THE RESEARCH-INQURY REPORT ON
VIOLATIONS THAT OCCURED AS A RESULT OF FORBIDDANCE BY THE GOVERNORSHIP ON NEWROZ CELEBRATION ON 22 MARCH IN SİİRT PROVINCE
INCIDENT
The steering committee, which was composed for celebration of Newroz festive, applied for celebration of Newroz festive in the Newroz area on 22.03.2008. However the Governorship allowed celebration on 21 March rather than 22 March. Then the steering committee stated that they would not carry out celebration on 21 March.
There was no positive step for allowance to celebrate the festive on 22 March, despite all attempts and meetings. Therefore Human Rights Association (IHD), for celebration and to be able to be prevented violations, has decided to present in Siirt as a committee. The committee, which was composed of Ms. Vetha Aydın the Chairperson IHD Branch in Siirt and Ms. Filiz Kalaycı a lawyer and the Chairperson of İHD Branch in Ankara, stayed in Siirt till incidents ended.
Newroz celebration was carried out in Kurtalan district in Siirt province on 20.03.2008. Seve Demir (as she had one copy of Haftaya Bakış Newspaper (Reviewing the Week Newspaper) though there was a decision of confiscation against it) was detained. After Scanning of Security Record (GBT), she was released. There were problems particularly at woman checkpoints, women were searched harshly, even their underwear was searched and they were subjected to degrading implementations.
COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
IHD Headquarters, so as to carry out observation on behalf of IHD in Newroz celebrations on 22 March 2008 in Siirt province and its districts, appointed the following persons;
-Ms. Vetha Aydın member Central Executive Board and the Chairperson of IHD Branch in Siirt,
-Ms. Filiz Kalaycı the Chairperson of IHD Branch in Ankara and lawyer
-Mr. Hamit Demir, Mr. Hayrettin Yılmaz, Mr. Selim Toprak, Mr. Ramazan Ural, Mr. Hasan Ceyhan, Mr. Beşir Aksu, Mr. M. Emin Köneş, Mr. M. Salih Nas, Mr. Cahfer Saraç, Mr. Nihat Aydın, Mr. Metin Sevgin, Mr. Şahin Kayıkçı and Mr. Abdullah Aşkara Administration Board Members of IHD Branch in Siirt
INCIDENTS IN SİİRT CITY CENTRE
Police forces, which attacked just after Newroz fire was lighted in the evening of 21.03.2008 at Keþkol area (Seyrantepe) in Siirt city centre, broke all the windows of 14 houses in the area.
Police forces, which attacked against women that lighted fire in Batı area, stroke all of the women in the area.
Zeki Ete, who was one of children that lighted fire in near to Şehl station in Evren area, was detained in the police attack. He was arrested by the decision of court on 22.03.2008.
Kemal Elinç’s car, which was in front of his house in Çal area, was demolished by police forces at 20.30.
There was an attack by police forces against a group, which lighted fire in Ulus area on 22.03.2008. Police forces, during this attack, raided 5 houses in the area and broke all windows of these houses.
You can read the name of people whose houses’ windows were broken:
Mr. Abdulgafar Gök
Mr. Selahattin Batur
Mr. Kadri Akan
Mr. Gürgin Gök
Mr. Şefik Gök
A group, which lighted fire near to Þehl station in Çakmak area, was subjected to gas bombs, sticks and gun attack. A woman, named Sosın Özalp, was wounded with gun and transferred to Faculty of Medicine in Dicle University.
Abdurrahman Ekinci: Akgül cafe was attacked by police forces. All people in cafe were taken out while beating with sticks and planks. Goods in the cafe were damaged and all the windows were broken by police forces.
A group, in Newroz area in Çakmak area, was subjected to attack with guns panzers.
Group, which was in the livestock market area near to Tillo road, was subjected to attack with panzers and guns.
Many people were wounded in attack against group, which were in Aydınlar Avenue, Cumhuriyet Square, Özgen Avenue and Güreş point.
Arafat Aksu: aksu cafe was attacked by police forces. All people in cafe were taken out while beating with sticks and planks. Goods in the cafe were damaged and all the windows were broken by police forces.
Muhlis Sevgin: his work place was raided by police forces. Goods in the cafe were damaged. 2 staffs of the cafe were beaten by police forces which stroke mainly their heads. They applied to the hospital but the incident was not considered as a judicial issue by personnel there.
Those, who were wounded because of security forces attacks in areas and city centre:
1-Sosin Özalp: it was learned that she had been wounded with gun near to Þelh station. However type of gun has not been learned. She was transferred to Faculty of Medicine in Dicle University. (Then she was discharged from the hospital)
2-Ahmet Bartık (15 years old, student in high school): it was learned that he had been wounded with gun in Evren area. However type of gun has not been learned. He was transferred to Faculty of Medicine in Dicle University. His statement, as a complainant, was taken by Public Prosecutor Office in Siirt on 26.03.2008. (He was discharged from the hospital)
3-Mehmet Sevgin: He was beaten by planks and sticks in Doðan area. Mainly his head was subjected to this beating. He was taken to hospital as wounded.
