8
May 2006
1. "Court rejects Kurdish rebel leader's retrial", a Turkish court on Friday rejected a petition by jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan to be retried, despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that his 1999 trial was unfair, the Anatolia news agency reported.
2. "Kurdish rebels promise hit-and-run attacks on Iran", a top Kurdish guerilla on Saturday threatened to launch hit-and-run attacks on Iran, saying the Shiite country planned to bomb his group's positions inside Iraq to gain Turkey's support against the US.
3. "Human rights violations during funeral of 28 March", investigation and observation report into human rights violations which occurred during the funeral on 28 March 2006 in Diyarbakir
4. "Turkey's New ECHR Bill: 33,000 in a Week", DEP MPs Alinak, Sakik and Turk win claims. ECHR rules in favor of claimants in 3 cases - sentences Turkey to pay 33,052 in compensation for complaints under freedom of expression. It also criticizes journalist Ergin's trial by a Turkish military tribunal.
5. "Turkish army build-up pressures Iraq", Turkey has massed troops along its Iraqi border to increase pressure on the United States and the new government in Baghdad to act against a growing threat from Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.
6. "Iraq warns on Iran border moves", Iraq has expressed concern about troop build-ups by both Iranian and Turkish forces along their borders with Iraq. Outgoing Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iran had been told of Iraqi concerns but said his country wanted to resolve any problems through dialogue.
1. - AFP - "Court rejects Kurdish rebel leader's
retrial":
ANKARA / 5 May 2006
A Turkish court on Friday rejected a petition by jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan to be retried, despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that his 1999 trial was unfair, the Anatolia news agency reported.
"It is no surprise. We were expecting this decision," one of Ocalan's lawyers, Hatice Korkut, told AFP.
She said an appeal was possible, but Ocalan's defense team would study the court's ruling before deciding how to proceed.
Ocalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), had asked for a retrial in January.
His request poses a legal challenge to the government because current laws do not allow for his retrial, although Ankara is under pressure to comply with ECHR rulings.
A 2003 law that allows for the review of sentences condemned by the ECHR sets a timeframe for admissible applications that explicitly excludes Ocalan's case.
"The parliament must amend this provision because it is clearly in breach of the principle of equality," Korkut said.
A possible retrial could unleash fierce public anger in Turkey, where Ocalan is widely seen as public enemy number one.
The issue has become even more explosive in recent weeks amid increasing PKK violence and a major military build-up against the rebels in the mainly Kurdish southeast.
Ocalan, 57, was condemned to death in 1999 for treason, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2002 after Turkey abolished capital punishment as part of efforts to align with European Union norms.
The ECHR ruled last May that the court that convicted Ocalan was not impartial because it included a military judge during part of the trial and because Ocalan and his lawyers lacked sufficient time and opportunity to prepare their defense.
Ankara has said it will respect the ruling, but the authorities have so far failed to say how they will proceed.
Officials have said a possible retrial will seek to correct procedural flaws but cannot result in a lighter verdict for Ocalan.
The Kurdish conflict in Turkey has claimed some 37,000
lives since the PKK took up arms for self-rule in the southeast in 1984.
2. - AFP - "Kurdish rebels promise hit-and-run
attacks on Iran":
MOUNT QANDIL / 6 May 2006
A top Kurdish guerilla on Saturday threatened to launch hit-and-run attacks on Iran, saying the Shiite country planned to bomb his group's positions inside Iraq to gain Turkey's support against the US.
"We have the right to launch attacks against Iranian forces," said Cemil "Cuma" Bayik, the de facto leader of the feared Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), a quazi-socialist rebel movement entrenched in a decades-long guerilla war for independence in the majority Kurdish southeast of Turkey.
He said recent Iranian artillery shelling on PKK camps in Iraqi Kurdistan meant that the rebel group's battle could spread to Iran.
"We are on the defense. If we're not attacked we won't either. We believe politics and democracy are a better path," Bayik said as his personal guard of a handful of male and female fighters in Kurdish dress waited outside a small hut while he spoke to AFP.
But Bayik said PKK "intelligence reports" suggested Iran was preparing for a new shelling of rebel positions.
"We can't afford to face them in open battle. We'll make hit-and-run raids with our Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortars."
The PKK consists of thousands of male and female Kurdish fighters who profess a "Democratic Socialist" philosophy, under which women's equality plays an important role and in whose fighting ranks sexual relations are not allowed.
To join, members have to renounce worldly possessions and cut links with the outside world in their quest for Kurdish independence and a new social order in which women will no longer be "enslaved," Bayik said.
Bayik blamed the offensive by Iran on the Islamic republic's desire to please neighbor and NATO member Turkey as Western pressure mounts over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"They will do anything to make sure Turkey is not with the US in a fight against Iran," said Bayik, who commands the rebels in Iraq and Turkey while PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan serves a life sentence in a Turkish prison.
On Sunday, Baghdad accused Iranian forces of entering five kilometers (three miles) into Iraq and shelling PKK positions. Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied the attacks.
Turkey applauded the attacks against the PKK camps, which lace a series of steep winding valleys in a region close to both Turkey and Iran where the adjoining territories are all majority Kurdish.
An estimated 25 to 35 million Kurds live in Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.
Ankara has long urged Iraqi and US forces to root out the PKK from Iraq's northern region, which they have occupied since the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq.
Turkey says some 5,000 armed PKK militants have found refuge in northern Iraq since 1999.
Bayik said the figure was lower but would not provide a specific number, saying it was a "military secret."
Iran "will not dare send in troops against us unless the situation in Iraq deteriorates further," Bayik said. "However, they will continue with the bombings."
He said the Iranian attacks were also aimed to pressure Baghdad as it struggles to form a government.
Kurdish leaders in Iraq have promised to raise the issue of the northern oil city of Kirkuk which they demand be integrated into a Kurdish autonomous zone after a cabinet is formed.
Iran is "trying to help some factions in Iraq work against the Kurdish nation so that Kirkuk doesn't join the (autonomous zone). This is happening as the new government is being created and the Kirkuk problem is discussed," Bayik said.
"If the Kurds go to war with the Arabs over Kirkuk we will help them. We don't just fight for ourselves," Bayik said adding that such a conflict was "possible."
