Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 00:53:23 +0200 (EET)
Subject: M-G: ADVOCACY ALERT! (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 31 Jan 1997 12:27:00 +0200
From: ihd-ank-AT-info-ist.comlink.apc.org
To: onder-AT-servis.net.tr
Subject: ADVOCACY ALERT!

February 1997

ADVOCACY ALERT

EIGHT LEADING STUDENTS OF THE STUDENT MOVEMENT IN ANKARA WERE SENTENCED TO
A TOTAL  OF 96 YEARS IN PRISON

TURKEY  MAHMUT YILMAZ           Student at Hacettepe University
        AHMET ASKIN DOGAN       Student at Ankara University
        OZGUR TUFEKCI           Student at Ankara University
        BULENT KARAKAS          Student at Ankara University
        METIN MURAT KALYONCUGIL Student at Hacettepe University
        NURDAN BAYSAHAN         Student at Ankara University
        DENIZ KARTAL            Student at Gazi University
        ELIF KAHYAO=AALU          Student at Gazi University

were sentenced to imprisonment by the State Security Court,  Mahmut
Yilmaz, A. Askin Dogan, Ozgur Tufekci, Bulent Karakas, Metin Murat
Kalyoncugil among them are currently held in Ankara Central Closed Prison.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

University students in Turkey have been engaged in various  efforts and
demonstrations in protest of the students' fee and privatization policies
of the universities since 20 October 1996. They set up the Coordination of
Student Unions in Ankara and in Istanbul with the participation of
student unions and organisations . The reactions of the students who are
fighting against the privatisation of education and anti-democratic
practices in universities were organised by establishing the Coordination
of the Student Unions in Ankara and in Istanbul. Actions carried out by
these students after the establishment of the Coordination are as follows.

On 20 October 1996 , three student represantatives submitted  petitions
demanding the abolishment of the rise in the students' fee to the Turkish
Grand National Assembly. One of these students was Mahmut Yilmaz attending
to Education Faculty at Hacettepe University.

On 20 December 1996 the students in Istanbul made a press release to
announce that they would follow up the petitions submitted on 20 October.
In addition, many academicians and non-govermental organisations had
joined to this protest action.

The Coordination of the Student Unions in Ankara organised a campaign to
help the people of Dinar township who lost their homes, relatives, jobs
during an earthquake. Instead of paying the fees to the university budget,
a student delegation including Mahmut Yilmaz, Ozgur Tufekci, Bulent
Karakas conveyed the collected fees to the people in Dinar.

Eight students who were expelled from the universities they attended for
they could not pay student fees made demonstration at the Turkish Grand
National Assembly and shouted slogans on the right to education. Mahmut
Yilmaz and Deniz Kartal were also among this group.

The university students gathered in front of the National Education
Ministry , interviewed with the Minister and told that they could not
attent the university for they were unable to pay student fees. During
this interview the Minister promised to deal with their problems. One of
the students interviewing with the Minister was Deniz Kartal.

But promises were not fulfilled , the government  cared neither the
abolishment of 350% rise in the student fees nor the enrollment of the
expelled students who could not pay university fees. The students all over
the country decided to make a demonstration on 24 April 1996.

The students' leaders were arbitrarily detained by the Anti-Terror Branch
of the Ankara Security Department from  homes, streets, dormitories and
universities between 17-22 April 1996. During fifteen days in custody, the
legal assistance was rejected. The Prosecutor of the SSC, Nuh Mete Yuksel,
directly participated in the interrogation of these student leaders. Even
if this conduct is  not prohibited by the law, such a practice is not
usual during the pretrail process. As it was claimed that they were
subjected to torture in custody, human rights organisations and Amnesty
International made urgent actions. The police officers allegedly put
molotov coctails in the students' homes by themselves. In this case,
police arranged the evidence to convict these student leaders. Students'
claim about the torture they were subjected to in custody and conspiracy
of the police officers were not taken into consideration before court.
Moreover, even witnesses were not listened by the Court.  As a result,
these students were sentenced to heavy punishement not for  committing  a
crime. As many cases that were conducted at the SSC, the decision made by
the Court was based on the political reason.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Participants in this action should write letters to the Turkish
authorities listed below. Letters should object to the unfair decision of
the State Security Court about these student leaders who have carried out
peaceful activities in Turkish universities.

Without being too late, please send your telegrams/telexes/faxes/airmail
letters in English or your own language :

*expressing your deep concern for these student leaders unfairly sentenced
to imprisonment by    =09the State Security Court which is not independent.

*condemning the interference of the police officers during the taril.

*pointing out that any statement taken under torture shall not constitute
an evidence before court.

*calling for the withdrawal of the conviction against these students
leaders.

*urging that these students should be immediately released.

Please send your massagges immediately :

TO TURKISH AUTHORITIES

Minister of Justice :
Mr. Sevket Kazan                ( salutation : Dear Minister )
Adalet Bakanligi
Bakanliklar Ankara, Turkey
Fax: 90-312- 417 3954

Minister of Interior
Ms. Meral Aksener =09( salutation : Dear Minister )
Icisleri Bakanligi
Bakanliklar Ankara Turkey
Fax: 90- 312- 417 2390

Prime Minister
Mr. Necmettin Erbakan =09( salutation : Dear Prime Minister )
Basbakanlik
Bakanliklar Ankara, Turkey
Fax: 90-312-417 04 76

In addition please send copies of your letters to:
   Address: Mesrutiyet Cad. Hatay Sk. 6/27 Kizilay-Ankara/TURKEY
   Tel-Fax: 90-312-419 27 74
    e-mail: ihd-ank-AT-info-ist.comlink.de
            ne02-k-AT-servis2.net.tr








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