Subject: Akin Birdal
From: Internationale Initiative (info@freedom-for-ocalan.com)
Date: Tue Sep 26 2000 - 02:22:30 CDT
International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan - Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
Telephone: +49 221 130 15 59
Fax: +49 221 139 30 71
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
FROM TURKISH DAILY NEWS
Akin Birdal is acquitted, but not 'free'
a.. 'I don't feel free, although I was acquitted today. Freedom will arrive when there are no thought crimes and everyone convicted on these grounds is acquitted'
b.. 'We saw how the amnesty organizations in the Netherlands, Canada, the US and Norway acted in this case: they welcomed me with a sea of flowers. I would like to thank them through your agency'
c.. 'Leyla Zana says that if she is acquitted after seven years, she will come out with "bare feet." In other words, she wants to tread on the soil with bare feet. Although she says that she feels very well, she suffers from a drop in blood pressure'
d.. 'The rapprochement between Turkey and Greece has lead to the diminution of the tension of the last 40 years on both sides of the Aegean'
e.. 'In my opinion, the visit to the Southeast by the CHP sent out a number of important messages. Deputy Chairman Yasar Seyman gave hope to the people of the region'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gul Demir
Istanbul - Turkish Daily News
I would like a country / Where the sky is blue, the branch is green, the field is yellow / Which is a land of birds and flowers. / I would like a country / Where there are no worries in the mind and no longing in the heart / Where there is no fraternal struggle. / I would like a country / Where there is no difference between rich and poor, you and me / Where everyone can put his head under a roof on a winter day. / I would like to see a country / Where life is as sincere as love / And the only complaint is of death.
Cahit Sitki Taranci
The people of Turkey still have to fight hard for human rights, peace and freedom, although "the sky is blue, the branch is green and the field is yellow" in this country, just as the poet says.
In fact, to be human is to be responsible and to feel shame in the face of a poverty that might appear to many like someone else's problem. The struggle to cleanse oneself of this shame exacts a heavy price, as has been the case for human rights defender Akin Birdal.
Men and women need the basic principles of honor, freedom and solidarity to shed light on their way, and even in dark times they try to cultivate them as personal virtues. Through his struggle for democracy and human rights, Akin Birdal established a reputation for himself, not just in Turkey but also abroad. He is an exception in a country where most people have forgotten how to smile. He indicated his determination to pursue his struggle when on our first encounter after being acquitted he said: "Where did we leave off? We will take up right from there." In fact, Birdal did not miss much. Turkey's agenda is more or less the same, with Article 312 of the penal code still providing the grounds for the imprisonment of a number of people and a continuing campaign to amend or scrap it.
Birdal summed up his feelings in the following words: "I was acquitted, but I don't feel free. Freedom will come when there is no 'thought crime' in this country any more and everyone [convicted on these grounds] is acquitted."
Birdal's words reveal that he is familiar with all aspects of the human condition. Asked how it felt to embrace his children, he said: "It was a bitter-sweet feeling. As I held my two children, I thought that I would also like to embrace someone else." When asked to name of this person, he said it was his wife...
Convicted under Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and released after serving his last five-and-a-half months in prison, Akin Birdal was met in front of Ankara Closed Central Prison by his friends, relatives and representatives from a number of civic organizations, first among which were the US, British, Norwegian, French, Canada and Netherlands sections of Amnesty International.
Birdal gave his final interview before going to prison to the Turkish Daily News and ended his speech with the words, "I hope and wish to be the last victim of the crime of free thought." When he left prison, he repeated the same words during his first statement to the press and gave his first interview to our newspaper.
Akin Birdal has been invited to Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland by human rights organizations.
TDN: Could you tell us your first feelings after being acquitted?
BIRDAL: In front of the threshold, there was joy, but lurking behind it, there was deep sorrow. There are still thousands and tens of thousands of people who are imprisoned because of their political identities, reactions and speeches. But of course it is nice for someone to meet his children, family and friends.
TDN: Did you form solidarity with domestic and international organizations while in prison?
