4 May 2001

1. - Middle East Newsline - "Israel seeks to rep air dameged F-4 jets for Turkey":

TEL AVIV

Israel has launched an effort to repair the damage that has grounded 15 F-4 jets upgraded for Turkey's air force.
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The 15 are part of an upgrade of 54 Phantom jets in a $600 million contract begun in 1997. Israeli and Turkish defense sources said the F-4 fighter-jets are being plagued by a fuel tank leak.

Industry sources said the leak was discovered by Turkey's air force, which immediately grounded the jets. The air force then issued a complaint to the state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries, the prime contractor in the upgrade project. The sources said the leak stemmed from poor insulation.

Under the contract, 26 of the F-4s are being upgraded in Israel. The rest are being modernized in Turkey with the help of IAI engineers in a project expected to be completed in 2003.

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2. - Turkish Daily News - "NGOs call for ending the death fast":

The death fast has passed the 196th day and the nongovernmental organizations'(NGOs) reactions have increased in order to prevent the death fast from causing more deaths.

Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER) Chairman Yilmaz Ensaroglu, reminding that 20 people have lost their lives during the death fast, called for the government to change arrangements in the prisons immediately and to end the death fast.
At the press conference organized by MAZLUMDER, the Justice Defenders' Association, the Ankara Women's Platform, the Education-One Syndicate, the Education, Culture and Solidarity Association and other foundations, Ensaroglu said that 20 people have lost their lives at the death fast. He said: "The ignorance of the government, Parliament, the people and the press about the death fast is continuing. We don't want more deaths and for that reason the arrangement about prisons should be achieved immediately."

At the meeting the NGOs that held the press conference released a written statement that was read by Ankara Women Platform Chairman Fatma Akbodur. Akbodur said that the discussions on prisons and prison conditions between inmates and the Justice Ministry should end. Akbodur added that the conditions of F-type prisons infringed on human rights: "The solution for the prisons will come from the Justice Minister. The change in Article 16 of the Anti-terrorism Law is not enough to correct the conditions in prisons.

While inmate Fehmi Kucukaslan, who had been on the death fast for 143 days in Nevsehir Prison, accepted medical treatment, ending his fast, the health conditions of other inmates on the death fast who are in hospitals are very critical. According to doctors, the inmates at the critical point have sores in their mouths, are unable to understand or see, are losing their memory, are suffering from muscle ache, have blood in their urine and suffer from extreme exhaustion.

According to the Ozgur Association for Solidarity for Inmates' Families (TAYAD), three inmates in Haseki State Hospital, four inmates in Sisli Etfal Hospital, one inmate in Edirne Hospital, 10 inmates in Ankara Numune Hospital and five inmates in Izmir Yesilyurt Hospital are at the critical point. Another seven fasters, members of TAYAD, who have launched a death fast to support inmate fasters, are also at the critical point.

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3. - Kurdish Observer - "Peace was punished":

The court poured down punishment on the five members of the 2nd Peace Group who came from Europe to Turkey of their own free will in order to make a contribution to peace and democracy in Turkey and Kurdistan. Haydar Ergul was sentenced to 18 years and 9 months in prison, while Ali Sukran Aktas, Aygul Bidav, Imam Canpolat, and Yusuf Kiyak were each given sentences of 12 years and six months.

The 2nd Peace and Democratic Solution Group, responding to PKK President Abdullah Ocalan's call in the framework of the "Democratic Republic Project," arrived in Turkey from Vienna on October 29, 1999, and were sent to prison. The trial of Haydar Ergul, Ali Sukran Aktas, Aygul Bidav, Imam Canpolat, and Yusuf Kiyak was concluded Wednesday in the Istanbul No. 3 State Security Court (DGM). The other three defendants, Aysel Dogan, Haci Celik, and Dilek Kurt, meanwhile, did not attend the court session as their files were combined with cases that had previously been opened against them in Ankara.

In addition to the five members of the group in question, Attorneys Asya Ulker, Aysel Tugluk, Cihan Erbas, Irfan Dundar, and Mehmet Erbil were also present in the court. The presiding judge of the court opened the session by announcing that the court had rejected the application of the attorneys to consider their clients' cases within the framework of the Conditional Release Law, as demanded by the "principle of equality" in the Constitution. After announcing the rejection, the court moved on to final review of the principles of case, reading the indictment prepared by the State Prosecutor. Following that, the members of the 2nd Peace Group and their attorneys said that they would not be presenting a defense supplemental to what they had noted in other hearings.

