Droits de l'Homme / Human Rights

European Council: 5672 investigations were not admitted in 5 years

European Council Committee of Permanent Representatives published the statistics on the investigations and prosecutions in the cases of rights violations by security forces, submitted by Turkey. Between 2003 and 2007's first nine months the authorities refused permission for investigations in 5672 cases of complaints of rights violations.

Statistics show:

2003: 2612 investigations were filed on 5558 security officers. 2333 officers were charged, investigation on 1153 officers were not admitted, 862 condemned, 1375 was acquitted.

2004: 2413 investigations were filed on 5173 security officers. 1.824 charged, investigation on 1230 officers were not admitted, 462 condemned, 1631 acquitted.

2005: 1721 investigations were filed on 4277 security officers. 1052 charged, investigation on 1005 officers were not admitted. 459 condemned, 1870 acquitted.

2006: 1965 investigations were filed on 4443 security officers. 831 charged, investigation on 1216 was not admitted. 1921 condemned. 146 acquitted.

2007 (first nine months): 1421 investigations were filed on 3722 security officers. 426 charged. Investigation on 1068 was not admitted. 139 condemned. 590 acquitted.

Human Right Association Marches To Ankara For Human Rights Violations

The members of the Human Rights Association (İHD) are going to Ankara to bring attention to the human rights violations in the prisons.

The activity will start with the press release planned to be held in Taksim/Istanbul on October 9 at 11 in the morning.

Sevim Kalman, a member of the board of directors of İHD’s Istanbul branch, said that they were planning to submit the report they prepared about the human rights violations of the past one year in the prisons to the Ministry of Justice and the Human Rights Commission of the Parliament (TBMM).

Kalman stated the reasons behind the activity to bianet:

“The problems in the prisons are continuing. There are complaints and demands about this matter in the letters sent to us. The foremost among these complaints is the maltreatment of those who need medical attention, the prevention of communication, the banning of receiving various publications, the prevention of the use of Kurdish during visits, the kicking out of the Kurdish speaking families visiting their closed ones and the intensive disciplinary punishments.”

Kalman also mentioned that the ten hour conversation right in the January Circular was not being implemented in the most prisons and with restrictions in places implemented.

The march will go through the provinces Izmit, Adapazarı and Bursa, all between Istanbul and Ankara.

The route of the march, which will take place with press releases and activities in many cities, is the following:

- Press release in front of the Galatasaray High School in Istanbul at 11 in the morning and departure from Istanbul.
- Marching after the press release in Izmit at 13.00.
- Marching after the press release in Adapazarı at 15.00.
- Marching after the press release in Bursa at 15.30, staying in Bursa for the night.
- Departure from Bursa to Ankara at 8 in the morning on October 10.
- Marching after the press release in Ankara at 13.00 and arriving at the Parliament.

Kalman is calling upon all the unions, the chambers and the non-governmental organizations to support the activity. (BIA – Bawer CAKIR, September 25, 2008)

Europe Demands Removal Of The Permission For Prosecuting Police

In its interim decision about Turkey’s performance in implementing the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Council of Europe (CE) concentrated on the accountability of the security forces in Turkey and the government’s policy of “zero tolerance to torture.”

In its meeting on September 23, the committee demanded from Turkey to guarantee that it will have its security forces face the courts not only in cases based on allegations of torture and bad treatment, but in all serious crimes, without requiring the permission of their superiors.

Stating the ambiguity in Turkish laws regarding this subject, the Committee demanded from Turkey to resolve this issue.

The committee demanded from Turkey to continue with its policy of “zero tolerance to torture” and assure that the allegations regarding the rights violations by the security forces will be investigated effectively as well.

The committee also asked Turkey to provide detailed statistics on the investigations launched, acquittals and sentences given in the rights violations by the security forces.

On the other hand, the committee closed the titles of  procedure measures under custody, professional training of the security forces, training of the judges and prosecutors and “compensating the damages resulting from terror and the fight against terror”.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives makes this evaluation for all the 46 countries that are members to the Council of Europe. (BIA, September 25, 2008)

Nombreuses interpellations lors d'une manifestation anti-nucléaire

La police turque a interpellé mardi à Ankara une quarantaine de militants de Greenpeace, lors d'une manifestation devant le ministère de l'Energie contre les projets nucléaires du gouvernement, a annoncé l'organisation écologiste.

Les manifestants portant des blousons noirs avec des symboles de l'énergie nucléaire, qui s'étaient allongés devant l'entrée du complexe, ont été placés en garde à vue, a précisé Greenpeace dans un courrier électronique.

"Non au nucléaire", proclamait une banderole.

 Inquiète d'une possible pénurie d'énergie et désireuse de réduire sa dépendance énergétique, surtout vis-à-vis du gaz naturel fourni par la Russie et l'Iran, la Turquie prévoit la construction de trois centrales nucléaires.

Un appel d'offres a été lancé en mars et une dizaine d'entreprises, dont la société chinoise China Nuclear Power Components, le japonais Itochu Corporation, le français Vinci Construction Grand Projets, le franco-belge Suez Tractebel et le canadien AECL (Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited), ont répondu.

Les autorités turques doivent prendre connaissance mercredi des offres présentées, avant une décision finale d'ici à la fin de l'année.

Les défenseurs de l'environnement s'inquiètent en particulier du premier projet, qui comprend la construction d'un réacteur à seulement 25 km d'une ligne de faille sismique.

Cette première centrale, d'une capacité d'environ 4.000 mégawatts, sera construite à Akkuyu, dans la province méditerranéenne de Mersin (sud). Elle devrait être opérationnelle en 2013 ou 2014. (AFP, 23 sept 2008)

Student Union Begins The New School Year At The Courthouse

The second hearing of the Student Youth Union (Genç-Sen) case was held today (September 23) at the Sirkeci Labor Court in Istanbul. The Istanbul Governorship is demanding closing of the Genç-Sen on the grounds that students cannot be part of the labor-capital relationship.

The hearing was postponed to November 18.

Gözde Mutlucan, who read union’s press release in front of the courthouse said, “we will continue our struggle against ten percent increase in university tuitions, transportation and housing problems, and the Higher Education Council (YÖK), the child of the September 12 Military Coup”

“Student Youth Union Genç-Sen’s national and international legal bases are clear. We have presented them to the court. But our real base is our members, the students. Genç-Sen will continue its struggle in the court rooms and the schools.”

Protesting the university openings the Prime Minister participated in, the Genç-Sen members began the new school year in front of the courthouse.

The Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) deputy Ufuk Uras was there to give his support to the cause of the students.

Reminding that there are introductory courses in the schools, Uras said the Prime Minister had failed his introductory course of democracy.

Emphasizing a similar point, Süleyman Çelebi, the President of the Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions (DİSK), said, “Turkey is still being ruled by the legal system of the September 12 Military Coup and this is why those who are conducting a democracy struggle are forced to defend themselves in the court rooms.”

There was nearly a thousand people in front of the courthouse, who chanted various slogans for the rights of the students to form a unions.

The students were supported by various unions, professional chambers and non-governmental organizations, among them Sami Evren, president of  the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK), Ertuğrul Kürkçü of the Socialist labor Movement (SEH), Prof. Dr. Gencay Gürsoy, president of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Mehmet Soğancı, president of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), Cem Dinç, president of the Port, Shipyard, Ship Construction and Repair Workers Trade Union (Limter-İş). (BIA – Bawer CAKIR, September 24, 2008)

"Tolérance zéro" pour les mauvais traitements (Conseil de l'Europe)

Le Conseil de l'Europe a demandé mardi à la Turquie une politique de "tolérance zéro" sur la torture ou les mauvais traitements infligés par les forces de sécurité, exigeant d'Ankara des statistiques détaillées sur la conduite de ses enquêtes.

Le Comité des Ministres - exécutif de l'organisation -, qui examinait l'exécution des décisions rendues par la Cour européenne des Droits de l'Homme, a constaté un renforcement des garanties pendant la garde à vue et une meilleure formation des policiers, comme il le réclamait dans sa précédente recommandation en 2005.

Mais il a observé que la loi turque reste ambiguë sur l'autorisation administrative requise ou non pour poursuivre les membres des forces de sécurité pour des infractions graves.

De nombreux arrêts contre la Turquie rendus ces dernières années ont trait à des décès suite à l'usage excessif de la force par des membres des forces de sécurité. Ils concernent le défaut de protection du droit à la vie, des disparitions et des mauvais traitements ainsi que l'absence de recours internes effectifs pour les plaignants.

La Turquie arrive largement en tête des 47 Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe pour le nombre de condamnations par la Cour européenne, avec 319 l'an dernier.

23 arrêts ont concerné des traitements inhumains, huit des cas de torture, 95 le droit à la liberté et à la sûreté et 99 l'absence de procès équitable. (AFP, 23 sept 2008)

Mauvais traitements par la police: la Turquie condamnée par la CEDH

La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme a condamné la Turquie jeudi à Strasbourg pour mauvais traitements infligés par la police à trois de ses ressortissants.

Dans une première affaire, le 24 août 1995, Yunus Atalay a été frappé par trois policiers parce qu'il avait refusé de nettoyer l'inscription "DHKP/C" (Parti révolutionnaire de libération du peuple, organisation illégale).

Il fut ensuite emmené en garde à vue et les policiers continuèrent à le frapper. Le 29 février 2000, les trois policiers furent déclarés coupables de mauvais traitements mais pour deux d'entre eux, les condamnations furent annulées en appel. Quant au troisième, sa peine de trois mois de prison fut réduite.

Dans la deuxième affaire, le 27 octobre 1998, Hadiye Dur fut frappée à l'arrière du crâne par un policier puis tirée par les cheveux alors qu'elle se rendait à une réunion politique en compagnie de 42 autres femmes.

Enfin, dans une troisième affaire, le 5 juillet 1998, Mahrfuz Turkan fut arrêté pour état d'ivresse et trouble de l'ordre public alors qu'il travaillait dans un magasin de thé puis fut frappé à coups de pied et de poing par des policiers qui lui cognèrent la tête contre un mur.

Dans les trois affaires, la Cour a conclu à une violation de l'article 3 (interdiction des traitements inhumains et dégradants). Elle a alloué respectivement 10.000 euros à M. Atalay, 7.000 euros à Mme Dur et 5.000 euros à M. Turkan pour préjudice moral. (AFP, 18 sept 2008)

May Day Police Violence Goes Unpunished

Bahçelievler District Governorship in Istanbul did not grant permission for the trial of the police officers who had attacked daily Cumhuriyet’s reporters Esra Açıkgöz and Ali Deniz Uslu at this year’s May Day police violence.

Activists, rights defenders and journalists had reacted verbally to the use of pressurized water, tear gas and batons by police against the activists at Şişli and Beyoğlu districts.

During the May Day police violation, reporter Uslu was attacked by police on the street where the building of daily Cumhuriyet is and his arm was broken. Cumhuriyet reporter Açıkgöz was attacked with batons.

