violent police raid on left newspaper vatan

This morning at about 5.30 a.m. the headquarters of the left weekly
newspaper Vatan in Istanbul received another visit by police.

According to our information the policemen tried to enter the office while
breaking the doors. To our knowledge there were 6 persons inside the
newspaper office when the police started the operation. To protest the
outlawed attack they refused to open the doors.

The Turkish state, as it does always shows again its real intension while
breaking through doors and walls.

Today we have December 10, the day of human rights.

So far, what the state has been understanding from "human rights":
A press organ which reflects the reality of the country and its people is
silenced by the state forces with illegal methods.

We protest against this illegal attack on the newpaper and call upon the
international public to show reaction.

Prime Minister: Tel-Fax: 0090-312 419 58 96 / 417 04 76
President: Tel-Fax: 0090-312-468 63 80 / 427 13 30
Interior Minister: Tel-Fax: 0090-312 418 13 68 / 418 17 95
Head of Parliament: Tel-Fax: 0090-312 420 50 00
Istanbul Police Headquarters: Tel: 0090-212-635 00 00

Some Turkish Embassies:
USA: Phone:+(202) 612-6700 /Fax:+(202) 612-6744
E-mail : info@turkey.org
GERMANY: Phone:+(49-30) 275 850 /Fax:+(49-30) 275 90 915
E-mail: turk.em.berlin@t-online.de
SWITZERLAND: Phone:+(41-31) 350 70 70 /Fax:+(41-31) 352 88 91
E-mail: turkembs@bluewin.ch
BELGIUM: Phone:+( 32-2 ) 513 40 95 - 513 60 58 - 513 61 42 /Fax:+(32-2) 514
07 48
E-mail: tcbrukselbe@yucom.be
IRELAND:Phone:+( 353-1 ) 668 52 40 - 660 16 23 - 668 55 11 / Fax:+( 353-1 )
668 50 14
E-mail: turkemb@iol.ie
HOLLAND:Phone:+( 31-70 ) 360 49 12 - 13 - 14 / Fax:+( 31-70 ) 361 79 69
E-mail: turkije@dataweb.nl
ENGLAND:Phone:+( 44 - 207 ) 393 02 02 / Fax:+( 44 - 207 ) 393 00 66
E-mail: info@turkishembassy-london.com

arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)