Once again, Mikis Theodorakis has become the centre of a controversy in Greece. His unwillingness to sign a statement condemning the Greek government for their supposed involvement in the handing over Öcalan to the Turkish authorities and his failure to participate in the concert that took place in Syntagma Square have drawn support from most sectors of the Greek population and criticism from others.
The three women who were with Öcalan in Nairobi, in particular Öcalan’s former secretary Ms. Dilan, have accused Theodorakis of ignoring the Kurdish problem until now when he has referred to them only in a "negative" way. Since Theodorakis has always been acutely aware of the suffering of the Kurds. At his concerts during the Greek dictatorship from 1970 on, Theodorakis gave opportunities to the oppressed people of many countries including the Kurds to express their suffering to an international audience. He has not only spoken in their defence but while he was a minister, formed a committee to assist the Kurdish people and send food packages to them. Ms. Dilan’s criticism is seriously misinformed.
In the heat of the controversy surrounding this issue, it is important that Theodorakis’ statement to international organisations concerned with human rights, to the international community not be distorted and misused. For this reason we are publishing the full text of his statement in English:
"The image of the blindfolded Öcalan in the hands of his guards has moved world public opinion. Greece and the Greek people as a whole are experiencing a great tragedy, because without our knowledge, the Kurdish leader was handed over to the Turks by the Kenyan police as he left the Greek Embassy in Nairobi. Once again the Secret Services triumphed.
The responsibility of Europe is heavy, because it gave in to the law of the stronger, the law of the jungle, flouting the principles of political asylum.
The mindless Greek ultranationalists who scorned Greek law and secretly brought Öcalan to our country, so leading him into the hands of his enemies, also bear a heavy responsibility.
In the face of this situation, I appeal to my fellow intellectuals and artists in Europe to join together in signing a petition:
1. To protest the European position on Öcalan.
2. To demand that a just trial of the Kurdish leader be held and that European observers be permitted to attend it.
3. To ensure full human rights for all Kurds, especially for those living in Turkey.
Athens, February 1999
Mikis Theodorakis
Comment and translation from Greek: Gail Holst
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