They wanted peace and democracy

Making their final statements to the court, the 5 members of the group united on the view that "the court's decision should make a contribution to democratization in the country" and made the following points:

HAYDAR ERGUL: We came from abroad with the aim of contributing to the democratization process and overcoming the obstacles to the country solving its own problems. I hope that the decision to be made will secure a contribution to this and help peace.

ALI SUKRAN AKTAS: The conditions experienced have been experienced in other countries of the world and a lesson was learned from this. I hope that the pains experienced will lead to the right result and that the decision made will present a contribution to peace.

AYGUL BIDAV: As the necessity of women's nature, it is not right to relate me to war. Women's place in the struggle for peace is indispensable. The pain experienced in Turkey will be solved through the efforts of Turkish and Kurdish women together. I hope that President Apo will be accepted as one side in talks to be held with him on Imrali. I hope that the decision made will secure a contribution to pace and unity.

IMAM CANPOLAT: The period of conflict harmed the Kurdish and Turkish peoples. But it also uncovered the problems. It is unavoidable that these problems be debated. We came to Turkey to make a contribution to this. I would like this to speed up the peace process and end conflicts. I also wish that the decision made will secure a contribution to this.

YUSUF KIYAK: I agree completely with the final words spoken by my friends before me. Turks and Kurds had for the first time entered a process of rapprochement. I am hoping they will come together with our case. I expect your decision to make a contribution to this.

Total of 68 years 9 months prison

The court's team of judges then recessed for a brief period, after which their verdict was announced. The presiding judge read the decision of the court, and asserting that they had taken Haydar Ergul's good behavior into account, sentenced him to 18 years 9 months heavy prison on charges of "being an administrator in an illegal organization." The court asserted that it had taken the good behavior of Aktas, Bidav, Canpolat, and Kiyak into consideration as well before sentencing them each to 12 and a half years prison on charges of being "members in an illegal organization."

'The decision is unfortunate'

Attorney of the 2nd Peace Group Irfan Dundar, with whom we spoke concerning his views on the verdict, said that his clients had been approached positively from the administrative sense, but added that they were discomforted by the fact that the court did not make use of legal procedures and related articles from which his clients could have benefited in the legal sense, even though these exist.

Giving an example, Atty. Dundar pointed out Turkish Penal Code (TCK) 170, which contains a clause concerning nonprosecution of organization members who turn themselves in of their own free will.

Dundar stressed that the trial procedure had been limited to a narrow legal procedural process without taking into consideration the particular situations of his clients or of the sensitivity of the current period, continuing to say the following: "The decision made is unfortunate. Such steps as could unfold for the development of peace and democracy in Turkey have been cut off with this decision. It should have been more of an opening. This event was a piece of and continuation of the peaceful solution process begun by PKK President Abdullah Ocalan. It wasn't treated as such." Atty. Dundar said they would use their right to appeal the decision. He added that the final session of the trial of the other three members of the 2nd Peace Group, Dogan, Celik and Kurt, would be held on May 10.

Voluntary 'peace crime'

Responding to PKK President Abdullah Ocalan's call to make a contribution to the climate of peace and democracy in Turkey and Kurdistan, a 1st Peace Group, comprised of 8 guerrillas under the leadership of Ali Sapan, arrived in Turkey on October 1, 1999. Following the group led by Sapan, who continues to be detained in Mus Prison, the 2nd Peace Group led by Haydar Ergul arrived in Turkey from Europe on October 29, 1999. The eight members of the 2nd Peace Group timed their arrival to coincide with the 76th anniversary of the Republic as a gesture to symbolize the contribution of the Kurdish people to the foundation of the Republic.

The members of the 2nd Peace Group had made requests in their defense during previous sessions of the trial that would contribute to a solution, as follows: "Foremost, the death penalty must be lifted from the Turkish legal system; the participation of tens of thousands of PKK militants and sympathizers in the legal political process must be realized with a general amnesty. Opportunities for Kurdish broadcasting and education must be secured by lifting the legal and psychological barriers to the Kurdish language and culture. The peace groups coming to Turkey must be released in order to increase trust and to make a contribution to creating a more positive atmosphere."

