Reports on events in Ireland
Please send in reports of Irish solidarity events, motions passed, protests held, etc. to turkishhungerstrike@ireland.com so that they can be posted on this page.
Dublin protest on Amutlu Massacre Derry Rally in Support of Turkish Hunger Strikers Irish could broker end to Turkish hungerstrike Hunger strikes could see Irish role Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin Black Flag Protest in Dublin Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin Alex Maskey among five detained in Turkey Irish Times - September 17 2001 Dublin Council of Trade Unions supports Turkish Hunger Strikers Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin McAliskey calls for removal of Turkish envoy Irish Times - September 10 2001 Turkish hunger strike rally in Dublin today
Irish Times - 8th September 2001 Public Meeting in Cabra, Dublin Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin Public Meeting in Greystones, Co. Wicklow Protest in Omagh, Co. Tyrone Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin Hunger Strike Activists Meet European Commission in Belfast Belfast - F?ile An Phobail Public Meeting in Dublin Protest at Turkish Embassy in Dublin Speech in Wicklow Boycott Turkish Holidays Pickets - Dublin INLA prisoners begin five-day hunger strike> Irish News, 30th July 2001
By Kieran McDaid
A group of activists from Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey held a lunchtime protest at the Turkish Embassy in Dublin on Tuesday 20th November.
The event was a protest against the Massacre in Armutlu, which resulted in the deaths of;
o Arzu Guler, a female death faster on the 152nd day of hunger strike. She was killed by poison from gas bombs.
o Sultan Yildiz was killed by the police with a single gun shot. She was not on the Death Fast but was a supporter.
o Baris Kas was killed by a single gun shot. He was a friend of prisoners and was visiting friends in the death fast house.
o Bulent Durgac was killed by several gunshots while visiting the house. He was a former prisoner and took part in the1996 Hunger Strike, which left him handicapped.
o Haydar Bozkurt set himself on fire in protest at the attack. Armed police then opened fire, after throwing stones and other missiles at him. He died soon afterwards in hospital.
In addition the following hunger striking prisoners died after setting themselves alight in protest at the attack on Armutlu.
Nail Cavus a political prisoner and hunger striker in Tekirdag isolation F-type prison.
Eyup Samur a political prisoner and hunger striker in Kandira isolation F-type prison.
Muharrem Cetinkaya a political prisoner and hunger striker in Sincan isolation F-type prison.
The Dublin protest attracted 18 activists and lasted for one hour. A police car constantly circled the area and cops sought personal details about activists attending, while a security guard patrolled the grounds of the embassy.
The Dublin 'Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey' group also co-ordinated e-mail and fax protests to the Turkish embassy to coincide with the protest. As usual the mainstream media ignored the protest but a report and photographs appeared in An Phoblacht.
A banner which said :"Derry Supports the Hunger Strikers in Turkey, Ireland H-Block 1981/ Turkey F-Types 2001" was displayed. The banner of the IRSP was also there as a sign of that political party's concern and solidarity.
Several red flags were also flown among the one hundred people that gathered together to listen to the members of the platform.
Well known journalist Eamon Mc Cann made an excellent chair of the rally by introducing the ongoing struggle of our comrades in Turkey for both freedom
speech and thought. He also made an introduction of each one of the speakers. They were Daisy Mules from the Derry Trades Union Council and also member of Sinn Fein, Sinan from IKM in London, and Michael Og Devine on behalf of the IRSP.
Leaflets were handed to the people walking past, and many signatures in support of our comrades' struggle were also collected.
We believe that the rally was succssful as many people stopped and listen to our call for help. We also hope that this was a first step for the people of
the city try to get involved in the campaign and organise many more solidarity actions.
Derry Journal - 11th October 2001
by Eamonn Houston
THE IRISH Government has been urged to become a broker in any future negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing hungerstrike in Turkey.
The IRSP has submitted a set of proposals aimed at breaking the deadlock in the hungerstrike which has already claimed the lives of dozens of male and female protesters.
It has been revealed that the Turkish deathfasters will agree to enter negotiations with the Turkish authorities if the IRSP and Irish government are involved in a mediation process.
A letter from the IRSP detailing approaches to the problem has been sent to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of the IRSP are concerned that the current US led world-wide 'War on Terror' may colour judgement of the left-wing militants on a fast to the death in areas around Istanbul.