But on Friday Iraqi Kurdistan's Sulaimaniyah province administrator, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), warned the PKK against using Iraqi territory to attack Iran or Turkey.
"They should think of all of Kurdistan," Bayik responded.
"We are not against the PUK having good ties with the Turkish and Iranian governments but these relationships should not go against the Kurdish nation."
Turkey maintains it reserves the right to venture into Iraq to pursue PKK fighters based there, but has denied reports that such operations are already under way.
It has amassed thousands of troops along the border with Iraq for what officials describe as a large-scale effort to prevent infiltrations by PKK rebels based in northern Iraq.
The PKK has been fighting Ankara since 1984 for Kurdish
self-rule.
3. - IHD - "Turkey: Human rights violations during
funeral of 28 March":
7 May 2006
Investigation and observation report into human rights violations which occurred during the funeral on 28 March 2006 in Diyarbakir
6 April 2006
BY: Human Rights Association (INSAN HAKLARI DERNEGI - KOMELEYA MAFÊN MIROVAN)
FACTS
The bodies of four of the 14 armed militants (Bulent Tanisik, born in Diyarbakir, Muzaffer Pehlivan born in Lice, Diyarbakir, Fatih Cetin born in Cinar, Diyarbakir, Mahmut Guler born in Kulp, Diyarbakir) who were killed on 24.03.2006 were brought to Diyarbakir on 28.03.2006, after the autopsies were completed at Malatya State Hospital they were buried in Yeni Koy Cemetery. The militants were killed during a military operation conducted in Centrum of Mus, Kulp district of Diyarbakir, Genc and Solhan districts of Bingol. Events occurred just after funeral ceremony, first in Ofis borough then continuing through several other boroughs in Diyarbakir. On the way back from the cemetery the crowd of people who had joined the funeral, faced police intervention when they arrived “10 Nisan” Police Station where hard safety measures had been taken. It also transpired that several F-16s had flown sorties over the cemetery.
The police attacked the crowd with panzers, and the youths in the crowd responded with Molotov cocktails. Meanwhile the police used tear gas and opened fire into the sky. As a result of the police opening fire Mehmet Akbulut (18) was seriously injured; he was taken to the Faculty of Medicine at Dicle University and placed in intensive care but died on 31.03.2006. The panzers caught fire when they were hit by Molotov cocktails. During the intervention correspondents from Cihan News Agency and TV 21 were also wounded.
A group of demonstrators, who arrived in Ofis borough, broke the windows of offices of official bodies, political party buildings, a bank branch and shops. Due to the escalation of events, first in Baglar borough, the shop keepers put down their shutters.
EVENTS IN DIYARBAKIR
28th March 2006, Tuesday
On Tuesday, 28th March, the demonstrations mostly went on in Kurucesme, the centre of Baglar, Mardinkapi, Melikahmet boroughs and Oryil, Medine Avenue also Sakarya and Emek streets. 70 people were wounded including a few people who were injured by firearms; approximately 100 persons were detained including 29 children. Mehmet Akbulut (18), one of the persons who were injured with firearms, around 18:30 was taken to D.U Faculty of Medicine and on 31.03.2006 around 08:15 lost his life. In the evening at about 21:30, after the mayors in the city, including the Mayor of the Metropolitan municipality and Democratic Society Party (DTP) managers talked to both the governor and the demonstrators, events calmed down. Halil Sogut (78) who was wounded on the same day, lost his life as a result of his injuries on 3rd April 2006.
29th March 2006 Wednesday
The events in the places named above and the surrounding areas continued and indeed escalated on 29th March. In the morning, in several boroughs of the city the shutters of shops and businesses were put down due to a resumption of activities. Afterwards the events spread over to Dicle University Campus. It was also observed that, the Special Squads who intervened in the events were very violent and the riot police started breaking the windows of some houses and shops, in some cases they assaulted people with physical acts and with verbal abuse and signs that were intended to provoke the people. Again security forces haphazardly beat the students when they were leaving the University. In numerous borough and streets, in particular Baglar Emek Street, Kurucesme, Korhat, Balikcilarbasi, Huzurevleri, Special Squads wearing snow masks and riot police troops were dispatched, along with military tanks in central areas. The military started guarding official buildings and by 14:00 the Gendarmerie had gained control over access to the State Hospital. Throughout this time the city was under a state of military law. In the meantime, entrance to the State Hospital Emergency Service was entirely forbidden, even for the injured and dying. The security forces used tear gas bombs, water cannons and firearms against the demonstrators. People who were detained were beaten very seriously in the middle of the street and long and short range weapons were fired into the crowds, on this day 28 people were hit by police bullets. As a result of this sustained and excessive violence, on 29th March, Tarik Ataykaya (22) and Ismail Erkek (8) died as a result of their injuries from firearms and Mehmet Isikci (19) lost his life because of a stroke. Mustafa Eryilmaz (26) died in hospital after being wounded by gunfire and Emrah Fidan (17), afterwards on lost his life on 03.04.2006 at Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine whilst being cared for in an intensive care unit because of his gun shot wounds. Abdullah Duran (9) who was watching the events from the balcony of his house on Sakarya str. Duran apt. No: 2/2, also died as a result of the police gun fire. In addition to this, several injured people who were wounded and beaten and the ones who were caught up in the general violence were hospitalized and treated. Police reinforcement troops came to Diyarbakir from Mardin and Batman and also from Elazig, Sanliurfa and Malatya military; from the 16th Brigade armour forces which are located in the Ergani district of Diyarbakir, many armoured personnel carrier vehicles and tanks arrived since very early in the morning they were mounted at 7th Army Corps Headquarters, in Seyrantepe borough and numerous tanks and military vehicles were located on points close to Ofis and Istasyon boroughs. Around 19:00, after the meeting held with Governor in order to end the events, the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, Osman Baydemir, other mayors in the city, DTP managers of Diyarbakir Bureau and NGO representatives were subjected to physical and psychological attack by the security forces, whilst in their own cars as they were going to meet people and attempt to calm the riot. Mayor Osman Baydemir’s guard was wounded with by a strike to his face, the windows of the escort car were broken and the car destroyed by the police. Whereupon, after meeting the governor, vice Governor Ahmet Aydin joined the delegation and at numerous places they met the demonstrators and at 22:00 the events had almost calmed down. During the press conference that governor Efkan Ala held at 23:00, it was stated that; 3 people had died [Tarik Ataykaya (23), Mehmet Isikci (18) and Abdullah Duran (9)], 200 people were detained and 250 people were wounded, of these 130 were security forces.
