DIYARBAKER, Northern Kurdistan--An American journalist who has dedicated his time to a report the conflict, which is taking place between the Turkish army and Kurdish people defence forces (HPG), Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) forces, was arrested by the Turkish authorities on allegation that the Journalist (Jake Hess) is involved with PKK.
Tyranny and dictator regimes in order to justify their unacceptable actions to the international community, continuously attempt to mislead public and international community’s opinion in regards of the incidents, which are occurring in the political or military battlefield.
Jake Hess who was reporting the brutalities of the Turkish government to the International community, set on trail for alleged involvement with the Kurdish movement. Tyranny and dictator regimes all the times attempt to enforce journalists and reporters to publish reports and information to the world in accordance to the interests of the dictators and tyrannies. When the journalists do not obey what the tyrannies demand, and insist on their legal rights (Freedom of Expression) unsurprisingly they will be accused of something.
In support of the Jake Hess peace in Kurdistan made and statement, which is as follow:
Press Release
For immediate release Thursday 12 August 2010-08-12
Journalist Jake Hess Arrested in Turkey.
Jake Hess, an American journalist based in Turkey who has been reporting on developments in relation to the conflict between Turkish state forces and the Kurds, has been arrested.
According to the lawyer representing him, Jake was arrested by police in Diyarbakır at 17.45 on 11 August. The prosecutor has indicated that he was detained following accusations that he had links with the KCK.
It is feared that Jake, a citizen of the United States, will be tried alongside a group of Kurdish activists currently held in prison who are named in the main KCK file and who are expected to be brought to court on 18th October.
Jake is expected to be brought before the court on Friday where he will either be detained pending trial or deported.
Over recent months Jake has been filing provocative reports on internal aspects of Turkey that the authorities would no doubt prefer remained hidden: the agony of the Kurdish people and their continued suffering as persons denied full rights in a country that claims to be democratic and a respecter of human rights.
Jake’s recent articles mainly for Inter Press Service (IPS) have brought to the attention of the world urgent issues like the plight of Kurdish refugees, the continuing use of torture, especially against terror suspects, and the deliberate burning of Kurdish forests as part of the Turkish army’s campaign to eliminate Kurdish guerrillas.
Jake certainly writes from a perspective that is sympathetic to the plight of the Kurds, but there has been no suggestion that his reports are in any way inaccurate. It seems it is the truth that hurts Turkey most.
The detention of Jake Hess is a stark example of the tremendous pressures imposed on journalists by the Turkish authorities under its sweeping anti-terrorism legislation. It is also a clear violation of the rights of journalists to carry out their duties to report openly and impartially on important newsworthy events.
Independent journalists are clearly viewed as a threat by the leaders of Turkey who prefer to conduct their counterinsurgency measures and military maneuvers against the Kurds unimpeded by outside witnesses who are beyond their control.
ENDS
For information contact
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign: Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish question
estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Estella Schmid - Tel: 020 7586 5892 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 020 7586 5892 end_of_the_skype_highlighting – mobile 07846666804
Rachel Bird - Tel: 020 7272 4131 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 020 7272 4131 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark Thomas, Bairbre de Brún MEP
