Rhodes, 07/07/2010 - The Turkish antinuclear activists have to be immediately released!

Only a few days ago, during the European Forum Assembly in Istanbul, the international antinuclear movement MN3 strongly expressed its solidarity to the Turkish people opposed to the Russian – Turkish nuclear agreement and launched a public appeal against this extremely dangerous project and all the similar ones in the broad southeastern European area and the Mediterranean. So, it was with great astonishment and dismay that we’ve received the news of 58 antinuclear activists have been arrested in Ankara yesterday, among them Yesiller members including co spokesperson Umit Sahin, members and the local leaders from Sinop and Akkuyu Anti Nükleer Movements, Greenpeace members and citizens, because of their protesting in front of the Turkish Parliament against the Turkish- Russian agreement on constructing nuclear reactors on Turkish territory!

We strongly believe that such actions are opposed to the mere essence of democratic rules, since in a democratic society it’s not only the citizens’ right but also their obligation to express their opinion on a matter that totally affects public security, health, creates huge environmental risks and also alters a state policies not only on the energy field but on the economic and geo strategic existing balance as well. Every citizen that respects his responsibilities is obliged to take a stand on a matter that puts his country’s prosperity in danger as well as it is every democratic state’s obligation to provide the frame that secures the exertion of these activities. It is therefore more than clear that the arrest of citizens (let alone executives and members of perfectly legal political parties )can’t be other than unacceptable from the international democratic public opinion.

Therefore, we, members of the international antinuclear Network “Mediterranean No Nuclear Neighborhood-MN3” representing ecological and antinuclear groups and national Networks of 9 countries in S.E. Europe and the Mediterranean, we demand the immediate release of Umit Sahin and all “Yesiller” members and the local leaders from Sinop and Akkuyu Anti Nükleer Movements, Greenpeace members and citizens that are still under police custody.

The executive Secretariat

of the Mediterranean No Nuclear Neighborhood-MN3 Network www.mn3network.org

Atai Yehuda (Israel)

Athaniti Olga (Greece)

Lariviere Andre (France)

Simeonova Albena (Bulgaria)

Uyar Sidki Tanay (Turkey)

Rhodes, 08/07/2010

All the turkish antinuclearists have been released. Still, you have to know that they have been kept for 12 hours and - what is the good part of it- they’ve managed to collect 170.000 signatures against the Akkuyu project. It goes without saying that we have to follow up and keep supporting them in every way.

Athaniti Olga (Greece)

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