Statement from political prisoners in Turkey

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

Press Release: To Our Peoples

The headlines in the bourgeois media are full of the same story
lately.  The arrest of fascist murderer Haluk Kirci, who is presented
as the "successor" to Abdullah Catli, is announced as a "top news
story" and shown on the TV news as "Stop Press".

By preparing such "special reports", they are trying to make people
believe that Haluk Kirci is the "key" to solving the puzzle of the
state murders, which were undoubtedly brought out after the Susurluk
case.  Meanwhile, they are emphasising that the state is supposedly
making efforts to throw light on "the dark dungeons of Susurluk" with
all these headlines and stories, which are dictated by the rulers
themselves. On the other hand, they tell us that Haluk Kirci is
refusing to collaborate during interrogation and is exercising his
right to silence. The interrogation of the red handed fascist murderer
Haluk Kirci, which is nothing but a farce, has supposedly run up
against the wall of his resistance, such that they cannot uncover
certain information. Haluk Kirci is supposedly refusing to
collaborate, he is allegedly suffering from diabetes, he had not even
drunk any water, his blood pressure is preventing them from continuing
.... etc etc etc.

The farce continues, and they are oppenly mocking the people. They say
that Haluk Kirci "has not collaborated". But it is well known by
everyone who lives in our country that the state means torture and
murder, and everyone knows the kind of interrogations that take place
in all the police headquarters and even district police stations. The
truth is that statements obtained under torture can be used as
evidence.  During these tortures and interogations, revolutionaries
and patriots are presented as the "perpetrators of bloody deeds", and
those who resist to preserve their human dignity and who exercise
their right not to collaborate and to protest against the torture are
subject to even more intense torture, or are made to "disappear" or
murdered.

The most recent case if that of Zeki Ruzgar, a lawyer from the
People's Law Bureau who was tortured in the torture centre of the
Ankara DAL (the Laboratory of Intensified Interrogation). His medical
condition was critical, having recently undergone an operation. Zeki
Ruzgar suffers from tuberculosis of the bones, but this fact did not
prevent him from being tortured.

And yet we are told that somehow the "experienced" Istanbul police,
whose reputation for torture is widely known, were not able to get a
statement from Haluk Kirci! Haluk Kirci, who has been supported and
acclaimed since the 1970s, also planned and carried out the murder of
7 TIP (Workers Party of Turkey) members in Bahcelievler/Ankara. It is
a lie that he has not collaborated and has exercised his right to
silence.  Haluk Kirci was not arrested, but was taken into custody as
part of a pre-planned operation. He was treated with respect in the
Istanbul police HQ under the pretence of an interrogation. The
interrogation of Haluk Kirci is a plan concocted to deceive the
people. The state has done everything it could to ensure that he
revealed nothing. They did not want to interrogate him because not
only Haluk Kirci but also the state itself which is guilty. No-one
will believe this story of the police taking seriously Haluk Kirci's
diabetes and so being powerless in the face of his exercising the
right to silence. Leaving aside thehealthy one, thousands of injured,
wounded or handicapped revolutionaries and patriots have been
tortured, not just in the police stations and headquarters but also in
the prisons. Besides, the mere exercise of the right to silence is
taken by the DGM interrogators as evidence of being a member of an
illegal organisation.

Here are a few examples aong the thousands of cases of people who were
taken into custody, charged as a result of torture and police
statements, and treated as "members of an illegal organisation" just
because they exercised their right to silence while struggling and
fighting for a country and a world where there is no exploitation.

SEVKET DALBOY (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained by the Kocaeli
Anti-terror branch on 22 March 1996. He is the Kocaeli reporter of
Kurtulus newspaper. Before he was detained he was already suffering
from bone deformation on his neck and he has a plate in his left arm
due to a broken bone. His handicaps are known by the police and who
therefore tortured him by kicking his left arm, neck and throat. The
Palestinian hanging (hanging someone backwards from their arms) was
the next step. In order to increase the tension on his left arm the
torturers pulled his left arm. Meanwhile, the torturers were betting
about when the platinum plate in his arm would come out to complete
the psychological part of torture. Also prior to his arrest, he was
also detained by police in Bursa on 12 March 1996 (10 days before).
He was also subjected torture there. His testicles were squashed and
as a result of this form of torture his testicles were swollen. After
his release he received medical treatment and during this treatment he
was detained again. During the last detention they again tortured him
by squashing his testicles despite the fact that his problem was known
by the police. Also during the Palestinian hanging electric shocks
were applied to his body.

