Thursday, October 28, 2010

Trial in Diyarbakir is "unfair", says German journalist Dolzer

27 October 2010


Delegations are coming back from Diyarbakir and tell of an unfair trial and terror situation

German journalist and sociologist Martin Dolzer has just got back from Diyarbakir where he went to follow the trial against 151 Kurdish politicians and human rights activists. "What must be stressed - says Dolzer speaking to ANF - is the fact that this is an unfair trial. The accusations have not real foundation and the whole trial seems to be more of a power demonstration on the part of the Turkish government that a serious legal procedure based on strong evidences and accusations".

According to Dolzer "the criminalisation of BDP politicians and NGO activists hinders every political solution. The politics of the AKP is clearly oriented on a violent solution even though the rhetoric of the governmental party pretends to aim towards a democratic opening".

On the other hand Dolzer thinks that the Turkish government is trying to "divide the Kurdish people. The message the government is sending is clear: no matter how far you are going into the political process, we are going to hit you, we will criminalise you". And it is this consideration which makes Dolzer "not very optimist about the current phase and the possibility of really established a fair peace process".

Dolzer was part of a European delegation, made off many MP and politicians as well. Yet the role of Europe so far in supporting the efforts made by the Kurds towards the creation of conditions favourable to a dialogue, has been to say the least "shy". Dolzer says that "clearly Europe is silent because it has economic and military interests in Turkey and the Middle East. Europe - he adds - needs Nato ally Turkey to exercise control on that area. Control over oil and gas". Dolzer also says that "if the governments in Europe are honestly looking for a democratisation and a peaceful development in Turkey, they should accept the reality. Huge parts of the Kurdish population see the PKK as the shield for their interests. Due to that peace negotiations should be held in a dialogue with all political actors including the PKK and Abdullah Öcalan. Some kind of Orange revolution will not happen in the Kurdish regions of Turkey. The political conscience of the population is too developed to accept such an inhuman colonialist practice".

Dolzer finally points out the situation of terror witnessed in areas like Hakkari, Semdinli, Yuksekova. "The practise of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, torture and psychological warfare in the provinces of Hakkari, Dersim, Sirnak, Agri and Siirt must be stopped immediately. It is unacceptable." Dolzer adds that this situation is reminiscent of the '90s and recalls that only a few weeks ago "the mayor of Semdinli has been victim of an heavy intimidatory act when his house was riddled with bullets and one of his relatives has been heavily tortured".



NUCAN CUDI - ANF / NEWS DESK

ANF NEWS AGENCY