Declaration by 4 Academics: Demand for Peace Cannot Be Judged
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Peace declaration signatory academics Esra Mungan, Meral Camcı, Kıvanç Ersoy and Muzaffer Kaya have reiterated their demand for peace in the press statement they made ahead of their second hearing.
“We demand peace”
As Academics for Peace, since the day we announced the “We won’t be a party to this crime” statement, we have all together come face to face with the legitimacy and urgency of our request for the establishment of social peace. Voicing our demand for peace, refusing to remain silent about the truth of the society, of the geography we live in, remain indifferent and obey, detecting the problem and suggesting solutions, and, as academics, being ready to fulfill our duties toward a solution has been considered a crime. We have paid for this “crime,” and continue to pay for this crime.
In both academic and everyday life we have been exposed to many, vital infringements of our rights. Our labor processes, our scientific knowledge and production, and our reputations have been ignored. Immediately after we read our statement, the Council of Higher Education sent instructions to our universities. As a result of the initiated disciplinary proceedings, we observed the first dismissals at private-like universities who, as sites of low job security and labor exploitation, illegally and without any proper justification discontiued the working contracts of the signatories. Since February 2016, 33 signatories have been fired from foundation universities. The rights violations at public universities began with cancellations of academic duties, suspensions and disciplinary investigations. With recent decree-laws, 44 peace signatories were removed from their positions in public service by being accused of the same mentality that they have struggled against all their lives. As a result, a total of 60 academics have been dismissed at public universities so far. The number of academics who signed the declaration for peace at both foundation and public universities has thusly reached 93.
“Infringement of rights has taken a variety of forms”
Of course infringement of rights has taken a variety of forms. 15 academics were forced to resign or retire. A total of 511 academics were subject to disciplinary investigation. 49 academics’ files were sent to the Higher Education Council with the request to “Remove from the University Teaching Profession of Public Duties.” 85 academics were suspended. 7 academics were removed from administrative duties. 41 academics were taken into custody. Hundreds of academics were called and continue to be called to testify on completely unacceptable terrorist propaganda charges!
But the coldness and simplicity of numerical data can be misleading. From the ÖYP assistants just at the start of their academic work, to the professors who have served science and society for decades and reached the top of their professions, we are talking about individuals at a total of 89 universities scattered across the country. In the first week pressure and threats, the number of signatories went from 1128 to 2212. This increase is a very valuable indicator that we stand resolutly behind our promise of peace. We have stood against all oppression and human rights violations, behind our promise of peace, and have stated that we will not leave our universities, our students, or our scientific work.
“We insist on peace”
4 of us were arrested. After 40 days for 3 of us and 22 days for 1 of us in prison, on April 22nd, 2016, we were released at our first hearing. In our defense at our first trial, we stated multiple times that we would stand behind our demand for peace, that it was not a crime, and that our demand for peace and the academics who made that demand could notbe prosecuted. Our defense invalidated the prosecution’s indictment based on the 7/2 section of the Turkish Counter-Terrorism Law. We have been come face to face with the judicial system of this country, just like the writers, journalists, hundreds of students, and in general any democratic or dissenting individual. It is a means for both us and the public to determine whether the judiciary of this country truly is just and independent. The prosecutor of our case has demanded that our case be tried pursuant to TCK 301 rather than TMK 7/2, but despite this, the courst has not given our rightful acquittal on TMK 7/2. In the 5 months that have passed, there has been no legally valid grounds produced for us to be tried based on TCK 301. Nevertheless, here we are today. On September 27, 2016 at 13:30 at Caglayan Courthouse we will once again express that we are insisting on peace and our request for an acquittal.
Universities generate critical thinking for the benefit of society. Universities should not be dependent on interest groups or government. It is indebted to its creator, the labor of the people. Therefore, speaking from the university means speaking with responsibility. Responsible speaking means speaking for life not for death, for peace rather than war, for resolution and solidarity rather than conflict and hatred, for labor, democracy, and the people rather than special interests or the government. It means speaking respectfully for different ethnic, lingual, religious, cultural, and sexual identities, for different lifestyles, for freedom, labor, and nature.
We are behind our word for peace. Neither TMK, nor TCK! The demand for peace cannot be prosecuted! Thought cannot be prosecuted! No to this trial, with or without detention! Acquittal, right now! (BK/HK/TK)