Akın Birdal is severely wounded
On 12 May 1998, at about 12:25, our President Mr. Akin Birdal was severely wounded because of an armed assault by two unknown assailants, at his office at the Human Rights Association's Headquarters. The intelligence police officers, who normally are present every day in front of our association's building to observe people coming and going, were absent on that day. Also it is quite obvious that the perpetrators were feeling very safe, given the fact that they left the place of the crime armed.
It is also quite alarming that the security officers, who were informed about the assault, arrived at the place of the crime and started with a "technical" examination, instead of speeding up the process of getting our severely wounded President, lying on the floor, to the hospital. The ambulance, which was called immediately after the incident, was very late in arriving which caused our President loosing much blood.
After our President was hospitalized, the necessary steps to save and document any evidence was not carried out at the office of the President. The room was not sealed for investigation, and whatever evidence present was not investigated carefully. It was not until the next day that the police, upon the urging of our officers, investigated the bullets holes.
Computerized pictures of perpetrators were drawn. But their clothes are not in accordance with the eye-witnesses testimony.
We have grave concerns for Mr. Birdal's safety at the hospital because entrance to the hospital is not under the strict security measures as we have heard from various sources.
The police officers, who guard the entrance to the intensive care unit at the hospital where our President is being hospitalized, are attached to the Anti Terrorism Branch of Ankara Security Department and are easily identified through their moustache which indicates their association to a certain political group. They also behave towards our association's officers and members in a disturbing way. Our members who are on duty at the hospital are not allowed to secure the elevator exit to the intensive care unit. Therefore our own security can only be carried out partially.
The investigation is being carried out by the Anti Terrorism Branch and we have first indications that it is being distorted. At the Security Department, the eye-witnesses were shown pictures of several HRA officers and also HADEP officers known to us. This leads us to believe that the investigation is intended to conceal the identity of the perpetrators.
According to human rights defenders, this assault was an obvious contra-guerilla action, as in previous unresolved assaults. We are concerned that the perpetrators of this assault will not be revealed and those accountable will be protected. If this is the case, then we will hold not only the Interior Ministry, but also the government and all mechanisms embodying the government accountable for this.
As Human Rights Association's officers and human rights activists, we declare that, in order to investigate this assault objectively and with the necessary care, an independent commission has to be set up in which our association's officers would be part of. We also declare that the Human Rights Association will continue with its determined struggle for human rights, democracy, freedom and peace.
Executive Board