4-İsmail Sevgin: He was beaten by planks and sticks. Mainly his head was subjected to this beating. He was taken to hospital however the incident was not considered as a judicial issue by personnel there.
5- Kahraman Sevgin: He was beaten by planks and sticks. Mainly his head was subjected to this beating. He was taken to hospital however the incident was not considered as a judicial issue by personnel there.
6- H.K. : head and back parts were beaten. H.K was treated at home. H.K did not apply to hospital.
7- S.C.: it was reported that S.C’s foot had been shot. S.C did not apply to hospital.
8-Hamit Çağlar: mentally deficient, there were damage, swelling and bruises in his face, head and eyes.
Those who were detained in the incidents on 22.03.2008:
NOTES OF INTERVIEWS, WHICH MADE BY LAWYERS ON 22.03.2008 (Lawyer. Filiz Kalaycı)
1-HÜSEYİN CEYHAN: he was detained at a restaurant, his left hand-at the wrist point-was broken. While he was under the detention, he was beaten by security director. (Name of the restaurant: City restaurant)
2-RAMAZAN YILMAZ: he was detained at Durak cafe.
3-CELALAETİN MARAL: he was detained at Mosque. He told that he had witnessed beating of Hüseyin Ceyhan by the security director. There were signs of sticks in his back. He was subjected to insults and beating during detention period.
4-SABRİ BARK: he was detained at Þehir restaurant (City restaurant) in the city centre. (He was detained together with Hüseyin Ceyhan) He was beaten, there were swelling in his back, right hand and arm.
5-MEHMET İNAN: he was detained at Alan area. Security forces entered into house and detained him. There were serious damages in his back. There were swelling and bruises in his back.
6-MEHMET CAN ÖZER: he was detained at the city centre. He was beaten while taking into hospital.
7-AHMET TUNÇ: he was detained while he was going to his home after work. His left arm was beaten, there were damages in his broken left arm and left leg.
8-LEZGİN TAŞÇI: there were damages in his back, head, left hand and face.
9-SAİT ÖZALP: he was detained at Çal area. His legs were beaten. There was a bruise in his nose.
10-SABRİ ERDOĞAN: he was detained at Çal area. His legs were beaten.
11-SALİH EKİNCİ: he was detained at city centre. There were serious damages at his shoulder and back parts.
12-ALİ BENGİ: (under 15)
13- KASIM DAŞÇI (under 15)
14-DİLBER ÖZBEY (under 15)
15-MİZGİN ŞEN (under 15)
16- MAHMUT EŞİYOK
Two of these persons were given to their families as they are very young.
Additional detention period, until Monday, was demanded.
The following people were detained on 22.03.2008;
Ali Bengi, Kasım Daşçı, Dilber Özbey and Mizgin Şen (they are all under 15) were released after their statements were taken by public prosecutor office on 24.03.2008,
Hüseyin Ceyhan, Ramazan Yılmaz, Sabri Bark, Mehmet İnan, Mehmet Can Özer, Ahmet Tunç, Lazgin Taşçı, Sait Özalp, Sabri Erdoğan, Salih Ekinci and Mahmut Eşiyok was arrested in the hearing on 24.03.2008. They were sent to E Type Closed Prison in Siirt.
23.03.2008
After MPs left, there was an attack against group near to Þelh station in Evren area.
Elif Ete (16) was wounded and taken to hospital.
After statement of Mr. Abdurrahman Taşçı, the provincial president of Democratic Society Party (DTP) was taken; he was transferred to the court with a demand for arrest on 24.03.2008. Mr. Taşçı was released after his statement was taken in the court. The public prosecutor office filed an appeal this decision. He was released on the condition that he would come to the court on 25.03.2008.
DETERMINATIONS:
1- Security forces used excessive and unproportional force (using gun, beating people randomly, driving panzers towards people).
2- Provocative announces from police forces vehicles (you are not human, you lost your humanity).
3- Breaking windows, throwing gas bombs to houses and work place.
4- Behaviour and provocative speech by Cuma Ali Aydýn, the Security Director, towards MPs that elected via power of people.
5- Cloth search manner, which is not suitable to human dignity (especially women were search harshly even their underwear were search).
6- Subjecting to police beating at hospitals under detention.
7- Not considering as judicial event when people applied to hospitals.
8- Preventing members of İHD observation committee in some points. Also insults, threatens against committee members.
9- It has been determined that there were over 30 wounded people. However, it has been determined that some people did not apply to hospitals due to fear of detention.
10-Insult, swear and threats against people by security forces.