State of Emergency Extended in Four Provinces
The Turkish National Security Council have again extended the states of emergency in Diyarbakir, Tunceli, Hakkari and Sirnak by 4 months (i.e. until 2002). States of emergency were imposed on 13 provinces in 1987 giving governors special rights which overrule citizen’s rights there. (Sources: ap, Radikal, 30.10.01)
 

Turkey Admits Human Rights Violations Before European Courts
Turkey has admitted to the European Courts human rights violations and have agreed to pay compensation to four families. The court revealed that the families each lost a brother, son or husband during police action in the southeast of Turkey. The men are still currently missing. As compensation, each family are to receive 108 000 DM. In a statement, the Turkish government regretted the “disappearance of the complainants’ family members and the worry that it has caused the families”. The government promised that Ankara would “guarantee that in future effective inquiries would be made into any allegation of disappearance”. Human rights had been violated through “unlawful detention and deficient investigation”. (Source: afp, 06.11.01)
 

Reporter Sans Frontières: Journalist Adnan Keskin At Risk
In a letter to the Turkish member of parliament and former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar, the organisation Reporter Sans Frontières (RSF) have expressed their concern at his verbal attack against the journalist Adnan Keskin, who works for the Turkish daily paper Radikal. The threats followed Keskin’s article “Susurluk Affair Cover Up” from 17.10.2001. Keskin wrote that the high rank-ing police officers involved in the case could be treated mildly by the court of appeal. 
Keskin then allegedly received a phone call from Agar on 19.10.2001 wanting Keskin to end any further debate on the Susurluk affair, otherwise Agar’s “friends [those accused in the affair] might behave badly”.
The Susurluk affair began with a road accident in 1996 in the town of Susurluk near Balikesir. It linked mafia, police and politicians in arms deals, leading to a public uproar.
On 24.10.2001 the court of appeal decided that investigations into the affair could continue. Further information: RSF, Jean-Christophe Menet, europe@rsf.fr, http://www.rsf.fr
(Source: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), 26.10.01)
 

Susurluk Case Again Re-opened
The 8th Chamber of the Court of Appeal has repealed on formal grounds the judgements against the so-called Susurluk Gang. Istanbul’s State Security Court No. 6 were accused of not presenting the defendants’ petition at a non-public sitting and had therefore failed to obtain important information. At the trial, the deputy head of the department for special operations, Ibrahim Sahin, and the secret service employee Korkut, had both been sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. The other 12 defendants, with special team members amongst them, had received 4 year sentences for the “establishment of a criminal organisation”. (Source: Cumhuriyet, 25.10.01)
 

Reporter Sans Frontières: “Idea Politika” Head Journalist Özkoray Charged
In a letter to Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Türk, the RSF expressed their displeasure at the ban on publication of the magazine “Idea Politika” as well as the legal proceedings against its head writer Erol Özkoray for “insulting the military”. They have called for the charges against him to be revoked. The journalist has been charged under Article 159 of the Turkish penal code. The first hearing was scheduled for 09.11.2001 before the Istanbul criminal court.
Robert Ménard, RSF’s general secretary, stated that “We intend to draw Europe’s attention to the significance of this trial, which is being seen as a test case. It raises the question of whether it’s possible to criticise institutions and the military in Turkey. If the answer to this is no, then there can be no place for Turkey within European democracy”.
The reason for the accusation was an article from Özkoray entitled “Permanent Putsch and Democracy a la Turca”. He is liable to a prison sentence of up to 30 years. Further information: RSF, Jean-Christophe Menet, europe@rsf.fr, http://www.rsf.fr
(Source: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), 30.10.01)
 

Turkish State Prosecutor Closes Down Local radio Station for Playing Kurdish Music
Under the pretext that the local radio broadcaster Gün was interfering with other radio frequencies, the state prosecutor has closed down the station. 
However, the owner of the Diyarbakir station, Nevzat Bingöl, says that the actual reasons for its closure were political, i.e. for broadcasting Kurdish music. In this way, the authorities are attempting to stop any Kurdish broadcasts. His local TV station had just begun broadcasting when police arrived and confiscated its technical equipment. Two vehicles were waiting outside with rapid reaction forces at the ready. (Sources: BIA Nachrichten Center, 01.11.01; reuters, 31.10.01)
 

