MED TV-PKK-ITC

Dear Sir,

We see it an appropriate and just, though late, the decision taken by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) regarding the suspension of the broadcast of MED TV, 21 days from 22 March 1999 on the ground of the "inciting violence" of that TV broadcast.

The closure of the broadcast of MED TV, which calls the masses to killing of innocent people, and incites violence by distorted and false news, is an important step in struggle against international terrorism.

1991 Human Rights Report of the US State Department reveals the MED TV-PKK connection concretely.

Those displaying their decisiveness in struggle against terrorism by closing MED TV broadcast will be staunchly supported by Turkish and world public opinion.

The decision of the ITC has unequivocally demonstrated that the terrorists are not given premium, one cannot remain silent to the killing of innocent people, and international solidarity and cooperation is a prerequisite against terrorism which is a global problem.

While supporting the decision of ITC, we expect that decision becomes permanent. Because every concession given to the terrorist organisations and their shell companies or tolerant approach would mean giving premium to terrorism.

MED TV administrators, exploiting democracy, press freedom and human rights, have never given up being the propaganda mouthpiece of the PKK and inciting the killing of thousands of innocent people. They, together with the PKK members, objecting the legal decision regarding the suspension of the MED TV broadcast, have overtly incited people in Europe and Turkey to violence. The accused persons of the terrorist act to a shop which resulted in the killing of 13 innocent people have stated that they organized this act after the calls for violence in the MED TV. Besides, PKK members, organizing activities of violence in Europe and Turkey, have stated that they acted with instructions given in MED TV.

Once again emphasizing the grievance of thousands of innocent people and the mothers whose children became victims of the PKK, we want to attract your attention to the fact that such press organs of the terrorist organizations, like Özgür Politika and DEM News Agency, continue their publications inciting terrorism. We hope that the decision regarding the closure of the MED TV becomes an example for these press organs also.

We believe that those who are determined in the fight against terrorism and who believe in democracy and human rights will not tolerate Med TV, Ozgur Politika newspaper, and DEM news agency which are in the service of the terrorist organization, PKK. We appreciate each step taken in the direction of ending terrorism.

As the mothers of the victims of terrorism, we call European countries to ban the PKK which is responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and involved in such organized crimes as drugs smuggling, extortion, and child kidnapping. The determined struggle against terrorism will certainly be successful by cutting support to terrorist organizations.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Turkan Aksu
Head of the Turkish Mothers Association
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/8355
turkander@geocities.com