WESTERN KURDISTAN NEWS BRIEFING
28 January 2013
Militants in Syria intensify attacks on Kurds
26 January 2013 / Press TV
Foreign-backed militants in Syria have stepped up their deadly attacks on Syrian Kurds in northeastern Syria near the Turkish border, Press TV reports. On Tuesday, at least 56 people were reported to have been killed in a week of fighting between the militants, using tanks and mortars, and the Kurds, who make up almost ten percent of Syria’s population. The militants also clashed with the Kurds near the southeastern Turkish town of Ceylanpinar which borders the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasaka province.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/26/285546/militants-in-syria-target-kurds/
Syria’s female revolution
24 January 2013 / Now Media
This article is one of a six-part series on the countries affected by the Arab Spring, two years after the uprisings that are reshaping the Middle East first began. Each piece explores a selected country’s battle for freedom from a different angle. When the Syrian uprising began almost two years ago, women took part in the peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, right alongside men. But as the conflict turned bloody – with regime forces bombarding towns, killing civilians and using rape as a weapon, and with some groups of rebels taking up arms – men came to dominate. Today, many believe that the uprising is becoming increasingly militarized and Islamisized, and that women aren't playing much of a role in the fight. However, there are arenas in which women are very active, and they play an indispensable role in keeping the rebellion strong.
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/syrias_female_revolution
Video: Kurds increasingly entangled in Syrian war
24 January 2013 / Al Jazeera
Fighters belonging to the Kurdish minority in Syria are increasingly becoming caught up in the conflict.
One group, The Kurdish Popular Protection Force, is battling the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the town of Ras al-Ain in the north.
The FSA is accusing the Kurds of being Assad's mercenaries.
But the Kurds say they are only protecting their own people.
Al Jazeera's Sue Turton reports from the border between Turkey and Syria.
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2013/01/2013124204226512276.html
Syrian Kurds and rebels battle over town
19 January 2013 / LA Times
Syrian rebel and Kurdish militiamen were battling Saturday for control of a northeastern Syrian town in a dramatic illustration of the deep fissures within Syria’s armed opposition. A Kurdish umbrella group, the Kurdish National Council, called Saturday on the rebel leadership to exert influence with its fighters to cease their attack on Ras Ayn, along Syria’s remote northeast border with Turkey.
The Kurdish group demanded that the opposition leadership “put pressure on these armed groups to stop this criminal war, which is detrimental to the principles and objectives of the Syrian revolution.” Whether the request will make any difference remains to be seen. Rebel combatants in Syria are heavily decentralized and generally follow no central command.
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syrian-kurds-and-rebels-battle-over-town-20130119,0,345466.story
Opposition Clashes with Kurds Raise Fears of Arab-Kurdish Civil War in Syria
27 January 2013 / Rudaw
Thirty-three fighters have been killed in Syria in fighting between the main opposition and the country’s Kurdish minority in the city of Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye) on the Turkish border, raising warnings of an Arab-Kurdish civil war.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reported the deaths, said that 28 rebels of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the main opposition fighting to topple the regime of President Hafez Assad, and five from the Kurdish Popular Protection Committee (YPG), were killed in last week’s encounter.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/5692.html
Saturday, 9 February 2013
FREE ADEM UZUN - Open Letter to the French Justice Minister
Open Letter to the French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira
Dear Mrs Christiane Taubira
The arrest of the prominent Kurdish peace advocate Adem Uzun in Paris last year came as a great shock to us all as it coincided with progress towards the opening of peace talks between Turkey and the Kurds.
Over 200 public figures, lawyers and politicians with expertise in the matter of the Kurdish question in Turkey and many community activists, grass-roots campaigners and trade unionists have come together to establish the “Friends of Adem Uzun” and support the call for Mr Uzun’s release. You will find our appeal and the lists of signatories to the initiative below and attached. We kindly urge you to take note of their strong collective voice.
Our familiarity with Adem’s role as a peace activist and as a politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK, has led us to conclude that he is fully dedicated to achieving a peaceful and political solution to the Kurdish question. He had been one of the key negotiators for the Kurdish side in the so-called "Oslo Process" which involved high-level Turkish Government representatives.
Hopes of a breakthrough in the talks are now a real possibility and whether this is likely to yield lasting results depends on the skill and determination of the negotiators.
We are convinced that Adem Uzun has a crucial part to play in these talks which have a long way to go before a settlement can be reached. As such we urge you to release him in order to enable him to resume his work that is beginning to bring about the lasting peace for which everyone is searching.
Estella Schmid
On behalf of “Friends of Adem Uzun”
For further information
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
And Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) UK
Estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Friends of Adem Uzun
Initiative by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) UK
FREE ADEM UZUN
The Kurdish politician Adem Uzun was arrested in France on 6 October 2012. Having been denied bail, Adem remains in detention awaiting a trial which could be months away.
Adem Uzun is a prominent activist working to achieve peace through the resumption of negotiations between Turkey and the Kurds. A leading politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK, Adem is well-known to anyone involved in the Kurdish issue, especially in the European Parliament, and has been one of the main Kurdish negotiators in the so-called "Oslo Process" with high-level Turkish Government's representatives.
The charge against Adem Uzun is not supported by credible evidence. At the time of his arrest, Adem Uzun was in Paris to take part in preparations for a conference on Western Kurdistan (Syria), which was scheduled to take place on 13 October 2012.
We believe that the arrest of Adem Uzun, which has been made on Turkey's request, is an attempt to undermine the search for a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish question.
The prosecution intends to equate two separate organisations, the KNK with the PKK, in order to de-legitimise political efforts towards resolution of the conflict. This same tactic is today being used by Turkey to repress and silence the non-violent dissent of thousands of Kurdish politicians and activists.
The offence of belonging to a terrorist organisation in France and across the EU, is a highly politicised ‘crime by association’. It criminalises the entire Kurdish political movement by imputing activists to be the PKK, in the clear absence of any engagement in violence.
The EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Conference, meeting in Brussels on 5th and 6th December, passed a special resolution calling on the French authorities to immediately release Adem Uzun. ‘’As a leading legitimate politician of the Kurdish political movement Mr. Uzun is well known for his advocacy of a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem for which he was chosen to be one of the negotiators in the Oslo Peace Talks,’’ the EUTCC stated. The resolution urged the ‘’expeditious conclusion to his case by dropping the accusations against him’’.
Adem Uzun is fully committed to a peaceful settlement and we are concerned that peace and reconciliation will be much harder to achieve without the expertise of such a seasoned activist.
We strongly reiterate the demand to French authorities for our friend Adem Uzun’s immediate release and for the dropping of the baseless accusations.
We urge everyone who is committed to a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict to declare themselves friends of Adem Uzun and to add your voice to the calls for his release.
Friends of Adem
Estella Schmid, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign & CAMPACC; David Morgan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Melanie Sirinathsingh, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Akif R Wan, KNK representative UK; Philip Khaled Brennan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Paul Burnham, housing worker, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Les Levidow, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC); Saleh Mamon, CAMPACC; Desmond Fernandes, CAMPACC; Anne Gray, retired academic, CAMPACC; Lord Rea, House of Lords; Sarah Ludford MEP; Andrew Duff MEP; Jean Lambert MEP; Jill Evans MEP; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Conor Murphy MP; Elfyn Llwyd MP; Hywel Williams MP; Mary Glindon MP; Frances Webber, human rights lawyer and writer; Elizabeth Forrester, lawyer; Alastair Lyons, lawyer; Margaret Owen OBE, international human rights lawyer; Prof Bill Bowring, Barrister, Director of the LLM/MA in Human Rights, School of Law Birkbeck, University of London; Hugo Charlton, barrister, 1 Grays Inn; John Hobson, lawyer; Melanie Gingell, barrister; Nick Hildyard, policy analyst; Jonathan Fryer, writer, lecturer and broadcaster; Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation; Prof Mary Davis; Bruce Kent, Vice-President Pax Christi; Dr Dafydd Iwan, B.Arch., LL.D.,Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales; Dr Felix Padel, Social Anthropologist, Author and Political Activist; Lindsey German, Convenor, Stop the War Coalition; Dr Vicki Sentas, School of Law, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Kariane Westrheim, PhD, Associate professor, University of Bergen, Chair of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Dr Michael Gunter, Professor of Political Science, Tennessee Technological University, Secretary General of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Rojin Tasman, Law student, Anglia Ruskin University; Azad Dewani, PhD researcher in Peace Studies, UK; Jonathan Bloch, councillor; Alain Hertzmann, Branch secretary London North West Branch 9708, UNITEtheunion, UK; Stephen Smellie, Deputy Convenor, UNISON Scotland; Fred Leplat, Socialist Resistance; Sarah Parker, translator; Ed McArthur, activist; Jagdeesh Singh of the 1984 Genocide Coalition; David Brunetti, photographer; Glyn Harries, Hackney Trades Union Council, personal capacity; David Ambrose, Performer, Writer, Director of Beyond The Border International Storytelling Festival; Mike Arnott, Secretary, Dundee Trades Union Council; Harem Karen, Kurdistan Tribune; Penny Dimond, Factory of the Eccentric Actor; Orsola Casagrande, journalist; Prof. Khatchatur I. Pilikian (SHS, LH, LSFC); Andy Higginbottom, Secretary of Colombia Solidarity Campaign; Kani Areef, UCL Law Postgraduate; Derwich M. Ferho, director of Kurdish Institute, Brussels; Mehmet Ali Dogan, Social-Anthropologist, France; Yuksel Guney, political activist; Jyan Avesta, Kurdistan LGBT Initiative and Halkevi, Kurdish-Turkish Community Centre; Manaz Baloch Baloch community UK activist; Hagir Ahmed, Sudanese community UK activist; Jennifer Langer Director, Exiled Writers Ink UK; Michael Mansfield QC, President of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Liz Davies, barrister and chair of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Kat Craig, Vice-Chair of Haldane Society; Gareth Peirce, human rights lawyer; Russell Fraser, pupil barrister, Haldane Society; Iratxe Urizar, Basque lawyer; Barry White, European Federation of Journalists (personal capacity); Ms Silvana Barbieri, Italy, human rights defender, Italian association "Puntorosso"; Mr Luigi Vinci, Italy, former MEP, editor of "Progetto Lavoro"; Tony Shito, Italian musician, song-writer, Italy; Martha Jean Baker, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Maggie Bowden, General Secretary, Liberation; Robert Atkins, solicitor; Paul Heron, solicitor, Hackney Community Law Centre; Aviva Stahl, political activist; Sheila Mosley, human rights activist: Support Kurds in Syria - SKS (personal capacity); Handren Ashraf Naoman, General Director, European - Kurdistan Green Organization; Kadim Lacin, Journalist; Hoshyar K. Karadaghi, Chairman, Kurdish Personalities in the UK; Ali Ghahrmani, Kurdish Academic Network (KAN); Serdar Ulus, Architect, designer; Marouan Nabo, Human rights activist, President of Kurdistan House USA; Sylvia Novaes, Geologist, Free Consultant; Syed Gilani, solicitor; Asif Bhayat, activist; Anthony Bairstow, Fight Racism Fight Imperialism & Hands off Somalia; Hovarim Isse, youth worker; Greg Tonuczak, banker; Kyronne Parkes, FRFI & Hands off Somalia; Mohamed Hashi, Somali community; Maya de Souza, Green Party Councillor, Camden; Tom Foot, editor Camden New Journal; Chris Den Hond, producer, journalist; Secunder Kermari, journalist; Kadim Lacin, journalist, UK; Kerim Yildiz, DPI; Hikmet Tabak, politician; Mustafa Gundogdu, DPI; Dr Ahmed Semo; Xusrew Zeki, human rights activist/KNK; Sahar Serdasht, student; Kristiina Koivunen PhD, independent scholar; Rabia Khan, student, Birkbeck College and Stop the War Coalition; Sema Thompson, interpreter; Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition; Huseyin Gok, self-employed; Birsan Demirel, translator; Rojda Yaman, student; Eylem Guler, solicitor, Archgate Solicitors; Ahmet Koz, self-employed; Insin Onder, software engineer; Madhi Hussein, student; Hasan Oymer, self-employed; Sait Akgul, legal consultant; Can Atas, pharmacist; Aladdin Srafa, self-employed, KCC; Dondu Demira, budget officer; Solman Kayim, student; Yusuf Golek, student; Ollie Sutherland, student; Birgil Yilmaz, student; Kurda Areef, student; Azad Masko, student; Anil Doner, student, SJC; Mehmet Meria, student, SJC; Jine Kalay, student; Fiat Kalay, student; Arif Bektas, journalist; Ata Mufty, journalist; Sherko Zemaloush, activist; Rebwan Salam; Ferhan Yildiz, student; Yasar Gonul, activist, KCC; Berivan Bottologlu; Fero Firat, interpreter, SWP; Mustafa Kadir, activist; F Maroofi, activist; A Amini, activist; D Abbas, academic; D Asaid, activist; Anne Crozier, teacher; Arzu Pesmen, political activist; Arman Banirad, Lawyer; Tim Gopsill, Editor, Free Press, Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom; Michael Ellman, solicitor; Kulka Iwona Bugno, sociologist; Neil Taylor, lawyer and Journalist; Ozlem J.Murray, law student; Can Yildiz, journalist; Latif Serihildan Takak & Carla Takak, Kurdistan Solidarity Ireland; Hoshyar K. Karadaghi, Chairman, Kurdish Personalities in the UK; Farman Khoshnaw, teacher, KPA-UK; Chyman Khatab, Accountant, Easyjet; Dr Sirwan Khafaf, retired university lecturer & veterinary surgeon, member of KPA-UK; Trifa Khafaf,Bsc. Chemistry, retired.member of KPA-UK; Julia Davidson, Secretary Scotland Against Criminalising Communities. Deniz Arbet, PHD law student, Queens University Belfast; Rinaldo Francesca, Liberation; Milan Milowitch, film-maker; Andrew Penny, writer and translator; Michael Baron, poet and writer; Rachel Bird, Project Coordinator; Housan Mamoud, Women’s Freedom in Iraq; Sait Keskin, PhD candidate in Kurdish Studies, University of Exeter; Fatima Keskin; Sipan Keskin, student; Fourat Keskin, student; Dilan Keskin, student; Shilan Keskin, student; Joe Ryan, Westminster Dioceses Justice and Peace Commission; Gareth Evans, writer; Lorna Martin, writer; Feryal Demirci, Hackney councillor; Gulay Icoj, Hackney Councillor; Ali Demirci, Haringey Councillor; Deniz Ozgurkerti, Hackney Councillor; A.D. Jwar Yuce, building contractor; Hogir Firat, unemployed; Abdulkodir Koban, businessman; Hussain Kondamir, worker; Selim Besci, geologist; Selina Bailey, housewife; Jude Zagros, factory worker; Malik Habib, plumber; Juan Efrin, IT consultant; Nidal Habidy, plumber; Hussein Maamo, photographer; Kawa Amin, medial Registrar; Amang Hassan, campaigner; Saddettin Aygun, factory workers; Serife Mehmet, musician; Cigdem Karaalioglu, Fed-Bir; Selda Aksoy, co-chair of Roj Women; Yilmaz Gul, Engineer; Ali Boyran, activist; Neskihay Sever, activist; Mahmet Erden, activist; Salman Kayim, activist; Arin Banirad, teacher; Turkan Ozcan, activist; Ercan Akbal, activist; Siner Arslen, activist; Graham Williamson, Steering Committee, Nations without State.
