Özgür
TAYAD
(Association for the Families of Prisoners in
Turkey)
July 26, 2000 No: 67
ATTACK IN BERGAMA PRISON (TURKEY)
Yesterday afternoon the Bergama Prison Administration wanted to
carry out a search of the political prisoners’ wards on the pretext that “there
is a tunnel”. Previously prison guards had carried out searches but this time
there were soldiers. A court case had opened concerning the photographs of the
prisoners in Burdur whose bodies show traces of torture, and the continual
threats directed towards prisoners caused the prisoners to expect an attack.
The Prison Prosecutor at the Izmir Bar said in an interview:
“The politicals accept searches under certain conditions. It is not possible for
us to accept conditions. We will wait until morning. If a search is not carried
out it will be necessary for something to be done,” thus showing that a massacre
of the political prisoners in Bergama Prison was planned. At the moment there
are soldiers, bulldozers, fire brigade vehicles and ambulances in front of the
prison. The demands of families, friends and lawyers of the prisoners to see the
prisoners have been refused, also the state security forces are deliberately
using their sirens all through the night and all morning as a way of causing
suffering to the relatives who are waiting in front of the prison gates.The
reason for this is also to drown out the noise of the massacre. According to the
latest information we received this morning at 0840, gunshots were hearnd and
the roof of the prison has been pierced with holes. Also all the roads leading
to the prison were blocked and the relatives of the prisoners were not allowed
to come closer to the prison.
The Prison Prosecutor is telling lies. We are asking: during
the whole time the prison wardens carried out searches, why was it now necessary
for soldiers to carry out the searches? Why are bulldozers, ambulances and fire
engines kept in readiness in front of the prison? As you know we are familiar
with such scenes. We witnessed the same scenario yesterday in Ulucanlar and
Burdur. Are they now trying to convert Bergama into another Ulucanlar or
Burdur?
July 26, 2000 No 68
ATTACK ON BERGAMA PRISON… LATEST
This morning at 0705, as happened in Burdur Prison, hundreds of
soldiers and police started an attack against the prisoners using bulldozers and
gas bombs.
At 1000, the walls of four dormitories were completely smashed
by bulldozers. The captives retreated to another and continued to resist to
defend themselves against torture and massacre.
This attack has been planned step by step. Most recently, when
the photographs of the captives from Burdur Prison who had been subjected to
torture were published in the press, the Bergama Prison Governor Nedim Elbistan
threatened the captives, “I will skewer you and turn this place into
Ulucanlar.”
The savagery in Ulucanlar has still not been forgotten, and the
entire world has noticed what was done to our children in Burdur Prison. The
operation to massacre and torture, which was initiated in Bergama Prison, must
immediately be halted.
We call upon all those who are against torture to mobilise to
stop the attack in Bergama.
