Pacifists Respond to PKK's Threats

Academics, human rights activists, members of democratic organisations, lawyers, writers, artists and journalists have signed a statement reacting to PKK leader Cemil Bayik. Bayik had made statements threatening Kurdish intellectuals and politicians who did not follow the PKK line.

The undersigned said that they considered any targeting of these Kurdish intellectuals and politicians as an attack on themselves.

The Peace Initiative, the Helsinki Citizen's Charter, the Citizens' Initiative, the 10 December Movement, the Young Civilians, the Human Rights Agenda Association and the Initiative against Crimes of Thought signed the article as organisations, and many others signed as individuals:

"Articles and statements written on 16 and 21 November 2007, and said by Cemil Bayik, a known high-level leader of the PKK, to be the official views of the organisation, were published on Internet websites in several languages and were then also reflected in the media organs. The names of some Kurdish-origin human rights activists, democrats and politicians were given and these people were shown as targets. On this target list, there are also the names of our friends who have struggled with us to ensure that human and citizens' rights are provided to everyone, and that democracy and peaceful solutions are brought to life."

"We as peace, democracy and human rights activists strongly condemn the fact that those who have a different approach from the PKK, who suggest different solutions and who oppose the use of violence were openly named, announced to be "so-called Kurds" and "collaborators and traitors", and shown as targets for triggermen. We consider this to constitute a moral, political and legal crime. We perceive these threats as an attack and hostile attitude towards all of us."

"We have argued for years that violence, may it come from the PKK or any other official or semi-official institution, organisation or persons, does not solve any problems, and continue to argue so. We have experienced painful examples of what happens when people are shown as targets for thinking differently. The wound of Hrant Dink's murder still hurts inside us. We still carry the shameful stain of three of our citizens in Malatya having their throats cut and being slain."

"All similar murders are the result of those who do not bow to certain power and methods being declared traitors and triggermen taking it on themselves to act on such fetvas. We do not want new pain, new shame, new violence."

"In the latest statements, the PKK uses the same methods; we announce that we would consider any attack on those targeted as an attack on us all. We call on Turks, Kurds, all citizens, people who have struggled for peaceful solutions for years, and on institutions and foundations to be beside those who have been targeted and to show a clear position against the violence directed at these people's rights to life and the freedom of expression."

The undersigned are:

