A-Infos (en) 15th of May - Istanbul (tr)

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[ From the web site of War Resisters in Turkey:
http://www.savaskarsitlari.org/arsiv.asp?ArsivTipID=8&ArsivAnaID=14001]
15th of May, International Day of Conscientious Objectors is celebrated in
Istanbul-Başka Cultur Center with participation of 80-100 people and
reporters from the press. This year two new objectors -Sami Serkan Kazak and
Ahmet Cem Ozturk- declared that they will not go to the army.

The program started with exhibition of anti-militarist "Ret-1111"
video-film. We had a guest conscientious objector from Israel-New Profile,
Ronnie Barkan. He told about his own process as a conscientious objector,
situation of Israel anti-war movement and relations of this movement with
Palestinian people. Right after his speech, new objectors read their
objection declarations. Then, Mehmet Tarhan who had declared his army
objection in 2001 told about his struggle as a gay and conscientious
objector. Third guest was Saban Dayanan who had gone to Iraq as a human
shield. He said that he was not in Iraq to die or to kill, he was there to
show his solidarity with Iraqian people; and he thinks that this was a civil
disobedience act. In the last part, an activist from IAMI (Istanbul
Antimilitarist Initiative) Inci Aglagul told about her participation in IAMI
and army objection movement as a woman. She said that anti-militarist
movement is against sexual discrimination but still not so mature on this
issue. And lastly, Kazim Koyuncu -as it's usual- played his guitar and sang
songs with participation of antimilitarists.


Total objection declaration of Sami Serkan Kazak [who was arrested for a
long while with the claim of being a member of Usak Anarchist Autonom and
later acquitted]:

I was not born to devote my life to individuals or institutions. But right
after I was born, state declared me as its citizen and claims to have (right
of) authorization on me. As I do not let any individual to claim
authorization on me, i also do not let any state and institution.

I believe that -as long as militarist institutions and mechanisms exist-
wars won't last, human beings and nature will never be free. In my mind:
there is a world that is borderless, non-authoritarian, and armless. A world
in which there is no discrimination of race, religion, sex or so, in which
free individuals live.

As a result: To create the real-world existing in my mind; i reject serving
for any institution of state and being a soldier. At the same time; i do
also reject applications and regulations such as non-activity supply service
behind the front, deferment, discharge for unfitness or so.

Sami Serkan Kazak


[translation - b.o./ainfos]


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