OKTAY KARATAS (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): As a result of the attack by
soldiers and police on the inmates of Umraniye prison on 4 January
1996, he lost his hearing completely. He needs a Cochlear implantation
to be able to hear again but since the Ministry of Justice is not
paying the costs, he receives no treatment.

CENGIZ BAYIR (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained on 4 April 1996. At
that time, he had already been receiving medical treatment in
hospitals such as GATA (Gulhane Military Medical Academy) for epilepsy
for 8 years. The torturers, who already knew his medical condition,
repeatedly hit his head against the walls.  Besides this, the other
methods like electric shocks, hanging, squashing testicles, showering
with hot and cold water, making him stand in front of a fan,
suspending him from a window, pushing his head into a box full of
rats, drowning in water, suffocating by hands and so on were applied.
Not only physical but psychological torture like verbal abuse were
applied. The epilepsy attacks which had eased for a long time, then
began again. Since his last detention these attacks have occurred
almost every day.

TEKIN TANGUN (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained by police on 22
March 1996 in Kocaeli. In his left kidney there is a stone which is
1.5cm. in diameter and this causes hydronefroz (excessive water in the
kidneys) He was subjected to electric shocks, reverse hanging,
squashing testicles, standing under a cold shower and in particular he
has been beaten in such a way that his kidneys were heavily beaten. As
a result of his torture, his had blood in his urine and he was taken
to hospital. Despite the fact that the doctors at the hospital
insisted on him being kept in hospital, he was taken back for further
torture. His condition worsened and the same day he was brought back
to the same hospital. Despite the decision of the Kocaeli forensic
officer to issue a report about him, he was denied readmission.

SABAN TONTA (SAGMALCILAR PRISON) : He was detained on 26 December 1995
in Avcilar / Istanbul. When he was detained he was receiving treatment
for Parkinson's disease. The police were aware of his medical
condition and they hit his head against the walls. As a result of
these blows his skull was damaged. He was charged.  Despite his
medical records proving that he needs constant treatment, he was
denied this and is still in prison. His medical condition worsened
after torture.

BULENT YIGIT (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained by the
anti-terrorist police on the street in Maltepe / Istanbul. During this
first contact, while the police were searching his possessions, he was
shot by the police in the chest. The bullet destroyed his left
lung. After an operation half of his lungs were removed. After the
operation he was taken to the torture centre. He was brutally beaten
and subjected to physical and psychological torture. He was also
threatened with death. After his interrogation by the DGM, he was
taken to the court forensic officer. Without any examination by the
doctor he was sent to prison.

MUSTAFA ATALAY (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained on 17 April 1991
in Mersin. During his detention his back was injured and straight away
he was taken to the torture centre.  He was beaten and subjected to
electric shocks.  His back was targeted in particular. The next time
he was detained by Bursa anti-terror branch on 16 November 1992 in
Balikesir. He was subjected to mock extra- judicial execution (taken
away to a secluded place and police pretended that they would kill him
there), hanging, electrical shock, cold shower and was beaten
brutally. His back was especially targeted during the beating. The
torture was documented by the Eyup forensic officer and a report was
issued.

ERCAN KARTAL (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained by Istanbul
anti-terror branch in Kartal / Rahmanlar.  Before he was taken to the
torture centre he was beaten brutally and subjected to mock
extra-judicial execution. He was given electric shocks and subjected
to pressurised water,.. etc. Under his kneecap he had a scar from his
childhood. This scar was cut, an electrical cable was inserted and
electric shocks were given. After his arrest, the torture was
documented by the Eyup medical officer. He refused to sign the police
statement and exercised his right to silence. These were used as
evidence of his membership of an illegal organisation.

BEKIR SIMSEK (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained on 10 September
1993 with a wound to his leg. As a result of this bullet wound his leg
bone was broken.  After the operation he was taken to the torture
centre. His broken leg was especially targeted during torture. After
his arrest he was confined to bed for two years. The third year he
began to walk with the help of a crutch.

JALE IZZETOGLU (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): She was detained by Bursa
anti-terror branch on January 1996. She had received treatment in
1995, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty for her heart condition. She also
faced torture despite her medical condition. She was charged 4 days
later. She was handcuffed to her hospital bed and the psychological
torture and threats by the Anti-Terror Branch (TEM) continued in
hospital as well. The prosecutor and judge were brought to the
hospital and she faced a trial whilst in hospital.