Turkish Exports to Iraq Reach 1 Billion US Dollars
At the opening of Baghdad’s 34th International Trade Fair, export trade secretary Kürsad Tüzmen revealed that Turkey had significantly increased exports to Iraq over the past 2 years, and by 100% in comparison to last year’s figures. Exports currently have a volume worth 1 billion US dollars. Efforts are being made to raise this to 2 billion. (Sources: Anadolu Ajansi, 02.11.01)
 

IHD Success in Closure Case
The case against the human rights organisation IHD, in which the closure of the complete organisation had been called for, has ended in victory for the IHD. In his final speech, the state prosecutor said that a closure of the organisation was no longer being considered. IHD head Hüsnü Öndül accepted this and Judge Bilal Yildirim dismissed the petition to close the organisation. (Source: TIHV, 23.10.01)

Amnesty International Urgent Action for Saban Dayanan
Amnesty International are very concerned about the safety of the human rights activist Saban Dayanan (33). Police allegedly attempted to break into his home, and there were reports that he had been followed by unknown people. Dayanan is a leading IHD member, both nationally and locally in Istanbul. It is suspected that Turkish security forces have been involved in the deaths of a number of IHD representatives.
On 19.10.2001, the Istanbul IHD published a report on the hunger strike of political prisoners which has now been  taking place for more than 1 year. According to reports, on the same day there was an attempt by 5 people to break into Dayanan’s home in Istanbul. It seems clear that they knew that nobody was at home at the time. According to a neighbour, the men claimed to be police officers and had shown their police ID cards. One of them was even allegedly wearing uniform. The local police station and Istanbul’s central station deny any knowledge of such a police operation. Dayanan had commented that in the previous days he had been followed by people in civilian clothing and that they were not the police officers who normally observe the IHD offices in Istanbul.
The human rights activist has been harassed by the security forces for a number of years. In 1996 police in civilian clothing broke into his home after the IHD had been researching the case of the journalist Metin Göktepe who had died while in police custody. Following Öcalan’s arrest, Saban Dayanan received death threats from a right wing group (see EXTRA 27/99, 25.02.99). In connection with a protest at the death of 10 prisoners in Ankara’s central prison in September 1999, police searched the IHD office in Istanbul during which time Saban Dayanan was beaten up (see EXTRA 135/99, 29.09.99). (UA 272/01 ai-Index: EUR 44/076/2001 25. October 2001 – md / the complete UA available on our Web site)
 

Amnesty International Urgent Action for Fehime Ete
The Kurdish woman Fehime Ete was arrested by Turkish security forces on 21.10.2001 in her home town in Siirt. Her arrest was only confirmed by security force three days later. Fehime Ete is at great risk of being mistreated or tortured. When her family inquired at the local state prosecutor’s office as to the reasons for her arrest, they were told that she was being questioned in Van, a 3-hour drive away. The state prosecutor refused to comment further on the arrest because Fehime Ete was suspected of offences which came under the jurisdiction of the state security courts. It is assumed that she is being held in the central police station in Van. Her husband is a prisoner in Siirt. Unconfirmed reports say that she had been arrested as she visited him on 10.08.2001. (UA 271/01 ai-Index: EUR 44/074/2001 24. October 2001 – md / the complete UA available on our Web site)
 

