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(at)freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 1 March 2007
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
"We shall kill him piecemeal" - A threat that has come true
Now it is official: The lawyers of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan hold evidence in their hands indicating that their client is being poisoned with heavy metal compounds. Suspicions in this direction are not new, but now a scientific analysis is available which suggests a murderous intention is behind the numerous health problems of the detainee.
The malicious assault on life and health is not even concealed. During the debate on the lifting of the death penalty in 2002 one argumet was, öcalan would not be killed "just once, but every day". In 2003 the then secretary general of the National Security Council, Tuncer Kilic, declared that they would "kill him piecemeal".
The potentially catastrophic consequences of this state-run attempted murder are obvious: not only the Kurdish leader, the relations between Kurds and Turks are being poisoned - with deadly consequences. Military operatins are already conducted on a daily basis against a guerilla that has been adhering to a unilateral cease-fire for five months. It doesn't bear thinking about what might happen if the conflict is going to escalate now.
The European states are complices in this nefarious act. For years they have been silent on the unique isolation conditions of the prominent inmate which have been criticized harshly several times by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). It is these very isolation conditions that prevent the access of independent doctors to the island.
But staying silent is not the only way Europe backs the Turkish state. The latest decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Coucil of Europe to close the Ocalan file regardless the fact that the retrial the European Court for Human Rights demanded has not taken place, can only be understood as a "keep it up!" to Turkey. Howder "keep it up" in this case is nothing else but assistance to state-run murder.
Turkey must immediately permit independent obervers access to the island fortress Imrali. The only way of dispelling the justified current and future concerns about the life of the Kurdish leader supported by millions is to put an end to his isolation and to shut down Imrali.
Europe, never getting tired when it comes to critisizing Guantanamo and the CIA rendition flights, has to eventually realize the European Guantanamo in the Marmara Sea and press for its closure. Especially the European Anti-Torture Committee CPT bears a high responsibility. Its re-visit to the island is long overdue.
More than everything else Europe needs a change of policy in the Kurdish question. Appeasing Turkey is the wrong strategy for solving the Kurdish question and supporting a democratic development of Turkey. To look away if state terrorism happens aggravates conflicts and escalates the bloodshed - Saddam Hussein is a good example.
But first of all the life of the Kurdish leader has to be secured. Who is poisoning Ocalan? How can he be treated? Are other toxic materials involved apart from the established ones? Are radioactive materials involved? All these disturbing questions have to be enlightened - for the sake of peace, democracy and human rights.
Rome, 01 March 2007
Press statement by Ocalan's lawyers from Italy and Turkey:
To members of the press,
For the first time, as the lawyers of Mr Abdullah OCALAN from Turkey and Italy, we shall reveal the results of the work of the last three months to the public with this press conference.
The laboratory tests made on Mr OCALAN’s hair samples have shown that much higher than normal levels of the elements strontium and chromium are present. Due to security reasons this investigation has been carried out without disclosing the identity of the person. The test results have been identified by the expert laboratory to represent chronic intoxication.
One week ago these results have been shared with both the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Degrading and Ill-treatment (CPT). They have been requested to intervene in the matter. As yet no visual reaction can be noted however we are of the firm belief and expect that these institutions shall react with sensitivity.
We, as the lawyers of Mr Ocalan, have grave concerns over the results of the samples which were taken under extremely difficult conditions. As yet, we do not have any knowledge as to what the source of these elements which are at an alarming level stem from, for what period these have existed at this level and what effects it has had on our client. However we do believe that our client’s life is under a serious and a grave risk. We do believe that the scientific results at hand are enough to allege this. Under the present circumstances we are only able to shed light onto this dimension of the truth. It is utterly important that the results attained be investigated by an independent and international delegation of experts and a new analysis should be held under better conditions so that the situation can be completely clarified. However, we do insist that such an investigation must be held immediately and urgently.
Mr Ocalan’s security of life and health are under the responsibility of the government of the Republic of Turkey. Since 15 February 1999, Mr Ocalan is being kept at the Imrali Sole Inmate Closed Prison which is a 5 mile militarily prohibited area and has a high security prison status. Before being imprisoned at the Imrali Island Prison Mr Ocalan did not have any serious health problems. However in the aftermath his health problems have increased and aggravated. The necessary national and international institutions and NGO’s together with the public opinion and the officials in Turkey have been repeatedly informed of the health problems of our client. However we regret to inform you that the national and international health organisations have not displayed a serious and a responsible approach towards this humanitarian problem. The officials in Turkey, in response, have continually stated that he is kept under a continuous health check and that there are no serious health problems. However the results attained and as tabled before you show that the official information is not true and trustable. Therefore uttermostly we call on the government officials of Turkey to act responsibly in the face of these scientific results and expect that they show every ease to a delegation of international experts to make the necessary investigations at the Imrali Island Prison.
We call upon the United Nations, Council of Europe, the CPT and all the respective institutions. We request that an independent international delegation of scientific experts immediately go to the Imrali Closed Island Prison and make a thorough health investigation and analysis on our client. We shall also continue to pursue the matter and shall try all legal venues.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of the lawyers from Italy and Turkey
Lawyer Mahmut Sakar
Campaign