Mehmet Nuri Ö. was identified as the police officer who attacked the reporters, but an expert report penned on July 7 concluded that there was no evidence showing that he was the police who attacked the reporters and since the reporters did not come to give their statements, there was no need to start an investigation about the police officer. Therefore, the Bahçelievler District Governorship did not grant permission for the investigation.

Mehmet Firuz B. was identified as Çiftçi’s attacker, but since the Criminal Laboratory of the Police Department did not find the images sufficient for identification and since Çiftçi could not identify her attacker during a line-up, permission for investigation for this police officer was not granted, either.

In the May Day of 2007, daily Cumhuriyet’s reporter Alper Turgut, daily Vatan’s reporter Bülent Ergün, daily Radikal’s reporters Demet Bilge Ergün, Umay Aktaş, Timur Soykan and İsmail Saymaz, TV channel Kanal D’s reporter İhsanYıldız and TV channel Su TV’s cameraperson were attacked by police officers, but these attacks had gone unpunished. (BIA, Erol ONDEROGLU, September 18, 2008)

“Back to Life” gets Cleared due to lack of evidence

The killing of three prisoners and one soldier during “Back to Life” operations in prisons in 2000 to end death fast got covered up. The court cleared all accused due to lack of evidence.

Lawyer of the convicts Gül Kireçkaya said “They cannot get away with ‘Let us close the case by acquitting both parties’ attitude… Fahri Sarı, Sultan Sarı and İlker Babacan were killed during the operations. Operations did not only aim to end death fasts. We will appeal. We will go to the European Court.”

Operations took place in 20 prisons on 19 December 2000; in Çanakkale prison 3 convicts and one soldier were killed. In 2001 a case was filed against 154 convicts with the charges of ‘attempting to murder, inciting suicide, riot’. Two years later 563 public officer were charged with ‘killing or injuring more than one person.’ (antenna-tr.org, September 17, 2008)

28 ans après, jugement symbolique de généraux putschistes

Vingt-huit ans jour pour jour après le déclenchement d'un coup d'Etat militaire qui a traumatisé une génération de Turcs, un groupe d'intellectuels et de militants des droits de l'Homme a symboliquement jugé vendredi à Istanbul les généraux putschistes.

Dans la salle d'audience bondée d'une faculté de droit, deux "procureurs" ont lu un acte d'accusation accablant le général Kenan Evren, chef d'état-major lors du coup en 1980 puis président de 1982 à 1989, et les autres membres de la junte qui dirigea d'une main de fer le pays durant trois ans.

Ils ont imputé aux généraux -jamais inquiétés par la justice- la responsabilité de 650.000 arrestations, de 230.000 mises sous écrou, d'un usage systématisé de la torture ayant conduit à 171 décès en détention, de 300 morts suspectes, de 50 condamnations à mort mises à exécution.

Puis se sont succédé une douzaine de témoins, relatant dans une ambiance parfois lourde d'émotion les coups, les humiliations -la séquestration nus dans une geôle bondée, l'absorption forcée d'excréments-, les morsures des chiens entraînés à harceler les détenus.

"Certains d'entre nous pensaient que nous étions en enfer, que nous étions morts et que l'enfer était là", s'est souvenu Orhan Miroglu, qui a passé sept ans en prison à Diyarbakir (sud-est), de 1981 à 1988.

"J'ai été jugé avec 400 autres personnes, aujourd'hui 73 d'entre nous sont morts, notre espérance de vie avoisine les 50 ans", a constaté Bülent Aydin, condamné à mort pour appartenance à une organisation clandestine gauchiste, une peine commuée en prison.

Le 12 septembre 1980 à 04h00 du matin, l'armée s'est emparée des locaux de la radio-télévision publique, premier acte d'un coup d'Etat justifié selon ses auteurs par la nécessité de rétablir l'ordre après des années de violences entre groupes de gauche et d'extrême droite, qui ont fait quelque 5.000 morts.

Durant trois ans, la Turquie a vécu sous un régime militaire, son Parlement fermé, ses partis politiques et ses syndicats interdits, ainsi que la plupart des associations.

Vendredi, l'avocate Fethiye Cetin, présidente de la "cour", s'est inquiétée de la postérité du coup d'Etat dans la vie politique actuelle.

"La mentalité du coup d'Etat du 12 septembre vit toujours et continue d'influencer nos vie", a prévenu Me Cetin. "Nous continuons aujourd'hui de vivre les mêmes souffrances parce que nous n'avons pas pu nous confronter à notre passé et demander des comptes aux responsables".

L'audience s'est le jugement suivant:

"Les accusés Kenan Evren, Sedat Celasun, Nurettin Ersin, Tahsin Şahinkaya et Nejat Tümer ont commis le 12 septembre 2008 à 3h59 le crime de violation de la Constitution par une intervention militaire. D'après les témoignages et les preuves entendues à l'audience, il s'avère que les généraux accusés ont commis également un crime contre l'humanité et contre les futures générations.Les juges de notre tribunal appartiennent à une génération qui a vécu son enfance ou adolescence dans la période ouverte par le coup d'état du 12 septembre 1980. En raison du coup d'état de 1980 et des crimes commis par cinq accusés,

- Depuis 28 ans, nous n'avons pu parler notre langue maternelle,
- Depuis 28 ans, nous n'avons pu suivi l'enseignement supérieur dans les universités libres,
- Depuis 28 ans, nous n'avons pu exprimer nos opinions librement,
- Depuis 28 ans, nous n'avons pu voir la démocratie dans ce pays,
- Depuis 28 ans, nous continuons à souffrir à cause de l'existence des organisations comme Ergenekon,
- Depuis 28 ans, notre conscience est chagrinée.

"28 ans plus tard, aujourd'hui, nous ne pouvons pas prononcer contre les putschistes traduits devant nous un jugement aussi impitoyable que leurs décisions. Les juges de ce tribunal a décidé que le jugement le plus juste contre eux serait de travailler pour une Turquie démocratique, de jeter dans la poubelle la constitution imposée par les putschistes et d'adopter une nouvelle constitution démocratique.

"Les juges du tribunal ont également décidé au nom du peuple de Turquie de discréditer les auteurs du coup d'état de 1980 pour toujours devant l'opinion publique du monde et de la Turquie."

Le 20 octobre s'ouvre à Istanbul le procès d'une centaine de personnes -dont de nombreux officiers à la retraite- accusées d'avoir voulu semer par des attentats le chaos dans le pays pour préparer le terrain à un nouveau coup d'Etat qui aurait renversé le gouvernement, issu de la mouvance islamiste.

L'armée turque avait déjà procédé à deux coups d'Etat en 1960 et 1971. En 1997, elle a contraint à la démission, sous la menace d'une intervention, le premier gouvernement islamiste de l'histoire de la Turquie.

Kenan Evren, 91 ans, vit actuellement à Marmaris, ville balnéaire de la côte méditerranéenne turque, où il s'adonne à la peinture.  (AFP, 12 sept 2008)

Witnesses Put September 12 Coup On Trial

300 people were at Bilgi University to put the makers of the September 12 military coup on trial.

Court of Conscience for the September 12 coup, organized by the Initiative of 70 Million Steps Against Coups, had as its goal to try symbolically the makers of the September 12 Coup, generals Kenan Evren, Sedat Celasun, Nurettin Ersin, Tahsin Şahinkaya and Nejat Tümer, with the participation of those who witnessed the period.

Head of the Court lawyer Fethiye Çetin stated in her opening speech that the September 12 coup was still continuing with its institutions, rules and mentality, affecting every field of life.

She emphasized that to try in our consciences the individuals whose past crimes were already known, it was necessary to face the past and that this could only be done with the active participation of the society.

Orhan Miroğlu, Ragıp Zarakolu, Hacay Yılmaz, Sabahattin Selim Erhan, Atilla Keskin, Bülent Aydın, İhsan Eliaçık and Hüner Buğdaycıoğlu joined the court with their testimonies.

Lawyer Ergin Cinmen, who presented the first indictment, said that the September 12 Coup was the continuation of the March 12 Coup (which had come ten years before it) and it was necessary to understand the social and economic dimensions of the period before September 12.

Global Action Group activist Meltem Oral read the second indictment prepared by writer Ahmet İnsel.  This one emphasized that those who made the coup had committed a crime against humanity.

After the indictments were read, it was time for the testimonies of those who witnessed the period. The first witness was Leman Fırtına, who had a son in prison at the time.

She explained how difficult it was to help their children, how they had to endure much hardship and bad treatment to have their voices heard by those in power and how they finally founded the Human Rights Association (İHD).

Writer Adalet Ağaoğlu said that in order to face the past, it was necessary to put aside the official history.

After her, Salih Zengin, a witness who had actually spent some time in the Diyarbakır prison during this period, talked about what he had to endure:

“I was seventeen when I found myself in prison. I did not know much Turkish. I did not know that there could be a state so cruel to its own citizens until I was in the Diyarbakır Prison…”

“We had to stay in cells filled with human feces, 30-40 people at a time. In winters, they would take us out all naked. They would force us to get on each other naked.”

“All this torture was because of one reason: We were Kurds. Our conscience will stay scarred unless we call to account those responsible for what happened.”(BIA, Onur AÇIKGÖZ, September 12, 2008)

Le 28e anniversaire du coup d'état de 1980: Cinq putschistes seront jugés par le tribunal de conscience

Le 12 septembre 2008 est le 28e anniversaire noir du coup d'état militaire de 1980. Depuis 28 ans, malgré les manifestations des forces démocratiques, les pouvoirs politiques parlementaires ont toujours passé sous silence ce putsch criminel commis par des commandants de l'armée turque. La constitution imposée par la junte reste toujours en vigueur. Les gouvernements successifs ont géré le pays en se soumettant toujours aux menaces et chantages de la hiérarchie militaire.

A l'occasion du 28e anniversaire du coup d'état militaire de 1980, une initiative civile vient de mettre sur pied un tribunal de conscience pour juger les cinq généraux putschistes: le chef d'état-major Kenan Evren et quatre autres membres du Conseil de Sûreté Nationale (MGK), Nurettin Ersin, Tahsin Şahinkaya, Nejat Tümer et Sedat Celasun, respectivement commandants des forces terrestres, aériennes, navales et de la gendarmerie.

L'audience du tribunal aura lieu le 12 septembre 2008 à 14h à Dolapdere Campus de l'Université Bilgi à Istanbul.

L'audience sera ouverte par la juriste Fethiye Cetin, avocate de Hrant Dink, et l'acte d'accusation sera prononcé par Engin Cinmen. Les témoins principaux sont Leman Fırtına, Orhan Miroğlu, Ragıp Zarakolu, Hacay Yılmaz, Sabahattin Selim Erhan, Atilla Keskin, Salih Sezgin, Bülent Aydın, İhsan Eliaçık, Hüner Buğdaycıoğlu, Adalet Ağaoğlu. Le panel du tribunal est formé par Memet Ali Alabora, Harun Tekin, Gökşen Şahin, Karin Karakaşlı, Rojin, Yıldıray Oğur et Semiha Kaya.

Lors de l'audience, Dimitrious Papachristou, le leader de la révolte estudiantine de l'Université polytechnique contre la junte des colonels grecs, interviendra en tant qu'expert sur le sujet "Comment peut-on juger les putschistes?"

