>30 May 2000, Copyright � Turkish Daily News > >Piskinsut hands over torture equipment to prosecutors > >Evidence of maltreatment was returned to Gaziosmanpasa's public prosecutor > >Ankara - TDN parliament bureau > >The Parliamentary Human Rights Commission gave a Palestine Coat Rack, >which they seized from Istanbul's Gaziosmanpasa Kucukkoy police station, >to the Ankara public prosecutor. Commission Chairman Sema Piskinsut stated >in a press conference she held in Parliament that the Gaziosmanpasa public >prosecutor had requested the Palestine Coat Rack back. > >Piskinsut stated that the Ankara public prosecutor reported that they >would hand back the coat rack to the Gaziosmanpasa prosecutor. The coat >rack was given to the Ankara public prosecutor administrative affairs >director, Vedat Kocyigit, who would return it to Istanbul. > >The Palestine Coat Rack had been seized during an operation on Kucukkoy >police station conducted by the commission on Feb. 29. The commission >brought the coat rack to Parliament where it also presented six published >reports to Parliamentary Speaker Yildirim Akbulut and demanded that the >reports be discussed in Parliament. > >Elazig report > >Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission accepted a report about Elazig >Prison, which included allegations of torture and maltreatment. It was >stated that some positive improvements had been recorded over the last two >years following investigations into the prison, however the report also >stated that the prisoners continued their claims of torture and >maltreatment. > >Moreover, the report also said that honest doctors' reports could not be >produced due to pressure being applied and pointed out that there were >still torture and maltreatment claims in Elazig Prison. The report stated, >"During the investigations it was identified that some officials of the >prison were exceeding their authority and behaving very roughly." > >Parliamentary Human Rights Commission report > >Piskinsut said the commission had interviewed over 8,500 prisoners and >remandees since 1998 and had prepared 14 separate reports > >The Parliamentary Human Rights Commission has been preparing a report >called "Human Rights and Justice" based on its investigations to date, >reported the Anatolia news agency. Commission Chairperson Sema Piskinsut >held a press conference yesterday, during which she gave information about >the commission's work. > >Piskinsut said the commission had interviewed over 8,500 prisoners and >remandees since 1998 and had prepared 14 separate reports. She said the >reports would be submitted to the Parliamentary Speaker's Office and added >that the commission has asked to address Parliament. Piskinsut said that >the commission aimed to bring to the public's attention the existence of >abuse and torture. > >After two years of investigations, Piskinsut stated, those who are accused >of carrying out abuse and torture are complaining about the situation they >are finding themselves in. The commission chairperson added that the final >report would be completed by June 15. > >Torture equipment to be surrendered > >Piskinsut said that a device known as the "Palestinian Coat Rack" which >they found at Istanbul's Kucukkoy police station would be given to an >official from the Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office to be delivered to the >Istanbul Gaziosmanpasa Public Prosecutor. Piskinsut recalled that the >commission had earlier found a "Palestinian Coat Rack, a cudgel and a >magneto telephone" at the Armutalan police station in Mugla and said that >nothing more had so far been done about this. > >Ombudsman Board > >When asked about initiatives to set up an Ombudsman Board or watchdog to >prevent human rights violations, Piskinsut said she did not believe the >establishment of a new authority would be of any use. She claimed that >state officials had the authority to prevent such abuses and added that >they should use it. > >Turk promises action > >Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, maintaining that sanctions would >definitely be imposed on anyone who commits torture or abuse, said: "We >will not shy away from punishing those guilty of torture. Nothing can >justify torture." > >Piskinsut handed over to the Justice Minister six reports the commission >had prepared. After their hour-long talk they made a joint statement to >the press. > >Turk stated that the commission was formed through special legislation and >had been investigating human rights abuses at police stations, >penitentiaries and prisons for the last couple of years. He said that >respect for human rights was born of respect for the Constitution and >added: "The findings of the commission will hold up a light for us. These >reports will be studied by Penal Affairs, the Prison General Directorate >and the Inspections Board Chairmanship. A written order pertaining to the >Sanliurfa incident will be enacted. The Prison General Directorate will >see to this." > >Turk said one of the aims of the investigations was to bring about a system >in Turkey where human rights abuses were unheard of and maintained that >for Turkey to become a modern civilization at the start of the 21st >century, it was unthinkable that human rights abuse could still be >happening here. > >Turk stated that penalties for torture and abuse had been stiffened and >said: "Torture is a crime against humanity. Turkey will resolve this >issue. No country can justify torture on the grounds that other >countries practice it. Claims of torture will be followed up with resolve. >Torture has never been and never will be state policy." > >Turk said that torture was against the Constitution and said their aim was >to make Turkey a model country for the world on the subject of human >rights and to make it a developed country. > >Piskinsut thanked Turk for his help during the commission's investigations. >She added that despite the commission having a political quality, its >reports had received unanimous votes from across the political spectrum. >"The commission is political, but its reports are based on real evidence >and hard facts. Three more reports will be ready within the next few >days." > >-- Press Agency Ozgurluk >In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in >Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org >mailinglists: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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