Forced Disappearance Conference in May

The 5th International Conference on Disappearance Under Custody is to be held in the southeast province of Diyarbakir between May 16-20,, 2006.

The Conference, organised by the International Committee Against Disappearances (ICAD) and the Centre of Support and Solidarity for the Family Members of Forcibly Disappeared People (YAKAY-DER) is being held at a time where the issue of disappearances and missing people in Southeast Turkey is under international scrutiny.

In the wake of the conference, a group of family members of forcibly disappeared people gathered in front of Istanbul's historic Galatasaray Lyceum last Saturday where they staged a sitting protest and listed their requests from the upcoming meeting.

The family members listed three primary demands they wanted tabled at the May conference:

* Mass graves should be opened, explanations should be given on operations

* The counter-guerrilla reality that was revealed in Susurluk and Semdinli should be investigated and put on trial.

* Just like in Chile and Argentine, generals involved in takeovers should be put on trial.

Last year, family members of the forcibly disappeared had met every Saturday between May 27 and March 13 at Galatasaray where they staged sitting protests demanding news on the fate of those missing, those responsible for it to be caught and an end to such disappearances in Turkey. (EZO/LO/II/YE)