Le tribunal organisé par l'initiative "70 millions de pas contre des coups d'état" appelle également des citoyens voulant témoigner sur la répression qui a suivi ce coup d'état.

Le coup d’état du 12 septembre 1980 était la deuxième phase d’un processus de militarisation dans tous les domaines du pays. Auparavant, le coup d'état du 12 mars 1971 avait déjà aboli ou détruit plusieurs droits et institutions démocratiques par l'application d'une répression sans précédent.

La Constitution imposée en 1982 par la junte militaire a aboli les derniers vestiges des libertés reconnues par la Constitution de 1961. La constitution de 1982 nie les droits fondamentaux du peuple kurde et des minorités arménienne, assyrienne et grecque de la Turquie. Les articles 3, 42 et 66 prônent la supériorité et le monopole de la race et de la langue turques. L'article 4 déclare que l'article 3 ne pourra jamais être modifié, même la modification de cet article ne pourra jamais être proposée.

La domination de l'armée sur la vie politique, économique et sociale du pays a été rendue intouchable par les privilèges reconnus par cette constitution au Conseil de Sûreté Nationale (MGK).

L'initiative "70 millions de pas contre des coups d'état", dans un communiqué relatif à l'organisation du tribunal de conscience attire l'attention sur le fait que l'armée a effectué depuis dix ans deux autres interventions directes dans la politique, le 28 février 1997 et le 27 avril 2007. D'ailleurs, comme il est constaté à la lecture de l'acte d'accusation du procès d'Ergenekon, les officiers ont préparé trois plans d'intervention en 2003 et 2004.

C'est la raison pour laquelle les forces démocratiques tant en Turquie qu'à l'étranger sont appelées à être vigilantes à toutes nouvelles tentatives de l'armée.

A l'audience du 12 septembre 2008, les cinq putschistes seront jugés pour les crimes suivants commis après le coup d'état de 1980:

Pour une véritable démocratisation digne des normes européennes

Comme annoncé l'année passée par le Collectif 1971, une des premières choses à faire dans le processus de démilitarisation est de soumettre le chef d'état-major à l'autorité du ministre de la défense nationale, de raboter les pouvoirs excessifs du Conseil de Sûreté Nationale (MGK) et du Conseil Militaire Supérieur (YAS).

Il faut également diminuer considérablement le budget des dépenses militaires utilisé pour opprimer le peuple kurde et menacer les pays avoisinants.

Si les chefs militaires persistent à poursuivre leurs ingérences et provocations, ils doivent immédiatement être éloignés de leurs postes.

Tous les vestiges du régime militariste doivent être éradiqués en adoptant les mesures suivantes:

• Entière modification de la constitution actuelle imposée par les militaires; suppression des articles 3, 4, 42 et 66 prônant la supériorité et le monopole de la race et de la langue turques.
• Le système électoral imposant un seuil national de 10% au détriment des partis politiques représentant des opinions différentes, notamment pro kurde ou de gauche, doit être radicalement modifié.
• Les responsables des coups d'état du passé doivent être traduits devant la justice pour crimes contre l'humanité.
• L'ingérence des militaires dans la vie politique, sociale et culturelle du pays doit être définitivement interdite, les actuels commandants poursuivant leurs menaces et provocations doivent être éloignés de leurs postes.
• Une amnistie générale doit être déclarée pour tous les prisonniers ou inculpés politiques.
• Tous les articles anti-démocratiques du code pénal turc et de la Loi anti-terreur et d'autres lois répressives doivent être abolis, les poursuites judiciaires contre des journalistes, écrivains, artistes, enseignants doivent être arrêtées.
• Les droits fondamentaux du peuple kurde et des minorités assyrienne, arménienne, grecque doivent être reconnus sans exception et sans restriction.
• Le génocide commis au début du siècle contre les Arméniens et les Assyriens doit être solennellement reconnu par l'état turc.
• Toute ingérence d'Ankara dans la vie politique et sociale des pays accueillant des ressortissants de Turquie doit être arrêtée.

28th anniversary of the 1980 Coup: Five putschists to be tried by the Tribunal of Conscience

September 12, 2008 is the 28th dark anniversary of the 1980 Military Coup. For 28 years, despite all protests and demands of democratic forces, parliamentary powers have always passed under silence this criminal putsch committed by the commanders of the Turkish Army. The constitution imposed by the Junta has remained in force. Successive governments have ruled the country always under the threats and blackmails of the military hierarchy.

On the occasion of the 28th anniversary, a civil initiative has set up a tribunal of conscience for trying five putschists: General Staff Commander Kenan Evren and four other members of the National Security Council (MGK), Nurettin Ersin, Tahsin Şahinkaya, Nejat Tümer and Sedat Celasun, respectively commanders of the land, air, naval and gendarmerie forces.

The hearing will be held on September 12, 2008, at the Dolapdere Campus of the Bilgi University in Istanbul.

The hearing will be opened by Fethiye Cetin, lawyer of Hrant Dink, and the accusation act will be read by Engin Cinmen. Principal witnesses: Leman Fırtına, Orhan Miroğlu, Ragıp Zarakolu, Hacay Yılmaz, Sabahattin Selim Erhan, Atilla Keskin, Salih Sezgin, Bülent Aydın, İhsan Eliaçık, Hüner Buğdaycıoğlu, Adalet Ağaoğlu. The panel of the tribunal is composed of Memet Ali Alabora, Harun Tekin, Gökşen Şahin, Karin Karakaşlı, Rojin, Yıldıray Oğur and Semiha Kaya.

During the hearing, Dimitrious Papachristou, the leader of the student resistance of the Polytechnic University against the Junta of Greek Colonels, will talk as expert on the subject "How can putschists be tried?"

The tribunal organized by the “70 million steps against the military coup” Initiative calls also all citizens wishing to witness about the repression following the 1980 Coup.

The coup of September 12, 1980 was the second phase of a process of militarization in all fields of the country. Previously, the coup d'état of March 12, 1971 had already abolished or destroyed many democratic rights and institutions by the application of a repression without precedent.
 
The Constitution imposed in 1982 by the military junta abolished the last remnants of the freedoms recognized by the Constitution of 1961. The 1982 Constitution denies the basic rights of the Kurdish people and the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek minorities of Turkey. Articles 3, 42 and 66 preach the superiority and the monopoly of the Turkish race and language. Article 4 declares that Article 3 can never be modified, even its modification can never be proposed.

The Army's domination on the country's political, economic and social life is guaranteed by the privileges recognized by this constitution to the National Security Council (MGK).

The “70 million steps against the military coup” Initiative, in a press release concerning the organization of the tribunal of conscience, draws attention to the fact that the Army has, over last ten years, carried out two new direct interventions in political life, on February 28, 1997, and April 27, 2007. Moreover, as seen in the accusation act of the Ergenekon Proceedings, Army officers have prepared three plans of intervention in 2003 and 2004.

For this reason, all democratic forces as well in Turkey as abroad are called to be vigilant against new attempts of the Army.

At the hearing of September 12, 2008, five putschists will be tried for the following crimes committed after the 1980 Coup:

• Within two years, more than 650,000 people were taken into custody and subjected to torture.
• Information on 1 million 683 thousand people were recorded.
• 210,000 political cases were opened in military courts.
• A total of 98,404 people were tried because of their "thoughts."
• 71,500 people stood trial under articles 141, 142 and 163 of former Penal Code.
• 6,353 people were tried under the menace of capital punishment.
• 517 people were condemned to capital punishment.
• 50 people were hanged.
• 21,764 people were sentenced to heavy prison terms.
• 171 people were documented to have died under torture.
• 299 people lost their lives in prison due to maltreatment and hunger strikes to protest this maltreatment.
• 348.000 persons were forbidden to travel abroad.
• 30 thousand people went to exile as “asylum seekers”.
•  14,000 persons were deprived of Turkish nationality.
• Universities were placed under the discipline of the Higher Education Council (YOK), depended on political power.
• 15,509 people were ousted from their university posts under Law No. 1402.
• 3.854 teachers were fired.
• All political parties were closed down.
• The activities of 23,667 associations were halted.
• The press was censored.
• 4,509 people were sent into exile by the martial law.
• 937 movies were banned.
• 2,792 authors, translators and journalists were tried.
• Journalists were condemned to a total of 3.315 years and 3 months prison sentence.
• 31 journalists were imprisoned, hundreds of them were attacked and three were shot dead.
• 113,607 books were burned.
• 39 tons of books, magazines and newspapers were destroyed by the State's paper mills.

For a true democratization worthy of European standards

As already announced last year by the 1971 Collective, one of the first things to be made in the process of demilitarization is to subject the chief of staff to the authority of the Minister for national defense, to cut off the excessive authorities of the National Security Council (MGK) and the Higher Military Council (YAS).

It is also vital to decrease considerably the budget of military expenditures used to oppress the Kurdish people and to threaten the neighboring countries.

If military commanders insist to maintain their interventions and provocations, they should immediately be ousted from their posts.

All the remnants of the militarist regime should be eradicated by adopting the following measures:

• Full modification of the current constitution imposed by the military; suppression of Articles 3, 4, 42 and 66 preaching the superiority and the monopoly of the Turkish race and language.
• The electoral system imposing a national threshold of 10% to the detriment of the political parties representing different opinions, in particular Kurdish and left-wing, must be radically modified.
• The persons responsible for the coups d'état in the past should be brought in front of the justice for having committed crimes against humanity.
• The interference of the military in the political, social and cultural life of the country must be definitively prohibited, the commanders continuing their threats and provocations must be ousted from their posts.
• A general amnesty must be declared for all political prisoners or detainees.
• All undemocratic articles of the Turkish Penal Code, the Anti-Terror Law and other laws must be abolished; the legal proceedings against journalists, writers, artists, and teachers must be stopped.
• The fundamental rights of the Kurdish people and the Assyrian, Armenian, Greek minorities must be recognized without exception and restriction.
• The genocide committed at the beginning of the century against Armenians and Assyrians must be recognized by the Turkish State.
• Any interference of Ankara in the political and social life of the countries hosting Turkish nationals must be stopped.

Another Women Forced To A Strip Search During Prison Visit

Gülnaz Türkmen has rendered at the press conference given by the Human Rights Association (İHD) how she was strip searched at the Torbalı Prison when she was visiting her son on September 4. She was searched by a female police officer.

When she refused the procedure, she was told that she would not be able to see her son, if she did not agree with the strip search.

When Türkmen was told by the other visitors this was the usual procedure, she went to the Office of the Torbalı Prosecutor to file a complaint.

However she was asked if she had a witness, but the search procedure requires that the visitor is strip searched in a room by a single officer.

“If they really want witnesses, then they can let the human rights representatives and the law professionals witness the procedure.”

İHD’s Izmir branch demands that the incident is investigated. It has also repeated its previous demand that the prisons should be opened to the human rights organizations in order to stop the violations.

While ago, Derya Desde had experienced a similar incident while visiting her brother Mehmet Desde in the Tire Prison.

