WE WERE NOT SILENT! WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!

Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH) and its youth branch released declarations on April 6th, 2003 condemning the actions of the north Cyprus police against demonstrators.

Murat Kanatli, who spoke on behalf of YBH Youth stressed that those who violate the laws cannot be expected to uphold the rule of law. Member of Executive Comitte of YBH, Rasih Keskiner said that the attitude of the police reflected the desperate last breaths of a corrupt regime which is on the verge of collapsing. He stressed that this showed once more that "they are bound to lose and we are winning".

On April 5th, YBH Youth convened to hold a demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy in north Cyprus to read a press release. The police barricaded their path and attacked the demonstrators twice. Some demonstrators were beaten; others were dragged on the floor. Female demonstrators were sexually harassed. Police hugged them cupping their breasts. There were bruises on the arms of those holding banners and making victory signs.

The event had all the legal permits; the police was informed in advance about all the plans. There were no acts of violence by the demonstrators who tried to exercise their basic democratic rights. They were harassed while walking on the side walk and prevented from standing in a public park.

It is notable that this event was held to protest the actions of the Republic of Turkey and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was in the Turkish embassy at the time. The demonstrators were prevented from even chanting their slogans and holding their banners in a public park which was on the route of the minister's convoy while he was leaving the embassy.

Full text of YBH Youth Announcement:

THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE LAWS CAN NOT BE EXPECTED TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW

The events that took place on April 5th during a demonstration we tried to hold in front of Republic of Turkey embassy once more clearly showed that we live under a fascist regime with no democracy.

 We have gather fully legally and tried to march to the embassy. The police was informed prior to the event and did not relay any objections to us. However, after marching only few 100 meters we were barricaded by the police and stopped. We need to approach the actions of the police very seriously.

Recently, police begun to abuse its rights arbitrarily and use arbitrary methods to stop legal demonstrations according to its wishes. This is not acceptable action in a democratic country.

Furthermore, after we showed our determination in response to this arbitrary action by the police by peacefully sitting down and blocking the traffic, the police have attacked us brutally. Some of us were beaten, female demonstrators were sexually harassed, and others were dragged on the floor. These actions are never acceptable by those whose duty is to uphold the rule of law and to advise us to uphold the rule of law. This is an abuse of their rights and powers.

 This was not all. Afterwards, again, when there was no illegal or violent action, while we were waiting in a public area with our banners, the police attacked us once more. This happened right at the moment when Abdullah Gul, the foreign minister of Turkey was driving by. Some of us were seriously beaten and female demonstrators were again sexually harassed. Our banners were also attacked and destroyed. Once more showing the arbitrariness and extra judicial behavior by the police.

Accordingly, YBH Youth will use all its powers within international human rights and freedoms and take all legal actions against this brutal attack.

YBH Youth once more announces that it will continue its struggle for freedom, democracy and equality, for a solution, for a new Cyprus against fascist, oppressive regime. It will resist all forms of oppression and brutality.

We call all Cypriot and international progressive, democrat youth organizations to fight this oppressive regime that attacked us recently in Elye, in Kyrenia and in finally in Nicosia.

On Monday, April 7th at 3pm, we will go and meet police head Edrem Demirbag to tell them we do not accept this brutal, illegal action by the police and ask them to obey the law and democratic norms within a transparent regime without any arbitrary actions.

We invite all media to attend this meeting.

Finally, we tell the representatives of this regime "Do not waste your effort attacking us. You will not be able to silence us. Future is ours. The resistance can not be silenced by brutality and oppression."

Full text of the declaration by YBH:

 THEY CAN NOT STOP THE CREATION OF A NEW CYPRUS

The police that begun attacking those using their most basic democratic rights in north Cyprus. Yesterday, they have repeated their attacks.

Within this oppressive framework, they attacked YBH Youth demonstrates who tried to hold a demonstration in front of Republic of Turkey embassy announcing that Turkey is responsible for north Cyprus. Their banners which stated "A mew Cyprus is possible", "Democracy NOW!", "Turkey is responsible for this region" were taken away and some of them were beaten.

Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH) stresses once more that this offensive attitude of the regime shows that it is on the verge of collapse. It is not possible to stop the creation of a new Cyprus with such fascist oppression, threats and attacks.

YBH condemns the attack of police against the youth strongly and will bring this to the attention of the international community. It will support the movements and be in solidarity.

YBH stresses that these problems are not simply due to the incompetence of those in power in north Cyprus -- as some claim -- but they are deliberately done by Turkish Military-Civilian governments who are responsible.

YBH will continue showing the world as it did for years that all these problems have are really due to Turkey alongside what is openly claimed by the regime.

The attitude of the police against the masses using their basic democratic rights to hold protests clearly indicate that these are the desperate, last breaths of a corrupt regime on the verge of collapse. They show that they are losing and we are winning.