Friday 26 December 2008

JUSTİCE FOR KURDISH CHİLDREN

URGENT CALL TO PRESS, PUBLİC AND AUTHORITIES !

Not to behave children as children is unacceptable!In 14th July and 20th October 2008 during the protests in Diyarbakır(Turkey) and around Diyarbakır about 50 children were arrested with claim of throwing Stones to the polices. The children are between 15-18 are on trial contrary to Covention on The Rights of Child, rule of law, child justice system. They are charging with “being member of terrorist organization” by claim of participating those protests.The trial of the children are reman prison for 63 days, seen on the 5th Commissaired Assize Court of Diyarbakır. The Court decided one child being released pending trial, and other 5s being in arrest. Next trial will be done in 17 february 2009On 25th and 30 December there will be two other trial and we are worried the decision will be same.Charging the person younger than 18 at the Commissaired Assize Court(court for adults) is incongrous with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, rule of law, other international conventions of law and child justice system.These children are charging with member of terrorist organization by throwing stones. These accusations which can be resulted with heavy sentencements. In legal contemplation these sentencements are worried because of being precedents of a case for the next trials. And it is worried for thechild justice system. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, says “in all circumstances and all activities person under 18 is chid”Also Convention expects to goverments adopt all protective and supportive measures for child to use thier rights. As child rights advocates we remind that, these children are “children”, they have the rights of being assized in the child justice system and as agreed United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and UN Child criminal justice System. As assuption of this obligation, the detainer must be the last solution and the reason of the crime must be assessed comprehensively, objectively, dependently. Also the system of the prevention them from crime must be developed. Also they must be charged at juvenile court not The Commissaired Assize Court which was replaced former the State Security court. Our demand both during the charge also after the charge these children must not lose their right of education and all their other rights. The psychological and growth support must be provided for detainer children. We remind the government and also all responsible people that they are “children”, also we invite everyone not to do discrimination any child also provide Justice like written in equity principle of the constitutional charter, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Attempt of Justice for ChildrenIncorporated Law Society of Diyarbakır, Association of Agenda Child, Attempt Stop Racism And Nationalism, Human Rights Association, Association Of Human Rights Researces, Association of solidarity for Children Lose Freedom, Youth Re-Autonomy Foundation of Turkey

Sunday 14 December 2008

Ilısu Dam Activist Arrested During Research Visit

Ilısu Dam Activist Arrested During Research Visit
KHRP is deeply concerned about the arrest of Ipek Tasli, a joint coordinator with the Keep Hasankeyf Alive Initiative, during a recent trip to carry out research in areas due to be affected by the Ilısu Dam project in south-eastern Turkey.
Tasli visited Dargeçit on 4 December and investigated official efforts to inform residents in the area about the construction of the dam. Staff at a government office told her that people regularly visited the community outreach office to receive information about the project and that they had been in contact with nearly all of those who would be affected. However, an informal poll of local people suggested that very few even knew where the office was. Tasli next travelled to the site of the dam itself to photograph construction work and speak with people living in the area. She was told that residents in a village there had asked for a local information office to be set up but were yet to receive a reply.
After leaving the village, Tasli and her driver were arrested by gendarmes at around 4pm and were questioned without access to a lawyer. The following day she was brought before a court and she and her driver were accused of disseminating propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organisation. They were eventually released at 2pm on 5 December but Tasli’s camera and photographs were not returned to her.
The Ilısu Dam project stands to displace up to 78,000 people, flood the ancient city of Hasankeyf and reduce downstream water flows to Iraq. KHRP and its partners have long campaigned against the way the project has been designed. Efforts to consult with those who will be affected and to lay the ground for compensation have been grossly inadequate. In October, Germany, Austria and Switzerland threatened to withdraw financial support for the scheme unless Turkey takes concrete steps to meet its obligations.
‘This incident once again underlines the Turkish authorities’ absolute disregard for due process and transparency in relation to the Ilısu Dam scheme and its huge environmental and human rights fallout,’ said KHRP Deputy Director Rachel Bernu. ‘In the course of undertaking a project with such far-reaching implications, the Turkish authorities should be engaging civil society representatives and affected populations in open dialogue, not intimidating them with accusations of terrorism offences. It is to be hoped that the European Export Credit Agencies will take this episode very seriously as they continue to evaluate their involvement.’

Thursday 13 November 2008

37 years prisonment demanded for cihildren just for throwing stones

In Turkey the stiuation of political child under arrest going to worse bye demand high imprisonment of courts.

In 11 november the the High Criminal Court of Diyarbakır sentenced 15 years old boy Ferit Gülcü to 7 years jail.

Also In 13 November at court of Hakan Hebun Akkaya(16), Mazlum Erenci(17), Ali Niçan(16) and Mehmet Zahir Yıldız(16) The High Court of Diyarbakır demanded 37 years imprisonment for four child. The court says they were the member of PKK because they threw stones to the polices during the 14 June revolt. Also court said they damaged the common property and made propaganda by throwing stones...

Every they we saw the high punihment given to the children ages between 12-17 by the high ciriminal court of Diyarbakır. But we know those punishments are the result of politics of Turkish government towards the kurdish children. The leader of Turkish army İlker Bşbuğ said their new target is preventing the Kurdish to participate the PKK. As we saw their way to prevent children participate to PKK is keeping them in the prison.