BIRDAL: I received many solidarity messages from human rights organizations at home and abroad, first among which were the branches of the Human Rights Association (IHD) in Turkey and Amnesty International and the Human Rights Federation. I received letters as part of the solidarity campaigns started by local democracy platforms. On Sept. 1, Peace Day, my friends and colleagues started a campaign, perhaps because I had been imprisoned for speeches made on that day, and I received hundreds of postcards.
TDN: I believe that visit days are important in prisons. Who visited you?
BIRDAL: We were able to meet with our lawyers five days a week. On Mondays, people could see their families, at which time I was able to see my children. One time, the chairman of the Virtue Party (FP), Recai Kutan, and FP party administrator and Human Rights Commission member Mr. Bekaroglu came to see me. We talked with them and the people who accompanied them. Another guest was Hasan Celal Guzel, who was also convicted under Article 312. I frequently saw my lawyer friends from human rights organizations.
TDN: Did you observe any positive changes in prisons compared to the past?
BIRDAL: Medical standards in prisons are so low that almost everyone has health problems. It is not possible for a person serving a long sentence to not lose his/her physical and psychological well-being. The projected F-type prisons caused a backlash because they illustrate a political and ideological attitude. We proposed an alternative project which is inspired by the example of European prisons and the standards for remanded and convicted individuals in the member countries of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. I hope to make them public as soon as possible and to present a copy to the Ministry of Justice.
TDN: How should Turkish prisons be organized?
BIRDAL: There should be a clear understanding that the protection of remanded and convicted individuals is the duty of the state. This was the idea which inspired our project. For instance, someone in our ward caught the flu some four to five days ago and everyone is ill now.
TDN: How many people were in your ward; could you describe to us the situation?
BIRDAL: There were 26 people in my ward. Since ill prisoners who are hospitalized are sent to Ankara Closed Central Prison, there is quite a bit of come and go here. The number of people decreases or increases unexpectedly. In my ward, there is someone called Memduh Kilic, most of whose left lung has been removed 2/3 and whose right lung cannot be operated on for health reasons. He also has epilepsy, he has a fit at least every two days at which time seven to eight people have to intervene. What would we lose if Memduh Kilic took advantage of Article 399 of the Penal Regulations Code (CMUK)? In any case, he will not live much longer...
The situation in our ward was tragic. We witnessed health problems every day and the whole ward was psychologically disturbed.
TDN: Could you describe to us one day in prison?
BIRDAL: I tried to take the example of intellectuals who stayed in prison. I heeded Nazim Hikmet's words that, "One should not let the precious mineral beneath the left breast dry up." After I got up, I would walk for half an hour and do sports, and I would read about eight to nine newspapers until midday. I would read and write after lunch. In the evening, I would take another walk, and we would criticize the events of the day with our friends. After dinner, I would read until 1:00 a.m. I read, wrote and reflected a lot.
TDN: Could you give us some information about your work in prison?
BIRDAL: "Notes From My Left Hand, Ulucanlar." This book, which will be published in one week, tells the story of my four-and-a-half months in prison. My second book tells about the latter part of my prison sentence and is full of memoirs, anecdotes and various episodes about life. There are 11 stories on various themes, such as brotherhood and guile. I believe it will be published in a month to a month and a half. It also includes interviews with friends from the [outlawed] Democracy and Labor Party (DEP), who were also in prison with me.
TDN: Could you tell us about the situation of the DEP deputies?
BIRDAL: DEP deputies Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak are currently serving sentences at Ankara Closed Central Prison. Hatip Dicle has problems with his stomach and digestive system. But all four of them are hopeful about the future. Orhan Dogan has a very high performance. He does everything in the ward, from cooking to writing and serving as a legal counselor, and he helps people who are sick or have problems. He shows a great performance...
TDN: It is well known that Leyla Zana is unwell. Could you tell us about her medical situation and state of mind?
BIRDAL: Leyla Zana says that if she is acquitted after seven years, she will come out with "bare feet." In other words, she wants to tread on the soil with bare feet. Although she says that she feels very well, she
suffers from a drop in blood pressure. That is why she looks pale. Leyla Zana's life has been spent in prison, first as the wife of an inmate and then as a convict. But she does not feel rancor or anger at any one, and is hopeful for the future of democracy and brotherhood.