30th March 2006 Thursday
On 30th March 2006, at Yeni koy Cemetery at the funeral ceremony for those 3 citizens who died on 29th March 2006 the security forces used extreme violence and both long and short range weapons. At around 14:30, after taking the bodies from the mosque on Baglar- Medine Boulevard the crowd carried them towards the cemetery. On the way some demonstrators stoned “10 Nisan Police Station” on the highway going to Mardin; because of the tear gas bombs and firearms used by the police at the station, a child called Enis Ata (8) lost his life. IHD observers noted that, DTP members, identified by ‘on duty’ armbands, made great efforts to prevent any intemperance occuring and events getting even further out of control. Also a monitoring delegation composed of IHD members observed that when the crowd was almost 100 metres away from the 10 Nisan Police station, a police car (Shorthand trade mark) with its siren wailing loudly, drove very fast from Medine Boulevard, came to a crossroad close to the station and raced into the station. This provoked some of the people on the crossroad and many of the crowd coming from the cemetery. It was at this point that some of the crowd stoned the station and the police opened fire from within 10 Nisan Police station and also deployed tear gas bombs. Ismail Erkek (8) lost his life as a result of this gunfire. Until this time, shutters were down only in Baglar, Balikcilarbasi and Huzurevleri districts, but after the news was heard of the death of a child and concerns of events escalating, the shutters went down all over the city and events recommenced in those boroughs which had seen activity in the previous days.
The IHD monitoring delegation who were present at the events on 30th March 2006, observed the following:
* The police, who were different from those of the previous day, threw tear gas over the crowd from helicopters, opened fire directly into the crowds and used an excessive amount of tears gas bombs. Also, the police went into the streets and randomly beat people and detained them, they also went into buildings and used physical and physiological violence indiscriminately, making no effort to determine whether people were part of the protest or not.
* Where tear gas should be fired into the sky when used to disperse crowds, the police threw it directly over the crowd, and it was evident that the police’s intention was to cause maximum damage to human life.
* During the funeral, F-16 war planes and military helicopters flew over the crowd, deliberately antagonising the situation.
* The crowd returning from the funeral, clashed with the police in Medine Boulevard, Emek Street, Hatbaoyu Street, Sakarya Street, around the prison, Urfakapi, Sunay Street, Mardinkapi and Kosuyolu Park.
* The events continued after sunset, with the special squad and riot police with panzers intervening with protest groups on Emek Street. At the time of intervention, police broke the windows of the flats around with stones, threw gas bombs in the flats and threatened citizens.
* Many were detained, children among them. The defence lawyers who were assigned from the Bar Association in accordance with law were subjected to physical violence and verbal abuse. Lawyer Selahattin Coban, stated what happened to him on 30 March 2006: “… on 30.03.2006 around 15:00 as the defence lawyer assigned for 14 clients, aged between 12-18, by the Bar Association, Criminal Proceeding Law practising centre (CMK), I went to TEM Office (Combating Terror Department). However, because the police and protestors were stoning each other I couldn’t reach the police station. As soon as I told the uniformed sentry policeman, that I was a lawyer and had came to see the detained persons, he replied “The base born, son of b…… are stoning here….”. Just a few steps further, I saw security forces wearing regular civilian clothing stoning the crowd with slingshots from the yard of the Police station. I couldn’t enter the station. On the same day in the evening, around 20:30 I returned. A citizen on the corner turned to me and said, “… brother, they are shooting, take care they can shot you too!”. After that I called CMK Office and requested that they let the police know that I was coming in and I went in. All the children had been beaten and insulted. Among their complaints they stated that even though there was a squab in the room where they were held; they were forced to sleep on the concrete floor and they were feed only twice in the day. Some of them, especially those detained in the Carsi Police Station, were stripped and had cold water poured over them and were beaten with thick sticks. As I was leaving I heard some shooting and explosions. There were almost 200-220 police officers both in official uniforms and civil clothes around the police station, and in the garden and yard,. Suddenly they took action; I heard voices coming from the crowd of police saying ”… kill all of them. Don’t come back unless you make sure that you killed all!”
31 March 2006 Friday
On 31 March Friday, it was observed that all over the city the shutters were down. Around 10:30 in the district and borough where the demonstrations occurred previously, protests restarted. The frequency of usage of firearms increased and even citizens who didn’t join the protests were beaten and detained by the police. The bodies of Enes Ata (8) who died on 30 March, and Ismail Erkek (8) were buried at 05:00 in the morning with the assistance of the families in the villages as the families were not allowed to bury them in the city. Mehmet Akbulut (18), who was wounded on 28 March by a bullet on 31 March Friday, lost his life in the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine. Again, because it was not permitted to bury him in the city, he was buried in Batur village in Dicle district where his family came from. On the same day, after the hearing of 24 peace mothers at the 2nd Heavy Criminal Court who had been arrested previously, 5 female lawyers registered with the Diyarbakir Bar Association [Lawyer Ayla Akat, Lawyer Meral Danis Bestas (Member of Executive Board of Bar Association), Lawyer Aygul Demirtas (Member of the Executive Board of IHD Headquarters in Ankara and IHD Diyarbakir Branch), Lawyer Melihe Yildirim (Member of the Executive Board of IHD Diyarbakir Branch) and Lawyer Evin Akgul], were abused verbally by a police officer and also threatened and insulted in front of the courtyard building. Lawyer Ayla Akat was also subjected to physical violence. Also IHD was informed that the lawyers from the Diyarbakir Bar Association who were assigned to 16 detainees being held at the Provincial Gendarmerie Headquarter, were subjected to insults from soldiers. In the same way on Friday, 31 March when Lawyer Cafer Koluman, registered with the Diyarbakir Bar Association (also chair of the Diyarbakir Branch of Pir Sultan Abdal Association) went to the Anti-Terror Branch as an assigned defence lawyer in order to meet his clients, he was physically attacked by police officers waiting in front of the Police station and as a result his nose was broken. Lawyer Koluman has made an official criminal complaint.
1 April 2006 Saturday
On Friday, 1 April the city went back to its normal life. The debris in the street was removed and the city cleaned by the municipality workers. Also many people were arrested in streets, shops and houses.