A spokesman said that the prisoners are not fundamentalists and many have not been involved in any terrorist activities. The hunger strikers are protesting against F-type isolation prisons in the country. Their demands have been consistently dismissed by the Turkish government.
The Irish government has yet to respond to the proposals submitted by the IRSP. Last month, Michael Devine the son of the Derry INLA hungerstriker travelled to Turkey to see the death fast prisoners.
IRSP International spokesman, Derryman Terry Harkin, said that the Irish government should respond positively to the proposals and enter a mediation process as an international broker.
"People are dying in Turkish prisoners and all they have ever done is hand out leaflets or make speeches. In the current climate it is important to stress this - Osama bin Laden would hate these people in the same way he hates Americans.
"The 2001 Turkish hungerstrike will be remembered for a long time to come. The Irish Government should take a step back and look at the wider picture. All that we're waiting on is a sign from the Irish Government."
The Irish government issued a statement on April 25 of this year urging the Turkish government to resolve the issue, saying that it "deeply regretted the deaths resulting from hunger strikes."
To date there has been no negotiations between the protesting prisoners and the Turkish authorities.
A rally will be held in Waterloo Place this Saturday in support of the hungerstrikers.
Irish World - 12th October 2001
Hunger strikers in Turkey have agreed to a proposal which could see the Irish government play a crucial role in mediating their conflict with prison authorities, The Irish World has learned. 36 people have died in the hunger strike over jail conditions, which supporters say is modelled on the 1981 H-block struggle in Ireland.
Members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party have met prisoners' representatives in London and agreed a plan which they hope will produce a breakthrough in the dispute.
The IRSP is seeking a meeting with the Irish government at which they will propose that the government intercede with the Turkish authorities. The IRSP then hope to meet Turkish prisoners as a group in the presence of Irish diplomats, to receive a list of demands which the Irish government would then convey to its Turkish counterpart.
The IRSP believes that the Turkish government could prove particularly susceptible to Irish pressure, because the country wishes to join the European Union and Ireland must still pass the Nice Treaty in order to allow enlargement to take place.
Only this week, the Turkish parliament introduced 37 amendments to its militarily imposed constitution under EU pressure.
However, the mediation plan could face difficulties because of Turkey's status as a key ally supporting US strikes in Afghanistan.
The IRSP this week defended its links to left-wing parties in Turkey, as the overseas links of republican groups came under increased scrutiny in the wake of the arrest of three republicans in Colombia and the 11 September attacks on the US.
"It's difficult in the present climate for everybody concerned, but a lot the people in prison in Turkey have been arrested for left-wing sympathies that would get two-thirds of students in Britain or Ireland arrested," a spokesman said.
The death of last week of four hunger strikers in Turkey, Ali Riza Demir, Zeynep Arikan, Ayse Bastimur, and Ozlem Durakcan, were marked in Dublin by 'Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey". On the 1st October a picket was held on the Turkish embassy.
A Black Flag protest and leafleting session in support of the Turkish Hunger Strikers was held on O Connell Street in Dublin on Saturday 29th October.
Pictures and reports of Irish delegation in Turkey Click Here
The death of hunger striker Abdulbari Yusufoglu was commemorated in Dublin on the 24th September with a picket on the Turkish embassy. The picket started at 6.00pm was attended by a total of 10 activists and ended at 7.00pm.
Article in Derry Journal: "Derry Hunger Striker's son tends Turkey's death fasters" Click Here
The death of hunger striker Umus Sahingoz was commemorated in Dublin on the 18th September with a picket on the Turkish embassy. The picket started at 6.00pm, and was attended by a total of 10 activists. It concluded at 7.00pm.
By Clare Murphy, in Belfast
Turkish police yesterday detained a Sinn F?in Assembly member, Mr Alex Maskey, and four other republicans following their arrival in Istanbul.
Speaking to The Irish Times after his release, Mr Maskey (49) said the group was on a fact-finding visit to meet the families and supporters of Turkish hunger strikers. "The police brought us to the station and took our passports. They didn't speak to us at all, and we were released after about an hour and a half and given our passports back," he said.
Earlier this year, republicans in Belfast formed the Turkish Hunger Strikers Action Committee to highlight the hunger strikes of left-wing inmates protesting at the building of smaller prison cells.
