International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 6 November 2003
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
Six weeks without a word from Ocalan -
Ocalan lawyer bashes passive European stance
It is six weeks now that Abdullah Ocalan started protesting his
severe solitary confinement by refusing to see his lawyers until
his detention conditions would be definitely improved.
Five Years of solitary confinement have deteriorated his health
markedly. His lawyers repeatedly appealed to the Anti-Torture Committee
(CPT) of the European Council and requested a new inspection of
their clients detention conditions. They also invited the
CPT to send an independent international group of doctors to Imrali.
These requests have not been answered as yet.
In an interview with the pro-Kurdish news agency MHA Ocalans
lawyer criticised the Committees passive stance towards this
situation. Although there had been talks including extended correspondence
nothing had been accomplished so far. Rather, the Committee would
confine itself exclusively to an observer role.
Ocalans situation, however, has already led to tensions among
Turkeys Kurdish community. In many cases protests ended in
clashes with Turkish security forces. It was only last weekend that
15.000 Kurds gathered in the Eastern Turkish city of Van to protest
against Abdullah Ocalans solitary confinement.
In fact, the situation may even escalate when the unilateral ceasefire
which is still observed by the Kurdish rebels will definitely come
to an end on December 1.
Source: MHA, 4 November 2003; Ozgur Politika, 3 November 2003
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