Adalet Dinamit, Adnan Genc, Ahmet Dindar, Ahmet Insel (Prof. Dr.), Ahmet Öztürk (ZOKEV), Ahmet Ümit, Akin Atalay, Ali Bayramoglu, Ali Ucansu , Arif Ali Cangi, Atilla Bahcivan, Ayda Arel (Prof.Dr.), Ayda Manukyan, Aydin Engin, Ayse Berkman (Prof. Dr.), Aysel Yagmurdereli, Ayse Bugra (Prof.Dr.), Ayse Gül Altınay, Ayse Sözer, Aysegül Önen, Ayten Gümüsel, Aziz Celik, Banu Acun, Barboros Gorgen, Baris Önen, Baskin Oran (Prof.Dr), Bircan Yorulmaz, Burak Tatar, Burhan Senatalar (Prof. Dr.), Bülent Atamer, Bülent Vargel (68'ers Solidarity Association), Büsra Ersanli (Prof. Dr.), C.Murat Özgünay (ÖDP Kadıköy Province Chair), Celal Yildirim (President of Turkish Dentists’ Union), Cem Rifat Sey, Cemal Polat, Ceren Kenar, Cihan Sahin, Cüneyt Ozansoy (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Cagatay Anadol, Cigdem Yalcın Pamukcu, Cigdem Mater, Emel Ataktürk (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Emel Kurma (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Emine Usakligil (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Engin Erkiner, Erdal Dogan, Erdal Karayazgan, Ergin Cinmen, Ergun Gümrah, Erkan Kayili, Erkan Sen, Erol Katircioglu (Prof. Dr.), Esin Düzel, Fatmagül Berktay (Prof. Dr.), Fehim Caculi, Feray Salman (İHOP), Ferdan Ergut (Doc. Dr.), Ferhat Kentel (Assist. Prof.,Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Ferit Ay, Fethi Nemli, Fethiye Cetin, Feyzan Aliefendioglu (İstanbul ODTU Graduates Association), Feza Kürkcüoglu, Füsun Celiköz, Füsun Üstel (Prof. Dr.), G. Ceren Deniz, Gamze Deniz, Gencay Gürsoy (Prof. Dr.), Gonca Turgutoglu Demir (Lawyer), Görkem Kürkcüoglu, Gülhan Moel, Gülnur Elcik, Gündüz Mutluay, Güniz Caner, Gürel Tüzün, Gürhan Ertür, Hacer Ansal (Prof. Dr.), Hakan Cengiz, Hakan Tahmaz, Haldun Sural (ODTÜ), Hale Akay, Halil Berktay (Prof. Dr.), Halit Gürsener, Haluk Inanici, Haluk Tekeli, Hasan Öztoprak, Hazal Özvaris, Hilal Kaplan, Hülya Gülbahar, Hürriyet Karadeniz, Hüsnü Öndül, Ilgin Su, Ibrahim Halil Simsek, Idil Eser, Ihsan Aksoy, Inönü Alpat, Irfan Yalcın, Ismail Pırnar, Istar Gözaydın (Prof. Dr.), Kemal Gökhan Gürses, Kemal Kirisci, Kerem Ciftcioglu, Kiymet Koc, Koray Urbarli, Kuvvet Lordoglu (Prof. Dr.), Lale Tayla (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Latif Simsek, Levent Korkut (Amnesty International Turkey branch), M.Selim Baki, Markar Esayan, Mebuse Tekay, Mehmet Deniz, Mehmet Hakki Yazici, Mehmet Satici, Mehmet Taha Deniz, Melek Göregenli (Prof. Dr.), Melek Taylan, Merih Ipek, Mesut Yegen (ODTÜ), Mete Sönmez, Mete Tuncay (Prof. Dr.), Metin Bakkalci, Metin Danis, Meyda Yegenoglu (Prof. Dr.), Mithat Sancar (Prof. Dr.), Murat Belge (Prof.Dr, Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Murat Gümrükcüoglu, Musa Cam (DISK Trade Union Confederation) , Müfit Erkarakas (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Müjgan Arpat, Münir Korkmaz, Nebahat Akkoc (KAMER), Nese Erdilek, Nevay Samer, Nil Mutluer, Nilüfer Sayılan, Nuray Uzunören (Prof. Dr., Istanbul ODTÜ Graduates Association), Nurdan Arca (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Nurettin Akbas, Nuri Ödemis, Okan Akhan, Olgun Ülkenciler, Onur Salman, Orhan Alkaya, Orhan Kemal Cengiz (Human Rights Agenda Association) , Osman Kavala, Oya Baydar, Ömer Faruk Gergerlioglu (MAZLUM-Der), Ören Altmisyedioglu (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Özgür Kilic, Özlem Dalkiran, Recep Sedat Soykan, Reha Tokgöz , Ruhi Deniz, Sami Caner, Saygi Yagmurdereli, Sefa Feza Arslan (ODTÜ), Sema Özdemir, Semih Bilgen (Prof. Dr. ODTÜ), Semin Gümüsel (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Senem Donatan, Serdar Kandil, Sinan Gökcen (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Soli Özel (Prof.Dr.), Süleyman Celebi (DISK), Süleyman Önen, Sanar Yurdatapan, Sehbal Senyurt (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Sehrazat Cakıroglu (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Serif Bayram, Sule Albayrakoglu, Taner Akcam, Tarik Ziya Ekinci, Teoman Pamukcu, Tuba Candar, Turgay Ogur, Tülay Dogan, Tülin Yazici, Üstün Bilgen-Reinart , Veysel Ucum, Yalcin Ergündogan, Yasemin Öz (Kaos GL Association), Yasemin San (Helsinki Citizens’ Charter), Yasar Celik, Yavuz Önen, Yesim Elibol, Yildiray Ogur, Yilmaz Ensaroglu, Zafer Aydin, Zafer Kirac, Zeki Samer, Zeynep Tanbay, Zeynep Taskin, Ziya Gökerkücük. (TK/AG)