Amnesty International Urgent Action for Emrullah Karagöz (23) and Mustafa Yasar (29)
On 01.11.2001 Emrullah Karagöz (23) and Mustafa Yasar (29) were brought before a judge who ordered their transfer to Diyarbakir’s prison. However, prison authorities deny that they are holding the men there. According to information from Turkish authorities Mustafa Yasar is being held in custody. Consequently, he is at risk of being tortured. Because there is no information on the whereabouts of Emrullah Karagöz, Amnesty fear that he may become a victim of a “disappearance”. 
Both men are members of HADEP. Karagöz is active in the party’s youth section. Yasar is also a member of the IHD. 
Mustafa Yasar was arrested an his home by police in civilian clothing on 29.10.2001. After he had been transferred to a prison, he should have been brought back to the station for further questioning.
The family of the archaeology student Emrullah Karagöz have not seen him since 27.10.2001. On 29.10.2001 gendarmes arrived at the house asking for him. They searched the house. Following inquiries by his father to the authorities, Diyarbakir’s state prosecutor confirmed on 01.11.2001 that Karagöz had been detained. Information on his whereabouts was, however, not provided. According to reports, Emrullah Karagöz had already been tortured by police this year. (see EXTRA 22/01from 28.03-2001 and 16.08.2001). 
(UA 280/01 ai-Index: EUR 44/079/2001 5th. November 2001 – bs / Complete UA available on our Web Site)
 

PNK-Bakûr Calls On EU to be True to its Principles
In a speech at a Turkey-Hearing from the German political party the PDS on 02.11.2001 and 03.11.2001 in the Berlin Reichstag, Ziyaaddin Saidpor, a representative of the National Platform for North Kurdistan (PNK-Bakûr), criticised the EU. The EU had avoided specifically referring to the Kurdish problem – seemingly because of over-consideration of Turkish sensitivities. With such an important issue as the Kurdish question, the EU should have referred to it specifically and should have openly presented its views on its solution. Because the EU did not do this, they have given in to Turkey right from the beginning
He called on EU to be true to its principles and not to negotiate any EU entry until Turkey had completed its homework. He called on Turkey to make sincere steps towards democratisation and the resolution of the Kurdish question. This included a democratic constitution which guaranteed the right to the free expression of opinion, freedom of conscience and freedom of organisation as well as an acknowledgement of the existence of the Kurds and constitutional guarantees of Kurdish identity and rights. The Kurdish question was neither a question of individual rights nor a question of the rights of a national minority. “Turkish history goes back thousands of years. Kurds have their own language and culture. The Kurdish people make up the majority of their homeland Kurdistan, which is partitioned over 4 states. The number of Kurds in the region totals 40 million. Nearly half of these live in northern Kurdistan and within the borders of Turkey. Like all upright people of the world, the Kurdish just want to live in freedom in their country. They want to determine their own future”.
He called on the Turkish government to realistically negotiate the recognition of the Kurds and to enter into talks with the Kurds for a just resolution.
“We request the EU to approach the problem realistically and not to always act with consideration towards Turkey. The EU should on the one hand keep to the Copenhagen Criteria, and on the other to see the Kurdish question as a national problem and to put together solutions which do justice to these facts. (Source: Speech by Z. Saidpour, PNK-Bakûr, 03.11.01)
 

EU Parliament Urges Turkey Towards Further Reforms
The European Parliament have welcomed the reforms already introduced in Turkey but have also called on them to make further efforts. The Strasbourg assembly consider the constitutional reforms passed at the beginning of October to be “an initial and significant step in the right direction”. In view of Turkey’s sought after EU entry, further efforts were however necessary. There was also a call for improved financial support for the required political and economic reforms within the country. (Source: afp, 25.10.01)

Death in Police Custody
At 7.00am on 23.10.2001 the body of Yunus Güzel (33) was discovered in a cell in the anti-terror department of the Istanbul’s police headquarters. Güzel had been arrested in operations carried out between 16.10.2001 and 22.10.2001, as a suspected suicide bomber for the DHKP/C. According to official information he had committed suicide by placing his bed against the wall and hanging himself with a rope made from his bed sheets. The TIHV have reported that  50 deaths had occurred in police custody over the past 6 years. (Source: Radikal, 24.10.01)
 