SENGUL MERT (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): She was detained on 6 October
1992. She suffers from asthma and bronchitis. She was subjected to
cold showers, hanging, electric shocks, beating,… She has to receive
medical treatment continuously. At the moment she is in the prison
hospital.

YASAR KIZGIN (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained by Istanbul TEM on
December 1995. He was receiving treatment for tuberculosis just before
he was detained. The police are aware of his condition. He was
subjected to electric shocks, cold showers, standing in front of a
fan, hanging, falaka (beating the bottom of the feet with a stick),
squashing testicles,… His medical condition worsened as a result of
torture. He was treated for a while in the prison hospital. Today he
requires continuous medical attention.

VEYSEL AKPINAR (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained on December
1995. He suffers from diabetes. Because of this illness he partially
lost his eye sight. His medical condition is known to the police and
therefore he was subjected to hanging, electric shocks, beating,… He
is being denied medication and his treatment is being prevented.

ASIM OZDEMIR (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained in Istanbul on 6
March 1993. He suffers from kidney problems. He is under continuous
medical treatment. He was tortured for days in Istanbul and
Ankara. The torturers targeted his kidneys. He was also subjected to
various torture methods.

BINALI SARIELMAS (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He was detained by Istanbul TEM
on April 1993. He was receiving treatment for chronic
bronchitis. Still he was subjected to hanging, electric shocks,
squashing testicles, falaka, beating, cold showers and standing in
front of a fan. His medical condition worsened after torture. Today he
is receiving medication.

ALI EKBER AKKAYA (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He cannot use his arms and
legs. He can only walk with assistance. He has difficulties in
speaking. He suffers from Versiko Korsakoff disease.  He was denied
medical treatment. He was still in prison despite the fact that there
is no cure for him.

SELIM ACAN (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): As s result of torture 3 of his ribs
were broken and the torture was documented by the forensic report. The
sugar level in his blood and stomach is high. Despite his medical
condition he was subjected to many different methods of torture.

CAFER GURBUZ (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He suffers from amnesia and
co-ordination deficiency in his body. He trembles and he can only move
slowly. He is being denied medical treatment.

CAN ALI TURKMEN (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): He suffers with poor blood
circulation in his toes. He was subjected to hanging, falaka, reverse
hanging,…. His left arm was paralysed for two months. The torture was
documented by the forensic report.

IBRAHIM CICEK (SAGMALCILAR PRISON): The chief editor of Atilim
newspaper. He had an operation for a hernia and suffers from
asthma. He was subjected to heavy torture. The torture was documented
in the forensic report. He refused to issue a statement and this is
used as evidence against him.

NEJLA COLAK: Journalist, working for Atilim newspaper. She suffers
with kidney problems.

ASIYE ZEYBEK: Former chief editor of Atilim newspaper. She was
subjected to heavy torture. She was raped during the interrogation in
Istanbul police HQ.

MUSLUM ELMA (SAKARYA PRISON): He was arrested after the 1980 coup. He
was a fighter in the 1984 death fast resistance. He was imprisoned for
a long time. Despite the damage to his body as result of the prison
conditions, he was re-arrested in 1993 by Istanbul TEM police and
heavily tortured. The torture was documented by forensic report. The
DGM prosecutors used his resistance during torture as evidence to
imprison him. He went on hunger strike during police detention and
refused to cooperate.

NEZARET VARTANOGLU (SAGMALCILAR): She suffers from epilepsy. She was
arrested on October 1995. Her illness requires regular medication but
she was prevented from receiving this..  She was subjected to heavy
torture despite her illness. In ten days she suffered 4 epilepsy
fits. Theorture was documented by forensic report.  Her medical
treatment is being prevented because of problems during the transfer
between hospital and the prison.

DELIL ILDAN (SAGMALCILAR): He cannot use his hands and arms. He cannot
walk without assistance. He has difficulties in speaking. He suffers
from Versiko Korsakoff disease.  He was denied medical treatment and
still kept in prison even though there is no cure for his illness.

MEHMET ALI CELEBI (SAGMALCILAR): He suffers from amnesia, memory loss
and Versiko Korsakoff disease. He was denied medical treatment and
still kept in prison even though there is no cure for his illness.

AHMET TURAN ATMACA (SAGMALCILAR): Memory loss, problems with balance,
he suffers from nausea and headachea, and is in heavy depression. He
was denied medical treatment and still kept in prison even though
there is no cure for his illnesses.