Contact:
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Estella Schmid and Melanie Sirinathsingh
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Conor Murphy MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
Dear Mrs Christiane Taubira
The arrest of the prominent Kurdish peace advocate Adem Uzun in Paris last year came as a great shock to us all as it coincided with progress towards the opening of peace talks between Turkey and the Kurds.
Over 200 public figures, lawyers and politicians with expertise in the matter of the Kurdish question in Turkey and many community activists, grass-roots campaigners and trade unionists have come together to establish the “Friends of Adem Uzun” and support the call for Mr Uzun’s release. You will find our appeal and the lists of signatories to the initiative below and attached. We kindly urge you to take note of their strong collective voice.
Our familiarity with Adem’s role as a peace activist and as a politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK, has led us to conclude that he is fully dedicated to achieving a peaceful and political solution to the Kurdish question. He had been one of the key negotiators for the Kurdish side in the so-called "Oslo Process" which involved high-level Turkish Government representatives.
Hopes of a breakthrough in the talks are now a real possibility and whether this is likely to yield lasting results depends on the skill and determination of the negotiators.
We are convinced that Adem Uzun has a crucial part to play in these talks which have a long way to go before a settlement can be reached. As such we urge you to release him in order to enable him to resume his work that is beginning to bring about the lasting peace for which everyone is searching.
Estella Schmid
On behalf of “Friends of Adem Uzun”
For further information
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
And Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) UK
Estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Friends of Adem Uzun
Initiative by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) UK
FREE ADEM UZUN
The Kurdish politician Adem Uzun was arrested in France on 6 October 2012. Having been denied bail, Adem remains in detention awaiting a trial which could be months away.
Adem Uzun is a prominent activist working to achieve peace through the resumption of negotiations between Turkey and the Kurds. A leading politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK, Adem is well-known to anyone involved in the Kurdish issue, especially in the European Parliament, and has been one of the main Kurdish negotiators in the so-called "Oslo Process" with high-level Turkish Government's representatives.
The charge against Adem Uzun is not supported by credible evidence. At the time of his arrest, Adem Uzun was in Paris to take part in preparations for a conference on Western Kurdistan (Syria), which was scheduled to take place on 13 October 2012.
We believe that the arrest of Adem Uzun, which has been made on Turkey's request, is an attempt to undermine the search for a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish question.
The prosecution intends to equate two separate organisations, the KNK with the PKK, in order to de-legitimise political efforts towards resolution of the conflict. This same tactic is today being used by Turkey to repress and silence the non-violent dissent of thousands of Kurdish politicians and activists.
The offence of belonging to a terrorist organisation in France and across the EU, is a highly politicised ‘crime by association’. It criminalises the entire Kurdish political movement by imputing activists to be the PKK, in the clear absence of any engagement in violence.
The EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Conference, meeting in Brussels on 5th and 6th December, passed a special resolution calling on the French authorities to immediately release Adem Uzun. ‘’As a leading legitimate politician of the Kurdish political movement Mr. Uzun is well known for his advocacy of a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem for which he was chosen to be one of the negotiators in the Oslo Peace Talks,’’ the EUTCC stated. The resolution urged the ‘’expeditious conclusion to his case by dropping the accusations against him’’.
Adem Uzun is fully committed to a peaceful settlement and we are concerned that peace and reconciliation will be much harder to achieve without the expertise of such a seasoned activist.
We strongly reiterate the demand to French authorities for our friend Adem Uzun’s immediate release and for the dropping of the baseless accusations.
We urge everyone who is committed to a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict to declare themselves friends of Adem Uzun and to add your voice to the calls for his release.
Friends of Adem
Estella Schmid, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign & CAMPACC; David Morgan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Melanie Sirinathsingh, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Akif R Wan, KNK representative UK; Philip Khaled Brennan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Paul Burnham, housing worker, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Les Levidow, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC); Saleh Mamon, CAMPACC; Desmond Fernandes, CAMPACC; Anne Gray, retired academic, CAMPACC; Lord Rea, House of Lords; Sarah Ludford MEP; Andrew Duff MEP; Jean Lambert MEP; Jill Evans MEP; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Conor Murphy MP; Elfyn Llwyd MP; Hywel Williams MP; Mary Glindon MP; Frances Webber, human rights lawyer and writer; Elizabeth Forrester, lawyer; Alastair Lyons, lawyer; Margaret Owen OBE, international human rights lawyer; Prof Bill Bowring, Barrister, Director of the LLM/MA in Human Rights, School of Law Birkbeck, University of London; Hugo Charlton, barrister, 1 Grays Inn; John Hobson, lawyer; Melanie Gingell, barrister; Nick Hildyard, policy analyst; Jonathan Fryer, writer, lecturer and broadcaster; Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation; Prof Mary Davis; Bruce Kent, Vice-President Pax Christi; Dr Dafydd Iwan, B.Arch., LL.D.,Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales; Dr Felix Padel, Social Anthropologist, Author and Political Activist; Lindsey German, Convenor, Stop the War Coalition; Dr Vicki Sentas, School of Law, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Kariane Westrheim, PhD, Associate professor, University of Bergen, Chair of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Dr Michael Gunter, Professor of Political Science, Tennessee Technological University, Secretary General of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Rojin Tasman, Law student, Anglia Ruskin University; Azad Dewani, PhD researcher in Peace Studies, UK; Jonathan Bloch, councillor; Alain Hertzmann, Branch secretary London North West Branch 9708, UNITEtheunion, UK; Stephen Smellie, Deputy Convenor, UNISON Scotland; Fred Leplat, Socialist Resistance; Sarah Parker, translator; Ed McArthur, activist; Jagdeesh Singh of the 1984 Genocide Coalition; David Brunetti, photographer; Glyn Harries, Hackney Trades Union Council, personal capacity; David Ambrose, Performer, Writer, Director of Beyond The Border International Storytelling Festival; Mike Arnott, Secretary, Dundee Trades Union Council; Harem Karen, Kurdistan Tribune; Penny Dimond, Factory of the Eccentric Actor; Orsola Casagrande, journalist; Prof. Khatchatur I. Pilikian (SHS, LH, LSFC); Andy Higginbottom, Secretary of Colombia Solidarity Campaign; Kani Areef, UCL Law Postgraduate; Derwich M. Ferho, director of Kurdish Institute, Brussels; Mehmet Ali Dogan, Social-Anthropologist, France; Yuksel Guney, political activist; Jyan Avesta, Kurdistan LGBT Initiative and Halkevi, Kurdish-Turkish Community Centre; Manaz Baloch Baloch community UK activist; Hagir Ahmed, Sudanese community UK activist; Jennifer Langer Director, Exiled Writers Ink UK; Michael Mansfield QC, President of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Liz Davies, barrister and chair of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Kat Craig, Vice-Chair of Haldane Society; Gareth Peirce, human rights lawyer; Russell Fraser, pupil barrister, Haldane Society; Iratxe Urizar, Basque lawyer; Barry White, European Federation of Journalists (personal capacity); Ms Silvana Barbieri, Italy, human rights defender, Italian association "Puntorosso"; Mr Luigi Vinci, Italy, former MEP, editor of "Progetto Lavoro"; Tony Shito, Italian musician, song-writer, Italy; Martha Jean Baker, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Maggie Bowden, General Secretary, Liberation; Robert Atkins, solicitor; Paul Heron, solicitor, Hackney Community Law Centre; Aviva Stahl, political activist; Sheila Mosley, human rights activist: Support Kurds in Syria - SKS (personal capacity); Handren Ashraf Naoman, General Director, European - Kurdistan Green Organization; Kadim Lacin, Journalist; Hoshyar K. Karadaghi, Chairman, Kurdish Personalities in the UK; Ali Ghahrmani, Kurdish Academic Network (KAN); Serdar Ulus, Architect, designer; Marouan Nabo, Human rights activist, President of Kurdistan House USA; Sylvia Novaes, Geologist, Free Consultant; Syed Gilani, solicitor; Asif Bhayat, activist; Anthony Bairstow, Fight Racism Fight Imperialism & Hands off Somalia; Hovarim Isse, youth worker; Greg Tonuczak, banker; Kyronne Parkes, FRFI & Hands off Somalia; Mohamed Hashi, Somali community; Maya de Souza, Green Party Councillor, Camden; Tom Foot, editor Camden New Journal; Chris Den Hond, producer, journalist; Secunder Kermari, journalist; Kadim Lacin, journalist, UK; Kerim Yildiz, DPI; Hikmet Tabak, politician; Mustafa Gundogdu, DPI; Dr Ahmed Semo; Xusrew Zeki, human rights activist/KNK; Sahar Serdasht, student; Kristiina Koivunen PhD, independent scholar; Rabia Khan, student, Birkbeck College and Stop the War Coalition; Sema Thompson, interpreter; Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition; Huseyin Gok, self-employed; Birsan Demirel, translator; Rojda Yaman, student; Eylem Guler, solicitor, Archgate Solicitors; Ahmet Koz, self-employed; Insin Onder, software engineer; Madhi Hussein, student; Hasan Oymer, self-employed; Sait Akgul, legal consultant; Can Atas, pharmacist; Aladdin Srafa, self-employed, KCC; Dondu Demira, budget officer; Solman Kayim, student; Yusuf Golek, student; Ollie Sutherland, student; Birgil Yilmaz, student; Kurda Areef, student; Azad Masko, student; Anil Doner, student, SJC; Mehmet Meria, student, SJC; Jine Kalay, student; Fiat Kalay, student; Arif Bektas, journalist; Ata Mufty, journalist; Sherko Zemaloush, activist; Rebwan Salam; Ferhan Yildiz, student; Yasar Gonul, activist, KCC; Berivan Bottologlu; Fero Firat, interpreter, SWP; Mustafa Kadir, activist; F Maroofi, activist; A Amini, activist; D Abbas, academic; D Asaid, activist; Anne Crozier, teacher; Arzu Pesmen, political activist; Arman Banirad, Lawyer; Tim Gopsill, Editor, Free Press, Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom; Michael Ellman, solicitor; Kulka Iwona Bugno, sociologist; Neil Taylor, lawyer and Journalist; Ozlem J.Murray, law student; Can Yildiz, journalist; Latif Serihildan Takak & Carla Takak, Kurdistan Solidarity Ireland; Hoshyar K. Karadaghi, Chairman, Kurdish Personalities in the UK; Farman Khoshnaw, teacher, KPA-UK; Chyman Khatab, Accountant, Easyjet; Dr Sirwan Khafaf, retired university lecturer & veterinary surgeon, member of KPA-UK; Trifa Khafaf,Bsc. Chemistry, retired.member of KPA-UK; Julia Davidson, Secretary Scotland Against Criminalising Communities. Deniz Arbet, PHD law student, Queens University Belfast; Rinaldo Francesca, Liberation; Milan Milowitch, film-maker; Andrew Penny, writer and translator; Michael Baron, poet and writer; Rachel Bird, Project Coordinator; Housan Mamoud, Women’s Freedom in Iraq; Sait Keskin, PhD candidate in Kurdish Studies, University of Exeter; Fatima Keskin; Sipan Keskin, student; Fourat Keskin, student; Dilan Keskin, student; Shilan Keskin, student; Joe Ryan, Westminster Dioceses Justice and Peace Commission; Gareth Evans, writer; Lorna Martin, writer; Feryal Demirci, Hackney councillor; Gulay Icoj, Hackney Councillor; Ali Demirci, Haringey Councillor; Deniz Ozgurkerti, Hackney Councillor; A.D. Jwar Yuce, building contractor; Hogir Firat, unemployed; Abdulkodir Koban, businessman; Hussain Kondamir, worker; Selim Besci, geologist; Selina Bailey, housewife; Jude Zagros, factory worker; Malik Habib, plumber; Juan Efrin, IT consultant; Nidal Habidy, plumber; Hussein Maamo, photographer; Kawa Amin, medial Registrar; Amang Hassan, campaigner; Saddettin Aygun, factory workers; Serife Mehmet, musician; Cigdem Karaalioglu, Fed-Bir; Selda Aksoy, co-chair of Roj Women; Yilmaz Gul, Engineer; Ali Boyran, activist; Neskihay Sever, activist; Mahmet Erden, activist; Salman Kayim, activist; Arin Banirad, teacher; Turkan Ozcan, activist; Ercan Akbal, activist; Siner Arslen, activist; Graham Williamson, Steering Committee, Nations without State.
Contact:
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Estella Schmid and Melanie Sirinathsingh
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Conor Murphy MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
FREE ADEM UZUN POSTCARD CAMPAIGN
Peace in Kurdistan campaign and Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) has begun a series of actions as part of the campaign to release Adem Uzun from custody in France. Our Friends of Adem Uzun initiative is already underway, with the list of friends who have shown their solidarity growing by the day.
We have also designed and printed postcards to be sent to the Justice Minister of France, Christiane Taubira, demanding that they FREE ADEM UZUN. The postcard has a short text on the back (which you can read below) and we are asking people to sign and send them off to her.
We need as many people as possible to send a postcard to show the French government that Adem has support. If you would like a postcard to send, please write to estella24@tiscali.co.uk with your name, address and the number of cards you need, and we will send them out to you.
A Kurdish peace activist and member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), Adem Uzun was arrested last October in Paris and denied bail. He had been a key negotiator for in the Oslo Peace Talks with high level Turkish government representatives. He is well known for his commitment to a negotiated settlement to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
Further details of the action here: http://peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/free-adem-uzun-postcard-campaign/
Postcard text:
Dear Mme Christiane Taubira,
Adem Uzun is a prominent Kurdish peace activist and leading politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK. Adem is well-known throughout Europe for his political work and supporting a political solution to the Kurdish question, and has been a key Kurdish negotiator in the so-called “Oslo Process” with high-level Turkish Government’s representatives.
Adem’s arrest in Paris on 6 October came as a shock in view of the constructive and positive role that he had been playing in the ongoing search for a peace settlement acceptable to both sides.
Talks between Turkey and Kurdish leaders have since restarted as of early 2013 and we believe that it is essential that Adem Uzun be immediately released to enable him to continue his positive role as a peace negotiator.
His continued imprisonment can only undermine progress in these talks.
We urge you to free Adem Uzun; drop the charges against him and thereby give peace a chance.
Signed _______________________ Name __________________________
Address______________________________________________________
---
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk <mailto:estella24@tiscali.co.uk>
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Sirinathsingh - Tel: 020 7272 7890
Fax: 020 7263 0596
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Conor Murphy MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
We have also designed and printed postcards to be sent to the Justice Minister of France, Christiane Taubira, demanding that they FREE ADEM UZUN. The postcard has a short text on the back (which you can read below) and we are asking people to sign and send them off to her.
We need as many people as possible to send a postcard to show the French government that Adem has support. If you would like a postcard to send, please write to estella24@tiscali.co.uk with your name, address and the number of cards you need, and we will send them out to you.
A Kurdish peace activist and member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), Adem Uzun was arrested last October in Paris and denied bail. He had been a key negotiator for in the Oslo Peace Talks with high level Turkish government representatives. He is well known for his commitment to a negotiated settlement to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
Further details of the action here: http://peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/free-adem-uzun-postcard-campaign/
Postcard text:
Dear Mme Christiane Taubira,
Adem Uzun is a prominent Kurdish peace activist and leading politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK. Adem is well-known throughout Europe for his political work and supporting a political solution to the Kurdish question, and has been a key Kurdish negotiator in the so-called “Oslo Process” with high-level Turkish Government’s representatives.
Adem’s arrest in Paris on 6 October came as a shock in view of the constructive and positive role that he had been playing in the ongoing search for a peace settlement acceptable to both sides.
Talks between Turkey and Kurdish leaders have since restarted as of early 2013 and we believe that it is essential that Adem Uzun be immediately released to enable him to continue his positive role as a peace negotiator.
His continued imprisonment can only undermine progress in these talks.
We urge you to free Adem Uzun; drop the charges against him and thereby give peace a chance.
Signed _______________________ Name __________________________
Address______________________________________________________
---
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk <mailto:estella24@tiscali.co.uk>
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Sirinathsingh - Tel: 020 7272 7890
Fax: 020 7263 0596
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Conor Murphy MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR ADEM UZUN
EUTCC - TURKEY CIVIC COMMISSION
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN
FREE ADEM UZUN
THE LIBERATION OF A GENUINE KURDISH DIPLOMAT : ADEM UZUN
Editorial
The international community while waiting for creative dynamics in context with the complicated Turkish-Kurdish dialogue at the same time Mr. Adem Uzun as one of the ARCHITECTS
OF KURDISH DIPLOMACY is arrested in Paris.
Especially now facing the start and the necessities of the formalization, of strengthening and deepening the content of a permanent conflict resolution : Kurdish diplomat Uzun is
prevented by his active participation.
Adem Uzun is fully committed to a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish issue and we are concerned that peace and reconciliation will be much harder to achieve without the expertise of
such a seasoned activist. We strongly reiterate the demand to French authorities for our friend Adem Uzun’s immediate release and for the dropping of the baseless accusations.
Background
A Genuine Kurdish Diplomat Imprisoned in Paris - Adem Uzun
On 3 December 2012 an International Peace Initiative supported by Nobel-Peace-Prize laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, His Holiness Dalai Lama, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Jose Ramos-Horta, among many others, was launched to reopen peace negotiations between Turkey and the PKK. This encouraging event that would end almost 30 years of bloody conflict and injustice in Turkey has won broad international approval. Recently it was known to the public that new talks have taken place between the Turkish state and Mr. Abdullah Öcalan on the island Imrali.
A political solution to one of the most stressful conflicts for Turkey, Europe and the Middle East is at the beginning of 2013 within reach.
While the international community are waiting for the first results from the Turkish-Kurdish dialogue Mr. Adem Uzun, a high-ranking Kurdish politician and the architects of Kurdish diplomacy continues to be incarcerated by French authorities. His arrest appears unfortunate because he was one of the Kurdish officials who earlier met in Oslo with Turkish officials from 2009 to 2011.
His arrest was clearly a political attempt to curry favor with the Turkish authorities who had just complained that France and Germany were not supporting Turkey’s campaign against the PKK and its so-called terrorism in Europe. The allegations against Adem Uzun are frankly absurd as they are based solely on the denunciations of a highly questionable agent provocateur. Thus at the very moment discussions are commencing for initiating a lasting peace settlement between Turkey and the PKK that would benefit the prosperity and stability in the Middle East, in Europe, and the entire world.
The unfair incarceration of Adem Uzun prevents the Kurdish diplomat to play his active role in a peace process which requires the diplomatic competence and political skills that Uzun hold. By the continued incarceration of Adem Uzun thereby becomes. The Kurdish problem in Turkey cannot be solved by arresting and detaining its peace negotiators. Accordingly, in the interests of furthering the renewal of the peace process between Turkey and the PKK, we appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of Adem Uzun.
We call on the international community herby individuals, organisations, parties and NGO’s to sign this petition in order to put pressure on French authorities to release Adem Uzun on the reasons mentioned in this letter.
Kariane Westrheim - Norway/ Professor Michael Gunter - Tennessee / Hans Branscheidt - Frankfurt / Judge Essa Moosa - Capetown
Chair of EUTCC Secretary general Board of Directors Board of Directors
WE ARE TRUSTEES OF THE KURDISH DIPOMAT ADEM UZUN
Imre Kertesz – Nobel Price Owner Berlin/Budapest – Jon Rud – Former amnesty international chairman Norway - John Ralston Saul, a la membrecía de PEN - Michel Weiss - Now Media (United States) - Dr. Hisyar Ozsoy KNCA - USA - Enki Bilal - Cartoonist - Paris - Dr. Florian Schaurer - Berlin - James Lovelock - Scientist - UK . - Jan Espen Kruze - Journalist - Sara Whyatt - Pen International - Lucinda Kathmann - Mexiko, Pen - Isaac Tutumlu Lopez - Car Racer - UK - Paul Otto Gehlhoff - Evangelischer Pressedienst - Hannover - Dr. Georg H. Küster - Journalist - Zurich - Eric Chaime Kline – Art Gallery - Los Angeles - Elke Krystufek - Artist - New York - Professor Raimund Ruetten - Romanist - Frankfurt - Latif Rashid - Sulaimania - Kamal Chomani - Lvin Magazine Hewler, actually Bangalore - India - Michael Ley - Autor - Germany - Gabriele Wohmann - Autorin - Germany - Benthe Rotschild - Paris - Le Monde - Dr. David Stang - Brandeis University - USA - Dr. Helmfried Becher - Evangelischer Pressedienst - Frankfurt - Jürgen Brodwolf - Sculpteur - Germany - Malina Espinoza - Journalist - Mexiko - Ronnie Bunting - Republican Press - Ballymurphy Belfast - Edvard Kovac, - Chairman of the Writers for Peace Committee of PEN International - Jean Prader - Charlie Hebdo - Journalist - Paris - Marcel Ollivier, Painter - Paris - Carl Williams - Maggs Brothers - London – Yves Loffredo – Journalist – Paris - Dr. Faeq Golpy – Journalist - Erbil - Malek Khoury , Journalist - Daily Star Lebanon - Grete Schmeissing-Lemberg, Middle East Council of Churches - Cyprus - Dr. Salar Bassireh - Writer - Düsseldorf - Universität Sulaimania - Martin Glasenapp, medico international, Frankfurt - Christopher Dickey - Journalist /France/UK - Christian Dotremont - Journalist - Belgium - Katrine Kielos - Aftonbladet - Sweden - Nicholas Birch - Journalist - Amir F. Ghadry - Journalist - Boston Globe - Salar Rashid - Journalist - Sulaimania - Padraig O'Connor, Irish Republican News - Belfast - Muallam al Hassan - Journalist - Al Monitor - Michael Knights - Boston Globe - Karl Kerenyi, Scientist, - Budapest – Moses Alison, Actor - New Orleans – Francois Lecointre-Drouet, Directeur Theate du Soleil, Marseille – John Wronoski, Antiquarian, United States - Ethan F. Young, Councellor Johannesburg RSA - Germaine de Chapeaurouge, Lawyer, (Paris) – Eric Bisson-Millet - Journalist - Grenoble - France - Dr. Kamal Mohanna, (Beirut, AMEL Medical Network) – Mike Mills – Filmproducer – (USA) - Dr. Edel de Roos, Psychologist, Austria - Kamran Fatah, Journalist, Sulaimani - Professor Andreas Buro - Peace Researcher - Germany - Dr. Jean Morgenthaler , Psychoanalyst - (Zürich) - Penelope Diamond, actress & New Factory of the Eccentric Actor, UK - Hawar Abdul-Razaq Ali - Journalist & Translator - Rudaw Weekly Paper – Erbil - Ihsan Efrini – Dentist - KNCNA, Board of Directory - Canada – Baqi Barzani - Sulaimania - Erbil – Simon Frazer – Journalist – New Zealand – Kamal Chomani – Lvin Magazin – South Kurdistan – Wolf Rohrbrunn – WDR – Cologne – Eric Rouleau – Journalist – Belgium – Guy Deperaux, Journalist – Belgium – Dr. Kamal Artin – Psychologist – Los Angeles – Kamal Golpy – Journalist – Al Monitor – Dr. Manfred Bock, Lawyer – Frankfurt - Amy de Chapeaurouge - Journalist - Grenoble.
