More People Come Forward for Justice at Military Coup Case

Relatives of those who were killed, tortured, executed and disappeared during and after the military coup in 1980 apply the court to intervene at the case where two generals are prosecuted.

The case is to begin on April 4^th, in Ankara. The Chief of General Staff at the time, Kenan Evren and head of Air Forces, Tahsin Şahinkaya are on trial. They are charged with "acting against state authorities" as defined on Article 146 of the former Criminal Code.

Today, relatives of Serdar Soyergin, who was executed; of Hayrettin Eren, who disappeared under custody and Satılmış Şahindokuyucu, who was killed while under custody filed petitions to intervene at the trial.

Families of journalist Abdi İpekçi, Ankara public prosecutor Doğan Öz and sociology Prof. Cavit Orhan Tütengil -all murdered in during the period to that led to the coup-, also applied to the court.

In her petition Serap Soyergin told that her brother Serdar "had been executed following an unlawful trial after the coup".

Nergiz Şahindokuyucu said that her husband was taken under custody on 15 March 1981 by Ankara police. "The police first denied that he was taken under custody and then told that he committed suicide by jumping from a 6^th floor window at the station."

Faruk Eren said his brother Hayrettin was taken under custody on 21 November 1980 in Istanbul. "there was a record at Karagumruk police station but my brother disappeared. He was tortured to death and buried without noticing the family."

Işık Karagöz noted that she, her husband and his sister were taken under custody on the day of the coup in Artvin. They were tortured for 45 days. Enver Karagöz was then transferred to Erzurum where he was tortured for 75 more days.

"He was reduced to 40 kilograms, lost his voice and teeth. After 3 and a half years, he was released. He lost his life in Ankara where he went for treatment." (AS/EÜ)