The Diyarbakir Bar Association Criminal Proceeding Law Practising Centre (CMK) stated that, the majority of the detainees were detained in accordance with article 302 of the Turkish Penal Code, “Acting on behalf of an illegal organisation” and others were arrested and accused of “being a member of an illegal organisation”, “accessory and giving aid to an illegal organisation”, “provoking people to revolt on the base of hatred and hostility”, “attacking security forces with weapons, Molotov cocktails and knives”, “provoking people to loot”, “attacking official buildings, political party buildings, official patrol cars with Molotov cocktails” and opposing Demonstration and March Code number 2911. In the same press release dated 1 April 2006, the CMK stated that 417 people were detained in relation to the events on 28-29-30-31 March and 155 of the 167 arrested were referred to the court, including 31 children. It was also stated that there were 190 children among the detainees.
2nd April 2006 Sunday
All over the city, the detentions, physical attacks on citizens by the security forces continued on unabated through Sunday, 2 April. On the same day, Halit Sogut (78) who had been wounded on 30 March by blows to his head, died at the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine where he had been in the brain surgery intensive care unit.
On Sunday, 2 April, as of 16:00 the registered number of detainees was 546. 236 of those who were referred to the court were arrested and all the prisons in Diyarbakir got full so that 86 of those arrested were sent to Mardin E Type closed prison. After this prison was also filled, the arrested were sent to prison in the Nusaybin District of Mardin.
VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO LIFE CAUSED BY SECURITY FORCES IN DIYARBAKIR
From the beginning of the events until 17:00 on 28th March 2006, the security forces refrained from using firearms. However, after 17:00 several were wounded and died due to gunshots received from the security forces. It is also a point of concern that injuries from firearms and blows from objects hit ‘killer’ points such as the chest and head.
The citizens whose right to life was violated by security forces between 28th March 2006- 3rd April 2006:
1) Mehmet AKBULUT (18) : On 28th March 2006, he was seriously wounded in the city centre when the security forces opened fire and on 31. 03. 2006 lost his live at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine where he was being treated. (According to the autopsy report dated 31.03.2006 also enclosed here, the death of the person was due to the liver being destroyed and internal injuries and loss of blood, caused by the bullet…..)
2) Halit SOGUT (78) : On 28th March 2006 at around 14:30 Halit Sogut was seriously wounded by security forces, receiving a blow from an object to his head and on 2nd April 2006 died the at State Hospital where he was being treated.
3) Tarik ATAYKAYA (22), Furniture Maker : On 29th March 2006 at around 13:30- 14:00 on Baglar Medine Boulevard next to Hayat 2 Apt. (next by Metin Furniture Shop) Tarik was wounded when the security forces opened fire. died on the same day at State Hospital (Autopsy Report dated 30.03.2006 is enclosed; according to the report death occurred due to the impact of the bullets (tear gas cartridge) which injured and damaged his brain, resulting in severe internal bleeding). On 03.04.2006 the eyewitnesses ‘I.D’ and ‘M.S.D’ applied to IHD Diyarbakir Branch and gave the following statement: “… on the afternoon of 29.03.2006 at around 13:30-14:00 Me, M.S.D and Tarik were walking from Medine Boulevard towards our homes. While we were walking on the road the panzers were out in full force. People around there got very anxious and worried. Then suddenly armed security forces wearing special squad uniforms appeared from the other side of the road. They were almost 6 or 7. They were randomly shooting around; sometimes they were kneeling down and taking aim at the crowd of people and shooting, not shooting at the sky. Then, a riot happened. Everybody started running around and dispersed. We were also terrified and started running. As we were running I heard shooting. When I turned back I saw Tarik lying on the floor, I went over to him. He had lost consciousness. Then M.S.D also came over to us. Me and M.S.D carried Tarik in to the closest building. Then I knocked on the door of one of the flats and asked them to call the ambulance. When were in the building we washed his face then I saw that he had been hit on is head. We waited but the ambulance didn’t come so after 5 minutes M.S.D twice went to outside and looked for cars. But after the police again started shooting people he came back in to the building. Then we got Tarik and went out. A pickup truck passing over there gave us a lift and took us to the State Hospital. They did first aid there but after a short time he lost his life.”
4) Mehmet ISIKCI (19), Furniture seller : On 29.03.2006 at 17:30-18:00 he was hit by the police with hard objects on Emek Street and after a short while lost his life at the State Hospital where he was taken after being wounded. The event was witnessed by his relatives who live in a flat opposite the place where he was attacked. (According to the report dated 30.03.2006 which is among appendixes; death occurred because of skull fracture, internal bleeding in his brain and right lung and liver rupture, all due to head, chest and stomach trauma, internal bleeding and shock …..)
5) Abdullah DURAN (9), Primary school pupil : On 29.03.2006 around 17:30, Abdullah Duran who was watching ongoing events from the balcony of the flat where he lived with his parent, on Sakarya Street, Duran apt. no: 2/2, lost his live when the security forces opened fire. Mehmet Duran, the uncle of the victim who applied to IHD and asked for legal aid, stated that bullets also hit the jacket of his other nephew Eyup Duran and he wanted to lodge a criminal complaint against the police officers who killed his nephew. (According to the autopsy report dated 30.03.2006 enclosed with the report, death occurred due to injuries to the lung and heart from bullets, as a result there was internal bleeding and the body went into shock….)
