From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Tue Jun 1 11:43:12 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 01 Jun 1999 11:43:12 Subject: Where does the Kurdish nationalism lead to? Message-ID: KURTULUS On the road to independence and democracy no. 30, May 1999 >From the war against the oligarchy to co-operation with it >From the exploiting Turkey to a "democratic republic" >From the 16th. century to the "8 points" WHERE DOES KURDISH NATIONALISM LEAD TO? Clarity at last! When creating clarity means to demand a solution, in essence the denounciation of 15 years of armed struggle, then the statement of the PKK leadership, "We are bound to the solution proposals of OEcalan", has created this clarity. But is doesn't make clear a thing, it just increases the theoretical and ideological chaos. Be it the 8 Points or the last statement, they mean a denouniation of the entire ideological and theoretical basis of the PKK and with such a denounciation increasing chaos is inevitable. The 8 Points of OEcalan, the statement of Duran Kalkan, which we published in our previous edition, as well as the statement of the PKK leadership, published on May 7, they match. The picture which emerges is sobering. The PKK must ask itself, without losing a second, where it's going . The real issue is that, going beyond the search for peace and compromise, co-operation is offered to the oligarchy also with the expansion to other countries, to induce them to this peace. What was meant in the letter of Duran Kalkan and our respons to it is clear and beyond discussion. But together with the 8 Points, coming from Imrali, as well as with the statement of the leadership council makes it all even more clear. Let's look at them one by one. It makes sense to bring up the 8 points, published by OEcalan on April 11, 1999, once again: "My statement to the public in Turkey and in the world concerning the events: 1. A continuation of the cease fire of September 1, 1998 with total responsibility in all areas. 2. A permanent end to the armed confrontations based on state measures regarding peace and primarily an amnesty. 3. Since the '90's, despite certain deviations, the democratic republic has also become open to the freedom of speech for Kurds. Therefore it can be seen as the basis for a peaceful solution for all the problems. 4. Under these conditions the PKK will prepare itself to be legalised within the democratic system. 5. Until the attitude of the new parliament and government is revealed, a political action line will be adopted and determinedly applied under the slogan of an active social peace, amnesty and fraternity. 6. The support of all international peace and human rights institutions, governments and parliaments relies on this basis. 7. If such an application is developed as is predicted, then the UN, the EU, the European Council and the AGIT (European Institution of Custom Union) should participate as observers to this process. 8. All the relevant state and private institutions, the political parties, the media and the civic institutions in Turkey should know that for my part the developments are in essence based on this. They should be aware that their contribution is vital for our country and the democratic system. In the beginning, because of the imprisonment, we approached this statement with caution. But now that the leadership council approved this 8 point proposal as well, it doesn't make much sense anymore to say that all this was said under pressure. We said the following about OEcalan's 8 point proposal: "OEcalan's proposals from prison are a US solution. At precisely this point, a statement from the leadership council of the PKK regarding this 8 point proposal is important. What does the leadership council say? The leadership of a political movement must find its own way. Either acceptance or rejection! Neither this, nor a similar policy in the name of "tactic" can be defended. The defence of these proposals, tactical as well as strategic, can mean only one thing: defending the solution of the USA. This time, the statement that we will make use of the contradiction between the USA and Europe, is meaningless. The solution of the USA and the oligarchy will replace it." The solution of the USA was preferred. This is not that astonishing. Regarding the line of the PKK, we have been saying for a while that it has to make a choice. There are two possible roads: continuation of the war for the liberation of Anatolia or uniting with imperialism and the oligarchy and accepting their solutions. We have always preferred the first solution, but there were many indications that the latter would be preferred. That's why we said the following in the letter we mentioned: The statements of the PKK-leadership after the arrest of OEcalan were on the one hand calls to increase the war, but on the other hand they were also an expression of inconsistency because they are not taking side against imperialism and the monopolies. Although the USA are essentially responsible, after OEcalan's arrest special efforts became apparent not to touch the USA. This means: keeping, like OEcalan did, open the way for a possible solution, coming from the USA. after Europe proved unable to provide a solution. Now everything has to come to the open and it must be discussed. When the PKK still wants a solution in a revolutionary sense and in the interests of our peoples, it must provide clarity. In the 8 point proposal, the definition "democratic republic" is used in relation with the present regime. It is said that essentially liberties exist since 1990. Such conclusions confirm the superfluity of the armed struggle. It's a denounciation of the reason for its existence. The leadership council stated its loyalty to these proposals. Its views and its policy did not change. On the contrary, they have withdrawn. The repression was created by the USA and Europe, and after not standing up against them, they have even promised them to defend their interests, calling for a solution from their side. Now they have even turned away from that. It has become evident that even the theoretical words of "using the contradictions between the imperialists", and "we are using the contradictions between the Turkish republic and imperialism", are not according to the truth. In the OEzguer Politika of April 23-24, Duran Kalkan told the oligarchy, in short: "deal with us and we will support the expansion of Turkey in the Middle East and the Balcan". Similar words can be found in the statement of the leadership council. Repeatedly terms are used like "economical and political expansion to the outside" and "internal and external development". "When the Turkish state reacts positively to the trial, that is to say when it views the work of chairman Apo as an historic opportunity in the direction of solving the Kurdish problem and then steers into the direction of a democratic solution of the Kurdish question, then this would lead to the total activation of the Turkish potential, joining the Kurdish potential. Entering the 21st. century , this would lead to the highest progress in democracy, social peace, the stabilisation in Turkey on the highest level, as well as in external economical and political expansion". (May 7, OEzguer Politika) We had our doubts with the writing of Duran Kalkan whether or not it was the official opinion of the PKK. Because the fact that a "national liberation movement", not yet totally deviated from the revolutionary and Marxist-Leninist principles, defends all this is something our mind did not want to accept. Not everything said by the PKK is always totally serious, many things can be said in the name of tactics, very different from each other but of no value in practice. So the leadership council of the PKK stated that it thinks the same as the oligarchy of Turkey, regarding its "economical and political expansion abroad". This is very worrying. What does the PKK mean? What is it defending, what about revolution and liberation? Revolution and liberation have been left out of these statements which show common ground with the oligarchy. In the writings of Duran Kalkan, the present situation in Turkey is compared with the 16th. century Ottoman Empire. Defending the Ottoman Empire of the 16th. century, recommending this to the oligarchy, and even more, stating "your coalition with Israel and