[fse-esf] MLKP arrests in Turkey

[Dave Stockton]

The League for the Fifth International has received the following  press
release and appeal from the MLKP, a prominent participant in the
anti-imperialist space at the Athens European Social Forum. The MLKP have
been extremely active in  opposing Turkey's support for the US-Israeli
atrocities in Lebanon and Palestine. These courageous actions have brought
down the wrath of the Turkish state.

The record of tortures and murders by the Turkish state, including ah gaint
the MLKP,  give us the gravest concern for the lives and physical safety of
those detained.  It is the plain duty of all anti-capitalist and
anti-imperialist to protest this repression. Such publicity can at least
make the regime acutely aware that "the whole world is watching" what they
do to them. Of course we should demand the immediate and unconditional
release of all these prisoners and the establishment of full freedom of the
press, public assembly and demonstration.

Given the Turkish government's ardent desire to enter the EU  and the EU's
pretext for endless delays in considering its application - Turkey's bad
human rights record - it is vulnerable to a serious and sustained protest
against this most recent repression.

Therefore the League for the Fifth International calls for  all
organisations and individuals to protest to the Turkish government and mount
pickets of local representatives (Turkish embassies and consulates).


Full Solidarity with the 23

Dave Stockton 

For the  LFI 

For more information see
http://mlkp.info/oldindex.php?view=news&lang=2



 
 
Turkish state lash out against Marxist Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)

23 revolutionaries arrested

On 8-9 September, 23 people known by their revolutionary and socialist
identities, including Ibrahim Cicek, the Chief Editor of weekly
revolutionary socialist newspaper, Sedat Senoglu, the Vice Chief Editor,
Bayram Namaz, one of the writers of newspaper, Ziya Ulusoy, the former Chief
Editor, and Fusun Erdogan, the Chief Coordinator of Ozgur Radio, have been
taken into police custody in various cities.

While detainees are being kept in the Vatan Anti-Terror Branch in Istanbul,
the workers of the Atilim Newspaper have organized a press meeting in
Istanbul-Galatasaray Square on 10 September. The meeting was also supported
by different revolutionary and democratic organizations and individuals such
as Human Rights Association, Solidarity Platform with Imprisoned
Journalists, ILPS, ESP, Partizan, Isci Koylu Newspaper, Tekstil-Sen Union,
FHDD (Solidarity Association with the Palestinian People), DISK/Limter-Is
Union, SGD and Ozgur Radio.

In the press meeting which was attended by 100 people, together with Atilim
Newspaper and placards writing "You are not strong to defeat us!", "Ibrahim
Cicek Must Be Released!", "Detainees Must Be Released!" in their hands, it
was said "Yesterday, our Chief Editor, Ibrahim Cicek, has been taken into
police custody while traveling in a car that he had hitchhiked in Manisa. He
is now being kept in Istanbul Anti-Terror Branch". It was also stressed that
the detained revolutionaries, except Ibrahim Cicek, are not allowed to speak
with their relatives and solicitors.

The Atilim Newspaper workers, who touched on the connection between the
attacks and the "Terror Summits" organized by AKP (Justice and Development
Party) and Generals, and with the new Anti-Terror Laws, have demanded the
immediate release of detained revolutionaries by saying "You are not strong
to defeat us!".
Lawyer Eren Keskin also made a statement in the press meeting and said that
Arzu Torun, together with someone else, is also kidnapped by the police in
Adana airport. She said Torun had asked for help at the time of kidnapping
by shouting "Call my Lawyer, Eren Keskin, they want to disappear me" and
added that the eye-witnesses had informed her about the incident.

The representative of Solidarity Platform with Imprisoned Solicitors (TGDP)
also made a statement and said that they demand immediate release of the
ones who are detained. He ask on duty the national and international press
institutions of profession, the organizations which are sensitive about
human rights for the release of detainees.
On the other hand, International Committee against Disappearances (ICAD)
also protested the police detentions and stated that they worry about the
life of Arzu Torun who had been kidnapped by the police. ICAD demanded the
release of Arzu Torun and all other detainees.

September 11, 2006