Police Operation Against Death Fasters Claim Four Deaths
According to the human rights organisation IHD and the solidarity organisation TAYAD, a massive police operation took place on 05.11.2001 against the so-called resistance houses in the deprived Istanbul area of Kücükarmutlu. According to a delegation from IHD-Istanbul, the place was in a state of war. Everywhere smelt of gun powder. The storming of one house led to its interior being completely burnt out. Police did not enter the second house.
Eye witnesses claim that a large number of riot police, civilian police and special units wearing balaclavas were involved in the operation. The operation began at 1500 hours under a massive use of weaponry and gas bombs. The 4 people taken from the house lay for a half an hour on top of one another on the street and were allegedly already dead. The autopsy report revealed evidence of bullet wounds. It was further reported that the police shot at the death fasters as well as their companions and youths who had erected barricades on the streets. Six people were killed during the operation with 9 being injured. (Sources: IMK, IHD, TAYAD, 05.11.01)

 
HADEP Member Burhan Kockar Killed by Police in His Home
At midnight on 30.10.2001, 10 police officers forced their way into the house of HADEP member and police officer Burhan Kockar in Dogubeyazit and killed him.
His wife, Ufuk Kockar, who witnessed the murder, said that as her husband got up for his night meal (a meal during fasting which is eaten before sunrise) there was a knock at the door. “I was still in the bedroom. He opened the door and I heard 3 shots. I ran in shock downstairs and saw my husband lying on the floor covered in blood. Ten police officers stood over him wearing balaclavas. While one of them forced me back into the house he asked his colleague why he had fired”.
Thousands of people came to his burial and businesses closed down for the day in protest. (Source: Özgür Politika, 02.11.01; Kurdish Observer, 02.11.01)
 

Nazi Style Mass Liquidation of Political Prisoners Dictator’s Son Qusay Heads Execution of 15 Prisoners in Gas Chamber
Sources from the Iraqi Communist Party in Baghdad have revealed details of a shocking act by the regime there. Mass murder, Nazi style has allegedly been carried out under the leadership of Saddam’s youngest son and his “Special Security”.
On 10.08.2001 15 prisoners were killed in a gas chamber. They allegedly died within 27 seconds. The bodies were left in the gas chamber until the gas had been extracted through special filters. This barbaric form of execution was video taped and was carried out  by Qusay.
The perpetrators included Sarmad Salah al-Rawi, a chemical engineer (and nephew of the Iraqi National Assembly Member Hamed al-Rawi), the scientist Mohammed Nasser Hussein al-Nasseri, and Qusay’s representative in the “Special Security” Lt. Col. Abdul Wahab Abdul Razzaq.
The identities of the following victims could be established: Karim Karkoush al-Anbaki (from Diyala), Ali Abdul Kadhem al-Ka’bi (from Umarah), Hashem Hmeidan al-Mousawi (from Kut), Hayder Rahim (from Baghdad) and Ali Jassem Abadi (from Baghdad).
The gas chamber was built last year allegedly to enable the swift mass liquidation of prisoners as part of a campaign of cleansing within the prisons. Around 3000 people have been murdered in this “campaign” since 1998. There are persistent reports of Iraqi prisoners of war and Kurdish civilians being used as guinea pigs in chemical weapon tests. (Sources: Iraqi Communist Party, Centre for Human Rights, 31.10.2001; KurdishMedia.com, 05.11.01)
 

PUK Attack Jund aI-Islam Positions
On 04.11.2001 PUK units attacked Jund al-Islam positions in the regions of Palik, Qalarezhina, Banan and Pishti Tawera as well as around Hawar and Biara. On their withdrawal, more than 25 PUK Peshmergas were killed by land mines, including a military commander. Because of this, the Peshmerga were forced to abandon some of the positions they had just taken. (Source: Kurdistan News Network, 04.11.01)

Iraqi Troops Assemble Along Border to Kurdish Regions
According to reports, there has been an increase in the positioning of Iraqi troops in the border regions to Kurdistan. Dozens of military vehicles, tanks, artillery and missile batteries have been positioned near Dohuk. The authorities are therefore preparing themselves for a possible US attack with Turkish support. Turkish military helicopters have also been unusually active near the border town of Zakho. 
Check-points have been increased on the roads leading to Kurdish regions. Trenches have been dug for the reinforcements. (Sources: Iraq Press, 02.11.01; KurdishMedia.com, 03.11.01)
 