The five from the North arrived on a flight from Brussels yesterday afternoon. Mr Maskey said they were nearing the homes of the families when detained.
"The police have blockades on a number of the homes and the arrests could be a way of putting people off going into that particular area."
Mr Maskey is due to return to Belfast on Wednesday. He declined to name his travelling companions but stressed he was the only Sinn F?in member in the group.
In July, members of the Turkish Hunger Strikers Action Committee mounted a picket outside the European Commission offices in Belfast in memory of 29 Turkish hunger strikers who had died and in protest against Turkey's campaign to join the EU.
The hunger strike began last October after hundreds of left wing inmates opposed the building of new jails where cells holding a maximum of three replace large dormitories.
Prisoners and human rights activists claim confinement in smaller units alienates inmates from one another and leaves them vulnerable to ill-treatment and torture.
Mr Maskey, an Assembly member for West Belfast, survived a UFF murder attempt in 1987. In 1983, he was the first republican to be elected to Belfast City Council.
However, Sinn F?in's attempts to have him appointed lord mayor have been thwarted by the Alliance party's refusal on two separate occasions to back his nomination. A senior republican, Mr Maskey was interned for the first time at the age of 18 in 1971. He was rearrested shortly after his release in 1972 and spent three years in jail.
At their monthly meeting, on September 11th, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions passed a motion of support for the hunger strikers and political prisoners in Turkey. A spokesperson for 'Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey' also addressed the meeting.
The text of the motion stated:
"The Council condemns the continued murder, torture and general ill-treatment of political and trade union prisoners in Turkish jails. We express sympathy with the hunger strikers who have already died and call on the Turkish government to create the conditions for the hunger strike to end"
The death of hunger striker Gulay Kavak was commemorated in Dublin on the 10th September with a picket on the Turkish embassy. The picket started at 6.00pm, and was attended by a total of 13 activists. It concluded at 7.00pm.
by Kitty Holland
A motion should be moved in the D?il to have the Turkish ambassador removed from Ireland, a rally in Dublin was told at the weekend. Ms Bernadette McAliskey, republican campaigner and former MP, was addressing an estimated 700* people who marched on Saturday to highlight the plight of political prisoners and hunger-strikers in Turkey.
Some 1,200 have taken part in the hunger-strike in Turkey since it began in October, and 43 have died so far. They are protesting at the new F-type prisons first introduced in 1996.
The latest death was in a private home in Istanbul on Saturday morning. Ms Gulay Kavak (29) was one of about 40 people fasting outside prison in solidarity with those inside.
Ms McAliskey told the meeting outside the GPO: "The two political parties represented here today [Sinn F?in and the Green Party] have members in the D?il. They must be harangued to propose a motion in the D?il that the Turkish ambassador be removed from this country."
The Turkish hunger-strikers and their supporters say the F-type prisons, which replace the old dormitory-style accommodation and house political prisoners in cells for between one and three people, increase the risk of brutality.
Although condemned by Amnesty International, the Turkish government says they meet UN and EU minimum standards.
Mr Sinam Erson, a representative of the Turkish prisoners' solidarity group in England, Tayad, has been on hungerstrike in London for 25 days. He is fasting in solidarity with his brother, who is on hunger-strike in Kiriklar F-type prison in the Turkish city of Izmir.
He said the issues were not just about the prisons but freedom of thought. The majority of those on hunger-strike have radical left-wing views. Communism is illegal in Turkey.
Ms Deirdre de Burca of the Green Party called on people to boycott Turkey as a holiday destination.
Although the majority of banners and placards represented republican parties such as Sinn F?in and the Irish Republican Socialist Party, a number of people carried pictures of some of those who have died on the Turkish hunger-strike.
* 700 marchers is a serious under estimate. Those attending the march and rally numbered twice this.
by Eithne Donnellan
A March and rally will take place in Dublin today to highlight the plight of political prisoners on hunger strike in Turkey. The protest, which began last October, has claimed 42 lives.
Up to 1,200 political prisoners have been on hunger strike, protesting in particular at the "F-type" isolation cells introduced by the Turkish government in 1996.
The F-cells were introduced for the imprisonment of people accused and convicted of political or terrorist offences. They have been condemned by Amnesty International and have been the subject of two visits by the Council of Europe's Commission on the Prevention of Torture.