America is not sufficient for an outward expansion, you have to fraternize with the Kurds as well", what does it mean? Defending these thing means defending the ruling classes, the exploitation, pillaging and expansion. It clearly means: let's participate in every kind of repression inside the country and and let's participate with imperialism in every kind of exploitation and tyranny abroad, just give us amnesty and recognize the legalisation of the PKK and the Kurdish cultural rights. It means, `we do not have any other demands'. There's NOTHING to misinterprete, NOTHING to discuss. Those who claim something else should read the 8 points, the writing of Duran Kalkan and the statement of the leadership council again and again. It's clear for all revolutionary and democratic people. It should be clear to all. Because it's impossible that a force which calls itself revolutionary takes the occupation of plundering of the 16th. century as an example, recommending it to the oligarchy. The history of the 16th. century is one of massacring peoples, it is a history of tyranny. In the 16th. century, the Ottoman rulers changed the Mediteranean into the Ottoman Sea. Many areas were occupied in the Balcan and the Middle East. But during all these occupations, the exploitation and cruelties in Anatolia itself expanded tremendously. The uprisings of Sah Kulu, Sah Veli and Baba Zuenuen occured in the same period and they were crushed in blood. The massacre of Yavuz Selim against the Alevites occured in that time as well. The Ottoman rule, which Duran Kalkan recommends to the oligarchy of Turkey is like that. The famous Kurdish collaborator Idrisi Bitlisi also lived in that period. And with his collaboration, he helped the Ottomans with their expansion. Who will be the Idrisi Bitlisi of the expansion phase for the oligarchy in Turkey, "just like in the 16th. century"? Is this what you are defending? Is this your recommendation for the oligarchy? Expressions like "Democratic Republic" and "freedom of expression for the Kurds" are no longer criticisms, they have become words of praise, more or less. Paralel to that, only a road to return is wanted. The struggle, waged until now, is being denounced. Now the system is called democratic, there is only, just like the USA are saying, a democratic shortage. Their struggle for democracy can be continued through legalisation, that is to say within the system. And there is one other problem, and that is how to get those who are in the mountains down. And a solution was found: "general pardon"... A pardon is granted, the weapons are put down, and jobs can be found for these people within the system.Will they gain nothing at all? Of course they will gain something. They will gain the same as was gained in El Salvador and Guatemala, or maybe not even that! In all the countries where the guerrilla movements laid down their arms, the oligarchies not even kept their promises . They not even realised the necessary legalisation. Attacks were carried out against the leaders of the guerrilla movements which were still beaten back, intimidated and destroyed. It's striking and tragic: one of the points of the peace accords between the government and the guerrilla movement was to "find jobs" after the guerrilla had put down its arms. But not even this promise was kept. And the former guerrillas in El Salvador carried out an action to force the implementation of this promise. And what more will they gain? The Kurdish language? As we can see in the 8 points, the freedom of expression for the Kurds exists already since the nineties. Just like the oligarchy is claiming... The Kurds aren't oppressed at all. Everybody freely speaks his language in his region or village. Even a Kurdish Institute exists, foundations, Kurdish magazines... And even more, just like it is written in the rapport of the National Security Council, the question of self-determination can be solved with local leadership within the framework of this glorious democracy, within this system. The HADEP has won numerous mayor seats, so the leadership problem has been solved nicely within the system. What the HADEP will do in the city administrations isn't important, they themselves are leading... that's enough... You want to gather experience, you want to see how the system is governed? Don't worry, there isn't much to expect. All this is the solution as proposed by the MGK, TUESIAD and the USA, a solution which has been on the agenda for a long time , and they only waited for an opportunity to implement it. The real reason why the MGK (National Security Council) didn't ban the HADEP lies in the implementation of this solution. Otherwise the MGK would never have allowed the HADEP to particpate in the elections, granting them a few mayors. In this respect, the 8 points, the writings of Duran Kalkan, as well as the statement of the leadership council concur completely. The contradiction lies in the fact that the oligarchy, despite all the efforts of the PKK, all its words like "we are not opposed to the sytem, we are neither against the state, nor againts imperialism, recognize the Kurdish identity and we will support every kind of expansion of the oligarchy internal and external", continues with its own solution method in stead of starting negotiations. In case it doesn't find a way out of this deadlock, this will lead to its downfall. What about the liberation of the people, where are the revolution, freedom, power, the people's methods, in these 8 points? This must be answered. What does "Democratic Republic" mean? In what way have exploitation and oppression ended? This must be answered. All these questions and dozens of others must be answered frankly. Not answering these questions means that a sham has been presented, aiming at nothing else but a mistification of capitualation and collaboration. A lot has become clearer because of the approval of these 8 points and the offer of collaboration to the oligarchy. The deviation of the PKK is nearing its end, but it hasn't ended yet. The fact that the oligarchy and imperialism are not accepting the offer is in a way the last chance for Kurdish nationalism. It means that there is still a chance to turn to a revolutionary line. Taking this chance or not is equal to listening to the calls of the revolutionary movement till now or not. Because, as we have often explained in our calls, this chance cannot be grasped withing evaluating the line which was followed till now, without giving up nationalism and pragmatism. What expanded in the 16th. century? "The present situation can be compared wuth the situation in the beginning of the 16th. century when the state prepared for expansion, for a leap forward... The fact that the state of Turkey is in contradiction with Kurdistan, that it is in conflict and in war, is surely an obstacle for such an expansion. The realisation of such an expansion in the 16th. century created the necessity to develop an approachment policy towards Kurdistan. The approachment policy, developed then, paved the way for a longlasting empire in the East of the Ottoman empire, based on certain relations and a coalition between the Kurdish lords and Yavuz Selim. The realisation of this expansion with success depends on the solution of the "Kurdish question", a burning question for Turkey. When the oligarchy of Turkey draws a lesson from history, like the Ottoman leaders, it can develop a policy according to the situation of the day. When it takes the solution and the compromise with the Kurds as a basis, uses the strength of the Kurdish nation and unites with their support, it could achieve an expansion towards the East and the South." Duran Kalkan member of the leadership council of the PKK April 23-24, OEzguer Politika They say: "The 16th. century was an era of expansion. At present there is a similar opportunity for the state. We will be supportive in using such an opportunity." Not a single word of these has anything to do with logic or sense. Yes, the 16th. century was a century of expansion for the Ottomans. They changed the "Mediterranean into the Ottoman Sea", they pushed forward to the "gates of Vienna". No doubt at all. But a revolutionary, a patriot, and even someone whose head isn't filled with the sophistic lines of the history books, must ask himself: okay, but what was the price for this expansion? What did the