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A letter of Socialist Party of Kurdistan
( Turkey) to the Foreign Mininster of the European Union Memberstates
Excellency,
Unless new developments
change the current plans, negotiations on the Turkish membership
between the EU and the Turkish government will officially
start on October 3rd.
Since this event
will greatly impact the development of both the Turkish and
Kurdish part, we wish to offer some aopinios and suggestions. Besides this, our objective is to
inform you of recent developments in Turkey since the 17th December summit.
Excellency,
It is impossible to say that Turkey
has properly done its duties since the 17th December
summit; it is true that since then the Turkish government
has made some reforms and reviewed some parts of its legislation
but, as stated in published reports of human rights organisations,
the majority of the planned amendments were not implemented.
The latest Human
Rights Watch report states that the planned ‘zero tolerance
against torture’ was never
implemented by the Turkish government since torture continues
to be carried out systematically by the authorities. Turkey is regarded as a country where human rights are under grave danger.
Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Turkish president
Necdet Sezer asking him to condemn the threats against the
representative of human rights organisations, proving
the dangers threatening human rights defenders. If the representative
of a world well known organisation such as Human Rights Watch
are being intimidated, imagine the magnitude of the risk local
human rights advocates are facing.
Ugur Kaymaz,
a 12 year old boy and his father were accused of being terrorists
and murdered in the district of Mardin, Kiziltepe; however,
the Turkish Human Rights Investigating Commission’s report
failed to discover any fault in that practice, clearly framing
the current state of Turkey. This report states that security
forces put Turkey in a difficult situation in the eyes of its people, EU countries and
the Western world. The above reveals that the Turkish government’s
changes are not enough to reach to the EU standards.
Excellency,
The Amnesty International
report reveals the current state of human rights in Turkey:
‘Torture and
ill treatment is still being carried out. Great oppression of people by the
Security forces continues. Torture, ill treatment and mass
murders are not being prosecuted. Statute of limitations still
exists for crimes of torture in the new Turkish law. Forensic
medicine is not independent. People who are considered guilty
of torture are getting law extenuating
circumstances. Civilians are being
killed by Security forces. The government does not investigate
mass murders and missing people. Freedom of speech is limited.
Human rights defenders and voices of the opposition are being
prosecuted. Newspapers and journalists are getting harsh penalties.
Violence against women is not investigated adequately.’
I don’t want to spend your valuable time by giving you hundreds
of examples which prove the veracity of the Amnesty International
report. The current position of the world wide famous writer
Orhan Pamuk is a good example illustrating what is going on.
His views on the Armenian massacre and the Kurdish Question
made the government burn down his books like in the times
of Nazi dictators and if he returns to Turkey he will face prosecution.
Excellency,
The condition of the Kurdish language
and culture has not improved either. The legal changes they
made for the private Kurdish school, calling them “great steps
towards the direction of the EU” have been abandoned because
of the difficulties they faced.
Even while the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was saying “The
Kurdish Question can only be solved with more democracy” no
change was being implemented to free broadcasting in Kurdish
either in the radio or the television. RTUK, the Radio and
Television High Commission is trying to force international
channels broadcasting in Kurdish to adopt the same restrictions
they have imposed on local channels. Namely,
they demand that ‘the institution broadcasting in different
languages and dialects cannot alter the studio design or the
logo. No different symbol can be used and if necessary only
the Turkish Republic’s symbol can be allowed. There should be no broadcasting of children’s
programs, only adult programs with news, economy, sport and
music. No program should be broadcasted teaching any of these
languages and dialects’.
This is the offer
made by Turkey to its Kurdish
citizens who are more than 20 million; 4 hours per week of
broadcasting in Kurdish. And this is a country which is going
to start negotiations for the EU membership on October 3rd.
In 2003 the Rights and Freedom party’s (HAK-PAR) congress
was prosecuted simply because their invitation was in Kurdish
and the language at the congress was Kurdish; this is an ongoing
court case.
Only recently
the Turkish Parliament’s petition commission rejected to accept
the collected signatures of the intellectuals’ Campaign “I
am a Kurdish supporter and I demand” simply because some of
the words in the text were Kurdish.
