Intelectuals Support for Writer Pabuc

Murat Pabuc, who is being charged with "publicly insulting Military forces," by writing a book named, "Deserting the Colored Bench Guard Duty," spoke about his book and the trial at the conference during the 6th Book Fair in Tophane. Pabuc is being charged based on article 301 of the

Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

Representatives of the Peace Association, Turkish Writers' Union, International PEN Writers' Union and Patriotic Front Lawyers' Initiative watched the conference to show support for Pabuc.

Papuc: The book is the only way I can express what I lived through

During the conference, which from time to time, turned into a conversation with the audiance, Pabuc said that he tried every way, including legal ways, to solve the problems he had in the army. He said he could only express himself through a literary text in the end.

He said that the unlawfulness and corruption he witnessed at the devastated area and tent regions following the August 17 earthquake was a turning point for him. Pabuc said he is fighting the corruption and is undergoing "psychiatric treatment," for that reason. He said in the end, he was retired due to physical disability.

In the book "Deserting the Colored Bench Guard Duty" Pabuc wrote in detail about what he lived through in the earthquake area and his legal struggle that followed.

"Soldiers are being alienated from the people"

Pabuc talked about the problems he had for objecting illegal orders during the time he served in the military in the southeast. He argued that at the heart of the army's problems is the fact that the soldiers are being alienated from the people.

Pabuc argued that the officers coming from within the society are being turned into people who serve NATO and imperialism. He said writing is part of his struggle.

Pabuc advocated that the main difference between corruption in the army and corruption in other institutions arises from the functioning of the order-command chain. He said he did not write about isolated events but organized corruption.

Cezmi Baskin, Cezmi Ersoz, Esber Yagmurdereli, Mehmet Ulay, Metin Coskun, Orhan Aydin, Sunay Akin and Tuncer Necmioglu, watched the conference to support Murat Papuc. (EO/EA/YE)