Ottoman Empire do besides expanding? Is it legitimate to expand and occupy the land of other peoples in the process? * The 16th. century is also the century of uprisings in Anatolia. Because while the Ottoman Empire "expanded", the bill for this expansion was presented to the peoples of Anatolia. What was done? Taxes increased tremendously. The peasants, already starving, could no longer take it. They were seen as third rank, they were humiliated and oppressed. The Turks were called "Etrak-i bi idrak", headless, brainless Turks by the Ottoman rulers.. . The Kurds were seen as toys in the hands of the clan chiefs, "autonomy" was granted to these chiefs, aiming at the highest possible gain through them. In their eyes, Anatolia was a "festering wound". But they could not oppress it, destroy it, and one uprising had to be dealt with after the other. The 16th. century started with a rebelion. The rebellion of 1500 in Middle Anatolia, led by the Derwish (mendicants) and cavalrists, was crushed in blood in 1501. In 1511, the people in Antalya, led by Sahkulu, rebelled. He had organized an underground movement. The Ottoman sent elite troops after him but Sahkulu succeeded in defeating them. Later he pushed forward to Bursa. Then he turned and marched to Konya, besieging it. From there he went further south. Then he defeated another Ottoman army and marched to Sivas, followed by another Ottoman army. Sahkulu's army, including the women and children, had to fight. They were defeated and thousands of them were murdered. 1512. Sultan Selim takes to trone and replaces his father, Bayazit II. In 1514 a Ottoman army of 140 persons marched against the Safawides in Iran. On their way, the chiefs of all the villages and castles were murdered, accused of being "kizilbas" (Alevites). In Caldiram, the army of Yavuz Sultan Selim won the war. All prisoners of war were beheaded on the battle field. While Selim led the march, he wanted to "cover his back". For this reason he left behind some of his troops to "take care off the kizilbaslar". 40.000 Alevites were killed in Anatolia during this campaign. 1515. The Dulkadiroglu Uprising crushed in blood. In 1519, Sah Veli again organised the people in the region of Bozak and led an uprising. But this one was defeated before it could spread. 1516. A group of Kurdish collaborators, led by Idrisi Bitlisi, is the thriving force behind the founding of the Beylerbeylik (regions led by a general-governor) of the Ottomans in Diyarbakir. Idrisi Bitlisi accompagnied Yavuz Selim on his march to Iran. He was as much as his right arm in Kurdistan. To buy the clan chiefs, he used the support of Idrisi Bitlisi. These Kurdish lords demanded "autonomy" within the framework of the Beylerbeylik of Diyarbakir, thus playing one of the major roles in the massacres in Anatolia. 1520. Selim dies. Succeeded by Sueleyman. 1521. Occupation of Belgrad. 1522. Occupation of Rhodos. 1526. Occupation of the southern part of Rumania. The Ottoman Empire is expanding in all directions, using its armies against other peoples. But this could only be realised by exploiting the peoples of Anatolia dry. Because the Ottomans required an income for constucting their luxurious palaces and the endless campaigns of their armies. They took everything the people had through oppression, violence and weapons. That's the reason why there was a succession of uprisings in Anatolia. The uprising led by Baba Zuennuen was one of them. In 1527, the impoverished people of Bozok, a Ottoman governmental region, rose up under his leadership. The people were poor and hungry, fed up with the oppression, desperate... That's why the number of participants increased quickly. The units of Baba Zuennuen caused great problems for the state authorities. Sueleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566), even greated that way in the occupied territories, ordered his Pashas to crush all uprisings. A battle was waged near Kayseri. Baba Zuennuen's army defeated the Ottomas. Many Ottoman leaders were killed. This was a painful defeat fro Istanbul. They had to prevent at any price that the spark would cross to other regions . As a new solution, the Emir of Malatya and his forces were sent against Baba Zuennuen but the people beat back them as well. Then the general- governor of Sivas was sent with even a bigger army, only to be beaten by the rebelling people as well. In the end, the governor of Diyarbakir, Huesrev Pasa, was given the command of the army. He was a Kurd who recruted his troops from the Kurdish tribes. Again there were massacres, a scene where Anatolia was now getting used to. Huesrev Pasa succeeded in crushing the rebellion. When Mueneccimbasi, one of the history writers of the Ottoman Empire, reported about the uprising, he wrote: "Huesrev Pasa came down on them with his Kurdish soldiers and nobody escaped". In 1526, a new uprising was started by Kalender Celebi while Sultan Sueleyman was on campaign in Europe, busy occupying the land of other peoples. His reserve army, led by his great-vizir was sent to Anatolia. The people defeated the Ottoman troops on the battle field. When the Anatolian people, hoping for a new spark of resistance, heard about the victory, it sided with Kalender Celebi. The number of troops went up to 30.000. But there were "many games the Ottoman played" and Celebi's leading forces were bought away with money and carreers, or neutralized. Kalender was left with 400-500 fighters and was defeated. Thousands were massacred. 1534. According to some sources, an army of 200 soldiers marched to Bagdad,. occupying it. In 1538, Aden and the remaining parts of Rumanina were occupied. In 1543, it was Western Hungary's turn. 1553. Sueleyman the Magnificent had his own son, Ismail, killed. In 1563, he ordered the murder of another 5 sons. The expansion of the Ottoman Empire, presented by Duran Kalkar as an example to the oligarchy, went through a rapid phase during the era of Sueleyman the Magnificent, as did the massacres in Anatolia. The ideologist of the Ottoman Empire and Seyhnlislami (the highest in rank after the great-vizir) of Sueleyman the Magnificent, Ebussuud Efendi, for example, ordered: Question: Is it allowed according to our faith the massacre the Alewite society? Answer: Of course is the mass killing of Alewites allowed according to our faith. This is the great holy war... Dying in it represents holy martyrdom. And with such an animosity, and all kinds of cruelties, the Alevite people were attacked. Just in the period of Yavuz Sultan Selim alone , 40.000 Alevites were murdered by the Ottomans. This does not stand for faith or religion, it stands for "progress" and "expansion", for "not leaving behind chaos, while on a military campaign". It's the price for expansion and development. 1566. Sueleyman dies. Succeeded by Selim. 1574. Tunesia is occupied. Murat III occupies the throne that same year. 1595. Mahmut the III occupies the throne. This is, in short, the 16th. century. The Ottoman Empire "expanded". Dozens of countries were occupied, from Middle Europe to Middle Asia and North Africa. On the other hand there were numerous smaller and bigger uprisings which were crushed by massacres and bannings. Anatolia was transformed into a real prison for the peoples. In a sense, the Ottomans, in order to expand, first dealt with the peoples in Anatolia, oppressed and accused of being "Alewites", "religious enemies", "tax evaders", or "challenging the Pasha". It went so far that some historians wrote thet while the palaces were swimming in wealth, the people of Anatolia were "eating grass". This was the so-called development period. -- -------------------------------------------------- DHKC Front Revolutionnare de Liberation du Peuple Bureau d' Information Leuvensensteenstraat 323 1030 Brussel Tel/Fax: 32 2 73 37281 e-mail: dhkc at xs4all.be www: http://www.xs4all.be/~dhkc ------------------------------------ List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Tue Jun 1 11:50:27 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 01 Jun 1999 11:50:27 Subject: First batch of US warplanes arrive in Turkey for Kosovo strikes Message-ID: ANKARA, May 31 (AFP) - A first batch of US warplanes has arrived at an air base in western Turkey, one of three facilities earmarked for use in NATO's bombing raids on Yugoslavia, base commander General Murat Bulgan said on Monday. Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Bulgan said 38 F-15 and F-16 jets would be deployed at Balikesir base. He did not say how many planes had already arrived or when. "Preparations for NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia (from Turkish bases) have come to the final stage," Bulgan said. Since Sunday, US C-5 and C-17 cargo planes have been bringing in equipment, provisions and NATO personnel to Balikesir. Officials at the base told Anatolia that some 1,000 NATO soldiers had already landed at the base and added that the number was expected to reach some 2,000 in the coming days. The chief of the Turkish general staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu, said last week that 54 NATO planes will be deployed in bases at Balikesir and Bandirma, which lies some 70 kilometres (45 miles) to the north of Balikesir, in early June. Kivrikoglu had added that negotiations were continuing between Turkish and NATO officials on determining the base where tanker planes would be deployed. The bases in consideration are Corlu in the northwest Turkish province of Tekirdag and the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey. Incirlik is home to British and US warplanes which enforce a "no-fly" zone in northern Iraq imposed after the 1991 Gulf War in order to protect the Kurdish population in the region. Turkey has dispatched 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Italian air base of Ghedi to take part in the NATO strikes against Yugoslav targets. The Turkish planes were initially assigned combat air patrol missions, protecting other units, but have been taking part in bombings since the end of April. The commander of the Turkish air force, Ilhan Kilic, said last week that Ankara might send troops to Kosovo if NATO decides to carry out a ground operation. Turkey, a NATO member since 1953, fully supports the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia, citing ethnic and historical ties to the region, which was under Ottoman rule for 500 years. List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Thu Jun 3 12:09:06 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 03 Jun 1999 12:09:06 Subject: German fascism against Revolutionaries from Turkey Message-ID: WHY IS GERMANY SEEKING REVENGE? The wave of state repression after the ban on the DHKP-C on August 13, 1998, continues. Lately Serafettin G., responsible for Germany, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment as a "leading spokesperson" while two other persons were sentenced to seven and five years for being "members of terrorist association". These sentences, seen by many as to high, were mainly based on the statements of spy who has been working for the intelligence service for eight years and a former activist who offered his services to the police in November last year in exchange for a permit to stay in Germany and the covering of his debts to Austria for smuggling cigarettes./ The same chamber of the High Court in Hamburg which announced these sentences is now ready to announce its verdict in the trial against Ilhan Y. On May 4, 1999, the judges senate came up with is "balance" which was quite shocking. It's hard to believe that this intermediate verdict is really coming from a court. It's even more reactionary than the verdicts of the military courts in Turkey. Ilhan Y. is being accused of having "murdered" the MHP-sympathiser and snack bar owner Erol K. A life sentence is being demanded. The trial has been going on for two months now. If all the witnesses and all the evidence had been valued objectively, Ilhan Y. would have been acquitted a long time ago. But Ilhan Y. is being prosecuted in a political trial before a State Security Court in the context of the DHKP-C ban. It can not be avoided to look at this state security court as a more perfected version of the Turkish military courts. Since the beginning, this court has been going for a life sentence. THE TRIAL Ilhan Y. was arrested some one and a half hour after the incident in the night of April 25, 1998, in which Erol K. died. Two other persons were arrested with him. But after three months, the court ordered his release. The witnesses of the incident could not identify him nor were there any gun smoke traces on his hands or clothes. Then, a year later, when Ilhan Y. was going to be heard as a witness in the trial against the three DHKP-C activists, the state prosecution only asked him: "We know you killed Erol K., where did you hide the weapon?" and Ilhan Y. was arrested in court, the same court which had asked him as a witness! The court now wants to sentence him to life, using the same evidence which he was acquitted on last year. In case he wouldn't confess: 20, 25, even 28 years... And because of the "extra-ordinary severity of the case" in isolation. Of course, as the courts states in its intermediate balance, such a verdict would be damaging for the organisation as well, which ban would be cemented with a life-long 129a (art. 129a: punishes membership in a terrorist association) verdict. Ilhan Y. "should consider that very carefully". All the evidence which speaks for the innocence of Ilhan Y. is neglected and the statement that the court and the state prosecution are convinced of the guilt of the accused is seen as sufficient. Sufficient for a High Court to sentence a person to life imprisonment although that same person was acquitted before in the same case. Only a confession is required now which they try to achieve through coercion, threatening somebody with 25 years imprisonment. The possibility of the INNOCENCE of this person is not even considered. There is a corps, and now they need a perpetrator. BECAUSE THEY ARE CONVINCED! They try to sentence a person to life because they are convinced that a word in a tapped telephone conversation must be interpreted in a certain way, because they are convinced that the witnesses refuse to identify Ilhan Y. because they are afraid, because they are convinced that people went to the scene of the killing because the organisation is "cold-blooded" and wants to "shed blood". Interpreters of the BKA (Federal Crime Investigation Agency) are heard as witnesses who insist that the word which was used was "scheyt", although such a word doesn't even exist in the Turkish language, although that word doesn't make any sense, although a list of independent interpreters were unable to identify such a word in the telephone conversations. "Take care there aren't to many martyrs (`scheyt")", the responsible for Germany, now sentenced to 10 years, supposedly said on the phone to a third person. Such a word can be constructed by just adding a "t" to the word "schey", which means a thing, an item. If the "t" is left out, the sentence would be "Take care that not to much happens". The Turkish "Schey" means "things". The words "scheyt" is non-existent. The word for "martyr" is "sehit", emphasising the second syllable, "hit". The BKA-interpreter insisted in his statement that Serafettin G. spoke a very clear and accent-free Turkish and that he therefore should have said "bir schey". But at the same time he claims that Serafettin G., speaking Turkish so well, utters a completely non-sensical sentence, and even uses a word, "scheyt", which doesn't even exist. This is one of the major points in the Ilhan Y. trial but the court doesn't accept further discussions and doesn't even agree to listen to the tapes a second time. No gun smoke traces were found on Ilhan Y's hands and clothes when he was arrested immediately after the incident. This was one of the reasons for the acquittal at the time. But, after a expert of the ballistic department of the detective force was heard as a witness, the High Court only took to the words "when you wash your hands carefully, then" as decisive, commenting: "well, that's it!". The previous statement that traces also show up at parts of the clothes like sleeves, arms and trousers, and that Ilhan Y. just didn't have the time to change clothes, no longer played any role... Furthermore, the court and the state prosecution did their utmost to secure a life sentence for Ilhan Y. To make things worse, the court wants to condemn him for "insidious and treacherous murder", claiming that this was a planned attack where the victim was shot from behind, even though everything indicates that somebody shot Erol