and our humanity, the things we need most. Here lies the
mission of the intellectuals. The intellectual opposes all this
filth. Yes, we have to regain the lost feelings, we have to become
real human beings again. The liberation struggle is a struggle for
human feelings, human life, justice, and dignity. When an
intellectual condemns the disappearances, he should
do so in front of Galatasaray. When he opposes the state council
for higher education (YOK), a university teacher should
participate in the boycott on November 6. When he knows the truth,
he should say so with a loud voice. Despite the punishments, the
threats, and the censorship, he should write what he knows. He
should say, "It's enough!" to those who cause him pain and sorrow,
who want to separate him from his writings, his pens, his saz, his
songs, and his liberty. He should do more than just speak. He must
not denounce actions. The intellectual should act himself, he
should go out on the street, he should organize the people, he
should call the people to act against the system. That's where our
intellectuals have to use their talents, our struggle must be
their struggle. "I'm in this struggle as well", they should say.
"I take part with my poem, my plays, my writings, my music, my
words, my knowledge, my conduct, my action!"

(*) Son of a delegate from the Turkish socialist party TIP in the
seventies. Author and journalist for the daily paper Sabah.

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
KURTULUS HAFTALIK SIYASI GAZETE: http://www.kurtulus.com


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv
called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/archives/ats-l
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++


From SysAdmin at msn.com  Thu May 29 15:43:46 1997
From: SysAdmin at msn.com (SysAdmin at msn.com)
Date: 29 May 1997 15:43:46
Subject: Undeliverable:excuses for slipped mail
Message-ID: <bac1c849.UPMAIL13.199705290721330355@msn.com>

From: "System Administrator" <SysAdmin at msn.com>
Subject: Undeliverable:excuses for slipped mail

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

	Subject	excuses for slipped mail
	Sent	Tue, 27 May 97 02:34:29 UT

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

	jim_hillier at msn.com  On  Thu, 29 May 97 07:21:33 UT
		The Microsoft Network member inbox is full.

Date: Tue, 27 May 97 02:34:29 UT
From: "Press Agency Ozgurluk" <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>
Sender: "english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl" <english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>
To: english at asterix.xs4all.nl
Subject: excuses for slipped mail

Excuse us!

Some receipents recently received a message that slipped through our
mailinglist.


-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html

From kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu  Fri May 30 07:38:06 1997
From: kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu (kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu)
Date: 30 May 1997 07:38:06
Subject: People's Councils In Istanbul
Message-ID: <bac1c849.Pine.NEB.3.95.970530023..@burn.ucsd.edu>

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

The Liberated Land Starts In Istanbul

     Gazi, March 12, 1995: Fascists in a taxi open up fire against
several coffee shops which are known as meeting places for the
left. The murderers are allowed to escape by the police.
     That same day, tens of thousands of people take to the
streets. They demand justice. This time the police intervene and
use armored cars and bullets against the people. More than 60
people die on this day and the following ones at the hands and the
weapons of the police. The people in Gazi are declared public
enemy and subjected to an increased state terror. But the people
know how to fight back.
     Gazi, March 12, 1996: More than 20,000 people join a huge
demonstration to commemorate the people who fell one year ago.
Already days before, the police surrounded the neighborhood and
everybody who wants to enter Gazi is checked by them. But
nevertheless the flags of left revolutionary organizations are
waving in the demonstration, especially the flag of "public enemy
number one", the DHKP-C. No policemen dares to enter the
neighborhood on this day. Since then, the organized resistance
continued to grow in Gazi.
     On October 5, 1996, grassroots organization in Gazi entered a
new phase. On this day, a People's Council was founded in Gazi and
the neighboring area of Zuebeyde Hanim. 
     This People's Council is seen as the legitimate
representative and government of their neighborhood by the people
in Gazi. With this People's Council, the inhabitants of Gazi will
solve their own problems. Since 1970, Alevites, Sunni, Laz, and
Kurds coming to Istanbul to secure their survival have been living
in Gazi. The state did not take care about the neighborhood and
until 1984 there was no electricity at all and there was no water
until 1987. Not a single bus entered the area. Children were
murdered in Gazi, the people were being exploited, arrested, and
tortured at any given time. 
     The People's Council will take the solution of the problems
in Gazi and Zuebeyde Hanim into its own hands, in participation
with all the people in the neighborhood. It will take care of
things for the people, for example festivities. The founding of
the People's Council was celebrated with a festivity as well.
Several children were circumcised at this festivity which was
witnessed by a Sunni as well as an Alevi clergy. 
     One of the participants described the founding of the
People's Council as follows: "On March 12, 1995, some coffee shops
in our neighborhood were shot to provoke conflicts and trouble
between the people, the different nationalities and religious
beliefs. While the people waited for justice, the murderers were
allowed to escape. Day long protests erupted against this, the
people were on the streets for days, showing their anger and their
hatred against those who were responsible. Many people were killed
during these protests and hundreds of people were wounded and
tortured, just because they demanded justice. It is a goal of the
People's Council to create solidarity between the people, against
the armored police vehicles, the arrests, torture, and abuse,
without bias because of nationality or religious creed. We will
bring down unemployment, improve the water and electricity supply,
social security, the housing conditions, and education. We want to
develop a culture of solidarity. Now the health care situation is
being tackled within the framework of our financial possibilities.
The people are being examined for free. This will be done on a
permanent basis in the future. The people will be able to
celebrate their festivities, for example marriages, together. It's
our goal to solve our problems together and to create solidarity
within the collective. One of the most important rules of our
People's Council is the participation of the people in its
leadership. This co-operation is based on volunteering. It is
trying to tackle all the problems which concern the people in our
neighborhood, developing possible solutions. It was shown in Gazi
that the People's Council is there for the people. No matter
whether they are Turks, Kurds ... all of them will see that the
Council is there for them, we want to show that we want to live
that way, all of us together. In our People's Council, there is no
one who doesn't co-operate. Gazi should be an example for all. A
People's Council is an organization which lets the people decide
for themselves. It will not be the rich which will decide here, on
the contrary, the poor will decide. The people here have been
oppressed for years, they were the people who were neglected by
the state. The People's Council is the best solution for all of
this."

