Hunger strike

[Zeynep Tufekcioglu <zeynept@xxxxxxxx>]

> Jon Flanders:
>
>  Maybe Zeynep could put together a brief fact sheet on the hunger strike with
>a sample message to be sent to the Turkish regime. If I had something like
>this, I would be interested in seeing what kind of solidarity could be
>generated around here.
>

Jon, I've included a short summary. This is emotionally difficult for us
here. Not that no one is ever killed by the state here, a lot of people are,
but the slow, excruciating process of trying to stop it for months and being
unable to is much more difficult. This is hardest on the relatives,
especially mothers and fathers. The Aygun's father said that "he was proud
of his son since he had died in the name of freedom for all people in this
land". They are even "sneaking" away the bodies, burying them in places
against the will of the person. So, even the funerals in places the comrades
had wished to be buried had to be "illegal" events.

There has been some international action and some solidarity. Besides
protesting the Turkish government/state, if anyone wants to pass a message
of solidarity to the prisoners, or now more likely the relatives of the
prisoners, they can send them to me and I'll get them through.

Once again:
Phone: +90 216 348 61 30
Fax  : +90 216 418 59 95

Also, the fax of the Humans' Rights' Association that is acting like an
information coordination center is: + 90 212 251 41 55

Zeynep


TURKISH & KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS HAVE BEEN ON A HUNGER-STRIKE FOR TWO
MONTHS

The hunger-strike of Turkish & Kurdish political prisoners in 35 prisons
around the country has entered day 66. Aygun Ugur has died on day 63, and
Adnan Kerimgiller on day 65. At least 10 prisoners health is in a critical
condition.

163 prisoners have been on the hunger-strike for 66 days. Many more have
joined later. Although there was a change of government in the middle of the
hunger-strike, the new government upheld the no-compromise line of the old
government. The hunger-strike began protesting a communique aimed at
separating the prisoners into single-person cells. Coupled with the fact
that severe physical and physchological torture in Turkish prisons is
notoriously widespread, separation into single cells threatens the single
most important right of the prisoners and strips them of the only method of
resistance they have - their collectivity. The prisoners' political
affiliations vary, including prisoners from almost every shade of the
political spectrum. News of the hunger-strike is censored inside the
country, and demonstrations are broken up by the police, relatives of
prisoners and demonstrators are beaten up, detained and tortured. More
deaths are expected any minute.

The basic demands of the prisoners are:

1- No to separation into single-cells
2- The right to access legal publications
3- And end to the attacks on the relatives of the prisoners
4- The creation of an environment allowing them to preserve their political
identity and human dignity
5- An end to the torture and repression aimed at creating "confessors"

Protest! Spread the word! Protest the Turkish government, Turkish
consulates, and official Turkish institutions in your area!

Demand that the Turkish government respect Turkish and Kurdish political
prisoners' right to preserve their political identity and be treated with
the dignity human beings deserve.

(Relevant faxes in Turkey)
Prime Ministry          : +90 312 417 04 76
Ministry of "Justice"   : +90 312 425 34 55

Zeynep

----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FASCIST TURKISH STATE CAN'T CONQUER DIGNITY!

Hunger strikes of hundreds of political prisoners in Turkey continues - day
65. Aygun Ugur, 25, fell on day 63 and Altan Kerimgiller, 26, on day 65. The
prisoners are fighting for the right to preserve their political beliefs and
be treated with the dignity due to a human being.

Protest! Get the word out!

(Relevant faxes in Turkey)
Prime Ministry          : +90 312 417 04 76
Ministry of "Justice"   : +90 312 425 34 55

VICTORY TO THE DREAM AND THE FIGHT FOR A BETTER WORLD!
----------------------------------------------------------------------



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