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4. - AFP - "Amnesty criticizes Turkish move to end inmates' isolation":

ANKARA

Amnesty International criticized Thursday a recently-adopted Turkish bill to ease isolation in controversial new jails, saying the measures did not go far enough. The bill passed Tuesday is an attempt to end a hunger strike that has left 20 dead: 16 inmates and four relatives. It amended existing prison regulations to allow inmates convicted of terrorism charges to associate with other prisoners in recreational areas. "The amendment does not go far enough to ensure prisoners will be allowed to participate in communal activities outside their cells," said an Amnesty statement received here.

In a letter to Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, the London-based group expressed concern that prisoners' participation in recreational activities will "depend on individual prison resources and be provided at the discretion of individual prison authorities". It also criticized that prisoners will be allowed out of their cells to make use of recreational areas only if they agree to take part in the prison's rehabilitation and education programmes. "Amnesty International called on the justice minister to ensure that prisoners spend a reasonable part of the day engaged in a programme of communal activities outside their living units," the statement said. It recalled a call by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) that prisoners should spend eight hours or more outside their cells enaged in a purposeful activity.

The Turkish bill was Ankara's first concrete move to end a hunger strike launched by mainly left-wing prisoners in October last year in protest of the new jails with cells of up to three people at most. But it has also come under fire from human rights activists and civic groups at home as being unsatisfactory with little hope of ending the hunger strike that have so far left 20 people dead. The new jails replaced existing dormitories housing up to 60 inmates, which the authorities blame for much of the hostage-taking and riots frequent in Turkey's unruly prisons.

The prisoners and human rights activists claim inmates will be more vulnerable to mistreatment and torture when isolated in smaller units. But the government inists it will not go back on the new jails. Since March 21 a total of 20 people -- 16 prisoners and four relatives -- have starved to death.

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5. - Ozgur Politika - "Chamber of Medicine: Enough already!":

Members of the Central Council of the Turkish Physicians' Union and administrators of Chambers of Medicine in the provinces in which death fasts are continuing called for a dialogue to find a solution based on humane principles to be begun between the two sides immediately.

ANKARA

Metin Bakkalci, Vice Chairman of the Turkish Physicians' Union (TTB), said, "The sides in the hunger strikes and death fasts must come together immediately in order to end this process with the least damage."

TTB Central Council members and administrators of the Chambers of Medicine of the provinces of Edirne, Tekirdag, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Ankara, Izmir, and Adana, where death fasts are continuing the most, arranged a discussion meeting with members of the press at the TTB general headquarters. Saying that "We are sorrowed that a solution based on humane values has not arisen," TTB Vice Chairman Bakkalci stressed that handcuffing and chaining detainees and convicts who were continuing their hunger strikes to beds in hospital was unacceptable.

Bringing up the amendments to Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, Bakkalci said that the changes made were not sufficient. Bakkalci stressed that the changes would not end isolation, continuing to say the following: "If you accept the people in prisons as citizens, it is necessary for them to make use of all their rights, foremost health rights. Isolation in daily life absolutely must be lifted as a basic. The problem is not just a legal matter but requires sincerity and confidence. In that framework, it could be solved in one day."

It will go down in history

Upon being reminded of Health Minister Osman Durmus's comment that "the detainees and convicts who are continuing their hunger strikes and death fasts in hospital are being encouraged to continue their action by doctors," the TTB Vice Chairman responded: "The doctors have performed the demands of their profession extraordinarily before all of Turkey for six months and have shown efforts for solutions aimed at people. A prison operation in which the Health Minister's name passed and in which 32 people died was carried out for the first time in Turkey. This will go down in history." Metin Bakkalci noted that they had carried out examinations of the condition of those prisoners who had continued hunger strikes for over 100 days and said that they viewed these people as ill. Bakkalci stressed that, should this process be brought to an end, there were things that could be done to treat a great number of them, adding, "The two sides must come together immediately in order to end this process with the least damage."

Dr. Emel Gokmen, a neurology specialist from Capa Medical Faculty, explained the results of research he had carried out during the 1996 hunger strike and follow-up. Gokmen said that those on hunger strikes could be affected by permanent neurological disorders afterwards, noting that greater disturbances could arise this time because the strike was so much longer than that in 1996.

Article 16 changed, only Bekaroglu takes a stance

Parliament passed on Tuesday the changes to Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Law which were aimed at breaking the resistance of those on hunger strikes and inducing the "surrender" of detainees and prisoners.