We urge everyone who is committed to a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict to declare themselves friends of Adem Uzun and to add your voice to the calls for his
release". Please sign our Appeal! (Send your signatur to: mesop@onlien.de
Write Mass-Postcards to Adem Uzun:
M. Adem UZUN - (en état de détention) / Maison d'arrêt "LA SANTÉ" - 42, Rue de la Santé - 75674 PARIS - Cedex 14 - France
FOR PROTEST : Addresses – Fax numbers – E-mail- Addresses of the French Ministries:
Prime Minister: M. Jean-Marc Ayrault - Hôtel de Matignon - 57, rue de Varenne - F- 75700 Paris – France - Fax : 0033 1 45 44 15 72
E-mail: premier-ministre@cab.pm.gouv.fr mailto:premier-ministre@cab.pm.gouv.fr <mailto:premier-ministre@cab.pm.gouv.fr> alternatively : jean-marc.ayrault@pm.gouv.fr mailto:jean-marc.ayrault@pm.gouv.fr <mailto:jean-marc.ayrault@pm.gouv.fr>
Minister of Justice: Ministre de la Justice - Mme. Christiane Taubira
13, place Vendôme - 75800 Paris – France - Fax: 0033 1 44 77 60 69 / 0033 1 44 77 25 05 - E-mail: florence.duhot@justice.gouv.fr mailto:florence.duhot@justice.gouv.fr <mailto:florence.duhot@justice.gouv.fr>
Minister of Interior: Ministre de l’Intérieur - M. Manuel Valls - Place Beauvau - 75800 Paris - France
Fax: 0033 1 42 65 67 72 - E-mail: manuel.valls@interieur.gouv.fr mailto:manuel.valls@interieur.gouv.fr <mailto:manuel.valls@interieur.gouv.fr> ; jean.daubigny@interieur.gouv.fr mailto:jean.daubigny@interieur.gouv.fr <mailto:jean.daubigny@interieur.gouv.fr>
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN
FREE ADEM UZUN
THE LIBERATION OF A GENUINE KURDISH DIPLOMAT : ADEM UZUN
Editorial
The international community while waiting for creative dynamics in context with the complicated Turkish-Kurdish dialogue at the same time Mr. Adem Uzun as one of the ARCHITECTS
OF KURDISH DIPLOMACY is arrested in Paris.
Especially now facing the start and the necessities of the formalization, of strengthening and deepening the content of a permanent conflict resolution : Kurdish diplomat Uzun is
prevented by his active participation.
Adem Uzun is fully committed to a peaceful settlement of the Kurdish issue and we are concerned that peace and reconciliation will be much harder to achieve without the expertise of
such a seasoned activist. We strongly reiterate the demand to French authorities for our friend Adem Uzun’s immediate release and for the dropping of the baseless accusations.
Background
A Genuine Kurdish Diplomat Imprisoned in Paris - Adem Uzun
On 3 December 2012 an International Peace Initiative supported by Nobel-Peace-Prize laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, His Holiness Dalai Lama, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Jose Ramos-Horta, among many others, was launched to reopen peace negotiations between Turkey and the PKK. This encouraging event that would end almost 30 years of bloody conflict and injustice in Turkey has won broad international approval. Recently it was known to the public that new talks have taken place between the Turkish state and Mr. Abdullah Öcalan on the island Imrali.
A political solution to one of the most stressful conflicts for Turkey, Europe and the Middle East is at the beginning of 2013 within reach.
While the international community are waiting for the first results from the Turkish-Kurdish dialogue Mr. Adem Uzun, a high-ranking Kurdish politician and the architects of Kurdish diplomacy continues to be incarcerated by French authorities. His arrest appears unfortunate because he was one of the Kurdish officials who earlier met in Oslo with Turkish officials from 2009 to 2011.
His arrest was clearly a political attempt to curry favor with the Turkish authorities who had just complained that France and Germany were not supporting Turkey’s campaign against the PKK and its so-called terrorism in Europe. The allegations against Adem Uzun are frankly absurd as they are based solely on the denunciations of a highly questionable agent provocateur. Thus at the very moment discussions are commencing for initiating a lasting peace settlement between Turkey and the PKK that would benefit the prosperity and stability in the Middle East, in Europe, and the entire world.
The unfair incarceration of Adem Uzun prevents the Kurdish diplomat to play his active role in a peace process which requires the diplomatic competence and political skills that Uzun hold. By the continued incarceration of Adem Uzun thereby becomes. The Kurdish problem in Turkey cannot be solved by arresting and detaining its peace negotiators. Accordingly, in the interests of furthering the renewal of the peace process between Turkey and the PKK, we appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of Adem Uzun.
We call on the international community herby individuals, organisations, parties and NGO’s to sign this petition in order to put pressure on French authorities to release Adem Uzun on the reasons mentioned in this letter.
Kariane Westrheim - Norway/ Professor Michael Gunter - Tennessee / Hans Branscheidt - Frankfurt / Judge Essa Moosa - Capetown
Chair of EUTCC Secretary general Board of Directors Board of Directors
WE ARE TRUSTEES OF THE KURDISH DIPOMAT ADEM UZUN
Imre Kertesz – Nobel Price Owner Berlin/Budapest – Jon Rud – Former amnesty international chairman Norway - John Ralston Saul, a la membrecía de PEN - Michel Weiss - Now Media (United States) - Dr. Hisyar Ozsoy KNCA - USA - Enki Bilal - Cartoonist - Paris - Dr. Florian Schaurer - Berlin - James Lovelock - Scientist - UK . - Jan Espen Kruze - Journalist - Sara Whyatt - Pen International - Lucinda Kathmann - Mexiko, Pen - Isaac Tutumlu Lopez - Car Racer - UK - Paul Otto Gehlhoff - Evangelischer Pressedienst - Hannover - Dr. Georg H. Küster - Journalist - Zurich - Eric Chaime Kline – Art Gallery - Los Angeles - Elke Krystufek - Artist - New York - Professor Raimund Ruetten - Romanist - Frankfurt - Latif Rashid - Sulaimania - Kamal Chomani - Lvin Magazine Hewler, actually Bangalore - India - Michael Ley - Autor - Germany - Gabriele Wohmann - Autorin - Germany - Benthe Rotschild - Paris - Le Monde - Dr. David Stang - Brandeis University - USA - Dr. Helmfried Becher - Evangelischer Pressedienst - Frankfurt - Jürgen Brodwolf - Sculpteur - Germany - Malina Espinoza - Journalist - Mexiko - Ronnie Bunting - Republican Press - Ballymurphy Belfast - Edvard Kovac, - Chairman of the Writers for Peace Committee of PEN International - Jean Prader - Charlie Hebdo - Journalist - Paris - Marcel Ollivier, Painter - Paris - Carl Williams - Maggs Brothers - London – Yves Loffredo – Journalist – Paris - Dr. Faeq Golpy – Journalist - Erbil - Malek Khoury , Journalist - Daily Star Lebanon - Grete Schmeissing-Lemberg, Middle East Council of Churches - Cyprus - Dr. Salar Bassireh - Writer - Düsseldorf - Universität Sulaimania - Martin Glasenapp, medico international, Frankfurt - Christopher Dickey - Journalist /France/UK - Christian Dotremont - Journalist - Belgium - Katrine Kielos - Aftonbladet - Sweden - Nicholas Birch - Journalist - Amir F. Ghadry - Journalist - Boston Globe - Salar Rashid - Journalist - Sulaimania - Padraig O'Connor, Irish Republican News - Belfast - Muallam al Hassan - Journalist - Al Monitor - Michael Knights - Boston Globe - Karl Kerenyi, Scientist, - Budapest – Moses Alison, Actor - New Orleans – Francois Lecointre-Drouet, Directeur Theate du Soleil, Marseille – John Wronoski, Antiquarian, United States - Ethan F. Young, Councellor Johannesburg RSA - Germaine de Chapeaurouge, Lawyer, (Paris) – Eric Bisson-Millet - Journalist - Grenoble - France - Dr. Kamal Mohanna, (Beirut, AMEL Medical Network) – Mike Mills – Filmproducer – (USA) - Dr. Edel de Roos, Psychologist, Austria - Kamran Fatah, Journalist, Sulaimani - Professor Andreas Buro - Peace Researcher - Germany - Dr. Jean Morgenthaler , Psychoanalyst - (Zürich) - Penelope Diamond, actress & New Factory of the Eccentric Actor, UK - Hawar Abdul-Razaq Ali - Journalist & Translator - Rudaw Weekly Paper – Erbil - Ihsan Efrini – Dentist - KNCNA, Board of Directory - Canada – Baqi Barzani - Sulaimania - Erbil – Simon Frazer – Journalist – New Zealand – Kamal Chomani – Lvin Magazin – South Kurdistan – Wolf Rohrbrunn – WDR – Cologne – Eric Rouleau – Journalist – Belgium – Guy Deperaux, Journalist – Belgium – Dr. Kamal Artin – Psychologist – Los Angeles – Kamal Golpy – Journalist – Al Monitor – Dr. Manfred Bock, Lawyer – Frankfurt - Amy de Chapeaurouge - Journalist - Grenoble.
We urge everyone who is committed to a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict to declare themselves friends of Adem Uzun and to add your voice to the calls for his
release". Please sign our Appeal! (Send your signatur to: mesop@onlien.de
Write Mass-Postcards to Adem Uzun:
M. Adem UZUN - (en état de détention) / Maison d'arrêt "LA SANTÉ" - 42, Rue de la Santé - 75674 PARIS - Cedex 14 - France
FOR PROTEST : Addresses – Fax numbers – E-mail- Addresses of the French Ministries:
Prime Minister: M. Jean-Marc Ayrault - Hôtel de Matignon - 57, rue de Varenne - F- 75700 Paris – France - Fax : 0033 1 45 44 15 72
E-mail: premier-ministre@cab.pm.gouv.fr mailto:premier-ministre@cab.pm.gouv.fr <mailto:premier-ministre@cab.pm.gouv.fr> alternatively : jean-marc.ayrault@pm.gouv.fr mailto:jean-marc.ayrault@pm.gouv.fr <mailto:jean-marc.ayrault@pm.gouv.fr>
Minister of Justice: Ministre de la Justice - Mme. Christiane Taubira
13, place Vendôme - 75800 Paris – France - Fax: 0033 1 44 77 60 69 / 0033 1 44 77 25 05 - E-mail: florence.duhot@justice.gouv.fr mailto:florence.duhot@justice.gouv.fr <mailto:florence.duhot@justice.gouv.fr>
Minister of Interior: Ministre de l’Intérieur - M. Manuel Valls - Place Beauvau - 75800 Paris - France
Fax: 0033 1 42 65 67 72 - E-mail: manuel.valls@interieur.gouv.fr mailto:manuel.valls@interieur.gouv.fr <mailto:manuel.valls@interieur.gouv.fr> ; jean.daubigny@interieur.gouv.fr mailto:jean.daubigny@interieur.gouv.fr <mailto:jean.daubigny@interieur.gouv.fr>
Monday, 28 January 2013
Last chance to Join the Friends of Adem Uzun!
Dear friends and supporters,
As you know, over the last few weeks Peace in Kurdistan campaign and CAMPACC have been encouraging people to join our new initiative to Free Adem Uzun from custody in Paris. We have had an great response so far, with nearly 150 people declaring themselves a friend of Adem Uzun.
But we want more!
We will soon send the below appeal and the list of signatories to the Justice Minister of France, Christiane Taubira, but before we do, we call on anyone who has not yet become a friend of Adem to join us. It is very important that the French government sees that Adem has widespread support, and it should understand that criminalising Kurdish politicians in the name of ‘counter-terrorism’ only further disenfranchises and undermines the Kurdish community.
All you need to do to join is reply to this email with your name, profession and organisation as appropriate – please join us today!
Regards,
Melanie
--
Melanie Sirinathsingh
Campaigns Assistant
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
------
Join the Friends of Adem Uzun
Initiative by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) UK
FREE ADEM UZUN
The Kurdish politician Adem Uzun was arrested in France on 6 October 2012. Having been denied bail, Adem remains in detention awaiting a trial which could be months away.
Adem Uzun is a prominent activist working to achieve peace through the resumption of negotiations between Turkey and the Kurds. A leading politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK, Adem is well-known to anyone involved in the Kurdish issue, especially in the European Parliament, and has been one of the main Kurdish negotiators in the so-called "Oslo Process" with high-level Turkish Government's representatives.
The charge against Adem Uzun is not supported by credible evidence. At the time of his arrest, Adem Uzun was in Paris to take part in preparations for a conference on Western Kurdistan (Syria), which was scheduled to take place on 13 October 2012.
