----- Original Message ----- From: "Press Agency Ozgurluk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Turkish prisoners reported near death in hunger strike > > > The Associated Press > > ANKARA, Turkey (December 17, 2000 6:16 a.m. EST > http://www.nandotimes.com) - A prisoners' group said Saturday that dozens > of prisoners on a 58-day hunger strike are near death. > > Some 250 prisoners linked to left-wing groups are refusing everything but > water to protest transfers from their dormitory-style open wards to one- or > three-person cells. > > The prisoners say the cells would leave them vulnerable to abuse by > authorities. > > Mediation efforts ended Friday over what Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk > called the prisoners' "unacceptable" demand to be housed in 20-person > rooms. The government wants to break up large wards, which it cannot > control and where riots and hostage-takings are frequent. > > "Only hours are left till death," a statement from Ozgur Tayad, a > solidarity group for prisoners' families said. It said the prisoners would > not abandon the strike until their demand is met. > > Umit Erkol, head of an Ankara-based physicians' association whose members > have visited some of the prisoners, said "we can expect the worst now." > > The independent Human Rights Association said about 20 prisoners were in > critical condition. > > > > > -- > Press Agency Ozgurluk > In Support of the Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey > http://www.ozgurluk.org > DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc >
