AMED - Bekir Kaydu, who was released from prison after 15 years, pointed out that the Imrali isolation has spread to all prisons and said that the prisoners are determined in their resistance against it.

 

Bekir Kaydu (33), who was arrested in Amed in 2010 on the allegations of "acting on behalf of the terrorist organization although not being a member of the organization", "damaging public property" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization", remained in prisons in Amed, Edirne, Bandırma and Mereş respectively. Kaydu was released from Manavgat Type S Closed Prison, to which he was last transferred, on June 22. Kaydu, who was arrested at the age of 18 and spent 15 years in prison, spoke about the violations in prisons and the resistance against it.

 

Stating that the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan spread to all prisons after 2015, Kaydu said: “The isolation was started in Imrali and was implemented in all prisons in a short time. It has spread gradually, especially over the last 6-7 years. Under these conditions, prisoners have very limited opportunities. What keeps them standing right now is morale, motivation and awareness."

 

MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM: HEALTH

 

Kaydu said that after the "dialogue process" that continued in 2015-2016 was terminated, conditions in prisons became even worse and especially the situation of ill prisoners became worse. Kaydu noted that the health problem is among the biggest problems in prisons. Stating that the ill prisoner named Servet Kaya in the prison he is in has a heart, diabetes and blood pressure patient, Kaydu warned: "Of course, we have many friends whose treatment is blocked, but this friend of ours is in a serious condition and needs to have surgery and treatment as soon as possible."

 

Stating that the treatments were not carried out on time in prison, Kaydu informed that he also had two surgeries during his prison period. Underlining that he had to wait months to have kidney surgery,  “If you have a disease or want to prescribe a medicine, this process takes a very long time. If you have an urgent illness, they only take care of you for a minute or two at most, and it is very difficult for you to even find the opportunity to explain your problem during this time" Kaydu said.

 

'IF THERE IS NO DOCTOR, THE GUARD IS EXAMINING'

 

Stating that the health problems of ill prisoners have become worse due to these negligences, Kaydu said that the guards take care of the patients when doctors are not available. Kaydu noted that the prisoners were sent back to the ward saying "There is nothing wrong" and added that patients requiring urgent intervention were kept waiting for 3-4 months. Kaydu said: “When that period ends, when you go to the doctor again, you are given a new date and sent back. This process takes up to a year. Apart from these processes, going to and from the hospital is also a problem in itself, because we are handcuffed while being taken to the hospital. We are taken to the hospital with treatments that would not be given to humans other than handcuffs. We are taken to the hospital with attitudes that would not be appropriate for a human being, such as, 'Don't raise your head, get into the main stance, don't bend your head, turn around.' The disease of many patients who do not or do not want to go to the hospital because of these problems is progressing." 

 

IT IS ACT LIKE A COURT

 

Pointing out that prisoners are prevented from communicating with each other in prisons, Kaydu said that the laws have been abolished. Kaydu said: "Political prisoners are also denied the right to telephone. They do not consciously allow them to engage in activities. Because of this, even simple human opportunities such as having a conversation or communicating with other people or doing activities are prevented."

 

Kaydu also touched upon the decisions of the Administration and Observation Board that prevented the release of prisoners. Saying that the boards put themselves in the place of courts and the prisoners are tried again with these decisions, “With the laws they pass, your release is prevented. They are trying to make you give up the organized struggle. Evictions are arbitrarily blocked. The same policy prevails in almost all prisons" Kaydu said.

 

'RESISTANCE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ISOLATION END'

 

Noting that the prisoners continue their actions to end the isolation and that they will not stop until a result is achieved, Kaydu said: "On November 27, political prisoners started a hunger strike. On April 4, they decided not to come to phone calls or meetings. This is the only opportunity the prisoners have. Meeting demands and eliminating problems is vital. Prisoners have united as a whole to end the isolation and they continue their resistance to end it. It is of great importance to support the actions of prisoners in this process. We believe that isolation will be eliminated through resistance. Political prisoners will not give up their actions until the isolation is broken. The protests will not end until the isolation is abolished, and even if the path and method change, the resistance to break the isolation will continue. Despite all the difficulties, the prisoners are determined to break the isolation."

 

MA / Şilan Çil