Protesters condemn Turkish government

Wednesday, May 20, 1998 - 10:00

Protesters condemn Turkish government

By Arty Titiz

MELBOURNE — On May 14, some 100 Kurdish and Turkish people protested against the attempted assassination in Turkey of the Human Rights Association president, Akin Birdal. The attempt on Birdal's life took place in his office on May 11.

Birdal founded the association in Turkey in 1986. He publicised human rights violations in that country and the revelations often gained international attention.

The demonstrators marched to the Turkish consulate to protest against the Turkish government's brutal repression of Kurds and other democracy activists.

Turkish and Kurdish speakers addressed the crowd, including Hasene Turkoglu, leader of the Saturday Mothers in Turkey. A speaker from Amnesty International outlined the Turkish government's record of human rights violations and Kerryn Williams, on behalf of the Democratic Socialist Party, expressed full support for self-determination for the Kurds.

Protesters chanted "The Turkish state is a terrorist state", "Stop the genocide in Kurdistan!" and sang the song of political prisoners in Turkey's jails.

From GLW issue 318