We believe that the arrest of Adem Uzum, which has been made on Turkey's request, is an attempt to undermine the search for a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish question.
The prosecution intends to equate two separate organisations, the KNK with the PKK, in order to de-legitimise political efforts towards resolution of the conflict. This same tactic is today being used by Turkey to repress and silence the non-violent dissent of thousands of Kurdish politicians and activists.
The offence of belonging to a terrorist organisation in France and across the EU, is a highly politicised ‘crime by association’. It criminalises the entire Kurdish political movement by imputing activists to be the PKK, in the clear absence of any engagement in violence.
The EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Conference, meeting in Brussels on 5th and 6th December, passed a special resolution calling on the French authorities to immediately release Adem Uzun. ‘’As a leading legitimate politician of the Kurdish political movement Mr. Uzun is well known for his advocacy of a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem for which he was chosen to be one of the negotiators in the Oslo Peace Talks,’’ the EUTCC stated. The resolution urged the ‘’expeditious conclusion to his case by dropping the accusations against him’’.
Adem Uzun is fully committed to a peaceful settlement and we are concerned that peace and reconciliation will be much harder to achieve without the expertise of such a seasoned activist.
We strongly reiterate the demand to French authorities for our friend Adem Uzun’s immediate release and for the dropping of the baseless accusations.
We urge everyone who is committed to a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict to declare themselves friends of Adem Uzun and to add your voice to the calls for his release.
Friends of Adem
Estella Schmid, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign & CAMPACC; David Morgan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Melanie Sirinathsingh, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Philip Khaled Brennan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Paul Burnham, housing worker, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Les Levidow, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC); Saleh Mamon, CAMPACC; Desmond Fernandes, CAMPACC; Anne Gray, retired academic, CAMPACC; Sarah Ludford MEP; Andrew Duff MEP; Jean Lambert MEP; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Conor Murphy MP; Elfyn Llwyd MP; Hywel Williams MP; Mary Glindon MP; Frances Webber, human rights lawyer and writer; Elizabeth Forrester, lawyer; Alastair Lyons, lawyer; Margaret Owen OBE, international human rights lawyer; Prof Bill Bowring, Barrister, Director of the LLM/MA in Human Rights, School of Law Birkbeck, University of London; Hugo Charlton, barrister, 1 Grays Inn; John Hobson, lawyer; Melanie Gingell, barrister; Nick Hildyard, policy analyst; Jonathan Fryer, writer, lecturer and broadcaster; Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation; Prof Mary Davis; Bruce Kent, Vice-President Pax Christi; Dr Dafydd Iwan, B.Arch., LL.D.,Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales; Dr Felix Padel, Social Anthropologist, Author and Political Activist; Lindsey German, Convenor, Stop the War Coalition; Dr Vicki Sentas, School of Law, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Kariane Westrheim, PhD, Associate professor, University of Bergen, Chair of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Dr Michael Gunter, Professor of Political Science, Tennessee Technological University, Secretary General of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Rojin Tasman, Law student, Anglia Ruskin University; Azad Dewani, PhD researcher in Peace Studies, UK; Jonathan Bloch, councillor; Alain Hertzmann, Branch secretary London North West Branch 9708, UNITEtheunion, UK; Stephen Smellie, Deputy Convenor, UNISON Scotland; Fred Leplat, Socialist Resistance; Sarah Parker, translator; Ed McArthur, activist; Jagdeesh Singh of the 1984 Genocide Coalition; David Brunetti, photographer; Glyn Harries, Hackney Trades Union Council, personal capacity; David Ambrose, Performer, Writer, Director of Beyond The Border International Storytelling Festival; Mike Arnott, Secretary, Dundee Trades Union Council; Harem Karen, Kurdistan Tribune; Penny Dimond, Factory of the Eccentric Actor; Orsola Casagrande, journalist; Prof. Khatchatur I. Pilikian (SHS, LH, LSFC); Andy Higginbottom, Secretary of Colombia Solidarity Campaign; Kani Areef, UCL Law Postgraduate; Derwich M. Ferho, director of Kurdish Institute, Brussels; Mehmet Ali Dogan, Social-Anthropologist, France; Yuksel Guney, political activist; Jyan Avesta, Kurdistan LGBT Initiative and Halkevi, Kurdish-Turkish Community Centre; Manaz Baloch UK community; Jennifer Langer Director, Exiled Writers Ink UK; Michael Mansfield QC, President of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Liz Davies, barrister and chair of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Kat Craig, Vice-Chair of Haldane Society; Russell Fraser, Haldane Society; Barry White, European Federation of Journalists (personal capacity); Ms Silvana Barbieri, Italy, human rights defender, Italian association "Puntorosso"; Mr Luigi Vinci, Italy, former MEP, editor of "Progetto Lavoro"; Tony Shito, Italian musician, song-writer, Italy; Martha Jean Baker, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Robert Atkins, solicitor; Paul Heron, solicitor, Hackney Community Law Centre; Aviva Stahl, political activist; Sheila Mosley, human rights activist: Support Kurds in Syria - SKS (personal capacity); Handren Ashraf Naoman, General Director, European - Kurdistan Green Organization; Kadim Lacin, Journalist; Hoshyar K. Karadaghi, Chairman, Kurdish Personalities in the UK; Ali Ghahrmani, Kurdish Academic Network (KAN); Serdar Ulus, Architect, designer; Marouan Nabo, Human rights activist, President of Kurdistan House USA; Sylvia Novaes, Geologist, Free Consultant; Syed Gilani, solicitor; Asif Bhayat, activist; Anthony Bairstow, Fight Racism Fight Irmperialist & Hands off Somalia; Hovarim Isse, youth worker; Greg Tonuczak, banker; Kyronne Parkes, FRFI & Hans off Solamia; Mohamed Hashi, Somali community; Maya de Souza, Green Party Councillor, Camden; Tom Foot, editor Camden New Journal; Secunder Kermari, journalist; Kadim Lacin, journalist, UK; Xusrew Zeki, human rights activist/KNK; Sahar Serdasht, student; Kristiina Koivunen PhD, independent scholar; Rabia Khan, student, Birkbeck College and Stop the War Coalition; Sema Thompson, interpreter; Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition; Huseyin Gok, self-employed; Birsan Demirel, translator; Rojda Yaman, student; Eylem Guler, solicitor, Archgate Solicitors; Ahmet Koz, self-employed; Insin Onder, software engineer; Madhi Hussein, student; Hasan Oymer, self-employed; Sait Akgul, legal consultant; Can Atas, pharmacist; Aladdin Srafa, self-employed, KCC; Dondu Demira, budget officer; Solman Kayim, student; Yusuf Golek, student; Ollie Sutherland, student; Birgl Yilmaz, student; Kurda Areef, student; Azad Masko, student; Anil Doner, student, SJC; Mehmet Meria, student, SJC; Jine Kalay, student; Fiat Kalay, student; Arif Bektas, journalist; Ata Mufty, journalist; Sherko Zemaloush, activist; Rebwan Salam; Ferhan Yildiz, student; Yasar Gonul, activist, KCC; Berivan Bottologlu; Fero Firat, interpreter, SWP; Mustafa Kadir, activist; F Maroofi, activist; A Amini, activist; D Abbas, academic; D Asaid, activist.
Yes, I would like to be a friend of Adem:
Name/profession/organisation
For further information:
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Contacts: Estella Schmid and Melanie Sirinathsingh
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Conor Murphy MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
As you know, over the last few weeks Peace in Kurdistan campaign and CAMPACC have been encouraging people to join our new initiative to Free Adem Uzun from custody in Paris. We have had an great response so far, with nearly 150 people declaring themselves a friend of Adem Uzun.
But we want more!
We will soon send the below appeal and the list of signatories to the Justice Minister of France, Christiane Taubira, but before we do, we call on anyone who has not yet become a friend of Adem to join us. It is very important that the French government sees that Adem has widespread support, and it should understand that criminalising Kurdish politicians in the name of ‘counter-terrorism’ only further disenfranchises and undermines the Kurdish community.
All you need to do to join is reply to this email with your name, profession and organisation as appropriate – please join us today!
Regards,
Melanie
--
Melanie Sirinathsingh
Campaigns Assistant
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
------
Join the Friends of Adem Uzun
Initiative by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) UK
FREE ADEM UZUN
The Kurdish politician Adem Uzun was arrested in France on 6 October 2012. Having been denied bail, Adem remains in detention awaiting a trial which could be months away.
Adem Uzun is a prominent activist working to achieve peace through the resumption of negotiations between Turkey and the Kurds. A leading politician with the Kurdistan National Congress, KNK, Adem is well-known to anyone involved in the Kurdish issue, especially in the European Parliament, and has been one of the main Kurdish negotiators in the so-called "Oslo Process" with high-level Turkish Government's representatives.
The charge against Adem Uzun is not supported by credible evidence. At the time of his arrest, Adem Uzun was in Paris to take part in preparations for a conference on Western Kurdistan (Syria), which was scheduled to take place on 13 October 2012.
We believe that the arrest of Adem Uzum, which has been made on Turkey's request, is an attempt to undermine the search for a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish question.
The prosecution intends to equate two separate organisations, the KNK with the PKK, in order to de-legitimise political efforts towards resolution of the conflict. This same tactic is today being used by Turkey to repress and silence the non-violent dissent of thousands of Kurdish politicians and activists.
The offence of belonging to a terrorist organisation in France and across the EU, is a highly politicised ‘crime by association’. It criminalises the entire Kurdish political movement by imputing activists to be the PKK, in the clear absence of any engagement in violence.
The EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Conference, meeting in Brussels on 5th and 6th December, passed a special resolution calling on the French authorities to immediately release Adem Uzun. ‘’As a leading legitimate politician of the Kurdish political movement Mr. Uzun is well known for his advocacy of a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem for which he was chosen to be one of the negotiators in the Oslo Peace Talks,’’ the EUTCC stated. The resolution urged the ‘’expeditious conclusion to his case by dropping the accusations against him’’.
Adem Uzun is fully committed to a peaceful settlement and we are concerned that peace and reconciliation will be much harder to achieve without the expertise of such a seasoned activist.
We strongly reiterate the demand to French authorities for our friend Adem Uzun’s immediate release and for the dropping of the baseless accusations.
We urge everyone who is committed to a peaceful political resolution of the Kurdish conflict to declare themselves friends of Adem Uzun and to add your voice to the calls for his release.
