Turkey is seeking the EU membership but in the last month over 300 Kurdish political and civil activists have been taken into custody and 148 have been remanded in custody.
Only last week Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned, following the publication on the internet of the recording of a meeting between Turkish intelligence officers and PKK members, that the PKK and Kurdish politicians should not expect any nice treatment. Indeed words were followed by practice.
Yesterday in Istanbul a total of 161 people peacefully protesting against the isolation of Kurdish national leader Abdullah Ocalan have been taken into custody after the police had attacked the crowd using dozens of tear gas. In the night it was confirmed that out of 161 people in custody only 20 had been released.
Indeed the Prime Minister had warned the Kurds before the month of Ramadan started. He had said that "after the Ramadan month things will change and the state will act to put an end to the PKK".
The army and Erdogan did not wait the end of Ramadan. Indeed military operations were carried out during the whole fasting period with several invasion of the Kurdistan Federal Region by the Turkish troops. Air raids went on almost nonstop since the 17 of August. Seven civilians, included 4 children, were killed in the raids.
To protest against the military operations hundreds of human shields have been staging demonstrations at the border. They have been constantly violently attacked by the police and the army. One Kurdish politician democratically elected council member Ayhan was killed when the police opened fire on the crowd.
The arrests top 300 in one month, with Istanbul bearing the worst scares. Among the people taken into custody are many BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) members and executives, as well as demonstrators and children (at least five minors have been taken into custody in Istanbul).
On 1 September, International Peace Day, the demonstration in Istanbul had to be called abruptly to an end after the numerous attacks by police. In this occasion 55 people had been taken into custody and 38 were remanded in custody. The last repressive measure taken in Istanbul was the prohibition of the Civil Friday Prayer.
In Mersin and Adana repression and arrests have been heavy as well. In Adana a total of 42 people have been taken into custody and 15 were remanded in custody. Among them several BDP members and executives. Likewise in Mersin 37 people have been taken into custody and 28 are on remand.
source: http://www.rojhelat.info/english/component/content/article/1602-over-300-kurdish-political-activists-detained-last-month
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