Meetings
NDM6999 Plaid Cymru debate - The Kurds in Turkey
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Meeting: 20/03/2019 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd (Item 8)
Plaid Cymru debate - The Kurds in Turkey
NDM6999 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
To propose that the National Assembly for
Wales:
1. Notes that, whilst foreign affairs is a
matter currently reserved to the UK Government and Parliament, Section 62 of
the Government of Wales Act 2006 provides that “The Welsh Ministers, the First
Minister and the Counsel General may make appropriate representations about any
matter affecting Wales”.
2. Recognises the substantial Kurdish
community in Wales.
3. Notes that a resident of Wales -
İmam Sis, a young Kurdish man - is on an indefinite, non-alternating
hunger strike as of 17 December 2018, which was initiated to protest the
isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been imprisoned by
Turkey since 1999 under conditions which are understood to contravene the
Turkish state’s legal obligations in relation to human rights.
4. Notes that hunger strikes are taking
place across Europe and the world, including by Leyla Güven, an elected member
of the Turkish Parliament.
5. Notes that Turkey is a signatory to
several international human rights treaties, including the European Convention
of Human Rights as a member of the Council of Europe.
6. Expresses its concern at the reasons
behind the hunger strikes.
7. Recognises that the ultimate aim of the
hunger strikes is to see a peaceful, political solution to the Kurdish question
in Turkey.
8. Affirms the importance that human rights
obligations are upheld in Turkey.
9. Calls on the Welsh Government, on behalf
of the National Assembly for Wales, to write to the Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling
for the committee to visit Imrali Prison to assess the conditions of Abdullah
Öcalan.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
In point 3, after
‘isolation of the Kurdish’, insert ‘PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party)’.
Amendment 2 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Insert new points
after point 3 and renumber accordingly:
Notes that the PKK
is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, the European Union, and the
United States of America.
Condemns all
terrorist acts perpetrated by the PKK and acknowledges the victims and
civilians killed and caught up in their attacks.
Acknowledges the
right of Turkey to defend itself against terrorist attacks by the PKK.
Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Delete point 7 and
replace with:
Recognises that the
aim of the hunger strikers is to enable Abdullah Öcalan access to legal
representation and contact with his family.
Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Insert new point
after point 8 and renumber accordingly:
Notes that the UK
Government’s Foreign Secretary and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Turkey have
emphasised to the Turkish government the need to respect human rights, avoid
civilian casualties and return to the peace process.
Amendment 5 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
Add as new point at
end of motion:
Calls upon the PKK
to abandon terrorism as a means to furthering its aims and return to the peace
process.
Minutes:
The item started at
17.20
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM6999 Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes that, whilst foreign affairs is a matter currently reserved to the UK Government
and Parliament, Section 62 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 provides that
“The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister and the Counsel General may make
appropriate representations about any matter affecting Wales”.
2.
Recognises the substantial Kurdish community in Wales.
3.
Notes that a resident of Wales - İmam Sis, a young Kurdish man - is on an
indefinite, non-alternating hunger strike as of 17 December 2018, which was
initiated to protest the isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who
has been imprisoned by Turkey since 1999 under conditions which are understood
to contravene the Turkish state’s legal obligations in relation to human
rights.
4.
Notes that hunger strikes are taking place across Europe and the world,
including by Leyla Güven, an elected member of the Turkish Parliament.
5.
Notes that Turkey is a signatory to several international human rights
treaties, including the European Convention of Human Rights as a member of the
Council of Europe.
6.
Expresses its concern at the reasons behind the hunger strikes.
7.
Recognises that the ultimate aim of the hunger strikes is to see a peaceful,
political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
8.
Affirms the importance that human rights obligations are upheld in Turkey.
9.
Calls on the Welsh Government, on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, to
write to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment calling for the committee to visit Imrali Prison to
assess the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
25 |
14 |
11 |
50 |
The
motion without amendment was agreed.