6) Enez ATA (8), Primary school pupil : On 30th March 2006 in the events occuring during the funeral of 3 civilian citizens whose right to life was violated by the security forces on 28 and 29th March, security forces again used firearms and as a result of this he lost his live when a bullet hit his body. Father of the victim, Selamettin Ata who applied to IHD Diyarbakir branch and asked for legal aid, gave the following statement: “.. On 30th March 2006 at noon, my son Enez Ata came home earlier than usual and said they were not accepted at the school and all students were sent back home. Around 13:20 as soon as he took off his school uniform, he said he would go to visit his aunt who lives very close to our home and left home. He used to go to his aunt very often that’s why I was not worried for him. Afterwards, at 15:00 I called his aunt but she told me that Enez hasn’t come there. After that all the family looked for him, we asked our relatives and also asked the school. But the school was empty. After a couple of hours looking for him I came back home. Then my aunt called me and said someone saw Enez on Tv and he was wounded and someone took him in his arms, carrying him. Then I went to the Children Hospital Emergency Service, but he was not there. Then I went to the State Hospital, when I saw my son’s corpse there, I was devastated. The prosecutor came for the autopsy and showed me the bullet in Enez’s body (between his heart and stomach). I just remember someone putting me in a car by force, and the police sent us by force to Asagikonak village where we are registered, and didn’t let us to bury my son in Diyarbakir. I want to lodge a criminal complaint against those who killed my son; I ask for legal aid from your Association… ”
7) Mahsum MIZRAK (17), PVC door and window artisan : Even the eyewitnesses stated that he was detained on 30.03.2006 by police officers from 10 Nisan Police Station. The family couldn’t get any results from the applications lodged at the Police stations, IHD, Police Chief Office and Hospitals. Finally the family went to the State Hospital on 03.04.2006 at 18:00 and learned that since 30.03.2006 an unidentified corpse had been in in the morgue. (According to the autopsy report dated 30.03.2006, enclosed, the person died due to bullet wounds (tear gas bullet) which injured and destroyed his brain with severe internal bleeding …..)
8) Emrah FIDAN (17), High School last year student : In the afternoon of the 29.03.2006, he was wounded when the security forces opened fire in the city centre, and died on 03.04.2006 at 08:00 in the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine intensive care unit. (According to the autopsy report dated 03.04.2006, the person died due to firearms bullets and bleeding of the brain …..) His father, Medeni Fidan, applied to IHD and gave the following statement: “… My son Emrah Fidan left home at 15:00 on 29.03.2006 and hadn’t returned by the evening and we began to worry for him. Then I went to several hospitals to look for him. At the State Hospital emergency service they showed me a document which had the name of Emrah Fidan written on it. We searched the rooms with nurses but couldn’t find him. Then I went to police stations to look for him. A police officer at the Police Chief Office shouted at me “…. go and ask Osman Baydemir for your son!..” and sent me away. That night I couldn’t find my son. Next day again I went to the State Hospital, the police officer there told me that my son had a leg injury and it was not serous. On 30.03.2006 I went to Dicle University and asked there. First they showed me his clothes. There was his ID in his hip pocket, but the name was written as Nursin Dogansahin in the hospital records. He was in the intensive care unit. On 03.04.2006 at 08:00 he lost his life. I want to lodge a criminal complaint against the security forces that killed my son….”
9) Ismail ERKEK (8), Primary School Pupil : On 30th March 2006 in the events occurring during the funeral of 3 civilian citizens whose right to live had been violated by the security forces on 28 and 29th March, security forces again used firearms near 10 Nisan Police station and as a result Ismail lost his life when a bullet hit his body.
10) Mustafa ERYILMAZ (26) : On 29 March 2006, he was seriously wounded because of excessive violence used by the security forces and subsequently on 31 March 2006 he lost his life. Because the family was not allowed to bury his body in Diyarbakir, he was buried in Silvan District.
PERSONS WHO WERE WOUNDED DURING THE EVENTS
As of 28 March 2006 the number of wounded people who are receiving treatment is estimated at 200, those identified are named below. Again it is not a definite figure, but it is estimated that 182 civilians were wounded by the security forces and because of stones being thrown 18 security officers were wounded.
