Turkish Political Prisoners Fight On!

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Sunday May 08, 2005 10:07 by Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey - Derry Committee of Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey

Turkish Political Prisoners Fight On!

A spokesperson for the Derry Committee of Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey has released a statement condemning further attacks on political prisoners currently being held in Turkeys infamous prison regimes, equating them with similar failed Thatcherite tactics used against Irish political prisoners of war in the early eighties.

Turkish Political Prisoners Fight On!

(Derry) Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey

STATEMENT:

Turkish Political Prisoners Fight On!

A spokesperson for the Derry Committee of Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey has released a statement condemning further attacks on political prisoners currently being held in Turkeys infamous prison regimes, equating them with similar failed Thatcherite tactics used against Irish political prisoners of war in the early eighties.

“Our committee was established several years ago to highlight the struggle of the Turkish political prisoners in Derry at a time when republican socialists and republicans celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1981 prison struggles. It was also a time when similar committees set up through out Ireland in an effort to highlight the seriousness of ongoing political developments in Turkey.

“It is almost five years now since Turkish political prisoners took up the fight against a campaign waged by the state to isolate them and destroy their ability to continue political organisation and education when they are incarcerated. The struggle itself has now claimed the lives of 145 political prisoners, with many others seriously injured by physical brutality or irreversibly damaged by hunger strikes.

“The Turkish regime are now attempting to pass new laws that would compel political prisoners to wear a special uniform. Not too long ago both INLA and IRA P.O.W’s fought a similar battle with the British state. That was a fight which claimed the lives of ten Irish political prisoners of war on hunger strikers, with many others murdered and injured on our streets protesting in solidarity with them. The same familiar Thatcherite tactics of criminalisation failed then as it will do now in Turkey. Surely serious historical lessons such as this must be learned?

“Turkish political prisoners quite rightly see this as an attempt to further humiliate and criminalise them further. We are aware that their ‘death fast’ is not over and that they will resist all attempts which that regime creates to isolate them. It is our duty and the duty of every Irish republican and socialist to show their support and solidarity with them at this time as we remember the struggle and sacrifice of our dead. Their struggle is our struggle!”

(Derry) Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey
P.O.Box 1981, Derry, BT48 8GX