Vol. 538 No. 3
69 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been asked to make representations to the Turkish Government concerning the human rights position of those in Turkish jails and the recent protest in these gaols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17798/01]
The Government remains seriously concerned by the continuing tragedy in Turkish prisons. Since I last replied to a question on this subject, on 9 May, a further prisoner has regrettably died. The Irish Ambassador to Turkey has raised the matter of the hunger strikers at the highest level, including with Foreign Minister Cem. He strongly reiterated the Government's appeal of 25 April to the Turkish Government to continue its efforts to address existing problems and to prevent further tragic loss of life. I also called on the prisoners and their representatives to participate as a matter of urgency in efforts to seek a solution.
There has been some progress since I last responded to questions on this matter. The Turkish Parliament has passed several laws clearing the way for the implementation of the recommendations of the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture. They include the introduction of civic committees to inspect living conditions in jails; the lifting of a ban on terrorist prisoners associating with their fellow prisoners in recreation areas; and the introduction of special judges to handle complaints about breaches of rules by jail authorities. The European Union has been actively involved in encouraging efforts to bring the hunger strikes to an end. EU representatives on the ground in Ankara are constantly in touch with the Turkish authorities. A European Parliament delegation, which recently visited several Turkish prisons, stated that it "did not consider that there was sufficient reason to continue the death fasts, having seen the reality of the current conditions in two of the new F-type prisons". The delegation leader, Mr. Cohn Bendit, expressed his horror at the sanitary conditions in the old dormitory style prison accommodation and contrasted it sharply with the new F-type prisons.
Nevertheless it is clear that some prisoners continue to have concerns about the new regime. A process of adaptation, explanation and confidence building is needed, addressing the need for communal activities, independent monitoring and examination of all complaints of ill-treatment and, where appropriate, the prosecution of state officials. These are issues on which we will continue to press the Turkish authorities in co-operation with our European Union partners. The Turkish Government has said it is committed to ending the hunger strike and I urge it to be active in winning the confidence of prisoners to establish dialogue and to prevent further tragic loss of life.
Does the Minister agree the position of those on hunger strike is now very serious in terms of the length of time they have been on hunger strike? Does he also agree it would have been useful if he and his colleagues in the EU sought permission for a genuinely inde pendent group to visit the Turkish prisons, where in some cases, despite the new prisons to which the Minister referred, thousands of prisoners are being kept where there are places for only hundreds and given that he acknowledged that the sanitary and other conditions are primitive? What can be done in the short-term as we move past the crisis point for those on hunger strike? What is standing in the way of an independent group visiting the Turkish prisons to see the result of the new legislative regime on prisons, passed by the Turkish Parliament, and to examine other issues not yet addressed such as the elimination of torture? Can a report be prepared for the EU?
As I understand it, the European Parliament delegation went for the purpose of providing more information to the EU and its institutions. As the Deputy has said, a total of 24 Turkish prisoners and sympathisers have died as of 15 June on a hunger strike which began in October last year. The hunger strikers are divided by themselves and by human rights NGOs into two groups, those who refuse to eat solid food but continue to consume sugared water and vitamin tablets and those who are described as being on a death fast. It is estimated there are 202 people on death fasts in 30 prisons with another 570 people on hunger strike in sympathy. Most of the striking prisoners have been convicted of offences under anti-terrorism legislation and are or are alleged to be members of extreme left wing groups. There is continuing tragic loss of life and we will continue to work with our colleagues to impress on the Turkish Government the necessity of getting rapport with the prisoners in a way that will bring this to a halt so their concerns might be addressed. There has been some progress in this regard, but it is clearly not yet sufficient to bring the terrible drama to an end.
Did the Minister raise it at the Council of Ministers?
The issue has been raised and discussed at the Council of Ministers.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