Excellency,
I don’t want to waste your time telling you hundreds of examples
on the same subject, but I have to say that the national oppression
and assimilation of the Kurdish people continues rather than
decreases. It is still forbidden to use the Kurdish language
in education and almost no change has occurred to minimize
the oppression of the Kurdish language, culture, the Kurdish
magazines and newspapers.
Excellency,
There is no change towards greater secularism. As the government
is based on the Sunni Muslim outline and continues to keep
the Department of Religious Affairs, it leaves no space for
secularism.
At the same time the European Commission published a report
showing that having compulsory religious lessons for the millions
of Alevi, Yezid and Christian children who are not Sunni Muslim
is against secularist principles. Although the above are widely
recognized, the Turkish government takes no action to correct
the current state.
Property that belongs to minorities is not protected and the
land confiscated from minority organizations and foundations
is still not reimbursed; at the same time the Heybeliada Ruhban School continues to be denied permission to operate.
Excellency,
Assigning a civilian as general secretary of the National
Security Council (NSC) and assigning civilians in military
courts cannot weaken the Turkish army’s political influence.
The armed forces continue to exercise significant political
influence and dictate whatever must be done.
Although in democratic states military courts are only in
charge of disciplinary punishments of soldiers, in Turkey soldiers have the right to judge civilians. Military
administration courts and military judgments still continue
to exist.
Turkish generals are complaining about the European Union’s
latest conditions for Turkey’s membership and as an excuse they use PKK’s recent
attacks. They claim that their hands are tied up in anti terrorist
struggle and are demanding their old authority. In response,
the Turkish government is preparing an anti-terrorist legislation
to satisfy their demands.
The information’s of the press shows us the new Anti Terrorist
law will aggravate circumstances. The authorities will be
allowed to arrest civilians without even informing family
members. Suspects of terrorism will be allowed a very short
period of time to talk to their solicitors and the latter
will have to get permission from attorney generals and judges
before acting on their clients’ behalf. People who have been
in charge of the anti-terrorist struggle will have permission
to use their gun even after they get retired.
The draft of the proposed law is not just being used to develop
denunciation mentality, at the same time it is a great barrier
against the freedom of expression and freedom of building
associations, and will bring back the former penalcode articles
141,142 and 163 .
The
new anti-terrorist law contains the same measures as in the
period of martial law. The intellectuals and democrats are
being seen as potential terrorists and this perception will
create difficulties in the efforts of the democratization
accoding to the respectful jurists of the country..
Despite the EU
Commission’s reports, the Turkish government does not make
any considerable effort to help forced
evictees to return their homelands, under pretext of “security
problems”.
Excellency,
As we try to explain briefly Turkey does not yet deserve the EU membership. Because of these reasons,
the EU must encourage Turkey in the negotiations to solve issues of democracy, human rights and
the Kurdish question. If you can use your influence on the
Turkish government and urge them to take the following steps
it will help Turkey to
be a part of the EU and will provide a basic solution to the
Kurdish question.
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The constitution
of 1982 which is a product of 12 September fascist period
must be abolished with its anti-democratic institutions. Turkey needs a new democratic constitution which protects
and respects the rights and freedoms of the Kurds and the
other nationals and religious groups.
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An unconditional general amnesty in order to
end social tension.
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The oppression of the Kurdish
language, culture and the press must end and necessary changes
must be adopted allowing Kurdish language to be taught from
primary school to university. In both the national TV and
the radio broadcasting in Kurdish as well as private broadcasting
must be allowed without any time or freedom of speech restrictions.
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The laws that are banning Kurdish parties to
work legally must be abolished as well as the election restrictions
forbidding the kurdish and socialist parties to be represented
in the parliament.
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Civilians who have been evicted by the security forces from their homelands
of ancestors must be supported
to get back to their houses, fields, vineyards and orchards
which have been demolished and the responsible security forces
must be prosecuted for damages and provide compensation.
Excellency,
Solving the Kurdish Question and bringing peace, security and stability
in the region will be the greatest support that could ever
be given to the Kurdish people who are divided between four
countries in the Middle East and the majority of them living
in Turkey.
We believe that
you personally and your government will offer this aid.
Sincerely yours,
Mesud Tek
General secretary.
23.09.2005
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