Züheyla Kılıç, lawyer from the Contemporary Jurists Association (ÇHD), with whom bianet had met previously about a similar incident, had said, “Article 86 of the Penal Code states that individuals can be searched using an X-ray machine or by hands, but the same article also adds that the searches must not violate human dignity.” (BIA, September 10, 2008)

No Permission To Investigate Teenager's Death Under Police Panzer

Cizre District Governorship did not give permission to the Office of the Cizre Public Chief Prosecutor to investigate the death of 15-year-old Yahya Menekşe under a police panzer during a demonstration in Cizre, Şırnak, in eastern Turkey on February 15, 2008.

Lawyer of Menekşe’s family Rojhat Dilsiz said, “There is a dead person. There are serious witnesses and two Judiciary Medicine reports. This decision is shocking. We have applied to the Regional Administrative Court. The decision of the District Governorship is against the law.”

According to the information Dilsiz gave to bianet, the District Governorship rejected the request on the grounds that the three of the six polices were not at the scene on that day and there is no concrete evidence showing that the other three were part of the incident.

Medical expert Dr. M. Halit Sapan says in the Crime Scene and the Autopsy Report of the Office of the Cizre Public Prosecutor that Menekşe was killed by a solid object going over him. The report of the Office of the Malatya Judicial Medicine also states that the death was of the type that would occur by a vehicle going over one's body.

In those days, the Human Rights Association (İHD) had stated that the police had used unproportional force in Cizre on February 15 and it had also reminded that in Diyarbakır seven people and in Kızıltepe one child had been killed in the clashes. (BIA, Nilüfer ZENGİN, September 5, 2008)

Tens Of Thousands Cry Peace At Kadıköy

Tens of thousands of people were at the meeting held by the Turkish Peace Council at Kadıköy, Istanbul on Sunday (August 31).

The speakers Gülseren Yoleri, head of the Human Rights Association Istanbul branch (İHD), Aydın Çubukçu, general director of Hayat TV, Ufuk Uras, Istanbul deputy and the President of the Freedom and Solidarity party (ÖDP), Emine Ayna, co-chairperson of the Democratic Society party (DTP), and Sami Evren, head of the Confederation of Public Worker’s Unions (KESK), made the same demand: Lay down the armes, solve the Kurdish problem through democratic means. 

The crowd chanted slogans such as “Mr. Öcalan”, “Long live the fraternity of peoples”, “Kurdana azadi, Freedom to Kurds”, “No to war, peace now”, “Equality, fraternity, freedom to the Kurdish nation”.

Yoleri, who was the first speaker at the meeting, said that all these clashes, operations, burning forests, exploding bombs were pushing peace back decades.

Speaking for the Peace Council, Çubukçu said, “178 people have died in the first half of the year 2008. In thirty years, thousands of people died. This war must end. The resources used by the war should be transferred to the development of the region, to the education.”

Criticizing the closure case against the DTP, Uras said that the road to the peace pass through facing and trying the makers of the September 12 military coup and the Ergenekon case. He also added that the Thousand Hopes candidates will struggle against the ruling party and the Republican People’s party (CHP) at the next local elections and everyone who believes in peace should support them.

Emphasizing that it the Kurds who want peace more than anyone in Turkey, the DTP co-chairperson Ayna said, “The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) is not the problem, but the outcome of the denial of the Kurdish identity for the past eighty years. If we can name the problem correctly, then we will be able to solve the problem.”

Stating that it was meaningless to beg for peace from the state, Ayna stated that it was the proletariat, the Kurds, the Turks, the women, the workers and the every oppressed section of  the society who were going to win the peace struggling together.

“We do not want the Turks behind us, but by us. Peace cannot come only with the struggle of the Kurds. It can come with the contribution of the peoples of Turkey as well.”

Speaking after Ayna, KESK president Evren said, “Those who produce should solve the problem. The Kurdish problem is also the problem of the proletariat.” (BIA, Bawer ÇAKIR, September 1st, 2008)

Pression sur les médias / Pressure on the Media

20 Journalists and Writers in Turkish Prisons during Sugar Holiday

The Solidarity Platform of Imprisoned Journalists (TGDP) reminded that 20 journalists and writers were still in the prisons as the country is going to celebrate Sugar Holiday. TGDP call all to send them the messages of sympathy and solidarity.

The below list indicates the names of 20 prisoners  with the mention of the media for which they had worked  and the prison where they are kept:

Ibrahim Cicek, Atilim, prison type-F N°2 in Tekirdag
Sedat Senoglu, Atilim, prison type-F N°1 in Edirne
Füsun Erdogan, Ozgür Radio, special prison in Gebze
Hasan Cosar, Atilim, prison type-F in Sincan
Ziya Ulusoy, Atilim, prison type-F N°1 in Tekirdag
Bayram Namaz, Atilim, prison type-F N°1 in Edirne
Hatice Duman, Atilim, special prison in Gebze
Behdin Tunç, DIHA News Agency, prison type-D in Diyarbakir
Faysal Tunç, DIHA News Agency, prison type-D in Diyarbakir
Haydar Haykır, DIHA News Agency, prison type-M in Batman
Ali Bulus, DIHA News Agency, prison type-F in Mersin
Mehmet Karaaslan, Journal Gündem, prison type-E in Mersin
Mahmut Tutal, Journal Gündem, prison type-E in Urfa
Erol Zavar, Odak, prison type-F in Sincan
Mustafa Gök, Ekmek ve Adalet, prison type-F in Sincan
Baris Acikel,  Isci Köylü, prison type-F N°1 in Kandira
Hüseyin Habip Taskin, Review Güney, prison of Manisa
Mehmet Bakir, Review Güney, prison type-F in Bolu
Erdal Güler, Journal Devrimci Demokrasi, prison type-E in Amasya
Murat Coskun, Writer of the book "Acinin Dili Kadin", Kürkçüler prison type-F in Adana

The Platform of Solidarity With Imprisoned Journalists (TGDP)
Communication: Necati Abay, Spokesman of TGDP;  GSM: +90 0535 929 75 86
e-mail: tutuklugazeteciler@mynet.com

Caricaturist On Trial For Criticizing The Chief Prosecutor

The 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance began hearing the case of İbrahim Özdabak, the caricaturist for the newspaper Yeni Asya, who is on trial for satirizing Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya, Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, by drawing him as an “owl wearing a cloak.” Yalçınkaya was the prosecutor in the AKP closure case.

Özdabak is accused of insulting the prosecutor under article 125 of the Penal Code with his caricature in which the owl wearing a cloak goes “goog, goog, goog.”

Arriving at the court with his lawyers Kadir Akbaş and Turgut İnal today (September 26), Özdabak stated that it was his first time being prosecuted in his 25 years of journalism.

He said, “Caricature is part of  the art of drawing. People and incidents are criticized through humor. It is a way of expressing what can not be said or written, way of using freedom of expression.”

“Those who are part of the judiciary can be criticized, too. One should be able to criticize anybody and any institution in a democratic society and in a state where the law rules.”

Özdabak said he had not intended to commit crime and asked for his acquittal.

His lawyer Akbaş stated that this case should be seen within the context of the freedom of expression. The court decided to continue the case on December 5. (BIA, Erol ONDEROGLU, September 26, 2008)

Interview With The PKK Militants Costs Fifty Thousand Euro In Fines

Istanbul’s 10th High Criminal Court has fined daily Hurriyet’s reporter Sebati Karakurt and managers Hasan Kılıç and Necdet Tatlıcan fifty thousand euro for the interview conducted with the PKK four years age. The article, which was titled “The awareness of women in Kandil surpasses the Kurdishness” , was construed as “publishing the comments of the terrorist organization” and “doing propaganda work for the PKK”.

After the interview on October 10, 2004, the police had stormed Karakurt’s house, pressured him to turn in the images  he had and later apprehended him. Many media organizations, among them the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) and the Press Council, had reacted against this treatment.

The interview was about the life of the militants located on the Kandil Mountain in Northern Iraq and their changing values. Nurcan Çalışkan, lawyer of the journalists, emphasized that the interview had brought to light the unknown sides of the PKK organization, the article was a news reports and was therefore protected by the freedom of the press.

According to the interview, the PKK militants were watching TV series, soccer games and talk shows. The interview had also touched upon the relations between the men and  the women miliants. One of the militants was quoted saying “We do not want a state independent of Turkey.”

Journalist Cengiz Kapmaz, reporter for the newspaper Ülkede Özgür Gündem, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined 375 YTL (about 179 Euro) for his interview with former Democracy Party (DEP) deputy Orhan Doğan. He was charged with “doing propaganda work for the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK)”. (BIA, Erol ONDEROGLU, September 26, 2008)

Last week’s trial of freedom of expression
 
* The case was opened against the journalists İrfan Uçar and the responsible editor of Gündem daily Hasan Bayar over an article ¨number 301¨ by Uçar published on 13 December 2005 dated issue of the paper. The complainant is Ministry of Justice. Uçar and Bayar are charged with humiliating the government, the justice system, police and the military forces of the state. The case was referred to Ministry of Justice due to amendment in article 301.
 
* Kasım Çakan, the author of the book “Becoming demoted in the Army” and Mehdi Tanrukulu the owner of Tevn publishing House stand trial under ATL Article 7. Çakan and Tanrıkulu are charged with “making propaganda of terrorist organisations”. Istanbul High Criminal Court Num.14 issued an arrest order for Kasım Çakan. The next hearing is on 29 December 2008, at 09:00.
 
* Bülent Ersoy is charged with “alienating people from military service” over her remarks at a TV show “Popstar Alaturka” where she is a juror, broadcasted on 24 February 2008. Ersoy said ¨If I had a son; some people will make a decision around a table and will say ´You will do this and they will do that´, and I will bury my child. This won’t happen.¨ Bakırköy Public Prosecutor Ali Çakır wants Ersoy to be imprisoned for up to 3 years. The court decided to wait for the cases of the complainants. The next hearing is on 30 October 2008, at 10:00.
 
* The case is against Dickinson over his holding up a collage work showing Prime Minister Erdoğan as a dog during the trial of Erkan Kara. Erkan Kara stands trial over exhibiting Dickinson´s work at Peace Fair. Dickinson earlier demanded to be tried instead of Kara but was refused. Dickinson was acquitted.
 
* The case is against the executive member of Democratic Society Party and MP Sebahat Tuncel and Kurdish artist İbrahim Rojhilat, based on the statements of confessors. Tuncel is charged with being a member of PKK/KONGRA-GEL, Rojhilat is charged with helping the organisation. The next hearing is on 25 February 2009 at 09:00.
 
* Hürriyet reporter Sebati Karakurt and responsible editor Necdet Tatlıcan and Hasan Kılıç stand trial over an interview ¨Women´s Consciousness in Kandil Mountain¨ published in Sunday supplement on 10 October. They are charged with ¨propaganda for the organisation¨. The court gave Necdet Tatlıcan a fine of 20 thousand lira for ‘propaganda of an illegal organisation’. Hasan Kılıç and Sebati Karakurt were each given 40 thousand lira of fines for ‘propaganda of an illegal organisation’ and ‘publishing the statements of an illegal organisation’.
 