(Source: Press-Agency Ozgurluk, ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information
collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide 
variety of material, including political prisoners, national 
liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, 
the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our 
writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv
called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada

E-mail: ats at etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats
ATS-L Archives: http://burn.ucsd.edu/archives/ats-l
MRTA Solidarity Page: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/mrta.htm
FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++


From ozgurluk at xs4all.nl  Fri May 30 06:22:00 1997
From: ozgurluk at xs4all.nl (ozgurluk at xs4all.nl)
Date: 30 May 1997 06:22:00
Subject: Turkey: Goktepe murder trial continues
Message-ID: <bac1c849.m3zptd16k5.fsf@ozgurluk.xs4all.nl>

Subject: Turkey: Goktepe murder trial continues
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

30 May,1997, Copyright =A9 Turkish Daily News
 __________________________________________________________________
   
Goktepe murder trial continues

  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

ISTANBUL- Five hundred days have passed since journalist Metin
Goktepe was beaten to death by a group of police in a sports hall
in Istanbul, and Wednesday's hearing, the fourth in the agonizingly
slow proceedings, has finally resulted in arrest decision for five
officers on Wednesday, May 28.

Goktepe was detained by police during clashes at the funeral of
inmates who died in an uprising in Umraniye prison.He was taken to
a sports hall along with other hundreds of people, and according to
eyewitnesses was beaten to death by police.

The trial of the suspects was first moved from Istanbul to Aydin, a
small western city and then to Afyon, a smaller one.The last three
hearings resulted in postponements of the hearings.The judges at
the Afyon trial asked to resign from handling the case, stating
that it is beyond their authority and is a political case.

The hearing was held in the court hall despite the number of
spectators demanded attendance, including many foreign human rights
organizations.The first trial in Istanbul and the second trial in
Aydin were held in sports halls.

The judge ordered journalists out of the court, a decision
protested by the rights group Journalists Sans Frontieres via press
release on Thursday.

Family, friends and supporters of Goktepe and about 100 journalists
and lawyers attended the hearing in Afyon.Security measures taken
by the police and special teams were ludicrously overblown as
officers patrolled with Kalashnikov rifles on the roofs of
surrounding buildings and searched the lawyers and journalists
attending the proceedings.

Despite demands of the Goktepe family to arrest the 11 police
officers suspected in the case, some of whom are still on duty in
Istanbul, the judge only issued arrest orders for five officers,
including Chief Seydi Battal Kose, and officers Selcuk
Bayraktaroglu, Saffet Hizarci, Suayip Mutluer and Ilhan Sarioglu.

-- 
Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk
Turkey Contra-Guerrilla-State: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/contrind/
Searchable Database: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/ml.html
Grup Yorum: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ozgurluk/gyindex.html