Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-12-12

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Saturday, December 12, 1998

'Heroic protest against Turkish barbarism'

THE FRONT pages of all the dailies were yesterday dominated by photographs of a Kurd who set himself on fire in a show of support for PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The Kurd's desperate act was interpreted as a heroic protest against Turkey's treatment of Kurds in their homeland.

"A torch of freedom," was the headline chosen by left-wing Haravghi for the story.

The paper reported that 28-year-old Jehad Shecko had been blocked in his first attempt to set fire to himself during a demonstration outside the French embassy. His second, successful attempt, was carried out in front of his wife and five-year-old child.

Shecko, who suffered severe burns, flashed a "V for victory" sign as he was walked to a waiting ambulance, Haravghi noted.

Alithia reported that Shecko, who lives in Limassol, had been determined to burn himself during a similar demonstration outside the same embassy on Tuesday, but had been dissuaded by his compatriots.

Machi stated that not one but two Kurds had in fact tried to set themselves alight. Abou Emad, 40, had tried to join Shecko in his act by embracing him as he lay burning on the street, the paper reported. The timely intervention of other demonstrators and the fire brigade saved Emad - who suffered only burns to his hands - and limited the damage to Shecko, the paper said. A third Kurd tried to follow Shecko's example soon afterwards but was stopped by his fellow demonstrators, Machi reported.

Simerini reported what it said were Shecko's last words before he set fire to his petrol drenched clothing. "It is the only way left to me to express my pain and despair," the Kurd was quoted as saying.

The paper also reported that the other would-be human torch, Emad, had also tried to set himself alight during Tuesday's demonstration.

Simerini reported that Shecko was the 48th Kurd worldwide to have set himself alight in protest against Turkish "barbarity". Ocalan himself has called on Kurds not to carry out such self-mutilating acts, the paper noted.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article