The government, which has proven impotent in finding a solution to the F-type prisons, which dozens have lost their lives in protest of, continues to treat the problem by the "band-aid" method. Cosmetic changes were made to the second and third clauses of the law in question, which purports to be aimed at granting the opportunity for detainees and prisoners in F-type prisons to make use of common educational, sport, and workshop areas and to participate in social and cultural activities.

Who said what?

Virtue Party (FP) Rize deputy Mehmet Bekaroglu, taking the podium in parliament to comment on the proposed changes, said that the deputies had not been allowed to use their own initiative in drafting the amendments, and continued to say the following: "If the laws here are going to be made by bureaucrats and we are just going to raise our hands, why are we taking 2 billion 100 million liras from the nation? Are those who think psychopaths that we should 'train' them? Or, if your aim is to make Turkey into an F-type prison, say that openly as well so that we can know."

Bekaroglu pointed out that there were members of the " '68 generation" in parliament and people who had passed through the "benches of torture" following the September 12, 1980 coup, adding that, as a psychiatrist working in prisons, he had witnessed the torture that both leftists and rightists had been subjected to.

When deputy speaker Ali Iliksoy, who was presiding over the parliamentary session, said, "Declare the minutes you kept on the subject of torture," Bekaroglu responded that there were records of his testimony concerning torture he had witnessed and that these could be found in cases which had been opened. Some MHP deputies reacted to Bekaroglu's word, "My ulkucu [extreme nationalist] brothers, I also reported the torture that you suffered."

FP Istanbul deputy Ali Oguz, for his part, said the following: "I found myself in prison one day while a deputy. I was there for 7 months and 23 days... thanks to you. But don't forget, you could fall into the same circumstances some day."

MHP Trabzon deputy Orhan Bicakcioglu asserted that the law was being changed for 1,100 detainees and prisoners in F-type prisons and said that these were people who had raised the flag of rebellion against the state.

ANAP Sinop deputy Yasar Topcu also spoke up, saying that he opposed the changes because "when this law passes, F-types will be like the other prisons." Topcu voted against the amendments, but they passed anyway.

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6. - Anadolu Agency - "Ecevit:Turkey will never accept to be excluded from decision making mechanism of military formation":

MADRID

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that Turkey would never accept being excluded from the decision making mechanism of a military formation while the EU countries could benefit from Turkey's military sources.

Answering reporters' questions after a press conference on Thursday night, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria said Turkey so far didn't get the economic aid it deserves and that the EU was offering unequal aids to different EU candidates. He said he couldn't give an exact date for Turkey's membership since every country has different paces to prepare themselves to become an EU member. ''Turkey's accession process depends on the Turkish government and the citizens, therefore a date can't be given,'' he said.

Responding to a question on terrorism, Aznar said ''The Spanish Government has a clear stance on terrorism and it condemns it.'' Ecevit said both Turkey and Spain which are two Mediterranean countries, suffered a lot from terrorism and added that Turkey also suffered from significant economic loss due to terrorism.

Answering a question on the summit which was held in the French city of Nice, Ecevit said Turkey was not satisfied by the decisions taken regarding the European Security and Defense Identity. ''The ESDI is the EU's plan to benefit from NATO resources while creating its own military policy. However, non-EU members will not be allowed to participate in the decision making machanisms. Turkey gave great services to the NATO since 1950s. Turkey has NATO's most powerful army. Today, our allies have to ask Turkey's help whenever an incident occurs in our region such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Albania. We told at the meeting in Nice that Turkey will not except to be excluded from the decision making mechanism but no positive decision came out of the summit. I'm sure my friend Aznar would understand Turkey's views on this matter.''

Responding a question on corruption, human rights and prisons, Ecevit said the present government was conducting a very efficient, unprecedented fight against corruption. ''Several laws on human rights are being passed. I'm aware of our handicaps in human rights. The Turkish Parliament worked very hard recently and passed several laws on human rights. About ten years ago a big mistake was made and inmates who were sentenced for ideological crimes were allowed to stay in large dorms. As a result of this wards in many prisons turned to the training center of terrorists. This was causing strong reactions in the public and harming people's confidence in the state. We decided to erase this image and to form rooms for one to three people in the prisons. The inmates resisted and terrorists leaders who are outside prisons instructed their members to go on a death fast. This way, they wanted to preserve the dorm system. They thought they would get the support of the Western world.''

A law which was passed only a couple of days ago lifted the obstacles in front of inmates who wanted to form social relations with each other at F type prisons, Ecevit said and added that inmates at these prisons could come together during certain social activities.