TDN: How do you evaluate the development of the democracy movement in Turkey?
BIRDAL: The democracy movement, which includes Kurdish politicians and intellectuals, has been stalled. An initiative intended to unite Turkish and Kurdish workers under one roof did not take off and the Kurdish politicians decided to join the People's Democracy Party (HADEP). But it would be wrong to conclude from that that the efforts to pull together democratization and human rights efforts in Turkey have been given up.
TDN: I am sure that you observed the political developments in Turkey while you were in prison. The Republican People's Party (CHP), which is held to represent the democratic wing in Turkey, will hold an emergency council on Sept. 30. What is your opinion?
BIRDAL: I regard it as unfortunate that they are quarrelling among themselves. I hope that things will calm down at the beginning of next month. The party members who went to southeastern Anatolia brought back positive messages. We found out from CHP Deputy Chairman Yasar Seyman and her group that the people there had some hope. I see the new scramble for the chairmanship as a deliberate movement to impede the development of the party.
TDN: What do you hope to do in the future?
BIRDAL: While my democratic and political rights were suspended under Article 312, I will continue to work for democracy and peace. In any case, I have certain responsibilities as the deputy chairman of the International Human Rights Foundation. It is not necessary to have a certain status to be a human rights activist; I will do whatever is necessary under the present conditions.
TDN: How do you evaluate the report by the Human Rights Coordination Supreme Board, "Human Rights in Turkey"?
BIRDAL: The government has to prepare a road map based on the report of the Human Rights Board. There is a national program based on the Nov. 8 partnership document and the Eighth Five-Year Development Plan. While the schedule for implementing the national program was made public, I believe that lifting the obstacles to the right of thought and free speech is more important, which means that various articles in the Constitution, the TCK and the Counter-terrrorism Law have to be changed. Second, we want a general amnesty, which will be made easier by the latest decision of the Constitutional Court. Then, there is the approval of Protocol 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It would be advantageous both for Turkey and the region to start to work on these issues as soon as possible.
TDN: The Armenian proposal accepted by a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives has drawn reactions from groups from all over Turkey. What is your view?
BIRDAL: It is a fact that there were many serious problems regarding minorities in the Turkish Republic in the past. I believe that it would be more beneficial to discuss this issue as part of a human rights project rather than in a political and mystified context.
TDN: What do you think about relations between Turkey and Greece?
BIRDAL: After the earthquake of Aug. 17, 1999 and the diminution of the tension on both sides of the Aegean, we were given a golden opportunity. Cultural activities, exchange visits and trips to the Prince islands are the last chance for both countries to end the armament race against one another. The fact that we rank sixth in terms of an arms build-up among NATO countries indicates how much money is allocated for this from the budget. On the other hand, the inadequacy of the Ministry of Justice budget indicates the cause of a series of other problems. That is why we should make investments in human resources and in other fields that will be used for economic, social and cultural development. This is valid for both of the countries, which have no reason to perceive one another as threats from now on.
TDN: When you lie down and close your eyes, what comes to your mind from your time in prison?
BIRDAL: Believe me, when you close your eyes and lie down in prison, you see a lot of people running around and doing strange things. Some of our friends had health problems or were depressed. Sometimes the bed would shake, and I would get up, fearing that there was an earthquake with a magnitude of 7. Then I realized that the person next to me was doing this to stop someone else from snoring. Of course, I ended up trembling as well and had to get up.
TDN: Is there anything else you would like to say?
BIRDAL: We saw how the Dutch, Canadian, U.S. and Norwegian sections of Amnesty International acted on these occasions. They welcomed me with a sea of flowers. I take this opportunity to thank them. All human rights activists, administrators from the Human Rights Foundation and the IHD were on our side. There were representatives from human rights organizations and political parties. I thank them. I believe that this process offered us some opportunities. We have to work harder toward democratization and freedom. I thank you and your newspaper for presenting me with this opportunity once again after six months.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Mon Jan 01 2001 - 01:05:48 CST