Guilty! - July 2003

GUILTY!

 

Cemilaye Volkan     Gulay Kaser      Sevgul Uludag

 

What have the above three women got in common? They are all awaiting trial together with 22 other trade unionists and journalists in the north of Cyprus for those most evil of crimes –Trade Union solidarityand media reporting. 

 

No, it is not a printing error, 25 trade unionists and journalists, among them the abovethree women, who aremembers of the management committee of the Cypriot bicommunal women’s NGO “HANDS ACROSS THE DIVIDE”will stand trial on November 21, 2002 for the ‘crimes’ of showing solidarity to Nilgun Orhon, one of the school teachers who is suspended because of an article in the "Avrupa" newspaper, and demanding that she be given back her job, while the journalists will be taken to court for reporting about the protest.

In the first decade of the new millennium it is inconceivable that these most basic of human rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the press, are being so flagrantly violated. In Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights dating back to 1948 it states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. It is impossible for the world, including the EU, to stand back and allow this tragic farce to continue; it is even more impossible for the rest of Cyprus to stand idle and watch.

 

We are calling on your organization to join our protest against the trial on 21 November 2002 outside the Ledra Palace checkpoint at 9am. These 25 people, including the three members of HAD, are being victimized for wanting the right to be able to decide for themselves, for the right to express themselves and report freely. It is our duty as concerned citizens to join together to show our solidarity and support. We owe it to them and ourselves to protest at this ridiculous attempt to silence the free voices in the north of our country.

 

Free voices, including women’s voices are being silenced, soon they will not be heard at all; HANDS ACROSS THE DIVIDE wants justice to prevail, united our voices will be heard.

 

In peace

 

HANDS ACROSS THE DIVIDE