Monday 10 November 2008

aid deman of child prsioners rejected by psychologist of Diyarbakır E Type Prison

In these days Kurdish rebllion is raising and especially children are going to ahead. You can see many children in streets throwing stones to military and polices during the protests. These protests focused in Dİyarbakır, Hakkari, Van, Şırnak and provinces of these cities.

During these protests many children were taken to prison, as we informed during last 3 months 30 children their ages between 12-17 have arrested and sent to the prison. Also in the last 3 months none of the children sent to prison released during the courts.

During police custody most of the children were exposed to heavy physical and psychological torture. So most of them's psychological state is bad and they had problems.

Mustafa Y is one of them. He is in Diyarbakır E Type Prison in part of political child prisoners, is 14. He was exposed to heavy torture during police custody and he can not control his eye and hand movements and cannot sleep. So he demanded psychological support from the psychologist of prison N. K., but the response is more tragic than the past experiences of custody. Psychologist Ms K. says him " Do not lie! The government does not do such things. Also do not revolt against goverment again!" Also she says the doctor of prison, that Mustafa was lying, and not take him seriously.

Now no body can do nothing for Mustafa and many others like Mustafa.
Turkey signed but put risk to the international Child Rights Agreement, so the children participated to the political events are be judged in adults harsh penalty court.

The Children taken to prison now are being sentenced with between 3 to 25 years prisonment. The Number of children in prison are raising. All law against these children.

Friday 10 October 2008

Armed Forces To Conduct Military Operations In Northern Iraq

The Parliament passes the request to extend the permission to conduct military operations in Northern Iraq against the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) guerillas for one more year. Only the Democratic Society Party (DTP) votes against it.

Bia news center - Ankara
08-10-2008

The Parliament has passed the request for the letter of permission to the Turkish Armed Forces to conduct military operations in Northern Iraq.

Supported by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the National Movement Party (MHP), the letter of permission received 511 votes.
Eighteen deputies said no to the letter of permission.
MHP and CHP targeted Barzani

Talking on behalf of the CHP, deputy Şükrü Elekdağ said the previous letter of permission that was passed on October 17 for one year had failed to bring positive results, not preventing the terrorist attacks. He blamed the government for not being able to form a correct strategy.
He urged that the government pressure the Iraqi government and accuse Iraqi Kurdish leader Mesut Barzani for harboring and supporting the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK).

Using the same tone, MHP deputy Deniz Bölükbaşı too insisted on the need to pressure the administration of Barzani, to intervene militarily if needed and refuse any kind of diplomatic relationship with it.

Criticizing the fact that the Aktütün border post was not reinforced after the attack, Elekdağ called upon all the deputies to condemn this attack.

No vote from the DTP

Deputy Fatma Kurtulan, talking on behalf of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), said the problem could not be solved by military means and therefore passing the letter of permission was not going to help solve the problem.

Criticizing the reactions coming from the other deputies, Kurtulan emphasized that it was necessary to change the Constitution and advance to the pluralist and democratic system.
“The fact that Kurds also exist in this country that was won together must be recognized and the Kurdish people must be given the right to live as free citizens in a commonly shared country and under a common flag.”

Çiçek: Target is the AKP government
Talking on behalf of the government, Cemil Çiçek denied the charge that the negligent policies of the government were to blame. He said that they had provided the Armed Forces whatever it had asked for.

“The world is behind us on this for the first time. The government have shown the whole world that we were right in this matter. Therefore, the PKK is disturbed by us, by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The target of the terrorist organization is the AKP government.” (EÜ/TB)

Monday 6 October 2008

Kurdish Guerillas Attack A Military Border Post

Reacting to the military operations by the Turkish Armed Forces, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) attacked to a military post in the eastern Turkey, killing 15 soldiers and injuring 21. 23 guerillas were killed in the engagement as well.

Bia news center - Hakkari
04-10-2008

38 people, soldiers and militants, were killed in the attack by the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) to the military post in Aktütün in the province of Hakkari in the eastern Turkey.
According to the explanation by the General Staff, the armed engagement which started in yesterday (October 3) afternoon continued until the evening. The attack to the post was supported by heavy weapons from the other side of the border, the northern Iraq, which is ten kilometers from the military post. The General Staff emphasized that the number of soldiers in the area was close to a company and support units both from land and air were sent in with the start of the engagement.

According to the Fırat News Agency (ANF), the People’s Defensive Forces (HPG), PKK’s military branch, said the attack was launched in reaction to the operations by the Turkish Armed Forces. The ANF also said that the soldiers who were on leave because of the national holiday have been called back to their units.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan canceled his trip to Mongolia and came back to Turkey.
Reactions

The Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) deputy Ufuk Uras said, “The incidents in places like Altınova, Dikili and Sarayköy show the serious results to which the deep polarization in the society may lead. The will to live together is being destroyed more with every passing day. We are going towards a Turkish-Kurdish conflict.”

President Abdullah Gül said, “The successes by the Armed Forces in the past one year have demoralized and weakened the terrorist organization very much. Whatever the cost may be, we will continue with the struggle.

President of the Republican People’s Party (CHP)Deniz Baykal said, “The fight against terror will experience serious problems and difficulties as long as those who do not describe this incident as terror and not condemn such events continue with their activities in this society.”

President of the National Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli said, “There seems to be developing a conviction regarding the inadequacy of the measures put into effect by the government.”

The fifth attack

Aktütün post has been attacked by the PKK five times since 1982. The first attack was in 1982, leaving 22 dead. (EÜ/TB)