NEWS CENTRE - In the statements made on the anniversary of the massacre carried out under the name of "Operation Return to Life", it was stated that the isolation has become heavier and the rights violations in prisons have increased in the intervening 24 years, and demands for prisons were listed.
In many cities, statements were made on the anniversary of the massacre called "Operation Return to Life", which was launched on 19 December 2000 to transfer political prisoners to F-type prisons. In the operation carried out simultaneously in 20 prisons, 30 prisoners and 2 soldiers lost their lives and nearly 300 prisoners were wounded.
Press statements on the massacre were made in Mersin, Adana, Hatay, İstanbul, Ankara, Amed (Diyarbakır), Dêrsîm (Tunceli), Êlih (Batman), İzmir. In the statements, it was emphasized that since the 19 December massacre, isolation has increased with the new type of prisons and violations of rights in prisons have also increased. The following demands were listed in the statements:
"* All perpetrators responsible for the massacre should be tried.
*F-type, High Security, S-type and Y-type Prisons must be closed down by putting an end to heavy isolation practices.
* Administrative and Observation Boards preventing the release of prisoners must be abolished.
* Torture and ill-treatment must be stopped and effective investigations must be opened against those responsible.
* Prisoners' access to fair trial, access to health services, adequate nutrition, hygiene conditions, cultural and social rights, and the right to meet with their lawyers and families must be ensured without discrimination.
* The right to life must be protected and deaths in prison must be prevented.
* Severely ill, disabled and elderly prisoners who cannot continue their lives in prison must be released."