ÊLIH - Êlih (Batman) TUAY-DER Co-chair Hasan Arığtekin said that if a lasting peace is to be achieved and a democratic society is to be built, all prisoners, especially sick prisoners, must be released. 

 

The social expectation for the release of prisoners, especially ill prisoners, who are seen as a facilitating step in achieving the goal of the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, has not yet found its response from the ruling party. Pointing out that the release of prisoners would be a reassuring step in the process resulting in a lasting peace, Hasan Arığtekin demanded that these steps be taken as soon as possible. 

 

Reminding that there are one thousand 412 ill prisoners in prisons where violations continue, 335 of them seriously ill, Arığtekin said: "Among them, Mehmet Emin Çam and Sait Özer in Batman Prison have heart diseases and chronic diseases and need to be treated. Their treatment is being prevented. Their families are experiencing great problems due to exile in prisons. They cannot reach their children. They are worried about their children's health." 

 

'ILL PRISONERS SHOULD BE RELEASED'

 

Emphasising that no reassuring step has been taken despite the talk of peace, Arığtekin said: "If there are to be initiatives on the basis of the construction of a democratic society in order to ensure the brotherhood of peoples and lasting peace in Turkey, the ill prisoners should be released first and all political prisoners should be released immediately afterwards." 

 

'PEACE EFFORTS MUST NOT BE WASTED'

 

Arığtekin said that Abdullah Öcalan's efforts and efforts for peace are recognised all over the world and that these efforts and efforts should not be ignored, adding that short, medium and long term steps should be taken as soon as possible. Arığtekin said, "The most important of these steps should be the release of ill prisoners, the improvement of Mr Öcalan's conditions, the unity and solidarity of the peoples of Turkey and the construction of a democratic society." 

 

'OBSERVATION COMMITTEES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED'

 

Arığtekin said that the postponement of the execution of people who have completed 30 years or more of imprisonment causes discomfort in the society and that the Prison Administration and Observation Boards should be abolished as soon as possible. Arığtekin called on the Ministries of Justice and Health to release the ill prisoners as soon as possible and to bring the situation of other prisoners to a humane condition. 

 

MA / Ozan Bayindir