* A cartoonist of “Yeni Asya” newspaper İbrahim Özdabak is charged with “insult through publication” under article 125 of TPC over a cartoon published on 19 March 2008. Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecution’s indictment claimed that the cartoon published on the front page was an insult to the chief prosecutor of High Court Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya. The cartoon showed an owl on a branch wearing a gown and ¨Huguk! Huguk! Huguk! Huguk!¨ (Hukuk means law in Turkish.) The court gave Özdabak’s lawyer time for preparing the defence case and set the next hearing on 5 December 2008, at 11:45.
(Freedom of Expression Weekly Bulletin - Issue 31/08, 26 September 2008)

Zarakolu s’est inquiété du lâchage des intellectuels turcs par l’Union

A l’invitation de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne, Ragip Zarakolu, le célèbre dissident turc[1] s’est rendu à Bruxelles après son déplacement à Amsterdam, où il a reçu le prix 2008 de la Liberté d’Expression de l’Association Internationale des Editeurs (discours de réception disponible ici). A l’occasion de cette visite, la Fédération Euro-Arménienne a organisé des entrevues entre M. Zarakolu et plusieurs responsables politiques de l’Union européennes – membres de la Commission, représentants de la présidence française et députés européens. M. Zarakolu a ainsi pu évoquer la réalité turque contemporaine avec plusieurs membres de la Commission des Affaires Etrangères du Parlement ainsi qu’avec la présidence de la Délégation interparlementaire UE-Turquie (photos disponibles ici).

M. Zarakolu a fait part de la régression de la liberté d’expression de la Turquie. Il a affirmé que « en 1997 et en 2000, les gens qui publiaient sur le génocide des Arméniens étaient poursuivis mais acquittés » tandis que « ils sont actuellement condamnés ».

Il a mentionné l’usage de plus en plus fréquent des articles 7/2 et 8 de la loi anti-terreur à l’encontre des médias, notamment dès que la question kurde est abordée en terme de droits politiques et culturels collectifs. Concernant l’article 301 dont « l’histoire se confond avec celle de son procès », il a réitéré la position des intellectuels turcs selon laquelle cet article est « totalement incompatible avec la démocratie et doit être totalement abrogé ».

A propos du système judiciaire turc, Ragip Zarakolu et Joost Lagendijk, le président de la délégation interparlementaire UE-Turquie – soutien inconditionnel de l’adhésion turque et qui a pourtant été poursuivi en raison de l’article 301 – ont déploré que « le programme européen de mise à niveau du système judiciaire qui a marché pour les magistrats d’Europe orientale ne fonctionne pas pour les magistrats turcs » et que « ceux qui prononcent aujourd’hui des inculpations sous le coup de l’article 301 ont pourtant suivi ces stages de formation ».

D’une manière générale, M. Zarakolu a fustigé la politique opportuniste du gouvernement turc qui « n’autorise pas les poursuites lorsque cela risque de nuire à l’image internationale de la Turquie » mais qui « les autorise envers des intellectuels peu connus en Occident ».

M. Zarakolu a également présenté en tant que président du Comité pour la liberté de publier le rapport 2008 sur la liberté d’expression en Turquie – publié par l’Association turque des Editeurs – et a révélé que – selon les chiffres officiels du Ministère turc de la Justice – des poursuites à l’encontre de 36 personnes ont été autorisées en vertu de l’article 301 depuis sa « reforme ».

Il a appelé l’Union à « plus de fermeté dans ses principes » et à exiger d’Ankara « des avancées concrètes ». Prenant le contre-pied des figures médiatiques promues par le gouvernement turc, il a conclu en disant qu’un « durcissement de l’Union est la seule solution pour faire progresser Ankara » en critiquant le fait que la Turquie « rétive à la réforme » cherche à obtenir « des droits spéciaux en Europe ».

« Nous appelons l’Union européenne à apporter tout son soutien au combat de ces hommes et femmes – dissidents – poursuivis et menacés avec la complicité de l’Etat turc » a commenté Hilda Tchoboian, la présidente de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne agit en Europe en faveur du réexamen critique de la situation des Droits de l’Homme en Turquie au regard des manquements de ce pays envers les critères d’adhésion à l’Union européenne.

[1] Ragip Zarakolu est éditeur et membre fondateur de l’Association turc des Droits de l’Homme. Il fait régulièrement l’objet de poursuites judiciaires pour oser publier des ouvrages sur les tabous de la Turquie (Génocide arménien, question kurde, rôle de l’armée dans la vie politique, torture,…). En juin 2008, il a été la première personne condamnée en vertu du sinistre article 301 du code pénal turc « réformé », moins d’une semaine après sa « réforme ».(European Armenian Federation, 25 septembre 2008)

Amendes pour des journalistes ayant interviewé des rebelles kurdes

Trois journalistes du quotidien turc Hurriyet ont été condamnés jeudi à des amendes pour avoir "servi la propagande d'une organisation terroriste" en publiant il y a quatre ans une interview avec des séparatistes kurdes, a indiqué l'agence de presse Anatolia.

Sebati Karakurt, qui a réalisé l'interview dans un camp du Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) dans le nord de l'Irak, voisin de la Turquie, a été condamné à une amende de 40.000 lires (22.000 euros), de même que Hasan Kilic. Un autre journaliste du même quotidien à gros tirage, Necdet Tatlican, a été condamné à payer une amende de 20.000 lires.

Le tribunal a estimé que les journalistes s'étaient rendus coupables de "servir la propagande d'une organisation terroriste" en violation de la législation antiterroriste.

L'interview, publiée en octobre 2004, était centrée sur un groupe de jeunes femmes engagées dans le PKK et montrait une image inhabituelle des rebelles, souriant ou jouant de la guitare, en contradiction avec l'image violente généralement véhiculée par les médias turcs. (AFP, 25 sept 2008)

Compensations Punish Opinions

The Civil Court of First Instance is waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals to prosecute the compensation case against caricaturist Muhammet Şengöz, who was tried for criticizing Kocaeli Mayor İbrahim Karaosmanoğlu with his caricatures.

Reacting to the billboards the mayor had planted around the town, on which imaginary citizens asked the mayor what was his next deed, Muhammet Şengöz's caricature had an imaginary citizen with his back turned and pants down, asking the mayor who will be the next person.

 Karaosmanoğlu's reply was a criminal lawsuit against the caricaturist, followed by a civil suit for damages in 5000 Euro.

The caricaturist was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in jail on September 21, 2007. Having his sentence converted to a fine of 3500 euro, Şengöz’s lawyer Suat Temoçin appealed the verdict.

The hearing for the damages that was held today will continue on December 25.

Following the complaint by Republican People’s Party deputy and retired ambassador Şükrü Elekdağ against the Blue Book, full title of which was “The Treatment of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire between 1915-16” ,  Pencere Publishing representative Muzaffer Erdoğdu, translator Ahmet Güner and historian Taner Akçam, whose article appeared in the book, have been sentenced by the court to compensate the complainant. for the damages The accused plan to appeal the verdict.

The book that caused the above trial, which is also known as the Blue Book, is about the investigation conducted by James Bryce and Arnold Toynbee for the English government in February 1916 to determine what happened to the Ottoman Armenians.

The book that had come out at the end of this investigation was printed in blue cover and dispersed in the English Parliament. (BIA – Erol ONDEROGLU, September 25, 2008)
 
Censorship on the Internet Continues

Şişli Legal Court of First Instance Num.2 issued an injunction to block the website of Prof. Richard Dawkins, an evolutionist author, richarddawkins.net, on 3 September. The website was blocked for “violating personal rights” through publishing defaming content about Adnan Oktar’s book “Atlas of Creation” where Oktar defends creation theory.
Youtube, kliptube and geocities are banned websites
One of the websites to which access from Turkey is banned is Youtube which has been shut for four and a half months. kliptube.com and geocities.com are among the banned websites.
 
Article 8 of 4 May 2007 dated Law 5651 ‘Regulating Internet Publishing and Fighting Crimes on the Internet’  states that Internet publishing can only be blocked if it contains material inciting suicide, sexual abuse of children, facilitating drug use, providing substances dangerous to health, pornography, prostitution and gambling and violating the law 5816 on ‘Crimes against Ataturk’. These are called "catalogue crimes."

For example youtube.com has been closed to access by consequent court orders for including videos insulting Ataturk.

However newspapers and websites focusing on Kurdish issues are shut down for reasons other than “catalogue crimes.”

For example yeniozgurpolitika.org belonging to “Yeni Özgür Politika” newspaper published in Europe, European based Fırat News Agency’s (ANF) firatnews.com, ‘Özgür Gündem’ newspaper’s ozgurgundem.org and rojaciwan have been shut down for a long time. These websites are charged with “making propaganda for the PKK” which is not mentioned in the Law 5651. (antenna-tr.org, 19 September 2008)
 
Last week’s trials of freedom of expression

o Republic Party of People (CHP) MP Şükrü Elekdağ opened a case over the book “Treatment of Armenians in Ottoman Empire, 95-96” against the publisher Muzaffer Erdogdu, the translator Ahmet Guner and the historian Taner Akçam whose article was published in the book. Elekdağ claimed 20.000 Turkish Liras of compensation. The court ordered a compensation of 7500 Liras at this week’s hearing. The case is to be sent to the appeal court.

o Bakırköy Public Prosecutor Ali Çakır wrote an indictment over Abdurrahman Dilipak´s article “Gown and Turban” published on 13 February 2008 in “Anadoluda Vakit” newspaper. The case was filed on the complaint of General Staff. Dilipak is charged with “insulting the military forces of the state” TPC article 301. The Court decided that the amendment of article 301 was in favour of Dilipak, and sent the case to the Ministry of Justice for permission. Trial will continue if the Ministry gives permission.

o Bal was prosecuted for failing to inform the prosecution service about the slogans chanted at a funeral of a PKK member which he followed as a reporter. Bal gave a statement for the charge and said ¨he did not hear the slogans¨. Prosecution prepared a second indictment against him with the charge of ¨perjury¨. See next week’s bulletin for this case.

o Murat Bağlı is charged over a stand up show he performed at Diyarbakır 6th Culture and Arts Festival; Edip Polat and Eren Keskin are charged with inciting hatred and hostility among the people¨ over their speeches at a panel discussion on ¨Solutions to Kurdish Problem in the past and today¨. The next hearing is on 11 November 2008 at 10:00 am.

NOTE: For general statistics on trials of freedom of expression see http://www.antenna-tr.org/dunya/first_page_en.asp

Newspaper Banned For Publishing Pro-Kurdish Views

Istanbul’s 9th High Criminal Court has banned the circulation of the newspaper Alternatif for one month on the grounds that it published statements on behalf of the “PKK/KONGRA-GEL” (Kurdish Workers Party). Alternatif had begun its life  in May.

The court concluded the application by the Office of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor to have the September 20 issue of the newspaper seized on the same day that it was filed and the newspaper’s sale and circulation were banned.

The two articles for which the newspaper was banned were titled “They can meet with the Democratic Society Party for solving the problem” and “Claim your mother tongue”, first one expressing the opinions of Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), who is in prison for life, and the second one Murat Karayılan’s, another high-level PKK official.