Friends of Adem
Estella Schmid, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign & CAMPACC; David Morgan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Melanie Sirinathsingh, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Philip Khaled Brennan, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Paul Burnham, housing worker, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign; Les Levidow, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC); Saleh Mamon, CAMPACC; Desmond Fernandes, CAMPACC; Anne Gray, retired academic, CAMPACC; Sarah Ludford MEP; Andrew Duff MEP; Jean Lambert MEP; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Conor Murphy MP; Elfyn Llwyd MP; Hywel Williams MP; Mary Glindon MP; Frances Webber, human rights lawyer and writer; Elizabeth Forrester, lawyer; Alastair Lyons, lawyer; Margaret Owen OBE, international human rights lawyer; Prof Bill Bowring, Barrister, Director of the LLM/MA in Human Rights, School of Law Birkbeck, University of London; Hugo Charlton, barrister, 1 Grays Inn; John Hobson, lawyer; Melanie Gingell, barrister; Nick Hildyard, policy analyst; Jonathan Fryer, writer, lecturer and broadcaster; Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation; Prof Mary Davis; Bruce Kent, Vice-President Pax Christi; Dr Dafydd Iwan, B.Arch., LL.D.,Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales; Dr Felix Padel, Social Anthropologist, Author and Political Activist; Lindsey German, Convenor, Stop the War Coalition; Dr Vicki Sentas, School of Law, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Kariane Westrheim, PhD, Associate professor, University of Bergen, Chair of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Dr Michael Gunter, Professor of Political Science, Tennessee Technological University, Secretary General of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Rojin Tasman, Law student, Anglia Ruskin University; Azad Dewani, PhD researcher in Peace Studies, UK; Jonathan Bloch, councillor; Alain Hertzmann, Branch secretary London North West Branch 9708, UNITEtheunion, UK; Stephen Smellie, Deputy Convenor, UNISON Scotland; Fred Leplat, Socialist Resistance; Sarah Parker, translator; Ed McArthur, activist; Jagdeesh Singh of the 1984 Genocide Coalition; David Brunetti, photographer; Glyn Harries, Hackney Trades Union Council, personal capacity; David Ambrose, Performer, Writer, Director of Beyond The Border International Storytelling Festival; Mike Arnott, Secretary, Dundee Trades Union Council; Harem Karen, Kurdistan Tribune; Penny Dimond, Factory of the Eccentric Actor; Orsola Casagrande, journalist; Prof. Khatchatur I. Pilikian (SHS, LH, LSFC); Andy Higginbottom, Secretary of Colombia Solidarity Campaign; Kani Areef, UCL Law Postgraduate; Derwich M. Ferho, director of Kurdish Institute, Brussels; Mehmet Ali Dogan, Social-Anthropologist, France; Yuksel Guney, political activist; Jyan Avesta, Kurdistan LGBT Initiative and Halkevi, Kurdish-Turkish Community Centre; Manaz Baloch UK community; Jennifer Langer Director, Exiled Writers Ink UK; Michael Mansfield QC, President of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Liz Davies, barrister and chair of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers; Kat Craig, Vice-Chair of Haldane Society; Russell Fraser, Haldane Society; Barry White, European Federation of Journalists (personal capacity); Ms Silvana Barbieri, Italy, human rights defender, Italian association "Puntorosso"; Mr Luigi Vinci, Italy, former MEP, editor of "Progetto Lavoro"; Tony Shito, Italian musician, song-writer, Italy; Martha Jean Baker, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Robert Atkins, solicitor; Paul Heron, solicitor, Hackney Community Law Centre; Aviva Stahl, political activist; Sheila Mosley, human rights activist: Support Kurds in Syria - SKS (personal capacity); Handren Ashraf Naoman, General Director, European - Kurdistan Green Organization; Kadim Lacin, Journalist; Hoshyar K. Karadaghi, Chairman, Kurdish Personalities in the UK; Ali Ghahrmani, Kurdish Academic Network (KAN); Serdar Ulus, Architect, designer; Marouan Nabo, Human rights activist, President of Kurdistan House USA; Sylvia Novaes, Geologist, Free Consultant; Syed Gilani, solicitor; Asif Bhayat, activist; Anthony Bairstow, Fight Racism Fight Irmperialist & Hands off Somalia; Hovarim Isse, youth worker; Greg Tonuczak, banker; Kyronne Parkes, FRFI & Hans off Solamia; Mohamed Hashi, Somali community; Maya de Souza, Green Party Councillor, Camden; Tom Foot, editor Camden New Journal; Secunder Kermari, journalist; Kadim Lacin, journalist, UK; Xusrew Zeki, human rights activist/KNK; Sahar Serdasht, student; Kristiina Koivunen PhD, independent scholar; Rabia Khan, student, Birkbeck College and Stop the War Coalition; Sema Thompson, interpreter; Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition; Huseyin Gok, self-employed; Birsan Demirel, translator; Rojda Yaman, student; Eylem Guler, solicitor, Archgate Solicitors; Ahmet Koz, self-employed; Insin Onder, software engineer; Madhi Hussein, student; Hasan Oymer, self-employed; Sait Akgul, legal consultant; Can Atas, pharmacist; Aladdin Srafa, self-employed, KCC; Dondu Demira, budget officer; Solman Kayim, student; Yusuf Golek, student; Ollie Sutherland, student; Birgl Yilmaz, student; Kurda Areef, student; Azad Masko, student; Anil Doner, student, SJC; Mehmet Meria, student, SJC; Jine Kalay, student; Fiat Kalay, student; Arif Bektas, journalist; Ata Mufty, journalist; Sherko Zemaloush, activist; Rebwan Salam; Ferhan Yildiz, student; Yasar Gonul, activist, KCC; Berivan Bottologlu; Fero Firat, interpreter, SWP; Mustafa Kadir, activist; F Maroofi, activist; A Amini, activist; D Abbas, academic; D Asaid, activist.
Yes, I would like to be a friend of Adem:
Name/profession/organisation
For further information:
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Contacts: Estella Schmid and Melanie Sirinathsingh
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.wordpress.com
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Conor Murphy MP, John Austin, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, John Berger, Edward Albee, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Mark Thomas
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Kurdish News Weekly Briefing, 18 - 24 January 2013
1. Crowds at PKK funeral as bosses join peace chorus
18 January 2013 / Hurriyet
Tens of thousands of people participated in a grand funeral ceremony held yesterday in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır for three Kurish women killed in Paris last week. Despite worries of possible provocations and sabotage that would turn the ceremony into a violent protest, such fears did not materialize during the peaceful gathering, during which the women’s coffins were covered with the flags of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/crowds-at-pkk-funeral-as-bosses-join-peace-chorus.aspx?pageID=238&nID=39333&NewsCatID=338
2. Hundred thousand people for Leyla
18 January 2013 / ANF
Never before had so many people gathered in Mersin. Thousands cried for Leyla Şaylemez today, who was executed in Paris on 9 January along with Sakine Cansız (Sara) and KNK France representative Fidan Doğan (Rojbin). Young and old women made the majority of the thousands who joined the funeral in a Kurdish neighborhood. Her coffin was carried by women who, like all other people joining the funeral, were dressed in black and wearing a white scarf representing peace. Pigeons were let fly both outside the mosque and at the cemetery with wishes for peace on these lands.
http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=5598
3. PHOTOS: Bianet photos by Nilay Vardar on mass demonstration in Diyarbakir
17 January 2013 / Bianet
http://www.bianet.org/galeri/diyarbakir-uc-kurt-kadini-ugurladi
4. Suspect remanded in custody - UPDATE
21 January 2013 / ANF
Paris Prosecutor François Molins disclosed some details about the ongoing investigation on the execution of three Kurdish women in Paris at a press conference he held at the Courthouse on Monday. The prosecutor stated that the suspect, Ömer Güney, has been arrested today in connection with the killings. He noted that it is yet not clear if the murders were committed by one or more perpetrators. Molins remarked that the suspect has had connections with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) circles for the last two years, noting that his real role in the organization has not been determined yet.
http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=561824. Erdogan needs to move fast to heal Turkey's divides
5. Erdogan needs to move fast to heal Turkey's divides
21 January 2013 / Guardian
Even for Turkey, where day-to-day politics is conducted at a pitch of tension and paranoia that makes prime minister's questions look like quiet hour at a Trappist monastery, the last few days have been cathartic. Half the country has spent the weekend red-eyed in front of the TV, in anger as much as sorrow.
The atmosphere had been jittery enough without the sudden death of the great TV anchor and columnist Mehmet Ali Birand – a beacon of decency and reason, whose reassuring presence many Turks turned to in times of crisis.
For a significant minority, the tears had begun at a monster demonstration in Diyarbakir on Thursday, when tens of thousands came out onto the streets to meet the coffins of the three Kurdish women activists murdered in Paris.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/21/erdogan-move-fast-heal-turkey-divides
6. Karayilan: Suspect not known to PKK
23 January 2013 / ANF
Speaking to ANF about the arrest of a suspect, claimed to be a member of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), in connection with the killing of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez in Paris on 9 January, Murat Karayılan, executive council president of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), denied allegations and underlined that the suspect, Ömer Güney, had no ties with the organization. “The allegations on the suspect's ties with the PKK do not reflect the truth because it is not that easy to be a member of the PKK in two years. PKK doesn't accept members from Europe in this way. The mentioned person is not a member of our movement and he is not known by our side or by our executives in Europe.”
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/karayilan-suspect-not-known-to-pkk.htm
7. Turkish ambassador to Colombo welcomes ‘Sri Lanka model’ to deal with ‘terrorism’
24 January 2013 / Tamil Net
Despite the currently ongoing peace process between the PKK and the Turkey government, the Turkish ambassador to Sri Lanka, Iskender Okyay has welcomed the Sri Lanka model of counterinsurgency (COIN) to deal with ‘terrorism’, stating that “Sri Lanka's experience in fighting against terrorism could be a good example for Turkey” and adding that “the relationship between the countries could be deepened over the terrorism issue,” the Turkish nationalist news agency Today’s Zaman reported on Wednesday. Commenting on this, Kurdish activists in Europe told TamilNet that the Turkish diplomat’s endorsement of Sri Lanka’s genocidal model of COIN at a time when the Kurdish political movement was having faith in a peaceful settlement shows the insincerity of Turkey towards the peace process, besides being an tacit approval of the genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation.
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35980
8. Turkey-PKK Peace Talks Hit New Snag
23 January 2013 / Voice of America
Four leading members of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish political movement on Wednesday were denied a visit with Abdullah Ocala, imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) movement. According to local news reports, the visit, part of government-led efforts to peacefully resolve the three-decades-long Kurdish insurgency, was cancelled by justice ministry officials after Kurdish leaders criticized recent Turkish air strikes against PKK bases in neighboring Iraq. The Turkish military confirmed that its warplanes attacked numerous PKK targets across northern Iraq, following the purportedly PKK-backed killing of a Turkish police officer.
http://www.voanews.com/content/turkey-pkk-peace-talks-hit-snag-over-ocalan-vist/1589651.html
9. Anti-Terror Police Detains Lawyers, Musicians
18 January 2013 / Bianet
Reinforced by anti-terror and special operations teams, police forces in Ankara, İzmir and Istanbul provinces raided dozens of apartment and workplaces this very early morning including the offices of Contemporary Lawyers Association and People's Law Office which provide juridical support for victims in Turkey's major contemporary human rights abuse cases. "The detention orders were given according to the ongoing investigation on DHKP-C terrorist organization," the police reported. Once the procedures are completed, the detainees were told to be transferred to anti-terror police headquarters in Istanbul.
http://www.bianet.org/english/human-rights/143687-anti-terror-police-detains-lawyers-musicians
10. 9 Human Rights Lawyers Arrested in Istanbul
21 January 2013 / Bianet
An Istanbul court order this afternoon the arrest of 9 human rights lawyers who have been detained since Friday for charges related to being a DHKP-C member.
The detained lawyers appeared in Istanbul courthouse this morning for their interrogation. After their interrogation by the judge, 9 detainees were arrested while Efkan Bolaç has been released. On Friday morning, police forces in İstanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Bursa provinces launched a simultaneous raids on apartments and offices, detaining 64 individuals including musicians and human rights lawyers.
http://www.bianet.org/english/human-rights/143740-9-human-rights-lawyers-arrested-in-istanbul
11. Arrest of Turkish lawyers sparks global outrage
21 January 2013 / Global Legal Post
Campaigners have called on the Turkish government to comply with international principles following the arrest of a further 15 lawyers in the country last week. The human rights committee of England’s Bar Council said it was ‘extremely concerned’ following the arrest of the lawyers, which adds to the November 2011 detention of 46 lawyers, who are now being prosecuted on charges alleging association with a terrorist organisation.
http://www.globallegalpost.com/big-stories/arrest-of-turkish-lawyers-sparks-global-outrage-97164034/#.UP2CzehnJCY
12. 'KCK' main lawsuit lasting with 'giving of evidence'
21 January 2013 / Dicle News Agency
The hearing of 'KCK' main lawsuit of 175 Kurdish politicians inluding BDP's arrested parliamentarians, human rights activists, journalists and mayors, of them 108 arrested, began in Diyarbakir the 6th High Penalty Courthouse.The hearing of the 'KCK' main lawsuit of 175 Kurdish politicians, of them 108 arrested among them DEP old Parlementarian Hatip Dicle, BDP Parlementarians Kemal Aktas and Selma Irmak, human rights activists, journalists, electeds, mayors, who have been sued by the court under 'KCK' operations, began in Diyarbakir the 6th High Penalty Courthouse. As usual, prior to the hearing, extraordinary measures were taken. http://www.diclehaber.com/2/22/1/viewNews/337735
13. KCK Trial opened in Van
22 January 2013 / ANF
The KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) trial in Van opened today. Among the politicians under trial are the city mayor, lawyer Bekir Kaya, Bostaniçi District Mayor Nezahat Ergunes, Baskale former District Mayor Ýhsan Guler, Baþkale District Mayor Hecer Sarihan, Edremit District Mayor Abdulkerim Sayan, Özalp Mayor Murat Durmaz, former BDP chairman of Van Cüneyt Canis.
In the local elections held on March 29, 2009, the BDP won the Van Municipality by a large margin in spite of all the efforts of the ruling party AKP and its media. After the election, BDP Van Municipality headed by Mr. Bekir Kaya documented that 190 Million TL (Turkish Lira) of debt was incurred by fake invoices during AKP governance. Due to fraud, the Municipality of Van took more than 100 files to court to punish those responsible.
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/kck-trial-opened-in-van.htm
14. Jailed Journalist Nominated for Freedom of Expression Award
17 January 2013 / Bianet
Index on Censorship, a UK based institution that celebrated the freedom of expression with an annual award, nominated Sadiye Eser, Evrensel newspaper journalist jailed for terrorism charges, for its 2013 Freedom of Expression Award.
