B3-0304, 0309, 0330, 0334, 0347 and 0357/94

Resolution on the arrest of Kurdish Members of Parliament in Turkey

The European Parliament,

-recalling its previous resolutions on human rights violations in Turkey, in particular those of 20 January 1994 on the danger of a resumption of executions in Turkey and 10 February 1994 on local elections in Turkey in March 1994,

A.whereas on 2 March 1994 the Turkish Grand National Assembly decided to lift the parliamentary immunity of eight Kurdish MPs, including six belonging to the DEP Party (Democratic Party),

B.whereas these MPs were arrested as they left Parliament and have been charged with separatism and endangering the security of the state, crimes which are tried by the State Security Court and carry the death penalty,

C.believing that these attacks on legitimate and non-violent politicians fundamentally undermine the democratic functioning of the local elections scheduled for 27 March 1994,

D.recalling that the Turkish Grand National Assembly recently decided to put an end to the 10-year moratorium on the death penalty,

E.whereas most of the MPs arrested belong to the DEP, an organization that advocates a solution to the Kurdish problem based on peaceful means and respect for existing frontiers within the framework of the Paris Charter and the Helsinki Final Act,

1.Denounces this attack on pluralist democracy by the Turkish Government, and requests the immediate release of the MPs in question;

2.Condemns the attitude of the Turkish Government towards democratically elected MPs whose only crime is to have defended the interests of the Kurdish people in Turkey who are the victims of brutal military repression;

3.Points out that policies of repression, and in particular the denial of free speech to elected representatives of people from South-East Turkey, will only encourage members of the Kurdish minority to support the PKK;

4.Calls once again on the Turkish Government finally to recognize the right of autonomy of the Kurdish people in Turkey;

5.Calls on the Council and Commission to use all the means at their disposal to exert pressure on the Turkish Government to release the MPs in question and to revoke the decision lifting their parliamentary immunity so that they can once more enjoy their constitutional rights;

6.Calls on the Commission and Council to apply the same principles concerning respect for human rights as regards Turkey as they apply in cooperation agreements with other third countries;

7.Reiterates its demand that an ad hoc delegation should be sent to Turkey to act as observers of the local elections;

8.Considers that the democratic legitimacy of the local elections may be called into question unless members of all democratic parties are able to take part under normal conditions without being threatened by the special services;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.