In the article, Öcalan says that he was given medicine that helped his breathing, but was being subjected to many disciplinary punishments for provoking people with his messages, and another punishment was on its way.

Öcalan is quoted in the article as saying “I am warning the people against the cultural genocide and the dangers; I express my opinions. They want me to hand over the people to them, without resisting…”

In the other article, Karayılan mainly talks about the issue of mother tongue and announces that he supports those who show their reaction to the ban on Kurdish and “the cultural genocide policies.”

Cevat Düşün, license holder and chief editor for the newspapers Alternatif and Gelecek, says that they will not give up even thoughboth newspapers were banned three times altogether.

“We will continue publishing the facts. We will not compromise our principles. Our publishing policy is necessary for Turkey’s democratization. We will not deprive our readers of our goals and their right to information.”

Starting its life on May 19, the newspaper had already received its first banning of one month a week later.

Since January 2007 twelve newspapers have been banned: Gündem six times, Güncel three times, Gerçek and Demokrasi twice each, Yedinci Gün six times, Haftaya Bakış three times, Yaşamda Demokrasi once, Toplumsal Demokrasi twice, Öteki Bakış once, Yeni Bakış once, Gelecek, which started its life in May 2008, once, and Alternatif twice. (BIA, September 22, 2008)

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu Received 2008 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize

On 18 September IPA President Ana María Cabanellas formally awarded the 2008 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize to Turkish publisher Ragip Zarakolu for his exemplary courage in upholding freedom to publish.

The ceremony marked the opening of a two-day international seminar on neo-censorship (Threats to the Open Book) organised by Amsterdam World Book Capital and co-sponsored by IPA. This Prize “sends a message to the Turkish authorities that domestic legislation must be further amended to meet international freedom of expression standards”.

The full press release, herewith attached, is also available at:
http://www.internationalpublishers.org/images/pdf/FTP/FreedomPrize/2008/17_09_pr.pdf

IPA President Ana Maria Cabanellas’s speech is also herewith attached and available at:
http://www.internationalpublishers.org/images/pdf/FTP/FreedomPrize/2008/amc_ams_speech.pdf

More about Ragip Zarakolu, recipient of the 2008 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize:

Ragip Zarakolu is a Turkish publisher born in 1948. Since starting his publishing house Belge with his wife Ayse Nur in 1977, he has been subjected to harassment from the Turkish authorities. Ragip Zarakolu refused to abandon his campaign for freedom of thought, striving “for an attitude of respect for different thoughts and cultures to become widespread in Turkey”. Over the years, the charges brought by the Turkish authorities against Ragip Zarakolu and his wife resulted in imprisonment, confiscation and destruction of books, and the imposition of heavy fines, endangering the survival of the Belge publishing house. Ragip Zarakolu is the chairperson of the Freedom to Publish Committee of the Turkish Publishers Association.

More about the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize:

IPA established the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize to honour each year a person or an organisation that has made an important contribution to the defence and promotion of freedom to publish anywhere in the world. Recently, the 2006 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize was awarded to Iranian publisher Shalah Lahiji during the Göteborg Book Fair, and the 2007 Prize went to Zimbabwean publisher Trevor N’cube at the Cape Town Book Fair in South Africa. Special posthumous prizes were also given to Anna Politkovskaya and Hrant Dink. The 2008 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize is sponsored by the Dutch Publishers association (NUV-GAU). For more, see: www.nuv.nl/web/show/id=96378

More about IPA:

IPA is the global non-governmental organisation representing all aspects of book and journal publishing worldwide. Established in 1896, IPA's mission is to promote and protect publishing and to raise awareness for publishing as a force for cultural and political advancement worldwide. IPA is an industry association with a human rights mandate. IPA currently has 65 member associations in 53 countries.

For further information, please contact:

Alexis Krikorian
Director
Freedom to Publish
krikorian@internationalpublishers.org
+41 22 830 10 80.

Zarakolu's Speech on Censorship Regime in Turkey

We can define Turkey as a country in transition, from authoritarianism to democracy, from "the national security state" to a democratic state of equal and free citizens, a process which has been underway for a century.

During the Cold War, the armed forces of the pro-US countries faced external enemies but also a so-called internal enemy. In the 1960s and ‘70s a new sort of military coup swept the world. Argentina, Chile, Indonesia and Turkey experienced a kind of genocide, targeting different sections of the Left. Militarists seized state power, trying to socially engineer an entire political system.

Using a national security model perfected in collaboration with the Pentagon, National Security Councils were established in client states, with the model’s most extreme form developed in Turkey. There the National Security Council was transformed into the highest political decision-maker, with the equal participation of a self-governing military apparatus. It even had a secret constitution, the Document of National Security Politics, known as the Red Book.

At the instigation of the army the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan removed "ultra-nationalism" and "racism" from the Red Book’s list of national threats, opening the door to aggressive nationalism and the legitimization of extremist violence. Conspiracy theorists fuelled a wave of nationalist paranoia as a by-product of psychological warfare. TV programmes extolled racism and violence, creating a new kind of role model for society.

Though painted as dauntless defenders of secularism, the state sustains a form of secularism where most religious functionaries can claim a civil servant’s salary. Non-Muslim bodies run by and supporting Turkish citizens enjoy no such support.

These "threats" are created and exaggerated by an obsolete militarism trying to control society. The General Staff’s website – one of the key objectives of which is to deny the 1915 Armenian genocide – includes Christian missionaries on its list of dangers. They see Greek and Armenian orthodox foundations run by Turkish citizens as a threat to national security.

Some courts have even ruled Turkish non-Muslim organizations to be “foreign bodies”. Former president Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed a bill reforming Turkey’s Law of Foundations, objecting to privileges for “foreigners."  The Greek Patriarchate, spiritual leader of the Greek Christian minority in Turkey, is accused of heading a "new Vatican".

The secret Subordinate Committee for Minorities, established by Ismet Inönü’s government in 1961 helped pave the way for the wave of repression against minorities. It has worked. The once thriving Greek minority population in Istanbul has declined to about 1,900 today.

Every year another minority school or church closes. Even western Protestant and Catholic communities in this so-called secular country face significant obstacles to registering and opening places of worship.

Extreme nationalist Grey Wolf groups have bombed the Greek Patriarchate, and pseudo-leftist nationalists have attacked Protestants. No direct orders need to be issued. The numerous racist and nationalist organisations will do whatever is required.

I ask: were the objections to Hrant Dink’s reports on the alleged Armenian roots of Sabiha Gokçen, adopted daughter of Kemal Ataturk, a coincidence? Were the threats against Turkey’s Assyrian and Syriac peoples that followed new allegations of genocide against their communities at the end of the Ottoman era, a coincidence? Are a recent series of attacks on Catholic clerics a coincidence? Why are Protestants and Germans in Turkey suddenly facing harassment for following their religious beliefs?

An entire mindset has been based on the concept of “one nation, one religion, one sect" and of an era governed by "one party". What has all this to do with a state that claims to be secularist?

We should look at the global picture and a wider range of events fostered by the secret armies organised by NATO after the Second World War. Trained by US and British Special Forces, the so-called Stay Behind units – commandos equipped to stage behind the lines attacks on a Soviet assault that never came – instead linked up with right-wing terrorists to target imagined internal threats from the left.

Despite being exposed as terrorist conspirators at the end of the Cold War by Italian premier Giulio Andreotti and other European leaders, the last units in Turkey continued to operate against the Kurdish rebels and Turkey’s leftist community.

Only after Russia’s military intervention in Turkey’s Black Sea neighbour Georgia did Ankara finally take steps to disband its last embarrassing legacy of Cold War NATO membership, the Ergenekon Turkish counter-guerilla force.

There are no coincidences. A deeply militarist mindset lays deep roots. Turkey lost its political balance after the annihilation of the Left by the military juntas. The very existence of the country’s left depends on international solidarity.

Unfortunately, since September 11, 2001, national security state anti-terror laws have been given even more power in Turkey – indeed, in many countries - to restrict freedom of expression.

Our publishing house, Belge International Publishing, was targeted under anti-terror laws when we published books about the Kurdish Question and the Armenian genocide. Books that critiqued state terror and condemned terrorism were accused under anti-terror law.

The Erdoğan government reformed the anti-terror law in 2004, deleting a clause that controlled the opposition press. But in 2006 the National Security Council demanded that the clause be restored in a stricter form.

Now the Kurdish and opposition publications may be silenced for a year waiting for trials to begin. Their defence lawyers’ rights are restricted. Jailed journalists are sent to special isolation prisons where they have fewer rights than "ordinary" criminals.

As the 2007 Turkish Publishers’ Association Report On The Freedom Of Publishing noted: the papers Özgür Gündem, Atılım, Birgün and Evrensel, broadcasters Free Radio and Voice of Anatolia and periodicals Özgür Halk, Yürüyüş and Kaos GL have been banned and some even faced raids by security forces.

The editor of the periodical Sanat ve Hayat and the chair of the BEKSAV Institution for Art and Culture, Hacı Orman was threatened and arrested. Some 600 separate charges were brought against the Özgür Gündem and its editor-in-chief Hasan Bayar sentenced to nearly six years imprisonment.

As we found again in our 2008 Report On The Freedom Of Publishing, article 8 and 7.2 of the Anti-Terror Law was particularly directed against the media. The newspaper Alternatif was banned for a month a week after opening. The same fate awaited the newspaper İşçi-Köylü (Worker-Peasant).

The negative effects of these restored and enhanced clauses to the Anti-Terror Law became increasingly clear, even to those who had closed their ears to the warnings of the Turkish Publishers’ Association.

Even mainstream papers such as Hürriyet and Radikal tangled with the anti-terror law for interviews they published. Meanwhile Füsun Erdoğan, chief editor of Free Radio and four staffers at Atılım, are charged with membership of an ‘illegal organisation’.

Though Vedat Kurşun, editor of Turkey’s only Kurdish language daily Welat, has recently been released, the editor-in-chief of the periodical Odak was not freed, even though he suffers from a terminal illness. And Ali Turgay, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Seventh Day, was arrested as he made a statement to Beşiktaş Judicial Court. He is charged with ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’.

But around the world free speech groups criticize Turkey’s anti-terror law and its abusive curtailment of freedom of expression. The European Court of Justice has upheld appeals against the convictions of publishers of opposition media under the Anti-Terror Law.

As we said in our 2008 Report, narrow-minded interpretations of article 215 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalises the praising of a criminal or a criminal act, make it difficult to publish documents relating to the last 40 years of Turkish political history.

Although the banning of books has become rare, the collected writings of Mahir Çayan, a youth leader of 1968 and his ‘Revolutionary Songs,’ both published by Su Publishing were banned. A similar collection by Bora Publishing was banned in 2004.

Writer Haluk Gerger was imprisoned for a talk he gave on Deniz Gezmiş, a youth hero of ’68. Temel Demirer is currently standing trial for speaking at a panel in Tunceli about İbrahim Kaypakkaya, another youth leader from that era. A separate case against the same writer - for his speech at the memorial ceremony for Hrant Dink - is currently suspended as a result of the change made to Article 301.

