From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] IRSP: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Must Intervene Over Turkish Death Fast Irish Republican Socialist Party Press Release 15 September 2001 Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Must Intervene Over Turkish Death Fast In a statement issued in London by its International Department, the Irish Republican Socialist Party have today called on the Irish government to intervene in the 11 month old Death Fast in Turkey. This follows the death last night of Umis Sahingos, a 32 year old former female prisoner, who died last night in Kutcuk Armutlu, an Istanbul shanty town, on the 330th day of her fast. Today Turkish police 'stormed' her funeral cort�ge arresting five international lawyers there as part of a delegation visiting to meet the Death Fasters and listen to their concerns regarding human rights abuses by the Turkish State. There have been reports of heavy gunfire in the Armutul area and of tear gas being used on the Death Fasters. Speaking from London where he is preparing to visit the Death Fasters along with other IRSP members, Terry Harkin of the party's International Department said: "As we were preparing for our visit to the Death Fasters, due to start on Monday, we were informed last night of the death of Umis Sahingos after a Death Fast of 330 days." "This was followed today by telephone reports from her funeral that the mourners had been attacked by the police, in scenes reminiscent of the attack by British Paratroopers on the cort�ge of IRA hunger striker Joe McDonnell in 1981. "We are receiving reports of heavy gunfire in the area, of Death Fasters being CS-gassed by Turkish paramilitary police, of barricades being set up and stormed and of casualties. Five international lawyers there on a fact finding tour have been arrested and are being held with their two interpreters, at the headquarters of Turkey's anti-terrorist police. "These are very worrying scenes in any state, never mind one seeking entry to the EU. "Our party will be seeking urgent meetings with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to ask them to intervene in this matter. This cannot be allowed to continue! "I travelled to Turkey, to Kutcuk Armutlu, in late June of this year on behalf of the IRSP's leadership and met the Death Fasters, three of whom have since died. I saw first hand the conditions there. I talked to former prisoners and I saw first hand the excesses of the Turkish State. It is appalling what these people are suffering for their beliefs. "The Irish Government occupy a central and key position at the heart of the European Union. It is time for Ireland to live up to this responsibility and act like the key player it claims to be. They must tell the Turkish government that human rights are non-negotiable and that they should reopen talks with the prisoners and their families to end this fast before any more lives are lost," Mr Harkin concluded. ------- THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A STATEMENT RECEIVED BY THE IRSP's INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT IN LONDON 15 September 2001: "It is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the Comrade Officers, Staff and Volunteers of the IRISH NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY and the ARD COMHAIRLE of the IRISH REPUBLICAN SOCIALIST PARTY received news late last night of the death, after a Death Fast of 330 days, of Comrade UMIS SAHINGOS of the Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). "Comrade Sahingos died for her convictions that the F type prisons are abhorent abuses of human rights. Her courage in death is an inspiration to the working class peoples of the world. At this time we are reminded of the words of our founder Seamus Costello and will take the liberty of para-phrasing them about our fallen comrade. 'She owed her allegiance to the working class." ENDS ======= _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