The march begins at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin, at 2.30 p.m. and will proceed to the GPO on O'Connell Street, where a rally will take place at about 3 p.m. Speakers will include former hunger striker Mr Dessie Ellis and Ms Mary Doyle, a former republican prisoner who went on hunger strike in Armagh jail.
Other speakers will include Ms Bernadette McAliskey, Mr Michael ?Devine, son of 1981 hunger striker Mickey Devine, Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent and Ms Mags Glennon, chairwoman of the Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey organisation.
A video showing and public meeting took place in Cabra GAA Clubhouse on 6th September. The video 'They Were Burned Alive' was shown and the meeting was addressed by Mags Glennon of 'Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey', who gave a background to the ongoing struggle in Turkey's jails. Independent TD Tony Gregory spoke to express his support for the prisoners and Cllr Nicky Kehoe of Sinn F?in spoke about an upcoming support motion for the Turkish Hunger Strikers on Dublin City Council, which he hoped would be passed. All speakers pointed out the close parallels between prison struggles in Ireland and in Turkey.
The death of hunger striker Huyla Simsek was commemorated in Dublin on the 3rd September with a picket on the Turkish embassy. The picket began at 6.00pm, drawing a total of 12 activists and ending at 7.00pm.
The Turkish Hunger Strike Solidarity Committee in Wicklow hosted a video showing and public meeting in the La Touche Hotel in Greystones on 28th August. A local crowd viewed the video 'They Were Burned Alive' and a short meeting and discussion took place on the ongoing hunger strikes in Turkey. The meeting as also attended by local Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca.
At the end those at the meeting resolved to attend the National March and Rally in Dublin on September 8th.
A protest in support of the hunger strikers in Turkey took place at Omagh Courthouse on Saturday 18th August. Saturdays protest was first of its kind in the area and was well attended.
Ogra Shinn Fein along with 1981 committee have decided to hold a white line picket every Saturday for the foreseeable future.
As West Tyrone is predominantly rural we have started to put some of the posters in villages and hamlets surrounding Omagh town. Stencils in support of the hunger strikers are being prepared, along with leaflets we are getting printed. Also we are confident that we can at least double our numbers for next weeks protest.
Omagh District Council is also being lobbied to pass a motion supporting the hunger strikers.
The death of hunger striker Osman Osmanagaoglu was commemorated in Dublin on the 16th August with a picket on the Turkish embassy. As has been the case with all such protests the picket began at 6.00pm, drawing a total of 14 activists and ending at 7.00pm. Police arrived as the picket was packing up.
Representatives of the Belfast based Turkish Hunger Strike Action Committee (THSAC) met with Jim Dougal of the European Commission in their Belfast office on 14th August. They wanted to know what the attitude of the Commission was to the current hunger strike in Turkey and what role the Commission could play in resolving it.
Jim Dougal said that the Commission regretted the recent deaths in the prisons and confirmed that Turkey had been accepted for membership of the European Union. He stated that there is a criterion for Turkey joining the EU. The criterion includes improvement regarding political and economical factors not just human rights. He said that Turkey is subjected to regular reports that are available on the internet.
He believes that Turkey has taken steps to improve human rights and prison conditions although they do still have some concerns. He stated that he was more than prepared to pass on any concerns that we had to the Commission in Brussels.
The delegation asked whether the Commission was prepared to send a delegation to Turkey, he believed that in principle it was possible.
The delegation left handing him an information file and a copy of a video that shows the evidence of the massacre that was carried out in December 2000 in the prisons.
The main the point that the delegation made was that people should not be fooled by Turkey? claims that the new F-type prisons are evidence that Turkey is improving in terms of human rights. The point was made that a state that massacres prisoners is not being genuine when they say that they are concerned about issues like overcrowding and that F-type prisons aim to provide prisoners with modern facilities.
A large number of events and meetings took place as part of the West Belfast festival to highlight and raise support for the Hunger Strikers in Turkey. These events were organised by the Turkish Hunger Strike Action Committee in Belfast. They included a sponsored mountain walk, video showings and meetings and presentations to a representative of the hunger strikers. Members of Ogra Shinn F?in have painted dozens of street murals calling for support for the hunger strikers in Turkey.