SEMIRAY YILMAZ: Problems with her eye sight, she cannot walk or
read. She suffers from memory loss.

YUSUF DEMIR: There is a risk of gangrene in his leg and foot. A couple
of times he has suffered from stomach bleeding.

SELIM UNAY (SAKARYA): There are bullets in his feet. Approximately 6
months ago he was transferred to Sagmalcilar hospital. Without any
medical treatment he was sent back. For the second time (4 months ago)
he was transferred to Sagmalcilar hospital. Again he was denied
medical treatment. He took out one of the bullets himself.  The other
bullet is still in his foot.

SEMSETTIN KALKAN (CEYHAN): He suffers from asthma and bronchitis as
well as having serious problems with his digestive system. He was
denied medical treatment and therefore suffers from stomach inflation,
difficulties with breathing, coughing and tiredness.

SIBEL SARISOY(SAKARYA): Her treatment for nephrite was continuing when
she was arrested. Because of the prison's administration's refusal,
she cannot receive any medical treatment. Her stomach swells, she has
oedema on her hands, feet and face, and suffers from tiredness.

SINAN YAVUZ (BARTIN): He has difficulties with his balance after the
death fast resistance and also suffers from stomach upsets and oedema
on his face. These problems continue.

YUSUF KENAN DINCER(CANAKKALE): After the death fast resistance he
suffered from memory loss. Since there is no dental treatment in the
prisons, he almost lost all his teeth. Therefore he has difficulties
in being fed.

ALI OSMAN COPEL: He was shot by Izmir police and he was wounded when
he was arrested by torturers. He was subjected to hanging, electric
shocks, beating, sleep deprivation,..

ISMAIL CUNEYT: He was executed by the torturer fascists of Istanbul
1. Branch in 1983.

REMZI BASALAK: He was arrested by Adana police on 23 October 1992. He
exercised his right to silence. He was shown to press as alive and
handcuffed but he was murdered during torture. His tongue was cut off.

ATAMAN INCE: He was murdered by torturers in Istanbul police HQ
because he exercised his right to silence and for not cooperating with
the torturers.

ERKUT DIREKCI: He was arrested during a gathering organised by TURK-IS
(pro state confederation of trade unions). He was subjected to heavy
torture. He exercised his right to silence. This attitude of his was
used as evidence of him being a member of an illegal organisation and
he was imprisoned. He was suffering from kidney cancer and the police
knew it.  He was denied medical treatment. The last days of his life
were documented by forensic report, he was released and died soon
after.

TUGHAN BULDU: He was tortured after being wounded in Istanbul and
murdered by torture in 1990.

SULEYMAN CIHAN: The general secretary of TKP/ML. He was arrested on
September 1981 and murdered on 15 September 1981 during torture.

HASAN HAKKI ERDOGAN: He was murdered during torture in Istanbul police
HQ in 30 September 1984.

ALI EKBER ATMACA: He was arrested in Savsat / Artvin in 28 May 1992
and murdered in Artvin police HQ.

SELAHATTIN DOGAN: He was murdered during torture in Istanbul in 5
January 1978.

HASAN GULUNAY: He was arrested in Istanbul in 20 July 1990. He was
murdered during torture.

MALATYA PRISON: The transfer of inmates to the hospitals are
prevented. Last one month none of them received any kind of
medicine. Their excuse is "the budget is cancelled". That is, our
friends who were sent to hospital were denied medicine. From time to
time the soldiers prevent them from receiving medicine from their
families. These are the friends who need urgent medical treatment.

BESIME DURUS: She has a bullet in her leg. She has a risk of being
handicapped. The bullet needs to be removed urgently. The operation is
prevented by the prison's administration.

EYLEM YESILBAS: He suffers from dislocation of his back over the last
month and a half.  He finally was sent to hospital 2 days ago as a
result of the pressure raised by prisoners. He has a risk of being
handicapped. The prison administration did not supply his urgent needs
such as a wooden board for his bed and a chair.

AYSE TEMIZ: She suffers from an infection in her inner ear. For last 2
years she has been denied medical treatment.

GULER ZERES: Hepatitis-B. She was denied medical treatment.

FERIDE HARMAN: Kidney disease. She was denied medical treatment.

HATUN AN: Rheumatism in the joints. She has a piece of shrapnel in her
body. She was denied medical treatment.

ELIF AKKURT: Stomach ulcer. She was denied medical treatment.

GULSUM CAKMAK:
Migraine. She was denied medical treatment.