After former parliamentarian Mahmut Alınak was jailed for his proposing that streets in the city of Kars be named after left wing and pro-Kurdish figures, we were happy to learn that a park in Diyarbakır was to be named after publisher Ayşe Nur Zarakolu.

But the decision was reversed by the Diyarbakır governor on the grounds that she had once been imprisoned, even though Ankara had already agreed to pay compensation after the European Court of Human Rights found she was unfairly convicted.

There are gains. After Hayat TV was closed by order of Turkish Radio & TV (RTUK) in July, a protest by writers and intellectuals led to the lifting of the ban in August.

But this is not enough. The core of the issue lies in the unsolved Kurdish problem, an issue on which militarists have never sought a peaceful political settlement, and who see the issue of respect for human rights as the main obstacle to solving the ‘problem’!

Finding a just and political settlement for the Kurdish problem will break militarism’s means of controlling society. The Kurdish war is the military’s justification for political interference, a policy that suits Prime Minister Erdoğan well.

The military tolerates political Islam in return for acceptance of the Anti-Terror and Police Authority laws. That frees it to target the "internal enemy" at home and abroad, including progressive academics such as historian Taner Akcam in the US and Holland.

We do not show enough solidarity with the Kurdish media, in recognition of the threats and pressure they endure.

So to show that solidarity I accepted the honorary post of editor-in-chief of the newspaper Alternative, to show support for freedom of expression and the right to freely express opinions on the Kurdish question.

And as a result I was summoned by the prosecutor of the Serious Crimes Court at the end of August on connection with possible breaches of the Anti-Terror Law.

You will hear more soon.

Ragip Zarakolu

Journalist Kapmaz Receives Prison Sentence For An Interview

Journalist Cengiz Kapmaz is sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined 375 YTL (about 179 Euro) for his interview with former Democracy Party (DEP) deputy Orhan Doğan. He was charged with “doing propaganda work for the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK)”.

Kapmaz told bianet that the sentence was announced on the same day with Chief of Staff İlker Başbuğ’s meeting with his choice of the newspapers as if to show what might happen to those journalists who talk differently about the Kurdish Problem.

The investigation that eventually led to Kapmaz’s sentence was launched for his words “A group of politicians led by Zübeyir Aydar should come to Turkey before the elections. They should enter the parliament as independent deputies and Öcalan can be put under house arrest”. Kapmaz was working for the newspaper Ülkede Özgür Gündem at the time. He now works for the newspaper Referans.

Kapmaz receives prison sentence and two newspaper administrators are fined

Kapmaz was found guilty by ıstanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court yesterday (September 16) for his article titled “Let PKK enter the Parliament” published on June 22, 2006.

His lawyer Özcan Kılıç defended him by stating that these words were not his client’s, but Orhan Doğan’s, with whom the interview was conducted.

The court reduced Kapmaz’s sentence from one year in prison to ten months in prison and 375 YTL fine. It also fined the administrators of the newspapers at the time, Hasan Bayar and Ali Gürbüz, 2000 YTL (about 1100 euro) and 4000 YTL (about 2200 euro) respectively.

Describing himself as a journalist looking at the Kurdish Problem from a different perspective, Kapmaz is planning to appeal the decision.(BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 17, 2008)

IPI Calls on Erdogan to Retract Ultimatum Against Dogan Media Group

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, condemns the threats made against the Dogan Media Group by the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in reponse to coverage of the Deniz Feneri e.V. corruption scandal in the Turkish media.

According to information before IPI, German authorities have alleged that a Turkish charity named Deniz Feneri e.V., founded in Germany and established to provide humanitarian aid, has illegally transferred charity funds to certain individuals and certain companies. The case is currently being heard in the German courts.

Following coverage of the trial in the Turkish press, the Turkish media have been "harassed and blackmailed" by Erdogan, according to the IPI Turkish national committee in a press statement issued on 10 September 2008. Among the comments made by Erdogan regarding the coverage was an ultimatum delivered to the Dogan Media Group on 7 September 2008, demanding that they disclose the reason why they have been reporting on the events surrounding the Deniz Feneri e.V. scandal, or else he will "reveal the real reason himself" on Saturday 13 September.

"There is no place for Erdogan to question or criticise the media's right to report on an issue of public importance, such as the Deniz Feneri e.V. corruption scandal, and the media are under no obligation to justify their reasons for doing so," said IPI Director David Dadge. "Such pressure from the head of the Turkish government raises serious doubts about his commitment to an independent media, free to report on matters of public interest. IPI calls on Erdogan to publicly retract his ultimatum to the Dogan Media Group immediately, and to cease all attempts to pressure the Turkish media." (IPI/IFEX, 15 September 2008)

Writer And Journalist Ahmet Altan Charged With Insulting Turkish Nation

Article 301 continues to create victims, although some do escape prosecution “thanks to” the decision of no permission to some trials under article 301 by the Ministry of Justice.

The right to give permission to be prosecuted under article 301 was given to the Ministry of Justice with the revision in article 301 on May 8.

In its present form the revised 301 forbids “denigrating Turkishness, the Republic, the institutions and organs of the State.”

The latest victims of article 301 are Ahmet Altan for his article “Ah Ahparik” ('Oh brother' in Armenian) and director and authorized representative of the newspaper Taraf Adnan Demir. The complaint was filed by the Ankara branch of the Great Union Party (BBP).

The BBP representatives claim that the writer who wrote “the Unionists [of the Ottoman era] conducted a cruel genocide”  shows the Turkish nation as genocide-seekers, barbaric and immoral.

The ministry did not give permission to Boğatekin’s prosecution

On the other hand, the Ministry of Justice did not give permission for the prosecution of owner of the newspaper ‘Gerger Fırat’ Hacı Boğatekin, who had criticized Turkey’s past social policies with his article titled “Turkey made a mistake.”

The Ministry’s reasoning was that the said article was simply a reflection of the writer’s opinions and thoughts.

After the revision of article 301, 249 files have been sent to the Ministry of Justice for permission. The most recent permission given was the one for Temel Demirer’s case; his case was deemed prosecutable under 301. Mehmet Ali Şahin, Minister of Justice,  have denied permission for 115 case, but did the exact opposite for 36 cases. 98 files are still under inspection.

Pamak and Tanrıverdi are waiting for the decision of the ministry

President of the Scientific and Cultural Researches Foundation (İLKAV) Mehmet Pamak and President of the Teachers Union Yusuf Tanrıverdi are waiting for a similar permission decision to be (or not) prosecuted under article 301 from the Ministry of Justice for their alleged denigration of the Republic and the armed forces. Since the ministry’s reply is not back yet, their hearing is delayed to November 17. (BIA, Erol ONDEROGLU, September 12, 2008)

First Ministerial Permission For Trial Of Writer Demirer Under Article 301

The Ministry of Justice has given permission for the continuance of the trial of Temel Demirer under article 301 for saying that Hrant Dink was not only killed for being an Armenian, but recognizing the genocide as well.

Not surprised by this decision of the ministry, Demirer’s lawyer Şiar işvanoğlu told bianet that if the ministry had refused giving permission, then those more liberal minded judges would be willing to use initiative.”

“We were expecting this decision. With this decision, they have just proven that their promises regarding the European Union, democracy, the structural reforms and the human rights are all fairytales. On the one hand, they go to Armenia to watch a game, on the other hand they are filing cases under article 301.”

According to the new version of article 301, a permission from the Ministry of Justice is required to try cases under this article.

Demirer’s case went to the ministry on May 15 and minister Mehmet Ali Şahin decided to allow the case to proceed.

Demirer is accused for “provoking people to hatred and hostility” for his speech in Ankara on January 20, 2007, the next day after the murder of Hrant Dink.

The indictment prepared by prosecutor Levent Savaş on January 24, 2007 is based on police reports, tape recordings and CD’s. The indictment claims that Demirer made the following speech in the meeting where Hrant Dink’s murder was protested:

“I will be brief. (…) We live in a country where not shouting the truths partners with murder. Hrant was killed not only because he was an Armenian, but because he voiced the truth of genocide in this country. If the Turkish intellectuals do not commit this crime of article 301 301 times, then they will be accomplices to this murder. There is genocide in our history. Its name is Armenian Genocide. Hrant told this truth at the expense of his life. I commit the crime and I ask everyone to do the same. Those who do not commit this crime against this state are those who share the responsibility of the murder of Hrant Dink. Those who massacred Armenians yesterday are attacking our Kurdish brothers today. Those who desire the brotherhood of the peoples must settle with this history. We have to commit this crime, so what happened to our Armenian brothers yesterday will not happen to our Kurdish brothers. I ask everyone to commit this crime. Yes, there was Armenian genocide in this country.” (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 9, 2008)

Daily Birgün Reader Harassed And Threatened By Police

Tutku Türkol was apprehended by Kadıköy/İstanbul police on September 5 for having a copy of the Birgün newspaper with her.

The victim claimed that the police had taken her Birgün and ripped it to pieces, while asking her why she was reading it and from where she way buying it. Following this, she was apprehended and kept in the station for a while, being verbally and physically harassed in the process.

Eighteen-year Türkol was kept in the station for forty minutes and threatened. She says she will go after them.

Co-Spokesperson of the Greens Party Bilge Contepe said in the announcement he made, “These police officers who committed this crime should be suspended, but this is not it. All the police officers who are responsible for this outrage, from the superior of the Moda Station to the chief of Istanbul Police, should be suspended until the investigation is over.”

Reminding that a young women was abducted by the police for having a perfectly legal newspaper, taken to a police station, harassed, threatened and subjected to violence, Contepe asks what period this is and where we are living.

“This is the same mentality that does not punish the torturers; the same mentality that violates the democratic rights of those at the May Day meetings, at anti nuclear demonstrations in Sinop; the same mentality that ignores the violence and harassment against the women.” (BIA, September 9, 2008)

Ban on Language is everywhere: ‘Yankee Go Home’ is not allowed

Turkish Communist Party (TKP) applied to the Governor’s Office to hold the Celebrations of 88th. Founding Anniversary on 10 September 2008 in Bostancı Performing Arts Centre. The application also asked for permission to flypost the city with posters carrying “Yankee Go Home! TKP - 10 September 1920 we were founded during the years of occupation and sultanic rule... 10 September 2008, we will not leave the country to the hands of libosh (mockery for liberal), bigots, and Yankee.”

The governor informed TKP on 2 September 2008 that the celebration event was allowed but the posters were objectionable. The reason was the article 81/C of the Law on Political Parties which read ‘political propaganda in languages other than Turkish is not allowed.”

