Turkish military represses left

Wednesday, July 3, 1996 - 10:00

By Jennifer Thompson

The Turkish government has begun a brutal attack on legal left and Kurdish parties as pressure mounts on its military over its dirty war in Kurdistan. The Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Labour Party (EP) and Liberty and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) have all been attacked and at least seven people killed.

Since an April 9 military attack in which more than 160 Kurdish militants and 40 soldiers in the Diyarbakir/Bingol region were killed, debate over the war has increased in Turkey. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had declared a unilateral cease-fire in December.

The most recent violence is connected with an ongoing hunger strike, which began on April 25, by Kurdish and other political prisoners. Support actions in early June involved thousands, including relatives of the prisoners, unionists, left party members, civil workers, lawyers and foreigners in Turkey for the Habitat II conference.

On June 23, the final day of the HADEP convention in Ankara, police detained party leader Murat Bozlak and 30 other officials. They also attacked many delegates, supporters and European observers. State-sponsored death attacked delegates On their way back to Kurdish areas, killing four and wounding many. Near Kayseri, a bus carrying delegates was attacked and three people killed.

The party's Ankara headquarters were surrounded by police and the Izmir office bombed, injuring a number of people. Hundreds have been detained.

On June 24, 2000 EP supporters, waiting outside their party headquarters to hear about a Supreme Court decision to close down the party (only established in March), were attacked by police with tanks. At least 300 people were injured and 100 arrested. The injured were taken to the Human Rights Association building, which the police then encircled. Up to 5000 people joined the protest there.

ÖDP general secretary Ufuk Uraf and other party officers have also been detained in relation to the hunger strike support activities. The ÖDP expects the military to move against it for supporting Kurdish national rights. Protest letters can be faxed to the justice ministry in Ankara (90 312 419 3954) and solidarity letters to the Labour Party (90 212 293 4486) and the ÖDP (90 212 518 8375).