Please write to the Convention for the Prevention of Torture to ensure Öcalan's safety and well being

In April 2016,  UNITE and GMB, two of the biggest trade unions in the UK, together with a number of sympathetic MPs, launched the ‘Freedom for Öcalan’ campaign. This was the result of a UNITE and GMB delegation visiting the region and engaging in discussions with local groups on the ground. The unions are now totally convinced that a peaceful solution to the current conflict will only be found if the jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is freed and allowed to play a full role in the development of a new peace process (see the latest joint GMB-UNITE letter of 27 July 2016 attached).
 
For the Kurdish people and supporters across the world, the commitment of the two major UK  unions to lead a campaign to build solidarity amongst trade unionists for the freedom of Öcalan is a significant initiative.
 
They have also launched a website for potential supporters (www.freedomforocalan.org)  We will deeply appreciate if could visit the website to support the campaign. You can sign the petition and also sign up for news from the campaign. Please circulate the information to your friends so that we can maximise the support for the campaign.
 
As you are well aware, the coup attempt in Turkey on 15th July 2016 proved to be unsuccessful, but has led to the most dangerous situation for democracy in Turkey.  President Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency and gone well beyond arresting the coup plotters to suppressing political organisations, media outlets and imprisoning journalists.
 
In these volatile circumstances, we have grave concerns about the safety and well being of  Abdullah Öcalan. This concern is shared by his family, his lawyers, the Kurdish people and the wider public. Unfortunately, the pronouncements and actions of the government do little to allay these concerns.
 
We also urge you you to write to the members of the Convention against the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to visit Öcalan at Imrali Island for a face to face meeting with him accompanied by his family and his lawyers (see letter attached). The CPT must demand that the Turkish government arrange this visit urgently. Only such a meeting will allay the concerns of millions of Kurds that their leader is safe and well.
 
Furthermore, we urge you to write to the Rt Hon Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary to seek assurance from the Turkish government that Öcalan is safe and well.
 
We look forward to your continuing support and solidarity
 
With best wishes
 
Saleh & Estella
for CAMPACC

http://www.campacc.org.uk
E-mail: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Tel 020 7586 5892
 

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OPEN LETTER

Urgent Appeal to Convention for the Prevention of Torture -CPT

Council of Europe / Conseil de l'Europe
F - 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel +33 (0)3 88 41 22 79
Fax +33 (0)3 88 41 27 72

cptdoc@coe.int; corinne.goberville@coe.int; Jeroen.SCHOKKENBROEK@coe.int

To CPT officials,

Re: Demand for urgent meeting with Abdullah Ocalan

As you are well aware, the coup attempt in Turkey on 15th July 2016 proved to be unsuccessful, but it is clear that the aftermath will have significant political implications.

When President Tayyip Erdogan took a decision to intensify the war on the Kurds and destroy Kurdish towns and cities a year ago, at the same time he took measures to repress Kurdish civil society. The immunities on MPs were removed which was seen as aimed at the HDP in particular and Mayors were imprisoned and removed from their posts. The scale of this repression of the Kurdish people was unprecedented in recent history.

It is these atrocities and anti-democratic policies implemented by the AKP in Turkey and Kurdistan that have paved the way for the coup attempt of 15 July. Following the failure of the coup, President Erdogan has extended the repressive measures throughout the country

We can say this with confidence that had the 7 June, 2015 election results been respected and the conflict resolution process been continued, then there would not have even been any coup attempt. The Kurdish question’s existence and a lack of democratisation in Turkey have always been a basis for coups.

In these uncertain circumstances, we have grave concerns about the well being of Mr. Abdullah Ocalan. This concern is shared by his family, his lawyers, the Kurdish people and the wider public. Unfortunately, the pronouncements and actions of the government do little to allay these concerns.

During his meetings with his lawyers, the state and the HDP delegations, Mr Abdullah Ocalan had always warned of this possibility of a coup 15 months ago. In such a situation of violence and counter-violence, his safety would be under threat.

At this critical moment, we call upon the CPT to uphold its responsibilities. The CPT must allay all concerns for Mr. Abdullah Ocalan’s safety and well-being. The CPT must meet with Mr. Ocalan but also demand that his lawyers and family are allowed to meet with him too.

For millions of people, Mr Abdullah Ocalan is their political leader and his well-being is of the utmost concern for them. Any hesitance and inaction by the CPT would aggravate the concerns which are legitimate and humane. To alleviate these concerns, the CPT must act with the utmost urgency and demand to meet Mr Abdullah Ocalan face to face at Imrali Island.

We look forward to an urgent action.

Yours sincerely