IHD accuses Diyarbakir police of assaulting journalists

IHD Vice President Reyhan Yalcindag said in the statement that they had called on authorities to take administrative and penal or civil measures to immediately relieve the alleged perpetrators of their duty, prosecute them and apply sanctions as provided by law.

"On March 28, 2004 local elections were held throughout Turkey; observers agree that they appeared to be largely fair. The atmosphere was calm throughout the day during the voting in Diyarbakir. However, at about 10:00 p.m. after the voting had been completed, a serious event occurred in which members of the security forces beat and injured some local citizens and some journalists," said Yalcindag.

Explaining the behavior of the police, Yalcindag said: "The polls closed at 4:00 p.m. in Diyarbakir; between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. bags of ballots were transferred to the local courthouse for verification. Some citizens witnessed some people stealing several bags of ballots, and then they began arguing with the security forces about it in front of the courthouse. They dispersed after being warned by the security forces. However, a small group of these protesters and some journalists passing in front of the nearby Yenisehir Police Station were attacked by about 30 plainclothes and uniformed police using batons and chains."

She added: "Although the police intervention was conducted in violation of the law, no explanation has been given regarding the attack that resulted in 17 people being injured. This attack was not provoked by a violation of the law; this group was not protesting or chanting slogans but was in the process of leaving the area. A number of seriously injured people were taken into police custody in handcuffs and not released until morning."

Talking about the assaulted individuals, Yalcindag said a number of journalists were among those injured. Correspondents and cameramen from DIHA, Gun TV, Soz TV, SHOW TV and Kanal 21 were beaten by the police and their cameras were smashed and confiscated by the police. She stressed: "While some of the members of the press tried to take shelter in front of the governorship building in order to protect themselves, they were beaten up and ill-treated by the police. After the security forces had badly beaten the citizens and the media representatives, they left them in the street."