DİYARBAKIR - KCDK-E Co-Chair Fatoş Göksungur stated that the chemical weapon attacks against Southern Kurdistan are not independent of the isolation against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and that they will continue the demonstrations against the isolation in front of the OPCW.

 

The international conspiracy, which was activated when PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan left Syria on October 9, 1998, continues with the aggravated isolation system on Imrali Island. The physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, who has not been heard from for 18 months, was demanded in the protests that took place in many cities on October 9 with the slogan "We are marching to freedom". As part of the demonstrations that spread all over the world, a 4-day sit-in was held on October 13 in front of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (AK BK) under the leadership of the European Democratic Kurdish Society Congress (KCDK-E). As part of the 4-day sit-in, a meeting was held with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which was there when PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan was brought to the island of İmralı on February 15, 1999. KCDK-E Co-chair Fatoş Özsungur, who was part of the delegation, made evaluations about the isolation against Abdullah Öcalan and the sit-in they are staging.

 

IMRALI IS CONTROLLED BY GLADIO 

 

Pointing out that Imrali Island, where Abdullah Öcalan has been held under isolation for 24 years, is not only under the control of Turkey, Göksungur told that the island is under the control of international forces, especially NATO and Gladio. Göksungur reminded that CPT officials were there when the PKK leader was brought to İmralı Island and said, "The CPT did not fulfill its duty to prevent torture."

 

CPT INCREASED CONCERNS

 

Giving information about his previous meetings with the CPT, Göksungur stated that the CPT visited İmralı Island but would not give any information about the reports or meetings. Göksungur said, "The CPT has increased the concerns of the Kurds," and continued as follows: "The CPT made and announcement after its visit. The fact that the CPT did not make any statement after its visit to Imrali inevitably caused concerns of the people of Kurdistan. We wonder what caused the CPT to visit İmralı, said Göksungur, continued as follows: "This situation inevitably worries the Kurdish people. In the report prepared by the CPT on the most recent meeting with the Kurdish people's leader, they stated that there was a torture system in Imrali, that he was subjected to ill-treatment and that the conditions needed to be improved. I wonder if the reason they didn't make a statement because these conditions were not improved. Now neither his lawyers nor his family or anyone else are allowed to meet him. This shows that the isolation continues, getting worse day by day.”

 

THE ROLE OF THE CPT IN ISOLATION

 

Stating that they stated that the CPT had to make a statement regarding the visits in their previous meetings, but that they remained silent despite the increasing concerns, Göksungur stated that this silence played a role in deepening the isolation. Göksungur, regarding the obstruction of Abdullah Öcalan's "right to hope", said, "If universal law is for everyone, it should be applied to Rêber Öcalan as well.”

 

'USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN DIRECT RELATION WITH THE ISOLATION' 

 

Göksungur said that as KCDK-E, they continue their actions and call on international institutions, especially the AC and CPT. Pointing out that the international conspiracy is integrated with the international isolation, Göksungur said, "The current war on the guerrilla in Kurdistan, especially the use of chemical weapons, is not independent of the conspiracy and isolation. The situation and ill-treatment of sick prisoners in Turkish prisons are not independent of the isolation."

 

DEMONSTRATIONS TO CONTINUE AHEAD OF OPCW

 

Stating that their demonstrations will continue uninterruptedly, Göksungur stated that they will carry out actions in front of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) from November 1 to November 3. Göksungur said, “OPCW, like the CPT, is an institution founded on the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons by states, but it remains silent against the use of chemical weapons by Turkey. International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) published a report last week. Although they have publicly shared that they have determined the use of chemicals against Kurdish guerrillas in Southern Kurdistan, the OPCW continues its silence. Demonstations will take place on this basis in connection with the conspiracy.”