On Sunday 12th August Sinan Ersay, of IKM in London, the hunger strike support group, spoke at the 20,000 strong rally to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Irish Hunger Strike.
Here is a report from the Andersonstown News
A Public meeting and video showing on the Turkish hunger strikes was hosted by the Dublin 1981 Committee and held in the Irish Film Centre in Dublin on Wednesday 7th August.
The video, 'They were burnt alive', included a film of the army attack on the prisons resulting in the massacre of 30 prisoners in Turkey in December 2000 as well as autopsy footage of the horrific beatings and torture inflicted on the inmates before death. A number of the corpses shown were of female prisoners burned to death in a womens prison in Istanbul. Despite the shocking nature of the film the spirit of resistance of the prisoners was clearly seen.
The guest speakers then addressed the large crowd. Huseyin Karabey, a Turkish Film maker and Levant Kanat, a Human Rights Lawyer, spoke on the Turkish state repression of opposition and Kurdish groups in Turkey. Jim McVeigh, a former Republican prisoner, spoke about his recent visit to Turkey and his meetings with hunger strikers from TAYAD in the death fast house in Istanbul. They had told him of the inspiration they gained from the struggle of the Irish hunger strikers 20 years ago. Mags Glennon, an activist with 'Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey', gave an update on the activities of support groups in Dublin and throughout Ireland and made suggestions of actions which members of the public can take to put pressure on the Turkish government and raise awareness. The final guest speaker was Rory O Driscoll, who addressed the crowd on behalf of IKM London and gave an outline on the current situation in Turkey, the condition of the hunger strikers and the police seige of the death fast house in Istanbul. He appealed for people to become active in support of the hunger strikers and to take part in delegations to Turkey to expose the government in the eyes of the world media.
The meeting ended with a minute of silence to remember and show respect for the prisoners who have died.
The protest outside the Turkish Embassy on Tuesday the 7th of August was called in honour of Muharrem Horoz, the 30th martyr to die in the ongoing death fast.
Beginning at 6.00pm, the picket drew a dozen activists bearing black flags, placards and the 'Support Hunger Strikers in Turkey' banner. The picket lasted until 7.30pm. As the protest was ending two embassy staff members arrived, closely followed by a police car. The police sought information about the reason for the protest and details of the organisers.
On Sunday the 5th of August a member of 'Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey' gave a short speech at a social event in Arklow, Co Wicklow. The meeting was held by the Wickow 1981 Committee to launch a music CD by local artists honouring the 1981 hunger strikers and the committee requested a speaker to address the crowd on the Turkish hunger strike. The audience showed great interest and solidarity with struggle of the Turkish prisoners.
On Saturday the 4th of August activists from the Dublin based 'Soldarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey' group held pickets and distributed leaflets to the public at two prominent travel agencies in O'Connell street. The activists displayed posters calling for a boycott of Turkish Holidays, which are being heavily promoted in Ireland.
The two hour protest got a good reaction from the public, with many people seeking more information. There was interest too from a lot of young Irish people. The newly produced 'Support Turkish Hunger Strikers' lapel stickers were also given out. The protests lasted from 11am-1pm
Black Flag Protest - Dublin
On Saturday the 4th of August at 2pm a protest in called by Ogra Shinn F?in in support of the Turkish Hunger Strikers was held at the GPO in Dublin. It was joined by activists from 'Soldarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey', the joint protest numbering about 70 people. The protesters carried black flags and pictures of the fallen martyrs. The large 1 hour protest attracted considerable interest from Irish people and tourists, with many taking photographs. The event had to be cut short due to the Irish weather.
INLA prisoners in jail in Ireland have begun a five-day hunger strike in support of prisoners in Turkey.
Nine inmates at the high-security Portlaoise jail in Co Laois began the fast at midnight last night and have vowed not to eat until midnight on Friday. They have launched the protest as an act of solidarity with political prisoners in Turkey, who have gone on hunger strike in protest at prison conditions there.
Almost 30 prisoners and their relatives have died since the protest against conditions in Turkish jails began last year. Several hundred prisoners from left-wing groups are on hunger strike to protest against their transfer in December from large dormitory wards into small "isolation" cells.
The INLA hunger strike in Portlaoise prison is being led by commanding officer Dessie OOO