Subject: TURKEY/EUROPE BY LAURIE KASSMAN/DIYARBAKIR
Topic: voa
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
DATE=4/28/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-177695
TITLE=TURKEY/EUROPE
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=DIYARBAKIR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TURKEY IS OUTRAGED BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S MOVE TO 
SUSPEND TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 34-COUNTRY ORGANIZATION 
THAT WAS SET UP TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
IN EUROPE.  THE COUNCIL'S PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDED THAT TURKEY BE 
SUSPENDED IN TWO MONTHS UNLESS IT IMPROVES ITS HUMAN RIGHTS 
RECORD AND TREATMENT OF ITS KURDISH MINORITY.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN TOWN 
OF DIYARBAKIR THAT HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS REPORT ABUSES IN THE 
FIGHT BETWEEN TURKEY'S SECURITY FORCES AND THE OUTLAWED KUDISTAN 
WORKERS' PARTY, WHICH IS FIGHTING FOR KURDISH AUTONOMY.

TEXT:  THE GOVERNMENT CALLS THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S 
RECOMMENDATIONS UNFAIR AND SAYS  NO  INSTITUTION CAN IMPOSE A 
DEADLINE ON TURKEY TO IMPLEMENT ITS DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.

BUT TURKEY IS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO DO SO QUICKLY.  THE 
LATEST CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEPARATIST P-K-K GUERRILLAS, WHICH 
INCLUDED A CROSS-BORDER MILITARY OFFENSIVE INTO NORTHERN IRAQ, 
HAS BROUGHT SHARP CRITICISM FROM EUROPEAN ALLIES.  SO HAS 
TURKEY'S TREATMENT OF ITS KURDISH MINORITY AND THE REPRESSION OF 
KURDISH CULTURAL RIGHTS.

MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ARE FURIOUS OVER THE 
SENTENCING OF EIGHT KURDISH POLITICIANS ON CHARGES OF SUPPORTING 
THE P-K-K AND SPEAKING OUT ON KURDISH MINORITY RIGHTS. 

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TURKEY, ACCUSE THE 
GOVERNMENT AND KURDISH REBELS OF A LITANY OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL 
AND PRESS FREEDOMS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IN FORCE SINCE 1987. 

THEY ALSO CRITICIZE THE MILITARY FOR DESTROYING MORE THAN TWO 
THOUSAND VILLAGES DURING ITS FIGHT AGAINST THE P-K-K IN THE 
MOSTLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST TURKEY.  THE REGIONAL GOVERNOR OF 
SOUTHEAST TURKEY SAYS IT IS THE P-K-K GUERRILLAS WHO DO THE MOST 
DAMAGE. 

THE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION IN DIYARBAKIR HAS TRACKED MORE THAN 
100 CASES OF DISAPPEARANCES, DETENTIONS AND TORTURE.  FOUR 
MEMBERS ARE NOW ON TRIAL ON CHARGES OF ACTING AS SPOKESMEN FOR 
THE OUTLAWED P-K-K AFTER PUBLISHING A 160-PAGE REPORT LISTING THE
ALLEGED ABUSES.

TURKEY'S LATEST MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE P-K-K GUERRILLAS 
HAS SOURED RELATIONS WITH EUROPE THAT ARE ALREADY STRAINED BY 
ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.  THE EUROPEAN UNION WANTS 
TURKEY TO CLEAN UP ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AS A KEY CONDITION FOR
CLOSER TIES, ESPECIALLY A VITAL CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT.  TURKEY 
HAS BEEN LOBBYING FOR YEARS TO BECOME A FULL E-U MEMBER.

PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER HAS PROMISED TO IMPLEMENT DEMOCRATIC 
REFORMS, INCLUDING A REVISION OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW, BUT 
EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE GROWING IMPATIENT.  (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/SKH/MMK

28-Apr-95 11:56 AM EDT (1556 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America