The award aimed to honor individuals or groups who struggled against censorship in the fields of journalism, publishing and fine arts in their home countries. Notable recipients of the award included Arat Dink, son of assassinated Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
http://www.bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/143622-jailed-journalist-nominated-for-freedom-of-expression-award
15. Hrant Dink Commemorated
21 January 2013 / Bianet
Thousands of human rights activists, students, journalists, intellectuals and workers union representatives gathered in front of Agos newspaper building Saturday afternoon to commemorate the sixth death anniversary of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
This year's commemoration activities followed the motto "Buradayız ahparig" which suggested that his friends are still with Hrant Dink who was assassinated on January 19, 2007. The commemoration was held under a heavy rain, which did not seem to prevent any of Hrant Dink's friends from standingin front of Agos newspaper and forming a huge crowd in the surrounding areas which blocked the busy Istanbul traffic.
http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/143728-hrant-dink-commemorated
16. Kurdish Rights Back in Focus in Turkey
15 January 2013 / Inter Press Service
After over a year without accountability for a Turkish aerial bombing that killed 34 Kurdish men and boys, Turkey has come under heavy criticism for what many say is a widespread culture of impunity, especially when it comes to the treatment of its Kurdish citizens.
“It has been one year and there are no important steps we can see. Nobody has been arrested,” said lawyer Tahir Elci, head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, which represents over 800 lawyers working in Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city.
“Usually, the prosecutors and other authorities protect the perpetrators and there are many barriers before the victims when they try to get justice,” Elci told IPS. “Even if perpetrators have not been punished, it is very important for relatives of victims to learn the truth.”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/01/kurdish-rights-back-in-focus-in-turkey/
17. BDP and DTK Woman's Councils in solidarity with Rojava people
24 January 2013 / ANF
In a written statement released on Thursday, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Woman's Councils have announced mass demonstrations in protest against the embargo imposed on the people of Rojava, West Kurdistan. The mass demonstration by DTK Woman's Council will take place in the Nusaybin district of Mardin on 26 January and the one by BDP Woman's Council at the same place on 3 February. The demonstrations will also be joined by woman deputies and co-chairs of both organizations.
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/bdp-and-dtk-woman-s-councils-in-solidarity-with-rojava-people.htm
18. Kurdish Supreme Council condemns attacks on Serekaniye
21 January 2013 / ANF
The Kurdish Supreme Council in a statement about Serekaniye (Ras-Alain) events said that "After getting the quietness back to Serekaniye city due to the agreement between People Protection Units (YPG) and the armed groups who attacked the city two months ago, they agreed to form a local council representing all city inhabitants to manage its affairs, as a result of that agreement, a lot of Serekaniye people came back to their homes. But obviously, and to create problems again, after having some problems among the armed groups themselves, they have started to attack the Kurdish districts in the city again, which led People's Protection Units (YPG) to defend their regions [...]"
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/kurdish-supreme-council-condemns-attacks-on-serekaniye.htm
19. Assault within the Turkish Embassy in London
20 January 2013 / ANF
Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides released a written statement to denounce an attack on a member of the organization who suffered an assault inside the Turkish Embassy in London by a member of staff on 18 January. The organization said that their member was assaulted whilst he was delivering the Ambassador of Turkey, the Turkish Embassy, Knightsbridge, a letter in solidarity with justice demands for the murdered Armenian journalist Hrant Dink on the sixth anniversary of his death on 18 January. http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=5607 <http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=5607>
COMMENT, OPINION AND ANALYSIS
20. Another chance for peace
21 January 2012 / Hurriyet
The tacit agreement between the government and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) to show serenity at the funerals of three female Kurdish politicians who were killed in Paris a week ago, proved very successful. Most political observers agree that it could set a good example and provided a chance for the future peace process. Nevertheless, we should interpret the lessons that this event taught us very carefully. First of all, it is seen that if the security forces restrain from violent reactions (by the decision of the government, of course) at public demonstrations, there end up being peaceful expressions of political protest. Then, the successful organization of the BDP showed that the BDP is a capable actor not only in mobilizing but also in controlling the masses. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/another-chance-for-peace.aspx?pageID=238&nID=39478&NewsCatID=406
21. Can Ocalan Rein In the PKK?
17 January 2013 / Al Monitor
Despite the assassinations of three PKK representatives in Paris, Ankara is pressing ahead with its dialogue with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in an attempt to end its Kurdish problem once and for all. The assumption is that by dealing openly with Ocalan, who controls a relatively monolithic PKK, the group’s militants will disarm willingly. A more inclusive negotiating process that engages Kurdish political representatives and Turkish civilian leaders also is expected to encourage a settlement and sideline PKK hardliners.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/01/ocalan-tuks-pkk.html
22. Ocalan a No-Show at Funeral For PKK Activists
18 January 2013 / Al Monitor
A massive funeral ceremony was held on Thursday in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, which has the largest Kurdish majority in the country for three PKK activists gunned down at the Kurdistan Information Center in Paris. They were buried in their hometowns the next day. Tens of thousands of people participated in the Diyarbakir event. Independent observers estimated the crowd at least 50,000. Before the gathering there were strong fears of possible provocations that could set off bloody confrontations between the security forces and demonstrators. Anxiety was more pronounced than ever before because the funeral observance coincided with talks at Imrali Prison between the Ankara government and the PKK’s founding leader, who is serving a life sentence aimed at getting the PKK to give up arms.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/01/diyarbakir-murder-paris-pkk.html
23. The Slippery Slope Argument in Turkey
24 January 2013 / Rudaw
Whenever anyone discusses Kurdish minority rights in Turkey, the slippery slope argument invariably gets brought up. “If we allow Kurdish in schools or other venues, all the minority groups in the country will demand this right,” we hear. When discussing the option of allowing the Kurds more local, self-government, the slippery slope retort rears its annoying head again: “Every group in Turkey, from the Laz and Circassians to the Arabs and the Alevis, will demand self-government if we allow the Kurds to have it. And if we give the Kurds self-government, they will use it to demand secession.”
http://www.rudaw.net/english/science/columnists/5685.html
EVENTS
Friday 25 January, 12-2pm
Protector or Occupier? Turkey's Ambivalent Role in Cyprus
Seminar given by Rebecca Bryant, LSE, as part of the Seminars on Turkey series at the London Middle East Institute, http://www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/events/turkey/.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings, Room 116
Contact email: bp@soas.ac.uk
Contact Tel: 020 7898 4431
Saturday 9 February, 10-5pm
Stop the War International Conference
Confronting war ten years on from the invasion of Iraq. Speakers at this all-day event include: Tariq Ali; Tony Benn; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Brian Eno; Owen Jones; Salma Yaqoob; Mitra Qayoom; and many more.
Venue: Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. For more information on sessions, speakers and how to book, go to www.tenyearson.org.uk <http://www.tenyearson.org.uk> or phone 020 7561 9311. Ticket price £15/£8 Concs.
Wednesday 20 February, 17.30-8pm
The Kurdish population in Turkey. Time for Justice and a roadmap towards reconciliation.
A seminar of the Law Society, arranged in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, will bring together international and Turkish lawyers. Speakers include Emma Sinclair Webb, author of the Human Rights Watch report, Professor Francoise Hampson of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex (who together with her colleague Professor Kevin Boyle received the Liberty “Human Rights Lawyer of the Year” award for her work on the Kurdish cases), and Tahir Elci, President of the Diyarbakir Bar, who was himself involved in many of the ECHR cases, including Ozkan v Turkey, the largest of the village destruction cases to come before the ECHR. 20th February 2013 is in fact the 20th anniversary of the attack on the village of Ormanici which formed the basis of this case.
Venue: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
Link to the web page on which delegates can register to attend:
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=152&orgId=1&&guid=39c1d80e-d801-4cdf-9637-662e206c42ba <https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=152&orgId=1&&guid=39c1d80e-d801-4cdf-9637-662e206c42ba>
18 January 2013 / Hurriyet
Tens of thousands of people participated in a grand funeral ceremony held yesterday in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır for three Kurish women killed in Paris last week. Despite worries of possible provocations and sabotage that would turn the ceremony into a violent protest, such fears did not materialize during the peaceful gathering, during which the women’s coffins were covered with the flags of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/crowds-at-pkk-funeral-as-bosses-join-peace-chorus.aspx?pageID=238&nID=39333&NewsCatID=338
2. Hundred thousand people for Leyla
18 January 2013 / ANF
Never before had so many people gathered in Mersin. Thousands cried for Leyla Şaylemez today, who was executed in Paris on 9 January along with Sakine Cansız (Sara) and KNK France representative Fidan Doğan (Rojbin). Young and old women made the majority of the thousands who joined the funeral in a Kurdish neighborhood. Her coffin was carried by women who, like all other people joining the funeral, were dressed in black and wearing a white scarf representing peace. Pigeons were let fly both outside the mosque and at the cemetery with wishes for peace on these lands.
http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=5598
3. PHOTOS: Bianet photos by Nilay Vardar on mass demonstration in Diyarbakir
17 January 2013 / Bianet
http://www.bianet.org/galeri/diyarbakir-uc-kurt-kadini-ugurladi
4. Suspect remanded in custody - UPDATE
21 January 2013 / ANF
Paris Prosecutor François Molins disclosed some details about the ongoing investigation on the execution of three Kurdish women in Paris at a press conference he held at the Courthouse on Monday. The prosecutor stated that the suspect, Ömer Güney, has been arrested today in connection with the killings. He noted that it is yet not clear if the murders were committed by one or more perpetrators. Molins remarked that the suspect has had connections with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) circles for the last two years, noting that his real role in the organization has not been determined yet.
http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=561824. Erdogan needs to move fast to heal Turkey's divides
5. Erdogan needs to move fast to heal Turkey's divides
21 January 2013 / Guardian
Even for Turkey, where day-to-day politics is conducted at a pitch of tension and paranoia that makes prime minister's questions look like quiet hour at a Trappist monastery, the last few days have been cathartic. Half the country has spent the weekend red-eyed in front of the TV, in anger as much as sorrow.
The atmosphere had been jittery enough without the sudden death of the great TV anchor and columnist Mehmet Ali Birand – a beacon of decency and reason, whose reassuring presence many Turks turned to in times of crisis.
For a significant minority, the tears had begun at a monster demonstration in Diyarbakir on Thursday, when tens of thousands came out onto the streets to meet the coffins of the three Kurdish women activists murdered in Paris.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/21/erdogan-move-fast-heal-turkey-divides
6. Karayilan: Suspect not known to PKK
23 January 2013 / ANF
Speaking to ANF about the arrest of a suspect, claimed to be a member of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), in connection with the killing of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez in Paris on 9 January, Murat Karayılan, executive council president of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), denied allegations and underlined that the suspect, Ömer Güney, had no ties with the organization. “The allegations on the suspect's ties with the PKK do not reflect the truth because it is not that easy to be a member of the PKK in two years. PKK doesn't accept members from Europe in this way. The mentioned person is not a member of our movement and he is not known by our side or by our executives in Europe.”
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/karayilan-suspect-not-known-to-pkk.htm
7. Turkish ambassador to Colombo welcomes ‘Sri Lanka model’ to deal with ‘terrorism’
24 January 2013 / Tamil Net
Despite the currently ongoing peace process between the PKK and the Turkey government, the Turkish ambassador to Sri Lanka, Iskender Okyay has welcomed the Sri Lanka model of counterinsurgency (COIN) to deal with ‘terrorism’, stating that “Sri Lanka's experience in fighting against terrorism could be a good example for Turkey” and adding that “the relationship between the countries could be deepened over the terrorism issue,” the Turkish nationalist news agency Today’s Zaman reported on Wednesday. Commenting on this, Kurdish activists in Europe told TamilNet that the Turkish diplomat’s endorsement of Sri Lanka’s genocidal model of COIN at a time when the Kurdish political movement was having faith in a peaceful settlement shows the insincerity of Turkey towards the peace process, besides being an tacit approval of the genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation.
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35980
8. Turkey-PKK Peace Talks Hit New Snag
23 January 2013 / Voice of America
Four leading members of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish political movement on Wednesday were denied a visit with Abdullah Ocala, imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) movement. According to local news reports, the visit, part of government-led efforts to peacefully resolve the three-decades-long Kurdish insurgency, was cancelled by justice ministry officials after Kurdish leaders criticized recent Turkish air strikes against PKK bases in neighboring Iraq. The Turkish military confirmed that its warplanes attacked numerous PKK targets across northern Iraq, following the purportedly PKK-backed killing of a Turkish police officer.
http://www.voanews.com/content/turkey-pkk-peace-talks-hit-snag-over-ocalan-vist/1589651.html
9. Anti-Terror Police Detains Lawyers, Musicians
18 January 2013 / Bianet
Reinforced by anti-terror and special operations teams, police forces in Ankara, İzmir and Istanbul provinces raided dozens of apartment and workplaces this very early morning including the offices of Contemporary Lawyers Association and People's Law Office which provide juridical support for victims in Turkey's major contemporary human rights abuse cases. "The detention orders were given according to the ongoing investigation on DHKP-C terrorist organization," the police reported. Once the procedures are completed, the detainees were told to be transferred to anti-terror police headquarters in Istanbul.
http://www.bianet.org/english/human-rights/143687-anti-terror-police-detains-lawyers-musicians
10. 9 Human Rights Lawyers Arrested in Istanbul
21 January 2013 / Bianet
An Istanbul court order this afternoon the arrest of 9 human rights lawyers who have been detained since Friday for charges related to being a DHKP-C member.
