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
Sep. 30, 2003
Press Rlease:
Ocalan refuses lawyer visits as of now
- Kurds deeply worried
On February 15, 1999 Abdullah Ocalan was abducted to Turkey under
violation of international law. Since then he has been imprisoned
on the island auf Imrali. The severe conditions of his isolation
have affected his health seriously. The Kurdish leader suffers from
grave difficulties of breathing that sometimes result in choking
fits. His lawyers, therefore, fear for the life of their client.
Again, the long imprisonment in complete isolation has also affected
his senses of taste and smell negatively. There is only limited
medical care available on the prison island.
Although the anti-torture-committee of the Council of Europe has
repeatedly encouraged the lifting of the isolation, its appeals
have yet been ignored by the Turkish authorities. Presently, Abdullah
Ocalan has decided to refuse seeing his lawyers for the time being
in protest against the inhumane prison conditions. Only a transfer
to another prison, the complete lifting of the isolation detention,
and an alleviation of the detention conditions - as it has been
proposed by the CPT can put an end to this situation.
So far these visits had been the only access to the KADEK-president.
It was because of his influence on the PKK that the war had been
unilaterally stopped. The armed PKK-forces had been withdrawn from
Turkish territory to make way for a political solution of the Kurdish
question. However, Turkey largely missed this opportunity. Even
after the Turkish parliament - with a view to Turkeys EU accession
aspirations has adopted a number of reform packages giving
more rights to the Kurds these laws are still far from being
put into practice. The human rights situation in Turkey is still
disastrous. Simple democratic demands are still met with repression,
and democratic political parties are threatened with a ban. Abdullah
Ocalans withdrawal has created an explosive situation
because his moderating influence is now cut off. However, the Kurds
in Turkey but also in Europe are extremely worried and have already
announced wide protests.
Meanwhile, KADEK has declared the end of the unilateral ceasefire
for September 1, 2003. The Turkish government was given a period
of three months in order to take some positive steps towards a bilateral
armistice, meaning the Turkish army is to stop all its operations
against the Kurdish guerrilla, while the security forces in general
have to end their assaults on Kurdish institutions. Otherwise, another
armed encounter will be inevitable.
This has to be prevented. As an international peace initiative
we are extremely concerned about the present developments. We therefore
call on the European community of states to use their moderating
influence on Turkey. The Kurdish question needs to be made a central
theme. A new war would have incalculable consequences. Both parties
of the conflict need to aim at a peaceful solution. An improvement
of the prison conditions for Abdullah Ocalan would be a credible
step in the right direction. Turkeys burning problems need
to be solved through consensual dialogue with its Kurdish citizens.
Stop the total isolation of Abdullah Ocalan! Peace now!
Source: MHA, 27 September 2003; Medya-TV, 27 September 2003,
statement by Mr. Ocalans lawyers at a press-conference in
Istanbul 30 September 2003.
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