Widespread protests against a decrease in living standards, a rise in unemployment and the dismissal of workers and civil servants from many municipalities following local elections in March 1994, have been harshly dealt with by the security forces and the courts. Workers and their trade union representatives have been harassed, beaten, detained and prosecuted. Amnesty International has received allegations of beatings and arbitrary detention in connection with disputes in which TUMTIS (Turkish Union of Motor Vehicle Workers) were involved. This report contains these allegations and testimony from TUMTIS trade union leaders. Amnesty International is calling on the Turkish authorities to fully and impartially investigate their complaints, and that all charges brought against trade unionists for exercising their right to orderly and non-violent assembly, be dropped.
