The KESK trade union members who were arrested in an operation launched in 28 provinces on 19 February 2013 reacted to the contradictory and baseless accusations in the indictment and asked to be acquitted. The members of KESK are accused of being "members and administrators" of the DHKP-C organisation. 15 trade unionists who are on bail attended today's hearing at the Ankara no. 10 Serious Criminal Court. When they entered the court observers objected to the pressure put on those in the public gallery. KESK President Lami Özgen said" "Don't try to put us in order, if you want to argue, let's argue."

Following the reading of the offences by the Court President, Bartın Eğitim Sen Branch President Firuzan Özen stated that KESK was being targeted by the government, adding that he had been a teacher for 19 years and had joined the trade union struggle in 1994. Özen said that the indictment was legally invalid and without foundation, "Trade union activities are deemed illegal, it is claimed that conversations with any person were organisational, but there is no mention of the content of these conversations", he said. Özen mentioned an allegation in the indictment referring to a conversation with Murat Bülbül. "It is quite natural that I should have a conversation with someone who works in the same school as I do. It is not legal to target us because his brother was involved in a suicide attack," adding that a telephone conversation had been deemed propaganda. "During the conversation I mentioned Süreyya and said we should go to the film about the F Type prisons. The person I was talking about was the MP, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who directed the film."

Gülcan Kalkan, also from Eğitim Sen, criticised the fact that legal activities were being portrayed as a crime, adding: "Isn't it perfectly natural for me to attend an Alevi meeting as I am myself an Alevi? Even this has been put in the indictment. I was only given bail after being unjustly detained for six months. I also ask that the judicial supervision be lifted."
SES administrator Saniye Erenler also ejected the accusations against her, saying: "The intention is to intimidate the trade unions through government persecution. It is alleged that a CD found during searches was professionally encrypted. How can an encryption called 'revolutionary public servant' be considered professional?"

Emre Kesikhalı from KESK said: "In subsequent hearings we will try this fascist mentality," adding that the trial was an attempt by the AKP to suppress opposition. "They even consider it an offence for us to commemorate the Ulucanlar massacre. Instead of doing that pursue the murderers who carried out the massacre." He also read out a message in support of KESK members on remand in Istanbul.
Akman Şimşek, the Recruitment Secretary of KESK, rejected charges in the indictment, reminding the court he had been on remand for six months in Sincan F Type Prison, adding: "Our right to communication and to see our lawyers was obstructed. Cameras were installed in our cells to watch us 24 hours a day. Those who resisted were tortured."

DID THE POLICE OR THE PROSECUTOR PREPARE THE INDICTMENT?

Şimşek continued, saying the AKP government could not tolerate the slightest opposition, adding: "They don't want anyone to even issue a press statement. They are staying to the unions: 'make do with what we give you, otherwise you'll be arrested." "They are uncomfortable with the struggle of the Kurdish people, they are inconvenienced by workers demanding rights, but we will continue to commit 'crimes'", he said. Şimşek added that were passages in the indictment where the words 'by our branch' appeared, demonstrating that the indictment had been prepared by the police, not the prosecutor.
After the defence submissions the bench announced their decision, adjourning the trial until 26 February. There were no acquittals, but all the accused had their judicial supervision and ban on going abroad lifted.