K. because he pulled a gun first. The tapped telephone conversations, part of the main evidence, are seen as 100 per cent true and reliable, and it is out of the question to hear the tapes once more, because the translation is said to be correct, and everything was said that way. However, the words of a third person to Serafettin G., "... and he pulled a gun or something and then Ismail fired twice", are regarded as a matter of secondary importance. "... or something" is regarded as decisive. Erol K. in no way was the innocence himself, on the contrary, he was a know sympathiser of the MHP. The entire family moves in those circles and his father is said to have been the chairman of the fascist Idealists Centre in Turkey. It is said in the neighbourhood that Erol K's entire family is involved in drugs. One of his brother is now in jail for that reason. That such a person could posses a weapon, that's considered as infeasible by the court. But Ilhan Y, member of the DHKP-C, yes he and nobody else, he was armed to his teeth and eager to kill Erol K... The shooter, according a third person on the phone , is said to have been a person called "Ismail". And according to the court Ilhan Y is "Ismail". This allegedly was discovered during a search by the police when Ilhan Y. was addressed with that name and where the leading police officer immediately took not of that. That no other police officer remembers anything like this, not even the Turkish police officer who was present as an interpreter, and especially asked if such a thing occurred, that's interesting. These are the main points in the "evidence" which must put Ilhan Y. behind bars for life. And that will be the case, because the court is convinced of that. WE URGE EVERYBODY TO VOICE THEIR PROTEST AGAINST THIS ARBITRARINESS AND TO SUPPORT ILHAN Y. ON JUNE 7, 1999, AT 2.30 P.M. IN THE OLG HAMBURG (STATE HIGH COURT) AS TRIAL MONITORS NO COURT IN THE WORLD CAN CONDEMN A PERSON TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT BASED ON SUCH EVIDENCE! DHKP-C trials monitoring group -- Ozgurluk.Org For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan! Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org mailto:ozgurluk at xs4all.nl / mailinglists: petidomo at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Sat Jun 5 08:36:59 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 05 Jun 1999 08:36:59 Subject: DHKC- Press Bureau, Declaration: 87 Message-ID: REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT Press Bureau Date: June 4, 1999 Declaration: 87 AMERICA DESTROYED OUR INDEPENDENCE, IT WANTS TO DESTROY THE INDEPENDENCE OF ALL COUNTRIES IT HAS BEEN BOMBING THE PEOPLE OF YUGOSLAVIA FOR MONTHS BECAUSE IT WANTS TO BREAK IT UP AND ESTABLISH ITS DOMINATION When the US, or any other imperialists, attack another country, their aim is to destroy everything related to the independence and freedom of the peoples, and their dignity of life. For this purpose, US imperialism has been bombing the Yugoslav people for three months. States which are servants of America and whose brains are under their control are applauding this attack. They are flattering America, urging it to leave not a single stone standing, and to murder more. All those who talk about human rights, the right of nations to self- determination, and countries' sovereignity are suporting the American massacres by telling them to bomb more, to murder more. Bombs, missiles, and armies can never destroy a peoples' desire for freedom. They may leave no stone standing, they may murder millions however, this weapon will be turned around and used against them. Because with this weapon they have murdered the people, and tried to destroy their history. But the people's history cannot be destroyed. Peoples who have been slaughtered never forget and their history cannot be wiped out even if centuries pass. Anger, resistance and rebellion build up within the people who have been subject to slaughter. And that rebellion, sooner or later, emerges and overwhelms the tyrants. Today, all the imperialists boast while murdering people with their planes and their remote controlled missiles spewing out blood. The tyrants will never live long. Wherever there are imperialists and their collaborators, there will be the struggle of oppressed peoples. However much imperialism wants to turn the oppressed peoples into each others enemies in order to divide them, the peoples will sooner or later grasp the reality of brotherhood and raise the flag of struggle. Our people has no hostility towards the peoples of the Balkans. The imperialists are the ones who are the enemies of the Balkan peoples and who want to divide and weaken them and destroy their freedom. Despite the fact that the imperialists together with their colloborators, under the leadership of USA, have been bombing the Yugoslav people, they still have not been able to seize control of them. This is the strength of the oppressed peoples. This is the honourable resistance of a technically and militarilly weak people against all the imperialists, with all their huge strength. Even though they level Yugoslavia to the ground and divide it, the permanent victory will not belong to the imperialists! In order to protest America's attack on Yugoslavian people, and to strengthen our people's fraternal feelings towards the Yugoslav people, on JUNE 4 1999 around 6:00 p.m., we attempted to carry out an attack against the US Consulate General in Istanbul, with missiles. Two of our fighters, SADIK MAMATI and SELUK AKG?L, drew the attention of the police while approaching the consulate, clashed with them, and died as martyrs in the fight. As long as the American bases remain on the soil of our motherland, as long as imperialism tries to turn the peoples into each other's enemies and murders them, our war will continue. DOWN WITH IMPERIALISM! LONG LIVE INDEPENDENT TURKEY! LONG LIVE THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE PEOPLES O YUGOSLAVIA AND TURKEY! REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From escape6 at hotmail.com Tue Jun 8 12:36:10 1999 From: escape6 at hotmail.com (escape6 at hotmail.com) Date: 08 Jun 1999 12:36:10 Subject: Wed. 7 June London anti-war meeting Message-ID: Come to the 'No war but the class war' public meeting on 'working class opposition to the war, here and in Serbia', Wednesday 9 June, 7.30pm, Cock Tavern, Phoenix Rd., between Euston and Kings Cross. We will also meet on June 16, 7.30pm at Conway Hall, Red Lion Sq., Holborn tube - all welcome. If the war continues we will meet there every Wednesday. If it has ended we will probably only meet on July 7, Sept.1, Oct.6, Nov.3 etc. E-mail escape6 at hotmail.com to confirm - or for copies of our bulletin (issue no.3 includes articles on the desertions in the Serbian army in May). Check http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/guest/radical/ESKOSOVO.HTM From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Tue Jun 8 15:45:16 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 08 Jun 1999 15:45:16 Subject: DHKC Prisoner in Germany in hungerstrike, 32nd day Message-ID: ON THE 32ND DAY OF ALI EKTI'S HUNGER STRIKE, THE PRISON ADMINISTRATION IS CONTINUING WITH THE OPPRESSION. ONE OF THE DHKC PRISONERS, ERDOGAN CAKIR IS STARTING HUNGER STRIKE IN HIS SUPPORT. Ali Ekti, who started a hunger strike on May 6th to protest his treatment, is continuing his legitimate action. Since he is a political prisoner, Ekti is subject to arbitrary treatment by the prison adminitration, and also has been placed in the section where there are heroin addicts and psycopaths, who have committed the worst and most inhuman crimes. Ali Ekti, who suffers from foot pain and a blood pressure problem, has to walk frequently and practice sports. However he is being prevented by the prison administration, and because he is on a hunger strike, his blood pressure is low, his head is turning, and his stomach is aching. Ali Ekti, who was arrested due to the DHKP-C trial, is deliberately being kept with psychopaths and heroin addicts. This is the kind of prisoner staying in the same section as Ekti: One of them was sentenced to 4 years prison for rape, but he has been kept in the prison for 12 years due to other crimes he committed in the prison. Another one chopped up 4 women and was therefore sentenced to 30 years. Currently he is being kept