1. A. Cengiz Korkut
2. A. Hakim Kaya
3. A. Hamit Aker
4. A. Hamit Alkan
5. A. Kadir Komurcu (16)
6. A. Rahman Kaya
7. A. Vahap Ilhan
8. Abdullah Akayurt
9. Abdullah Akdemir
10. Abdullah Akkavak
11. Abdullah Cabuk (40)
12. Abdullah Pola
13. Abdullah Yasar
14. Abdurrahim Zilan (31)
15. Abdurrahman Akinli (14)
16. Abdurrahman Begik
17. Abdurrahman Kaya (76)
18. Abdurrahman Tutus
19. Abdurrahman Yasa (14)
20. Adil Deniz
21. Ahmet Akyuz
22. Ahmet Balkas
23. Ahmet Buclungan(47)
24. Ahmet Guler
25. Ahmet Kacan
26. Ali Hatun
27. Avni Celik
28. Ayaz Kaya
29. Ayhan Sansal
30. Aziz Acmaz
31. Aziz Seker
32. Bahattin Baydemir
33. Batal Isik
34. Bayram Coker
35. Bayram Kacmaz
36. Bekir Karatekin
37. Bilal Gomucu
38. Cafer Koluman
39. Cahit Acu
40. Cansiz Alici
41. Cihan Sonmez
42. Cuma Akyuz
43. Cuma Akyuz
44. Elif Karaca
45. Emine Buyruk
46. Emre Ersoy (16)
47. Ender Cafer
48. Erdal Calisir
49. Erdal Kaya
50. Erhan Aktar
51. Esref Darikaya
52. Eylem Viran
53. Fahriye Karacan
54. Faruk Karadeniz
55. Fatih Un
56. Faysal Turan
57. Feride Koc
58. Firat Kurcan
59. Firat Yildiz(19)
60. Fuat Aslan
61. Garip Sanmaz (10)
62. Gulbahar Adsiz
63. H. Ibrahim Tas (17)
64. Haci Gezer
65. Hakim Ipek
66. Hakki Sanal
67. Halil Deniz
68. Halil Sagul (76)
69. Hasan Aytala
70. Hasan Babatli
71. Hikmet Engin
72. Hivadar Hazar
73. Husamettin Kartan
74. Ibrahim Usun
75. Ilyas Aktas
76. Irem Ekinci
77. Izettin Eren
78. Kadir Deniz (13)
79. Kadir Duman (7)
80. Kadir Karli
81. Kemal Secme
82. Lemate Alcin
83. Leyla Ciftcioglu
84. Lorin Birtane
85. M. Emin Adiyaman
86. M. Emin Aslan
87. M. Emin Guclu
88. M. Salih Kaplan,
89. M. Serhat Agirmat
90. Mahmut Badir
91. Mahmut Bayram
92. Mahsun Akdemir
93. Mehmet Akdemir
94. Mehmet Anac
95. Mehmet Ardic
96. Mehmet Aslan
97. Mehmet Celik
98. Mehmet Demir
99. Mehmet Ekin
100. Mehmet gungor
101. Mehmet Kaplan
102. Mehmet Kilic
103. Mehmet Kilicdogan
104. Mehmet Mercan(34)
105. Mehmet Simsek
106. Mehmet Taman
107. Mehmet Tasan
108. Mehmet Torum(18)
109. Mehmet Turan
110. Mekto Oktay
111. Meryem Gunden
112. Metin Alici
113. Mihrac Canpilic
114. Mithat Ekin
115. Miyeser Altintop
116. Muhammed Yakisir
117. Muhittin Aytac
118. Muhsin Akdemir(14)
119. Muhyettin Aytekin
120. Murat Akyuz
121. Murat Coban(22)
122. Murat Dag
123. Musa Guzel
124. Musa Kaya(29)
125. Mustafa Acan
126. Mustafa Dogan
127. Necati Akyol
128. Nihat Gunes
129. Nizamettin Dursun(36)
130. Nursen Aksen
131. Nurullah Yilmaz
132. Ogur Erdogan
133. Okan Aydogan
134. Onur Kaya
135. Osman Cakir
136. Omer Dogan
137. Omer Karakoc
138. Ozkan Alaca
139. Pervin Timurtekin
140. Pivan Kaya
141. Ramazan Simsek
142. Remzi Kulakcioglu
143. Sabiha Aslan
144. Saliha Celik
145. Salim Aydin
146. Sedat Eryilmaz
147. Sedat Kaya
148. Selahattin Anar
149. Selim Andan
150. Selim Veznedaroglu
151. Semra Tunc
152. Serdar Tezgel
153. Serhat Kecelioglu
154. Seyfettin ........
155. Sitki........
156. Suleyman Eren
157. Suleyman Eren(25)
158. Suleyman Kefen
159. Suleyman Yildirim(23)
160. Sakire Kizilaslan
161. Sehriban Tuslamak(9)
162. Senay Sertunc
163. Seyhmus Aktar
164. Seyhmus Eren
165. Seyma Ay
166. Tayfur Eraslan
167. Veysel Tasan
168. Yelda Velioglu
169. Yemlihan Ergun
170. Yilmaz Dinc
171. Yusuf Bal
172. Yusuf Eren
173. Yusuf Ulgun
174. Zilan Tas
175. Zulfu Biroglu
• In the newsletter published by Diyarbakir Governor Office concerning the events of 28-31.03.2006, 161 civilians and 199 security officers were wounded; 31 are still being treated.
APPLICATIONS CONCERNING DETANTION AND ARRESTS LODGED WITH DIYARBAKIR BAR ASSOCIATON CRIMINAL PROCEEDING LAW PRACTISING CENTRE (CMK) AND HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATON DIYARBAKIR BRANCH
Documents concerning detention and arrest cases, starting from 28.03.2006, when the events began in Diyarbakir, until 05.04.2006.
1) Number of Detainees : 563
According to the ages;
a) Ages between 12- 18 (CHILDREN) : 200
b) Adults : 363
2) Number of detainees referred to prosecutor Office: 554
3) Number of Arrested : 382
According to the ages;
a) Ages between 12- 18 (CHILDREN) : 91
b) Adults : 291
• On 04.04.2006 in the afternoon, DTP Diyarbakir Office managers, Musa Farisogullari, Necdet Atalay, Nusret Atli and Muhlis Altun; Period spokesperson of Diyarbakir Democracy Platform and the chair of Diyarbakir Branch of Tes-Is Trade Union numbered 1, Ali Oncu and chair of Tum-Bel Trade Union Diyarbakir Branch Edip Yasar were detained and taken to Anti-Terror Branch “TEM”; on 05.04.2006 after time spent at the Prosecutors Office, Investigating Magistrate Office and being interrogated for 12 hours, they were arrested around 22:00 and sent to Diyarbakir D Type Prison.
• CMK Practising Centre reported that beside compulsory advocacy, families of detainees also engaged their own lawyers, therefore the real figure for detentions is higher than the one mentioned here.
• According to the press release given by Diyarbakir Governor Office concerning the events went on 28-31.03.2006, 566 were detained and 354 of them are arrested.
VICTIMS OF TORTURE, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT
According to the Press Release dated 04.04.2006, published by Diyarbakir Bar Association and the facts stated by CMK Practising Centre lawyers, also in the light of the applications lodged with IHD Diyarbakir Branch, all of the detainees were subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatments. Also during the interviews conducted with the wounded people, it was discovered that, not only those detained but also people in the vicinity during the home raids etc. were subjected heavy physical stroke and torture. As the applications regarding torture are still being received, a special report concerning torture cases will be published shortly.
Nonetheless, as an example some of the applications lodged with our branch are given below: (Due to fear and the stressful and threatening atmosphere we find it necessary to hide the identity of the victims.)
1) F.K. (woman, 46 years old) : FK who applied to our branch on 05.04.2006 reported the following complaints: “… on 28 March 2006, as I was going to Kosuyolu borough in order to pick up my daughter from the school, the police officers stopped me and accused me of stoning them and wanted to detain me. Without letting me tell them anything, they started beating me and took me into custody. First, I was taken to the gym salon at the Chief Police Office and then taken to the anti-terror branch. They were beating us non-stop, insulting and swearing us. They were shouting “… call Osman Baydemir to come and save you!!”. Also before putting me in to custody, they hit me and beat me with a baton all over my body (my back, arm, legs and in particular my head) Because of the beatings I had nausea. Only in the mornings were we given a piece of bread and water. During the three nights, only once did they gave us dinner; but I couldn’t eat it. Anytime we asked to go to the WC they were postponing again and again. A woman police officer tugged my hair. Because I am illiterate I don’t know what was written on the paper which they forced me to sign. When we were at the Chief Police Office, there was a doctor and a nurse but they did not examine us, they just asked us: “what’s the matter?” On the second day, when my lawyer realized that I had been tortured he asked to take me to the State Hospital; when we were at hospital the police officers were also in the examining room. Also the doctor there didn’t listen to me. He gave a copy of the report to the police.”