BERGAMA PRISON:

FAIK ONDER: Hepatitis-B.

ESAT UCKAN: Balance loss and back problems. He needs brain
taumography.

LEVENT GOKTAS: Suffers with his back. Needs x-ray.

ULAS GOKTAS: Back injury, needs x-ray.

RAMAZAN YILDIRIM: Stomach bleeding. Needs x-ray.

MESUT ORGES: Partial balance problems in his body.

ABDULLAH BOZDAG: Breathing difficulties.

SADIK BAYRAKCI: Blood coagulation and balancing problems.

BUCA PRISON:

NEVZAT KALAYCI: Needs brain tomography.

BARIS YILDIRIM: Needs brain tomography.

TAMER CADIRCI: Anaemia and lung infection.

AYDIN KAYA: Kidney infection.

UMRANIYE PRISON:

RIZA DOGRU: He was thrown out of the fifth floor of Istanbul police HQ
on Vatan street. He was taken to hospital and received no proper
treatment. He was forced to walk on his broken legs to the DGM (Staqte
Security Court)

FERHAT ERTURK: He needs eye treatment. He was denied medical treatment
by the police.

MADIMAK OZEN: Losing eye sight as a result of torture.

YAVUZ ATES: He was taken to hospital for eye treatment after being
attacked by a policeman.

ERHAN SAHIN: He requires an operation for his back hernia. Being
attacked by the police in the hospital.

SERIFE KORKMAZ: Meniscus in her knees. She was denied an operation.

DURSUN ALI PEKIN: Hearing difficulties. He requires a hearing
aid. Being attacked by the police in the hospital.

TEKIN IME: He requires an operation on his back. Was denied medical
treatment and wasattacked by the police.

CEM SELVI: Tuberculosis. In hospital he was attacked by the police.

UFUK KESKIN: Diabetes. He was denied medical treatment by the police.

ANKARA PRISON:

CEMAAT OCAK: During a house raid, he was beaten and lost
consciousness. He was sent to the morgue by mistake. Because of a blow
he received during the raid, he frequently suffers from epilepsy fits.

CEM SAHIN: During his arrest in 1995, he was subjected to heavy
torture despite suffering from asthma and having recently undergone an
operation on his testicles. He was taken to hospital unconscious.

CIGDEM KAZAN (BAYRAMPASA): She was pregnant when she was arrested and
subjected to torture. She cannot use her hands and arms. She cannot
walk without assistance. She has difficulties in speaking. Suffers
from Versiko Korsakoff disease.  She was denied medical treatment and
is still kept in prison even though there is no cure for her illness.

AHMET POLAT (UMRANIYE): He was tortured on two different occasions
despite the fact that he was already suffering from a brain
disease. All torture methods were used on him.

DOGAN MEMECIL: He was captured after being wounded and was murdered
during torture. His eyes were taken out and his ears were chopped off.

KEMAL OZELMALI: He was captured after being wounded and was
tortured. He was left handicapped.

ABDULAZIZ NAKCI (BARTIN): He cannot use his hands and arms. He cannot
walk without assistance. Has difficulties in speaking. He suffers from
Versiko Korsakoff disease. He was denied medical treatment and still
kept in prison even though there is no cure for his illness.

YUSUF ERISTI: He was murdered by torture in the Gayrettepe torture
centre. He was made to "disappear"

BIRTAN ALTUNBAS: He was murdered by torture in Ankara DAL torture
centre.

BAKI ERDOGAN: He was murdered by torture in Aydin torture centre.

ALI RIZA AGDOGAN: He was murdered by torture in Beyoglu torture
centre.

HUSEYIN FIDANOGLU: He was arrested by the Istanbul TEM and murdered by
bring thrown out of a building.

On the behalf of DHKP-C, TKP(ML), MLKP, TKP/ML, TIKB, TKEP/ Leninist,
Direnis Hareketi, HKG captives in all prisons; SADI OZBOLAT, CIGDEM
KAZAN, MEHMET AKIF HAN, NIL PINAR ARIN, CAN ALI qTURKMEN, SERIF
KARTOGLU, RAMAZAN SADIKOGULLARI, HASAN DEMIR… On the behalf of HDO,
PYSK, TDP, DY, TKEP, captives in BAYRAMPASA PRISON; MEHMET CIFTCI,
ILHAN ZEYREK, ESRAL KARAGOZ, MEHMET ALI AYHAN, NIZAM DOGAN,

-- 
Ozgurluk
For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan!
Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org                          
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