Turkey: Human rights NGOs demand inquest before General’s trial

The Human rights association and the Human rights foundation of Turkey have invited the magistrate to postpone General Kenan Evren?s trial. He was responsible for the military coup in 1980.

Both the human rights organisations were founded in the early 80?s as civil society?s answer to the wounds inflicted upon Turkey?s fragile democracy by the military regime instated on the 12th September 1980. It was these two organisations who denounced and documented the treatment of citizens by part of the military, who especially targeted those with left wing allegiances.

"Torture was widespread"
In a recent interview that the once head of state granted a Turkish daily newspaper, Milliyet, last week the General had announced, with great nonchalance, that ?torture in Turkish prisons was carried out before the military regime as well? adding, as if to justify his statement that ?the use of coercive methods was widespread in Turkey, but also in England, France, Germany, France?. The only difference was, he said, that in Turkey the methods were used ?systematically by the state?.

Following these statements, a summit was organised in Diyarbakir prison, and to make sure that there be no misunderstanding, the General was asked to confirm that during the military regime Turkish police had total freedom to use torture against their prisoners.

No repentance
According to the presidents of the Association and Foundation for human rights in Turkey Evren?s statements are very serious and confirm what Turkeys? citizens already knew. They are not, however, a sign of repentance nor an admission of guilt. Which is why the human rights associations want an inquest to be opened and want to postpone the trials of the General as well as of the other generals and officials that were responsible for the coup, the military regime and the terrible atrocities that went on in prisons.

According to data that was released but the two associations, there were 171 victims during the 1980 coup, while 650 people were held illegally and denied, for long periods of time, their human rights.

More info:

• Human Rights Association: posta@ihd.org.tr
• Human Rights Foundation of Turkey: 0090 312. 310 66 36