2) A.T. (male, 14 years old. child) : On 03.04.2006 A.T applied to our branch. He complained about the following issues and asked for legal aid. “… on 29 March, I was detained in Yuz evler borough by the police; at the time of detention approximately 15 police officers attacked me with batons; my left arm was broken and in that position they dragged me on the floor for 100 m. Then I was taken to the gym salon at the Chief Police Office. There I was tortured and forced to sign some papers but I didn’t know what was written on them. Because my arm was broken when I was detained, around 21:30 they took me to the State Hospital. Several times they beat me with the batons they had, also we weren’t allowed to go to the WC. They were treating us in a very degrading manner and continually making us “sit and stand”. They said sleep at 3 am but woke us up at 5 am and beat us with batons again and again. Also they tugged my hair. H.K who was detained with me, despite his arm was broken was also subjected to electric shocks at Baglar Police station. On the way to the court yard and to the hospital, before getting on the vehicle they hit my legs with batons; also my back when I was walking. They were giving us bread once in 12 hours. They were constantly swearing and insulting us and also making us listen to the Turkish national anthem. Also they hit my stomach as they were taking me to court yard. I said all of this to the public prosecutor. I want to sue those police officers…”
KIZILTEPE
On 1st April Saturday, Ahmet Arac (27) and on 2nd April Sunday M.Siddik Onder (22) lost their lives as a result of the police opening fire. In the same way, the police used excessive and disproportional violence against the demonstrators who were throwing stones and again the police opened fire. On 2nd April Sunday, the chair of IHD Mardin Branch and Member of Executive Board of IHD Headquarter in Ankara Lawyer Huseyin Cangir, Branch secretary Lawyer Erdal Kuzu and lawyers and IHD managers were subjected to physical and psychological violence by the Lieutenant Doctor at the infantry regiment headquarters in Kiziltepe. There are medical reports proving this event. An official criminal complaint has been lodged against those responsible.
SIIRT
On 28th March 2006, after the funeral in Siirt, a young boy called Muhlis Ete (17) was seriously wounded as a result the police opening fire and whilst in this condition was dragged for almost 2 km. He is still being treated at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine.
BATMAN
As a result of the police opening fire during the events which begun on 29th March 2006, a child called Fatih Tekin (3) lost his life.
Secretary of Batman IHD branch Abdullah Baytar, despite the fact that he was monitoring the events, was beaten by the police very severely. Also a member of IHD Batman branch, Mursel Kayar and supervision committee member Resit Yaray, who were also monitoring events were beaten and detained, then arrested and jailed.
FINDINGS :
In Diyarbakir:
- The windows of tens of shops were broken; shops and their contents were destroyed. (particularly in Ofis borough on 28.03.2006)
- Some official buildings were also attacked and stoned.
- Also the vehicles and panzers belong to security forces were stoned.
- On the roads, Molotov cocktails were thrown and car wheels were burnt.
- 6 cars belong to civilians were burnt;
- AKP (ruling party) and MHP (nationalist movement party) offices were destroyed.
- Some pavement stones in the streets were taken out.
- The windows of bus stops were destroyed.
- On the day that events started, 28th March 2006, no firearms were used against the demonstrators until 17:00, but after this time excessive and disproportional violence was used and the right to life of 10 citizens (including 5 children) was violated.
- As mentioned above, even though 563 people were detained and 382 arrested (nine of them are children) no criminal nor administrative investigations have been started started against the police officers who violated sacred and untouchable rights such as the right to life.
- After the statement of the Prime Minister, Ministers of Justice and internal affairs the government saying, “… we will do what is necessary, it doesn’t matter if they are children or women” encouraging the police to use violence, the police used violence without regard.
- The Detention and home raids went on arbitrarily and caused high tension; also on 05.04.2006 4 managers of DTP and 2 members of the Democracy Platform (chairs of trade unions) were arrested and jailed.
- All the detainees were subjected to torture and inhuman and degrading treatments.
- The security forces used excessive and disproportional violence in the streets against those who were not part of the demonstrations.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTER
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION DIYARBAKIR BRANCH
4. - Bianet - "Turkey's New ECHR Bill: 33,000 in a Week":
DEP MPs Alinak, Sakik and Turk win claims. ECHR rules in favor of claimants in 3 cases - sentences Turkey to pay 33,052 in compensation for complaints under freedom of expression. It also criticizes journalist Ergin's trial by a Turkish military tribunal.
ISTANBUL / 5 May 2006 / by Erol Onderoglu
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) passed three judgments on cases related to Turkey this week, once again sentencing the country for violations of freedom and expression and adding an additional 33,052 euros to its growing human rights bill.
The judgments were issued for cases brought before the ECHR under article 10 (freedom of expression) and article 6 (right to a fair hearing) with the case of former Democracy Party members of parliament Mahmut Alinak, Sirri Sakik and Ahmet Turk ending in their favor and amounting to a compensation of 26,500 euro in total.
The defendants were sentenced to imprisonment in Turkey for speeches they made requesting "an end to policies of violence".
Turkey is to pay 3,500 euro for violations in the case of Gunluk Emek (Daily Labour) newspaper editor Ahmet Ergin who was tried and sentenced by the Chief of General Staff Military Tribunal for a news report titled "Sending the soldiers off and social memory" according to a second ECHR judgment.
Author Erdogan Aydin Tatlav of the book "The Reality of Islam" who was sentenced in Turkey for "insulting Islam" has also be awarded 3,052 euro for violation of his rights.
DEP deputies rights violated
The ECHR judgment related to three DEP deputies after the fourth complainant Sedat Yurttas withdrew his application related to prison terms passed against them by a State Security Court in Turkey following the closure of the party.
The ECHR decision noted that the three applicants, Mahmut Alinak, Sirri Sakik and Ahmet Turk had been elected to Parliament in the 1991 elections running under the Social Democrat Populist Party (SHP) ticket and their parliamentary immunities were lifted in March 1994 while they were then formally DEP MPs.
The immunity lifting was followed in June 1994 with the closure of DEP as a political party on grounds of activities against the indivisible integrity of the state. On December 8, 1994, the Ankara State Security Court sentenced Alinak and Sakik to 3 years imprisonment, Turk to 15 and Yurttas to 7.5 years hail for "carrying out separatist activities" through the speeches they made as parliamentarians at parliament.
After the deputies appealed the verdict, they were retried and on April 11, 1996, sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.
