Press statement

6th annual culture and nature festival Munzur

29 July, 2005

Since the 6th Annual Munzur Culture and Nature Festival, was postponed to a date in September by the local authorities of Tunceli (a region in South-East Anatolia whose actual name is Dersim), the violation of civil and democratic rights have intensified in this region. Recently, we witness once more, escalating attacks taking place against the revolutionary-democratic associations by the fascist state and civil-fascists thugs. These associations are violently suppressed and their offices are raid by police forces.

These fascist groups that attack revolutionaries and progressive people during rallies and other events, are used by the state to draw the impression that these incidents are conducted "by the people showing their reaction against terrorism". They are especially trained and have their own associations such as the well known MHP, the Party of the Nationalist Movement

On Monday the 25 July, in the evening, activist working for our paper from Malatya Derya Gökmen and a reader of the New Democrat Youth magazine Sevgi Yumuk were passing out leaflet's in the centre of Dersim at the Kışla square as the police was interfering their action. Because, many people started to gather around and defended the two activists, the police had to step back. On Tuesday morning, as the same two activists were passing leaflet's out, the police took them under custody by claiming that "the leaflet include sentences that are considered as crime in Turkey". They were brought to the security headquarters in centre of Dersim.

This action is in violation of the constitutional law and freedom of thought. It is illegal to arrest someone that passes out leaflets, brochures etc. that have been permitted. The Tunceli governorship that is collaborating with the regime uses every opportunity to create provocations and tries to stop the just struggle of the people. These attacks are a part of the psychological war that the regime is waging, especially in that region.

The people of Dersim, associations, democratic mass organizations and revolutionary organizations declared that they will never accept the postponing of the festival and tolerate the provocations and attacks conducted by the state. We call upon the state and Tunceli governorship to stop these attacks and arrests and demand the immediate release of the arrested activists.

Free the activists under arrest!
The Oppression cannot stop us!
Shoulder on Shoulder against fascism!

Partizan
İşçi-köylü
Yeni Demokrat Gençlik (New Democrat Youth)

*On a Free Future' Worker-Peasant