Statement by Representative John Edward Porter (R-IL)

 We are here today to announce that over 150 Members of Congress have joined in solidarity with one of their colleagues in Turkey -- Leyla Zana -- to demand her release from prison.  The case of Leyla Zana -- an elected official who is imprisoned for voicing her political beliefs -- is an affront to democracy and democratic values that we hold dear.
 I continue to be appalled, but I have ceased to be amazed, at the lengths that the Turkish government -- which is supposed to be a democracy -- will go for the purpose of silencing its critics.  We have come to expect this type of behavior from China, Nigeria, Iran, Burma, Sudan, Iraq, Cuba and other totalitarian regimes, and our government has often criticized them for it.  But Turkey seems to be immune from U.S. criticism.
 Our government officials say that we cannot be too hard on Turkey because they are our friend and ally.  I believe that this is absurd.  It is because Turkey is a friend and ally that we should criticize them.  Our silence does not go unnoticed in Turkey and in the international community.  Our hypocrisy in dealing with Turkey has weakened our credibility and our moral authority in dealing with other regimes that abuse their own people.
 The events that have taken place in Northern Iraq in recent weeks have further convinced me that we have pursued the wrong course with Turkey.  I firmly believe that Turkey feels they are able to attack civilians in another country with napalm and cluster bombs because we have let them get away with it at home.  Because we, and other nations, have for so long ignored the manner in which Turkey treats the Kurdish population in Turkey, we have emboldened them to carry their campaign of terror across borders and into other nations.
 There is no excuse that my government or the Turkish government can give me which will explain away what is happening in Northern Iraq today.  I am calling on all Members to sign onto a letter to Madeleine Albright which Congresswoman Furse and I are circulating, calling on the Secretary to condemn and work to stop Turkey's illegal and immoral actions in Northern Iraq.  I am also calling on my colleagues to speak out from the floor of the House of Representatives against this egregious behavior.
 The community of civilized nations cannot tolerate this type of behavior in its midst.  Jailing parliamentarians, torturing journalists, censoring artists, attacking civilians with napalm.  The time has come for the American people to ask themselves what kind of ally Turkey is.  Is this the kind of ally we want to have?