DGM trial against fair and impartial hearing
The ECHR judgment stressed that while freedom of expression was important for every individual, it had an additional value for DEP deputies who were elected representatives of the people wanting the Kurdish identity in Turkey to be recognized and appealing an end to violence.
The Court ruled that deputies representing their electors were voicing their concerns and protecting their interests, saying that restricting their freedom of expression had no basis and criticizing their being sentenced to imprisonment for speeches they made which neither encouraged violence or uprising nor called on for an armed resistance.
The ECHR agreed that some of the DEP speeches occasionally contained strong remarks but said they were void of reflecting any enmity. It also said their trial at a State Security Court was in contrast with a fair and impartial hearing.
Ergin wins claim against military trial
Gunluk Emek (Daily Labor) newspaper editor Ahmet Ergin who was tried and sentenced by the Chief of General Staff Military Tribunal for a news report titled "Sending the soldiers off and social memory" is also to receive 3,500 euro in compensation according to a second ECHR judgment passed this week.
The offending article had referred to ceremonies where families sent off their young ones to compulsory military service often unaware of the dangers and tragedies that they would face.
The Chief of General Staff Military Tribunal had put Ergin on trial for "discouraging people from military service" and on October 20, 1998 found him guilty. Though Ergin was sentenced to two months imprisonment, his jail term was deferred.
Ergin appealed against the military verdict but it was ratified by a higher court on February 10, 1999, after which he applied to the ECHR.
The Court this week referred to its judgment on the DEP deputies and concluded that Ergin had neither encouraged violence nor made an appeal for armed resistance. The ECHR decided that Ergin's punishment fulfilled no social need and that under article 10 his freedom of expression had been violated.
It said that Ergin should not have been put on trial in a military court but pointed out that Turkey was the only country where in its constitution the trial of civilians by military tribunals at peace time was allowed.
Tatlav also wins ECHR case
On May 2, the ECHR sentenced Turkey to pay 3,052 euro in the case of Author Erdogan Aydin Tatlav of the book "The Reality of Islam" who had been sentenced in Turkey for "insulting Islam".
The book that had its reprint in 1996 and has sold over 16,500 had earned Tatlav a prison sentence and fine on January 19, 1998.
Tatlav's main theme in the book was that the concept of
"God's will" legitimized social inequalities but the ECHR
ruled that the book did not insult believers and did not target holy
symbols in its criticism of the socioeconomic effects of religion.
5. - Reuters - "Turkish army build-up pressures Iraq":
ISTANBUL / 7 May 2006 / by Daren Butler
Turkey has massed troops along its Iraqi border to increase pressure on the United States and the new government in Baghdad to act against a growing threat from Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.
But despite a rise in guerrilla violence and media reports of some cross-border military activity, Turkey is unlikely to launch a major incursion into northern Iraq without the consent of authorities in the region, diplomats and analysts say.
The Turkish army traditionally launches a spring offensive against the rebels as they descend from their mountain hideouts, but the latest military build-up is the biggest for years.
Turkey has sent some 40,000 troops to its mainly Kurdish southeast region to reinforce some 220,000 already based there in anticipation of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant raids.
“There has been a higher level of military movement compared to recent years because the PKK has sent large numbers of militants into Turkey and there is intelligence that they are planning more operations than in previous years,” a senior military official told Reuters. Up to 5,000 PKK rebels are holed up in the Iraqi mountains.
Senior PKK commander Murat Karayilan has threatened to retaliate if Turkey or Iran attacked guerrilla bases in Iraq, accusing them of mounting coordinated anti-rebel operations.
Ankara insists it has the right under international law to carry out cross-border operations against the rebels if need be.
At a briefing for defence correspondents this week, military officials renewed a warning that the army may conduct operations across the border “if the conditions arise”.
One Ankara-based Western diplomat said the military build-up had an operational justification, given the escalation of rebel violence, and a symbolic political justification, sending a signal to the Iraqi authorities and the United States.
“They don’t want (the PKK) to feel they can be successful in escalating the conflict. (The other aim is) to increase pressure on the new Iraqi government and the US to be more proactive against the PKK,” the diplomat said.
“None of this suggests that Turkey would be willing to take the political risk to act on its own in northern Iraq,” he added. Such a step could endanger Turkey’s relations with the European Union, with which it started entry talks last October.
Ankara blames the PKK for the deaths of more than 30,000 people since the group began its armed campaign for a Kurdish state in southeast Turkey in 1984. In the last year the level of violence has reached a level not seen since before PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was captured in 1999.
In recent months, dozens of rebels and soldiers have died in clashes and Kurdish militants have carried out bomb attacks in Istanbul. Authorities also blame the PKK for street clashes between Kurds and security forces in which 17 people have died.
With the consent of the United States, Nato member Turkey has kept a contingent of up to 1,500 special forces in northern Iraq since Iraqi Kurdish groups clashed there in 1996.
A report in Zaman newspaper said on Thursday the Turkish
military had deployed 30 tanks to monitor rebel movements in northern
Iraq in Bawerli, some 15 km inside the Iraqi border.
6. - BBC - "Iraq warns on Iran border moves":
BAGHDAD / 6 May 2006 / by Jim Muir
Iraq has expressed concern about troop build-ups by both
Iranian and Turkish forces along their borders with Iraq.
Outgoing Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iran had been told of
Iraqi concerns but said his country wanted to resolve any problems through
dialogue.
On the formation of Iraq's new government, Mr Zebari expressed scepticism that including Sunni leaders could help to reduce violence.
It is hoped a new government will be announced within the next week.
Recent weeks have seen a number of cross-border bombardments by Iranian troops along Iraq's north-east border, directed against Iranian Kurdish opposition groups taking refuge in the Iraqi Kurdish area.
Turkish troops have also staged a build-up along their common border with Iraq.
Mr Zebari played down the border tensions.
He saw the troop build-ups by both Turkey and Iran as an expression of concern about the possibility of chaos in Iraq if the national unity government - still being put together - does not work.
Mr Zebari himself was sceptical about the ability of the Sunni leaders involved to help reduce the Sunni-based insurgency.
"Iraq is not Northern Ireland, where you have the Sinn Fein, the IRA. Here the conditions are very different and more difficult," he said.
The prime minister designate, Nouri Maliki, hopes to announce the new government within the next week.
But wrangling is still going on over the distribution
of jobs between the different factions.