Washington Remains Solidly on the Side of the Iraqi Kurds
During a visit to Washington Necirvan Barzani (KDP) and Barham Saleh (PUK) informed government representatives there of their concern at Saddam regaining control in northern Iraq while the US is busy with Afghanistan. However, Washington assured them of continued support against Saddam.
American officials are also concerned about Barzani distancing himself from Ankara and taking up relations with Iran. They urged Barzani to again revive the close connections to Anakara. Barzani has twice visited Iran recently, his second visit lasting a whole week. He has also apparently had direct contact with Iraq in Baghdad with Russia had coordinating the meeting.
Turkish officials say that Barzani has had enough time to think about the relatively cool relations with Ankara. They would again take up the issue if he came to Ankara. Meanwhile, Barham Saleh arrived in Ankara and had intensive talks with the Turkish military and representatives from the foreign ministry. There was a recent meeting between a high-ranking Turkish military delegation and Talabani who was given assurances of their support. (Source: Turkish Daily News, 05.11.01)

Iraq Speed Up Ethnic Cleansing in Kirkuk
The Iraqi government have confiscated land, without compensation, from the inhabitants of the village of Galabat and have deported them to the liberated Kurdish regions. The Iraqi secret service Mukhabarat have prepared a list of 200 Arabic families from the Al Laheeb and Al Jiboor clans who are to be the recipients of the land.
One of those deported said that Iraqi security forces were deporting all Turkmen and Kurds who refused to change their ethnic origin to Arabic.
The Iraqi presidential office has decreed that no person of Kurdish origin is allowed to be employed by governmental authorities after 2001. There are severe penalties if the decree is not obeyed.
Four residents from the village of Khab Khurma have been arrested on a variety of charges.
Iraq have established 3 new check points on the link roads between the towns of Tuz, Kirkuk, Tikrit and Baghdad. (Source: Kurdistan Newsline, 30.10.01)

Another Drastic Increase in Number of Asylum Seekers in October
According to the German ministry of the interior, 8 764 people applied for asylum in the past month. This was 1 080 (14.1%) more than in October 2 000. The greatest increase was for asylum seekers from Turkey. They have achieved the highest figure since 1998 with 1 200 applicants. In comparison, the figure for Afghan asylum seekers decreased by 164 to 678. In the list of asylum seekers’ country of origin, Afghanistan is fourth behind Iraq (1654), Turkey (1186) and Yugoslavia (710). (Source: afp, 06.11.01)

British Police Arrest 74 Refugees
British police arrested a total of 74 mainly Afghan and Iraqi refugees who were hiding on board a freight train. A police spokesman from the southern English port of Folkestone said that they had sneaked aboard 3 trains in France which had then travelled on to England through the tunnel. This is apparently a record number of arrests of refugees within one day. (Source: afp, 06.11.01)

Five Illegal Immigrants Drowned Near Turkish Coast
Five illegal immigrants on route to Greece have drowned near the Turkish coast. According to the authorities, their boat capsized near Bodrum after encountering a storm. Police information revealed that there were allegedly 27 Sudanese refugees on board the 8 metre long boat. Five passengers were rescued by Turkish coastguards with many others swimming to the coast and going into hiding. (Source: afp, 06.11.01)

Greece Allow Landing of  “Brelner” Refugees
The captainless refugee ship “Brelner”, with 800-1100 refugees on board, has been discovered by Greek coastguards. Harbour police revealed that around 250 passengers were taken to hospital on the island of Zakynthos. These included women, children and ill men. The other passengers initially remained on board the ship which had anchored in Zakynthos’s harbour. Emergency accommodation was then provided in the stadium for the illegal immigrants who were mainly Afghans and Kurds from Iraq. (Source: afp, 06.11.01) 

Visit our Homepage at www.kurden.de. We have again made interesting articles available to you there.