due to commiting a murder. One other is a rapist and a liar, who was sentenced to six anda half years for abducting women from Romania along with Turkish fascists, selling them and selling narcotics. Another prisoner was sentenced to life imprisonment for large-scale heroin trade. He is now selling and using heroin in the prison. The last time someone failed to pay for the heroin he bought, he cut their throat. The prison administration, which placed Ali Ekti with these prisoners an tried to provoke criminal prisoners against Ekti by telling them that "This is a terrorrist", have shown that they will use any kind of methods against political prisoners. The administration wants to create a provocation. Their efforts will not get a result. Ali Ekti has been sentenced to 5 years. At the moment there is 1 more year until his release, and he may go out on weekend parole in 2 months time. In this country [Germany], the justice and laws do not work for revolutionaries and patriots. Germany tries to threaten and intimidate peoples concerning the personalities of revolutionaries. But they will not succeed in this. If we, the democrats, patriots, revolutionaries, that's to say the people, come together, nobody can oppress or blackmail our people in prison. If we unite, we will realise our power and nobody can stand stop us . The policy ofsolation and oppression against Ali Ekti has to stop and we call on you, our friends, to raise this demand. Send your letters and cards to: Ali Ekti JVA Suhrenkamp Anstalt 2 Am Hasenberger 26 22335 Hamburg Trial Watch Committee -- Ozgurluk.Org For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan! Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org mailto:ozgurluk at xs4all.nl / mailinglists: petidomo at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From theorganizer at igc.org Fri Jun 18 17:46:37 1999 From: theorganizer at igc.org (theorganizer at igc.org) Date: 18 Jun 1999 17:46:37 Subject: DEFEND ANTIWAR ACTIVIST STEVE ARGUE! Message-ID: DEFEND ANTIWAR ACTIVIST STEVE ARGUE! ********** [please re-post and distribute widely. excuse duplicate postings.] In this message: (1) Letter of Introduction (2) Open Letter to Santa Cruz Citizens Police Review Board (3) Statement by Antiwar Activist Steve Argue ********** (1) Letter of Introduction [Add Your Name to the Open Letter to the Santa Cruz Citizens Police Review Board Demanding an Independent Inquiry of, and Public Hearing on, the Police Violence at the May 22nd Anti-war Demonstration in Santa Cruz!] Dear Supporters of Democratic Rights: Last May 22, a peaceful and legal demonstration against the U.S./NATO war in the Balkans was violently attacked by the Santa Cruz (Calif.) Police Department. This violent police provocation escalated when the police targeted two protestors with small children for brutalization and arrest. Antiwar activist Steve Argue was brutally beaten with night sticks by the rampaging Santa Cruz police after he intervened to prevent the brutalization by Officer LaFaver of a young woman and her four-year-old child. While on the ground, Officer LaFaver forced pepper spray into his throat and directly into his eyes. He was then arrested. [See Steve Argue's statement below on the events of May 22.] Steve was then taken to jail and held in a solitary cell for over 72 hours. He was charged with Felony battery of a custodial officer, Section 243C1, as well as Resisting and Obstructing, Section 148 A1. Six days after his arrest, Steve was released from jail after supporters posted the $2000 required to secure his bail. If convicted under these charges, Steve could face up to four years in jail. On June 14, a hearing of the Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) took place in downtown Santa Cruz. Scores of concerned community members and activists crowded the hall to provide testimony and to demand an immediate inquiry into, and public hearing on, the police violence and provocation of May 22. Despite the overwhelming evidence of police brutality provided by more than a dozen eye-witnesses in the three hours of testimony, the Citizens Police Review Board voted to table any action on this matter until its next meeting on June 28. The Steve Argue Defense Committee has issued the following Open Letter to the Citizens Police Review Board demanding the independent inquiry and public hearing. Please add your name (and that of your organization, if possible) to this Open Letter. Make sure you include your full name, organization and title (if any) and your city and country. It is our intention to assemble hundreds, if not thousands, of signatures on this signature for submission to the next meeting of the Citizens Police Review Board on June 28. We also plan to announce the results of our signature campaign at a rally and press conference immediately prior to the June 28th hearing. Please send in your endorsement of this Letter [see coupon below] to . If you would like to further assist us, please print out this Open Letter and make copies for massive signature gathering. You can fax the filled-out petitions to Alan Benjamin at (415) 626-1217. Last but not least, we urgently need to raise money to repay the activists who advanced the bail money and to cover all legal costs and other expenses needed to publicize this case widely across the country and internationally. A Steve Argue Defense Fund has been established for this purpose. Please send contributions to the Steve Argue Defense Campaign, c/o Tracie Deangelis, 234 High St. Apt #3, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Make checks payable to the Steve Argue Defense Fund. Thank you for your endorsement of the Open Letter and your support to this important campaign. For more information about what you can do to help, call Tracie in Santa Cruz at (831) 421-9794, or Alan in San Francisco at (415) 626-1175. In Solidarity, Alan Benjamin (for the Steve Argue Defense Committee) ********** (2) Open Letter to the Santa Cruz Citizens Police Review Board: On Monday, June 14, the Citizens Police Review Board of Santa Cruz heard more than three hours of testimony from concerned community members and activists who had participated in the May 22nd antiwar demonstration at which Steve Argue and other antiwar activists were arrested. Today, Steve Argue faces up to four years in jail for allegedly hitting a police officer. In their testimony, the activists described how the Santa Cruz Police Department, without any provocation by the demonstrators, unleashed numerous acts of violence against those who had peacefully assembled to protest the war policies of the U.S. government. The accounts of unprovoked police brutality and torture were both detailed and stirring. The antiwar demonstrators, as well as the dozens of concerned community members and civil rights activists attending the June 14 meeting, urged the Review Board to initiate an independent inquiry -- together with an open and public hearing -- of the events surrounding the May 22nd antiwar demonstration. Under the City Ordinance, the Review Board has the authority to initiate these actions. Unfortunately, despite the overwhelming evidence provided by those who testified on June 14, the Review Board refused to take action in favor of an independent inquiry and public hearing.Rather, the Review Board voted to table any final decision on this matter till its next Board meeting on June 28. We, the undersigned, call on the Citizens Police Review Board of Santa Cruz to fulfill its mandate by voting at its June 28 meeting to initiate a prompt independent inquiry -- together with an open and public hearing -- into the events of the May 22nd antiwar demonstration. Evidence over the past four years since the Citizens Police Review Board was formed has demonstrated that the Santa Cruz Police Department is unwilling to police itself and to stamp out the repeated acts of police brutality perpetrated against citizens in Santa Cruz. It is time for the Citizens Police Review Board to take action under the powers entrusted to it under the Santa Cruz City Ordinance. For an independent inquiry and a public hearing into the events surrounding the May 22nd antiwar demonstration! signed/ Initial Signatories: Steve Argue Defense Committee ___ ? ADD MAY NAME TO THE OPEN LETTER TO THE SANTA CRUZ CPRB NAME: ORGANIZATION (AND TITLE, IF ANY): CITY: COUNTRY: EMAIL ADDRESS: ********** (3) STATEMENT BY STEVE ARGUE On May 22, 1999 a peaceful legal protest against the war was attacked violently by the police in Santa Cruz. This violent police provocation escalated when the police targeted two protestors with small children for brutalization and arrest. Officer LaFaver attacked a woman who was holding a terrified a four-year-old child. He twisted her hand so severely that her fingers were touching her forearm, her hand turned completely purple and her wrist was in danger of snapping. She was crying out in extreme pain as her child screamed rhythmically, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Together with other protestors I called repeatedly on LaFaver to stop. I acted then as anyone with a sense of dignity and humanity would do to stop the torment and terror which Officer LaFaver was inflicting on a helpless woman and her child. This woman was in transit in Santa Cruz without a fixed local address. There was an imminent danger that the police would attempt to remove her child from her custody and care. My intervention enabled her, fortunately, to go free without further consequences. Although I then offered no resistance, the police assaulted me ferociously. LaFaver wrenched my head up and stuffed a pepper spray canister in my mouth and sprayed its contents down my throat, an illegal act that has killed in the past. Had I suffered from asthma or any respiratory ailment, this could have had the fatal consequences which have been documented in even less severe applications at close range. I was pepper sprayed, as well, directly in my eyes at a distance of two to three inches with serious potential jeopardy to my vision. I was then kicked and beaten severely while in a fetal position on the ground, brutalization in which LaFaver participated while hitting me with his baton. I was then thrown in jail for six days under 23- hour lockdown. I was denied visitors illegally. A campaign was organized to free me, and I am now out on $20,000 bail. I face a potential sentence of four years in prison. Financial and political support are needed urgently. Mine is a case for the defense of the right to speak out against the government without police terror and repression. It is a battle for our political freedoms. Please help! From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Wed Jun 23 06:09:12 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 23 Jun 1999 06:09:12 Subject: DHKP-C statement 88 on current situation in Kosovo Message-ID: DEVRIMCI HALK KURTULUS CEPHESI Press Office Date: June 18, 1999 statement: no. 88 THE US-NATO OCCUPATION OF KOSOVO IS AN ATTACK AGAINST ALL PEOPLES US-imperialism tries to rule everything and everybody in the world by means of destroying everything, using the independence and the freedom for the oppressed peoples as a pretext. In Iraq, Somalia, Bosnia, and now in Kosovo, the imperialists, led by the USA, do not recoil from massacres and destruction when it concerns the extension of the markets for the monopolies. They want to remove the resistance of the peoples completely by destroying all national values, replacing them by their own cosmopolitan ones. They want to oppress the peoples' resistance by crushing everything, by extinguishing nations and frightening the whole world. It has become quite clear what the purpose was of the demagogy about human rights, national rights, the lies of imperialism which has occupied Iraq, Somalia, Bosnia, and now Kosovo as well. The imperialists are not pursuing any national, cultural or human goal. Their only goal is to secure market for their monopolies by means of occupation, destruction and genocide. That's what's happening in Kosovo. Kosovo has been split from Yugoslavia. For months, Yugoslavia was set on fire, bombed. Thousands of peoples were massacred and hundreds of thousands were driven away from their homes. Kosovo was occupied and has now become a territory, split up by imperialism. Serbia was brought down. And not enough, now they are saying: "We will make up for the damage, but only when there is a government, a democracy, as we want it". Thus they are enforcing the conditions of the monopolies and the banks. What wasn't finished with rockets and massacres, is now completed by the monopolies. They are acting quite openly. Imperialism tries to make a satellite state of Kosovo, and it tries to make a neo-colony of Serbia, with a collaborating government. What the US-imperialists, in other words the Nazi's of today, really want with the occupation of Kosovo is to secure the imperialist hegemony in the entire Balkan region. A similar policy, the separation of Bosnia - and now Kosovo - from Yugoslavia, will be applied against other peoples. After the collapse of the socialist system, the imperialists consequently worked to incite the different nationalities in the Caucasus, in the Balkan, and in the Middle East, against each other, to divide them, in order to take these regions in their control. What we are seeing now is the result of this fragmentation. Their policy is: divide, and if that's not possible, occupy and set up neo-colonies. Victories which have been achieved by occupation and massacres can never be lasting ones. The oppressed peoples have, through the entire history, always resisted occupation and destruction with their own strength. Although the petty bourgeois and bourgeois governments from time to time take a stand against the occupants, they cannot really believe in the resistance until victory with the people's strength because they are not revolutionary and they do not defend the people's power. Through the entire history, the revolutionaries were the ones who resisted the oppressors and the occupation forces. The revolutionaries were the ones who fought the world hegemony of the Nazi's, and who won. Just like the Nazi's were defeated and destroyed ideologically, culturally and physically, today's Nazi's, the US-imperialists, will be defeated and destroyed as well. The gains, made by the USA through fragmentation, massacres and occupations, will lead to a new organising of the peoples' resistance. Governments can be defeated, they can capitulate, countries can be occupied. But the national values and liberties of the peoples who live in these countries cannot be obliterated. The yearning of the peoples for a life in freedom cannot be destroyed. The armed resistance of the peoples against imperialist occupation is legitimate. The people in Yugoslavia will use this legitimate right. The revolutionaries unite, the imperialists divide. This is a fact the peoples of the Balkan and the Caucasus have never forgotten. While the peoples are split and weakened, and the countries are being occupied, thoughts of how the revolutionaries united the peoples and strengthened them will flourish again. The peoples will one again see the difference between a dignified life in freedom and the life which imperialist occupation offers them. WE MUST OPPOSE THE OCCUPATION OF KOSOVO, WE MUST STAND UP AGAINST IMPERIALISM It is the duty of all progressive and democratic people to stand up against the imperialist occupation. All those we call themselves patriots must regard the occupation of Kosovo as an attack against themselves. All anti-imperialists, all revolutionaries and patriots must take a stand against the occupation of the Balkan and they must choose the side of the resistance of the Balkan peoples against imperialism. When we organise ourselves and use all our strength against imperialism, the fighter bombers and the bombs of the imperialists will loose their effect against the strength of our peoples. Because imperialism knows the terrifying strength of the peoples all too well, it has to reduce its attack to fighter bombers and rockets. The hearts of all anti-imperialists and revolutionaries in the world must beat with the hearts of the peoples of the Balkan. Let us organise the struggle against the USA together with the people of Yugoslavia, let us show the peoples' reaction all over the world. We have realised numerous actions against US-imperialism in 1971, in 1991, and in these days as well. We showed our solidarity with our brothers and sisters, with the Palestinian, the Iraqi and the Yugoslav people. Many comrades gave their lives for this, or were imprisoned. Most recently, two of our comrades fell on June 4, 1999, during an action with Law rocket launchers against the general consulate of the US in Istanbul. This stand of the fallen comrades Sadik Mamati and Selcuk Akguec was a battle cry to all the oppressed people to fight imperialism. It was an indication that the struggle of the oppressed peoples cannot prevented, by no force. This call was a battle cry meant for all revolutionaries, all anti-imperialists and patriots in the world to fight imperialism and its collaborating governments. LET'S UNITE AGAINST US-IMPERIALISM! LET'S STAND UP AGAINST THE OCCUPATION OF KOSOVO, SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE PEOPLES OF THE BALKAN! LET'S UNITE, LET US PROOF THE STRENGTH OF THE PEOPLE! REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT -- Ozgurluk.Org For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan! Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Wed Jun 23 06:09:31 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 23 Jun 1999 06:09:31 Subject: Germany: Hungerstrike of DHKC-prisoner ended in victory Message-ID: June 14, 1999 The 39 day long hungerstrike action of the DHKP-C prisoner Ali Ekti has ended with the promise to fulfill all his demands! The DHKP-C prisoner Ali Ekti was in a hungerstrike for 39 days in Suhrenkamp prison (Anstalt 2, am Hasenberger 26, 22335 Hamburg). The reason for his action was the isolation used against him and the fact that there was a provocative atmosphere caused by psychopathic prisoners he was put together with after he had refused to testify against his co-defendant Ilhan Y. Another reason was that treatment was hindered for his blood circulation problems. Ali Ekti saw this situation as a serious attack against political identity and thus began a hungerstrike which lasted for 39 days. To break the action, and Ekti's will, the prison administration planned all kind of intrigues. At first they acted ignorant. Then they stated the situation would change if Ali Ekti would decide to give up the hungerstrike. After they achieved nothing with this, they started to put food in his cell after the 30th day of the action. Every time the food was thrown away before the eyes of the prisoner. But after a while this was stopped. To test his will, they sent a priest to Ali Ekti during the last days who should try to break his resistance. But they realised that the situation would not change. They understood that a DHKP-C prisoner defends his political identity under all circumstances, even when he is alone. And although the prison administration hadn't kept appointments before and stayed away from talks, contrary to the agreements with the lawyers, they came a few days ago to apologise. It was not quite clear what these apologies meant. Three days later, the prison director, the floor manager, the prison foreigners advisory council and Ali Ekti's lawyer met to negotiate together with Ekti. This morning they saw themselves forced to meet all his demands. The following was agreed: 1. Ali Ekti will be transferred back into the normal prison regime. 2. He will have visits and courtyard time under normal conditions. 3. He will be able to participate in all the social and cultural events. 4. The prison administration will not stand in the way of medical treatment and if need be he will receive an operation. Treatment will begin as soon as possible. 5. All this will be implemented on next Friday. 6. He will be transferred to the hospital ward today to be treated for the consequences of the action. As can be seen, the demands were nothing but humane demands. The prison administration isolated Ali Ekti only for repression purposes. This arbitrariness by the prison administration, led by the security service, was blocked through determined resistance. Once again it was shown that nothing can stand in the way of revolutionary will-power. Once again this was proven by a DHKP-C prisoner. With enthusiasm we greet him, his resistance, and the victory he achieved. Monitoring group of the DHKP-C trials -- Ozgurluk.Org For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan! Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org mailto:ozgurluk at xs4all.nl / mailinglists: petidomo at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl From english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl Thu Jun 24 12:26:47 1999 From: english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl (english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl) Date: 24 Jun 1999 12:26:47 Subject: England: PKK Supporters attack DHKC supporters Message-ID: Provocative Attacks Of The PKK Supporters Against The DHKC Supporters in London On 19 June 1999, Saturday, the DHKC (Revolutionary People's Liberation Front) supporters were distributing the weekly newspaper in a region of London. In a caf?, they have been confronted by the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) supporters and one of them snatched and stamped over the newspapers. The DHKC supporters protested and said "What do you think that you are doing? Your own martyrs are also mentioned in this paper, you even have no respect for your martyrs!" Also an individual interfered and accused them of not behaving like revolutionaries and patriots. The attackers admitted that they are the active supporters of the PKK, they said "you are fascists, you are the contra-guerrilla" and attacked against the DHKC supporters with sticks. The DHKC supporters defended themselves and shouted the slogans of "Down With Fascism, Long Live Our Struggle" and " We Will Break Punish Those Who Target Revolutionaries" The attackers ran away when the local shop owners and individuals gathered in front of the caf?. The next day a public meeting was held by the Revolutionary People's Forces, both our people and the other political movements were informed. During the meeting it is underlined that this attack was not only targeting the DHKC supporters but also the whole revolutionaries, democrats and patriots. In the evening, the same group of attackers removed the poster of the DHKC from another caf? and said the interfering owner "We don't recognise the DHKP-C, we banned them, we'll not let them to sell their newspapers". The title of the poster was "We Are In the Blacksea, Taurusus, Kurdistan, Aegean Districts, We Are The Cephe (Front) Fighting For The People's Liberation!" On 24 March 1999, PKK supporters had attacked DHKC supporters again in London and 3 DHKC supporters had been injured. At that time, the criticism of the DHKP-C on the Mavi Carsi massacre (13 civillians were killed. The action was not denounced or criticised by the PKK) had been used as an excuse. Because, the DHKC had issued a press release which was titled as "Those who commit massacres against the people have nothing to do with the freedom of the Kurdish people nor with the essence of revolution and progress" This is an irresponsible attitude that sees everyone, who has different opinions as enemy. The blind nationalism have brought them to this level. Only those who have no trust to their own ideals try to supress the others by using violence. This understanding does not help them to achieve but to lose. Only weaks and cowards try to censor newspapers, thoughts and consciences. The fascist regime in Turkey has already banned and censored our newspaper. As far as the fascist regime is concerned, this approach makes sense. This is the reality of the war. But the same approach can not be adopted by those who call themselves revolutionaries and patriots. Because only the criminals and cowards are afraid of reality. We will continue to defend and write the truth in our paper. Imperialism and the oligarchy in Turkey tried to silence us but could not succeed. No one else can succeed either. Our fight continues at the cost of the lives of our martyrs and will continue until liberation. Our people has the ability and conscience to separate right and wrong. DHKC do not consider those who take the side of people as enemies. DHKC considers them as friends. We will not let the attitudes and actions that targets the people and our values and serves for the enemy. Those who insist to continue such actions will be retaliated with whatever they deserve. DEVRIMCI HALK KURTULUS CEPHESI (DHKC) DEVRIMCI HALK GUCLERI, BRITAIN REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S FORCES 23 JUNE 1999 List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl