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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| FEBRUARY
16, 1999 9:03 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Human Rights Watch Elizabeth Andersen (NYC) 1-212-216-1265 Lotte Leicht (Brussels) 32-2-732-2009 |
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| Rights Group Demands Fair Trial for PKK Leader; Risk of Torture and Death Penalty Cited | ||||
| NEW
YORK - February 16 -
Human Rights Watch called for a fair trial for Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the
Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK), extradited today to Turkey on terrorism
charges. In a letter to Turkish Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, the rights group said Ocalan should be held
accountable for abuses committed under his leadership, but that the trial must
conform to international standards. Human Rights Watch promised to dispatch a
trial monitor to observe proceedings against Ocalan and report on any procedural
deviations.
"Serious violations have been committed by both sides to the conflict in southeastern Turkey, and Ocalan should be held accountable for those abuses committed under his leadership," explained Holly Cartner, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Europe & Central Asia Division. "But for the cause of international justice to be served in this case, Ocalan must enjoy the highest procedural safeguards." International and non-governmental organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have documented the widespread use of torture in pre-trial detention and serious violations of the rights of the accused in Turkey, especially in the state security courts where Ocalan will likely be tried. Human rights groups have also cautioned that Ocalan may face the death penalty in Turkey. Due to these concerns, Human Rights Watch had advocated that Ocalan be tried in a country other than Turkey, where his rights could be assured. When Ocalan was apprehended in Italy on a German arrest warrant last November, the organization pressed the Italian government to try Ocalan or find another jurisdiction to do so. These efforts broke down last month when Ocalan fled Italy for an unknown destination. The fugitive leader was apprehended in Kenya yesterday and extradited to Turkey early this morning. A copy of Human Rights Watch's letter to Prime Minister Ecevit is available on the organization's website at www.hrw.org .### |
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