KANI YILMAZ AND PEACE IN TURKEY

Early day motion 163, tabled 24 June 1997 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 16 members.

That this House is concerned about the proposed extradition to Germany of the former European representative of the Kurdistan Workers Party, Kani Yilmaz; notes that Kani Yilmaz came to this country two and a half years ago to speak to members of both Houses regarding a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the war being waged by Turkey in his country, in which massive human rights abuses are being perpetrated against the civilian Kurdish population by the Turkish army and other Turkish government forces; is deeply concerned that he was arrested outside the House on instructions of the former Home Secretary, the hon Member for Folkestone and Hythe, and prevented from addressing honourable Members and that he has spent the last two and a half years in HM Prison Belmarsh; calls on the current Home Secretary to exercise his powers under section 12(2) of the Extradition Act 1989 to consider all circumstances and actions surrounding the case and to establish an independent review; and believes that if a peaceful political settlement is to be found to the Kurdish question, Kani Yilmaz should be released to carry on his lawful political and diplomatic work.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.