The detained lawyers appeared in Istanbul courthouse this morning for their interrogation. After their interrogation by the judge, 9 detainees were arrested while Efkan Bolaç has been released. On Friday morning, police forces in İstanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Bursa provinces launched a simultaneous raids on apartments and offices, detaining 64 individuals including musicians and human rights lawyers.
http://www.bianet.org/english/human-rights/143740-9-human-rights-lawyers-arrested-in-istanbul
11. Arrest of Turkish lawyers sparks global outrage
21 January 2013 / Global Legal Post
Campaigners have called on the Turkish government to comply with international principles following the arrest of a further 15 lawyers in the country last week. The human rights committee of England’s Bar Council said it was ‘extremely concerned’ following the arrest of the lawyers, which adds to the November 2011 detention of 46 lawyers, who are now being prosecuted on charges alleging association with a terrorist organisation.
http://www.globallegalpost.com/big-stories/arrest-of-turkish-lawyers-sparks-global-outrage-97164034/#.UP2CzehnJCY
12. 'KCK' main lawsuit lasting with 'giving of evidence'
21 January 2013 / Dicle News Agency
The hearing of 'KCK' main lawsuit of 175 Kurdish politicians inluding BDP's arrested parliamentarians, human rights activists, journalists and mayors, of them 108 arrested, began in Diyarbakir the 6th High Penalty Courthouse.The hearing of the 'KCK' main lawsuit of 175 Kurdish politicians, of them 108 arrested among them DEP old Parlementarian Hatip Dicle, BDP Parlementarians Kemal Aktas and Selma Irmak, human rights activists, journalists, electeds, mayors, who have been sued by the court under 'KCK' operations, began in Diyarbakir the 6th High Penalty Courthouse. As usual, prior to the hearing, extraordinary measures were taken. http://www.diclehaber.com/2/22/1/viewNews/337735
13. KCK Trial opened in Van
22 January 2013 / ANF
The KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) trial in Van opened today. Among the politicians under trial are the city mayor, lawyer Bekir Kaya, Bostaniçi District Mayor Nezahat Ergunes, Baskale former District Mayor Ýhsan Guler, Baþkale District Mayor Hecer Sarihan, Edremit District Mayor Abdulkerim Sayan, Özalp Mayor Murat Durmaz, former BDP chairman of Van Cüneyt Canis.
In the local elections held on March 29, 2009, the BDP won the Van Municipality by a large margin in spite of all the efforts of the ruling party AKP and its media. After the election, BDP Van Municipality headed by Mr. Bekir Kaya documented that 190 Million TL (Turkish Lira) of debt was incurred by fake invoices during AKP governance. Due to fraud, the Municipality of Van took more than 100 files to court to punish those responsible.
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/kck-trial-opened-in-van.htm
14. Jailed Journalist Nominated for Freedom of Expression Award
17 January 2013 / Bianet
Index on Censorship, a UK based institution that celebrated the freedom of expression with an annual award, nominated Sadiye Eser, Evrensel newspaper journalist jailed for terrorism charges, for its 2013 Freedom of Expression Award.
The award aimed to honor individuals or groups who struggled against censorship in the fields of journalism, publishing and fine arts in their home countries. Notable recipients of the award included Arat Dink, son of assassinated Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
http://www.bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/143622-jailed-journalist-nominated-for-freedom-of-expression-award
15. Hrant Dink Commemorated
21 January 2013 / Bianet
Thousands of human rights activists, students, journalists, intellectuals and workers union representatives gathered in front of Agos newspaper building Saturday afternoon to commemorate the sixth death anniversary of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
This year's commemoration activities followed the motto "Buradayız ahparig" which suggested that his friends are still with Hrant Dink who was assassinated on January 19, 2007. The commemoration was held under a heavy rain, which did not seem to prevent any of Hrant Dink's friends from standingin front of Agos newspaper and forming a huge crowd in the surrounding areas which blocked the busy Istanbul traffic.
http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/143728-hrant-dink-commemorated
16. Kurdish Rights Back in Focus in Turkey
15 January 2013 / Inter Press Service
After over a year without accountability for a Turkish aerial bombing that killed 34 Kurdish men and boys, Turkey has come under heavy criticism for what many say is a widespread culture of impunity, especially when it comes to the treatment of its Kurdish citizens.
“It has been one year and there are no important steps we can see. Nobody has been arrested,” said lawyer Tahir Elci, head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, which represents over 800 lawyers working in Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city.
“Usually, the prosecutors and other authorities protect the perpetrators and there are many barriers before the victims when they try to get justice,” Elci told IPS. “Even if perpetrators have not been punished, it is very important for relatives of victims to learn the truth.”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/01/kurdish-rights-back-in-focus-in-turkey/
17. BDP and DTK Woman's Councils in solidarity with Rojava people
24 January 2013 / ANF
In a written statement released on Thursday, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Woman's Councils have announced mass demonstrations in protest against the embargo imposed on the people of Rojava, West Kurdistan. The mass demonstration by DTK Woman's Council will take place in the Nusaybin district of Mardin on 26 January and the one by BDP Woman's Council at the same place on 3 February. The demonstrations will also be joined by woman deputies and co-chairs of both organizations.
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/bdp-and-dtk-woman-s-councils-in-solidarity-with-rojava-people.htm
18. Kurdish Supreme Council condemns attacks on Serekaniye
21 January 2013 / ANF
The Kurdish Supreme Council in a statement about Serekaniye (Ras-Alain) events said that "After getting the quietness back to Serekaniye city due to the agreement between People Protection Units (YPG) and the armed groups who attacked the city two months ago, they agreed to form a local council representing all city inhabitants to manage its affairs, as a result of that agreement, a lot of Serekaniye people came back to their homes. But obviously, and to create problems again, after having some problems among the armed groups themselves, they have started to attack the Kurdish districts in the city again, which led People's Protection Units (YPG) to defend their regions [...]"
http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/kurdish-supreme-council-condemns-attacks-on-serekaniye.htm
19. Assault within the Turkish Embassy in London
20 January 2013 / ANF
Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides released a written statement to denounce an attack on a member of the organization who suffered an assault inside the Turkish Embassy in London by a member of staff on 18 January. The organization said that their member was assaulted whilst he was delivering the Ambassador of Turkey, the Turkish Embassy, Knightsbridge, a letter in solidarity with justice demands for the murdered Armenian journalist Hrant Dink on the sixth anniversary of his death on 18 January. http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=5607 <http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=5607>
COMMENT, OPINION AND ANALYSIS
20. Another chance for peace
21 January 2012 / Hurriyet
The tacit agreement between the government and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) to show serenity at the funerals of three female Kurdish politicians who were killed in Paris a week ago, proved very successful. Most political observers agree that it could set a good example and provided a chance for the future peace process. Nevertheless, we should interpret the lessons that this event taught us very carefully. First of all, it is seen that if the security forces restrain from violent reactions (by the decision of the government, of course) at public demonstrations, there end up being peaceful expressions of political protest. Then, the successful organization of the BDP showed that the BDP is a capable actor not only in mobilizing but also in controlling the masses. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/another-chance-for-peace.aspx?pageID=238&nID=39478&NewsCatID=406
21. Can Ocalan Rein In the PKK?
17 January 2013 / Al Monitor
Despite the assassinations of three PKK representatives in Paris, Ankara is pressing ahead with its dialogue with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in an attempt to end its Kurdish problem once and for all. The assumption is that by dealing openly with Ocalan, who controls a relatively monolithic PKK, the group’s militants will disarm willingly. A more inclusive negotiating process that engages Kurdish political representatives and Turkish civilian leaders also is expected to encourage a settlement and sideline PKK hardliners.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/01/ocalan-tuks-pkk.html
22. Ocalan a No-Show at Funeral For PKK Activists
18 January 2013 / Al Monitor
A massive funeral ceremony was held on Thursday in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, which has the largest Kurdish majority in the country for three PKK activists gunned down at the Kurdistan Information Center in Paris. They were buried in their hometowns the next day. Tens of thousands of people participated in the Diyarbakir event. Independent observers estimated the crowd at least 50,000. Before the gathering there were strong fears of possible provocations that could set off bloody confrontations between the security forces and demonstrators. Anxiety was more pronounced than ever before because the funeral observance coincided with talks at Imrali Prison between the Ankara government and the PKK’s founding leader, who is serving a life sentence aimed at getting the PKK to give up arms.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/01/diyarbakir-murder-paris-pkk.html
23. The Slippery Slope Argument in Turkey
24 January 2013 / Rudaw
Whenever anyone discusses Kurdish minority rights in Turkey, the slippery slope argument invariably gets brought up. “If we allow Kurdish in schools or other venues, all the minority groups in the country will demand this right,” we hear. When discussing the option of allowing the Kurds more local, self-government, the slippery slope retort rears its annoying head again: “Every group in Turkey, from the Laz and Circassians to the Arabs and the Alevis, will demand self-government if we allow the Kurds to have it. And if we give the Kurds self-government, they will use it to demand secession.”
http://www.rudaw.net/english/science/columnists/5685.html
EVENTS
Friday 25 January, 12-2pm
Protector or Occupier? Turkey's Ambivalent Role in Cyprus
Seminar given by Rebecca Bryant, LSE, as part of the Seminars on Turkey series at the London Middle East Institute, http://www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/events/turkey/.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings, Room 116
Contact email: bp@soas.ac.uk
Contact Tel: 020 7898 4431
Saturday 9 February, 10-5pm
Stop the War International Conference
Confronting war ten years on from the invasion of Iraq. Speakers at this all-day event include: Tariq Ali; Tony Benn; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Brian Eno; Owen Jones; Salma Yaqoob; Mitra Qayoom; and many more.
Venue: Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. For more information on sessions, speakers and how to book, go to www.tenyearson.org.uk <http://www.tenyearson.org.uk> or phone 020 7561 9311. Ticket price £15/£8 Concs.
Wednesday 20 February, 17.30-8pm
The Kurdish population in Turkey. Time for Justice and a roadmap towards reconciliation.
A seminar of the Law Society, arranged in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, will bring together international and Turkish lawyers. Speakers include Emma Sinclair Webb, author of the Human Rights Watch report, Professor Francoise Hampson of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex (who together with her colleague Professor Kevin Boyle received the Liberty “Human Rights Lawyer of the Year” award for her work on the Kurdish cases), and Tahir Elci, President of the Diyarbakir Bar, who was himself involved in many of the ECHR cases, including Ozkan v Turkey, the largest of the village destruction cases to come before the ECHR. 20th February 2013 is in fact the 20th anniversary of the attack on the village of Ormanici which formed the basis of this case.
Venue: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
Link to the web page on which delegates can register to attend:
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=152&orgId=1&&guid=39c1d80e-d801-4cdf-9637-662e206c42ba <https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=152&orgId=1&&guid=39c1d80e-d801-4cdf-9637-662e206c42ba>
Killings must not present challenge to peace process - Pat Sheehan, Sinn Fein
Preasoifig Shinn Féin
Tionól na Sé Chontae
Foirgnimh na Parlaiminte
Cnoc an Anfa
Béal Feirste
BT4 3XX
Oifig: 02890521473
www.sinnfein.ie <http://www.sinnfein.ie/>
For immediate release: Wednesday 23rd January 2013
Killings must not present challenge to peace process - Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA and Middle East spokesperson Pat Sheehan has stated that the killing of three Kurdish women who were involved in the independence movement must be thoroughly investigated.
Speaking today Mr Sheean said: “The tragic murder of three prominent female Kurdish activists, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Şoylemez has caused distress and concern across the Kurdish community and left the Kurdish diaspora shocked.
“Sinn Féin expresses our sympathies to the families of those who were killed.
“There are wider concerns surrounding the impact of these killings on the establishment of a peace process in the Kurdish conflict. Despite the challenges that this situation presents the peace process must be given the chance to be explored and to take hold on the basis of an inclusive process involving the Turkish Government and representatives of the Kurdish people.”
Tionól na Sé Chontae
Foirgnimh na Parlaiminte
Cnoc an Anfa
Béal Feirste
BT4 3XX
Oifig: 02890521473
www.sinnfein.ie <http://www.sinnfein.ie/>
For immediate release: Wednesday 23rd January 2013
Killings must not present challenge to peace process - Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA and Middle East spokesperson Pat Sheehan has stated that the killing of three Kurdish women who were involved in the independence movement must be thoroughly investigated.
Speaking today Mr Sheean said: “The tragic murder of three prominent female Kurdish activists, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Şoylemez has caused distress and concern across the Kurdish community and left the Kurdish diaspora shocked.
“Sinn Féin expresses our sympathies to the families of those who were killed.
“There are wider concerns surrounding the impact of these killings on the establishment of a peace process in the Kurdish conflict. Despite the challenges that this situation presents the peace process must be given the chance to be explored and to take hold on the basis of an inclusive process involving the Turkish Government and representatives of the Kurdish people.”
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