Jailed Defendants Released Pending Trial

Ankara 13th High Criminal Court opened the KESK trial yesterday, where 72 members from Turkey's public workers' union have been charged for being a "KCK/PKK organization member". It ordered the release of all 22 jailed defendants pending a trial on July 8.

"Both a 'terrorist' and wise person"

Prior to hearing, Lami Özgen, KESK Chairperson, said the very fact that  being prosecuted for "PKK/KCK membership" and his assignment to Turkey's "wise people" represented the "tragedy of this country".

"This trial is not only against us in person, but also to all KESK union and related labor movements in Turkey. It also demonstrates how the concept of security oppress the dissident voices. All dissident voices are oppressed under the pretext of Anti-Terror Act regulations," he said.

İsmail Hakkı Tombul, KESK General Secretary, said there are currently 121 KESK members who have been arrested in the past two years for their union activities.

Defendants charged up to 15 years of prison

On 25 June 2012, an Ankara court arrested 28 KESK members and sent them to Sincan Prison in Ankara. On February 15, 6 of them were released pending a trial.

Lami Özgen, KESK Chairperson and one of Turkey's "wise people", is listed among the suspects.

Among notable observers of the trial yesterday were representatives from ITUC, ETUC and parliamentary deputies Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Süleyman Çelebi, Veli Ağababa, Sırrı Sakık and Levent Tüzel.

On yesterday's hearing, Kurdish language interpreters were poised for those who requested to testify in Kurdish. (AS/BM)