HL Deb 12 May 1998 vol 589 cc109-10WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will urge the Government of Turkey:

  1. (a) to prosecute those responsible for torturing 16 grammar school pupils over a 12-day period from 25 December 1995 at Manisa;
  2. (b) to complete the proceedings against 17 policemen charged with killing seven persons in Gazi (Istanbul) in 1995; and to explain why the proceedings are being held in Trabizon, several hundred miles away; (c) to release 68 journalists currently imprisoned and to lift the ban imposed on Emek, a daily newspaper. [HL1707]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Our Embassy in Ankara are closely monitoring the progress of the trials of those police officers accused of torturing the students in Manisa and of the killings in the Gazi Osman Pasha district of Istanbul in 1995. We hope that these proceedings will be quickly concluded. We understand that the trial of the police officers in the Gazi Osman Pasha case has been moved to Trabzon for security reasons.

We deplore the prosecution of journalists by the Turkish authorities for the non-violent expression of their views. We urge the Turkish Government to implement the necessary reforms to strengthen the right of freedom of expression to which they are publicly committed.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have studied the resolutions adopted on 11 April by the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at Windhoek concerning Turkey (Annexes 38 and 39); whether they will continue to press for the release of imprisoned members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the lifting of bans on those now in exile; and whether they will make representations about the case of Mr. Hasan Mezarci, a parliamentarian sentenced on 29 February 1996 by Bandirma Penal court. [HL1708]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We are aware of the Inter-Parliamentary Union resolutions raised by the noble Lord.

We will continue to urge the Turkish Government to fulfil its publicly stated commitment to meet its international obligations in the field of human rights. We believe it is inconsistent with those obligations to prosecute elected politicians for the peaceful expression of their views.