The IPU Committee also renewed its support to four former Turkish MPs of Kurdish origin, Mrs Leyla Zana, Mr. Selim Sadak, Mr. Orhan Dogan and Mr. Hatip Dicle, sentenced in December 1994 to a 15-year prison term. Their trial has re-opened as a result of the judgment of European Court of Human Rights of 17 July 2001, in which it concluded that Ms. Zana, Mr. Dicle, Mr. Dogan and Mr. Sadak had not benefited from a fair trial and were not granted their right to defense. It deplored the decision of the Turkish Court to refuse conditional liberty to the former MPs concerned and called on the Turkish authorities to release them forthwith.

For many years, the IPU has been calling for the release of all MPs imprisoned in Myanmar after the military coup. The world organization of parliaments invites all Members of the IPU to press for the respect of democratic principles in Myanmar and to show their solidarity with their elected colleagues from the Pyithu Hluttaw by whatever means they deem appropriate, including support for the Committee Representing the People's Parliament established in 1998.

At the same time and in support of the work of the Committee, the President of the IPU, Chilean Senator Sergio Páez, called upon the international community to intervene in favor of the liberation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition in Myanmar who is once more under arrest. "The only offence committed by Mrs Suu Kyi is to exercise her right to protest against a regime which she considers arbitrary", said President Páez. He added that "all States must respect the rights of their citizens. I call on the military authorities of Myanmar to liberate Aung San Suu Kyi and the 18 MPs who are still detained".