A former political party Socialist Power Party (SİP) by the same group had taken the same objection to court nine years ago. SİP’s posters of that time reading ‘Yankee go home! Get out with your soldiers, bases, and hamburger’ was banned. SİP had applied to the administrative court Num.2 to remove the ban. Governor had argued that, the slogan could damage relations with the US! The court decided in 2006: “The poster carrying the reactive and negative statements in Turkish and English is not in the scope of the ban on propaganda in foreign languages and the claim that the slogans would damage relations with the US is not well grounded.” The ban was cancelled as High Court Department Num. 10 approved lower court’s decision.(freex@superonline.com, September 8, 2008)

For more on language ban see, http://www.antenna-tr.org/dunya/guncel.asp?feox=127&lgg=en

Publication of “Halk Gerçeği” periodical stopped for a month

Istanbul High Criminal Court Num. 12 decided to confiscate the issue 7 of  “Halk Gerçeği Magazine” (People’s Reality) dated 31 August for "making propaganda of a terrorist organisation, publishing their statements, and praising crime and criminal" under articles 6/2, 7/2 of Statue 3713 and article 25/2 of Press Law.

The publication of the magazine has been stopped for one month. “Halk Gerçeği” said in a statement, "Writing about Dursun Karataş, the revolutionary leader who guides people in the struggle for independence, democracy and socialism is not 'making propaganda for a terrorist organisation.'” Stopping of the publication was protested. (freex@superonline.com, September 8, 2008)

Journalist Bogatekin Claims 1 Lira Compensation from Three Judges

Journalist Boğatekin who was condemned for insulting a prosecutor and stayed in prison for 109 days, claims 1 Lira compensation from Judge Ayşe Gül Şimşek, and Public prosecutors Sedat Turan and Sadullah Ovacıklı for getting him arrested unlawfully, and restricting his defence rights. Boğatekin claimed that "his legal rights have been violated on intention and arbitrarily" and sent Kahta Legal Court of Peace a list of evidences where he filed the case on 2 September.

Boğatekin was kept in prison during the trial of a case filed by prosecutor Sadullah Ovacıklı where six police officers stood witness against him. Boğatekin was put on remand for "the possibility of suspect putting pressure on witnesses, crime being probable and the suspicion that the suspect would runaway." Boğatekin had told the national media that prosecutor Ovacıklı told him "How dare you call Reverend Fethullah Gülen Hoja effendi as Feto. Apologise at once or I will set fire on you."

As Boğatekin continued writing on the prosecutor he was arrested for "attempting to influence the outcome of a trial", "insult" and "slander." Boğatekin was released 109 days later, on 30 July. The administrator of gergerim.com website Cumali Badur is still on trial along with Boğatekin for reporting on the case. (freex@superonline.com, September 8, 2008)

Accused as "terrorist" for having sent postcards

The case is opened against Yılmaz Çelik, Hizb-ut Tahrir´s Turkey rep. with the charge of ¨being an executive member of a terrorist organisation¨. Despite the fact that in the records of the security department there has not been any violent act by the organisation, prosecution defined the organisation as a terrorist group.

Çelik´s sending postcards to some people with that signature during Ramadan was one of the justifications of the charge.

Çelik’s lawyer Hacı Ali Özhan asked the court last week to merge another case against Çelik filed in Istanbul with the case in Ankara. Court set the next hearing on 18 December 2008 at 09:10 am. (freex@superonline.com, September 8, 2008)

Polemic between Erdogan and the head of the biggest media group Dogan

Prime Minister Erdogan accused Aydin Dogan, chairman of Dogan Holding, of using his publications to falsely link the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with a case involving the misuse of funds collected for charity. Erdogan said Dogan is conducting a campaign against the government after failing to gain the favors it sought, including permission to plan new skyscrapers in Istanbul worth billions of dollars and a license to build an oil refinery.

Opposition leader Deniz Baykal defended Dogan yesterday and described the controversy as an attempt to sweep allegations of corruption under the rug. He also accused the prime minister of being a blackmailer and a violator of freedom of the press. Dogan Media Group CEO Aydin Dogan, who spoke to journalist Mehmet Ali Birand live on Sunday evening on his Kanal D television station, claimed that the prime minister was trying to redirect the public’s attention to him and to distract them from current affairs. He reiterated his earlier words that the accusation over the prime minister’s involvement in the charity fraud case was brought up by a suspect who had spoken to a prosecutor in Germany -- where the scandal first broke - and that it was recorded in the prosecutor’s file and then was mentioned for the first time in Turkey by Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Baykal.

Dogan acknowledged Erdogan’s Sunday claim that he had paid a personal visit to the prime minister but denied that the reason for the visit was to pressure the mayor of Istanbul to change the zoning of a piece of land on which the Dogan-owned Istanbul Hilton Hotel sits.

Erdogan had said on Sunday that newspapers owned by the Dogan Media Group had begun attacking him and his party due to his refusal to accede to Dogan’s request. “I did not go for the Hilton,” he said, asserting that he did not ask for anything illegal during the meeting. “I told him we had $2.5 billion to invest in this country. ‘I want a permit from you. I’ll build a refinery.’ He asked me where the refinery would be built. I told him we had plans to set up one in Ceyhan. He told me, ‘No, the Calik group wants that place.’ I told him, ‘Let both Calik and me set up a refinery,’ but he didn’t agree.”

According to Assoc. Prof. Aslı Tunç, Head of the Media and Communications Systems Department at Bilgi University, the polemic between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and president of the Doğan Goup Aydın Doğan about the news appeared in Germany has shown one more time how important free media is in a democracy.

The cause of the fierce arguments between the Prime Minister and the Doğan Media Group was the case in Germany against Deniz Feneri (Lighthouse), which is accused of fraud in collecting donations from the Turks living in Germany for various disasters. Prime Minister’s name was mentioned by one of the accused and this was reported by the newspapers of the Doğan Media Group.  

Reminding that “it is obvious that the governments cannot exist in democracies without tolerating criticism and pluralism”, Tunç told bianet that the most important criterion for democratic behavior is “the attitude those who have the power show to criticism.”

Tunç says that the tendency to choose suppression especially in dealing with the adverse and opposite voices is too much in societies where the tradition of democracy is not well established. She sees the latest developments as an example of how the organic connection between the ruling powers and the media groups inevitably reaches a dead-end because of different conflicts of interests.

“It is ironic that after having been under constant criticism by the media academicians for gathering too much power and control in various fields of economy, politics and social life, the Doğan Media Group is now the defender of the freedom of expression and democracy.”

“The latest polemic between the Prime Minister and a media boss, threatening each other through the media organs, has reminded us one more time how important democracy is.”

Dogan Shares Dive After Accusations By Prime Minister

Dogan Holding AS, which owns Turkey's biggest media group and has stakes in companies ranging from finance to construction, posted a record fall in its shares yesterday.

Dogan's stocks took the deepest dive in two months in Istanbul trading after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused its owner of falsely linking him to a financial scandal. While Dogan stocks plummeted, the Istanbul Stock Exchange rallied 3 percent on average along with European and US markets with the good news that a bailout of US home finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had stoked a global equity surge.

Dogan fell 5.97 percent, to YTL 1.62, its biggest decline since July 1. Dogan Yayin Holding AS, which owns newspapers and TV stations, fell YKr 6, or 4.02 percent, to YTL 1.95. Analysts see the row as detrimental to Dogan's joint ventures and possible deals with foreign partners as investors are averse to instability and increasing risk. They warn that possible deals need to wait until the dust clears and that investors are likely to shy away from entering into joint ventures with Doðan Holding.

Dogan group of companies has lost YTL 234 million yesterday. In the trading session yesterday companies belonging to the Dogan group topped the list of 10 companies that lost the most value. Milpa, a subsidiary of the Dogan group, lost 7.81 percent while another Dogan subsidiary, Dogan Burda, shed 5.99 percent in value. Hurriyet, Dogan's leading newspaper, lost 3.13 percent, and Dogan Yayýn dropped 5.97 percent. Petrol Ofisi, Dogan's biggest company, posted a 1.61 percent loss in the market. Ditas Dogan's shares fell 2.90 percent and Celik Halat lost 1.66 percent. Dogan Yayin Holding incurred a loss of 5.97 percent and Dogan Holding lost 4.02 percent.

Petrol Ofisi AS, Turkey’s biggest fuel retailer, which is jointly owned by Dogan and OMV AG, fell YKr 10, or 1.6 percent, to YTL 6.10. Petrol Ofisi has applied to the energy markets regulator to build a $4.5 billion oil refinery in southern Turkey. The Dogan group conglomerate holds more than 50 companies in Turkey, among them the country’s biggest oil/gas company, Petrol Ofisi. (Zaman - BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 8, 2008)


Writer Murat Coşkun Arrested For His Book

Writer Murat Coşkun is in prison for “provoking hostility among people” with his book titled “Acının Dili Kadın” (Woman, Language of Pain), which was published by Peri Publishing in January 2002. He was sentenced to one year fifteen days.

The writer had to give a statement to the court for his book while he was in the Bursa Prison for being a member of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). After his release, the writer had gone back to Adana, where his family lives.

The writer was sent back to prison when the case about his book was finalized by Istanbul’s 12th High Criminal Court on August 22.

Coşkun and representative of the publishing company Ahmet Önal have also been sued under article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the file for which was sent to the Ministry of Justice on July 2 for permission. 

It is claimed, says publisher Önal, that the 128 page long book has a passage where the members of the Turkish Armed Forces are called “vultures” and another passage where the  propaganda of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) is made through PKK militant Zeynep Kınacı, whose code name is given as Zilan.

“How can Turkey be an honor guest in a book fair?”

Önal asked how Turkey can be the honor guest of the Frankfurt Book Fair, when it arrest writers and launches investigations against books.

Reminding that Mahmut Alınak was also sent to prison for his ideas just a while ago, Önal condemns the mentality that handcuffs ideas and sents writers like Murat Coşkun to prison. (BIA, Erol ONDEROGLU, September 5, 2008)

Daily Birgün And Journalist Tahmaz Under Investigation

An investigation has been launched against journalist and activist Hakan Tahmaz, licence holder for daily Birgün Bülent Yılmaz and general director of the same newspaper İbrahim Çeşmecioğlu for publishing an interview with Murat Karayılan, one of the most important authorities in the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). The interview was conducted in Kandil, the Nothern Iraq region where the PKK headquarters is. 

Birgün was seized on August 9, 2008, for “allocating space to PKK’s opinions” by publishing Tahmaz’s interview with Karayılan titled “Tek Taraflı Ateşkes Sorunu Büyütüyor” (One sided ceasefire is making the problem worse).

Hakan Tahmaz had written in his interview that although Karayılan had emphasized that the person on the street did not want to live in violence any longer, he had also told that they would have continued with what they had called “the legitimate defensive war” activities.

The interview had also stated that “they were not interested in having a separate state, they were on the mountains because the Kurdish problem was denied, the Democratic Society Party was an intermediate step for them, they wanted to do politics as PKK and they did not see any contradiction in going to continue with their “legitimate defensive war.”

Tahmaz and Çaşmecioğlu gave their statements to one of the Istanbul High Criminal Court prosecutors on August 25 and Altınbıyık did the same two days later on August 27.

In his statement to the accusation of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”, Tahmaz said that he had simply doing journalism by sharing his views with his readers.

Telling the prosecutor that he was involved with numerous initiatives to help end the armed conflict that has been going on for four, five years now and was writing a book about the subject, Tahmaz argued that Turkey had to face the Kurdish Problem and the PKK, one of the sides in the Kurdish Problem and that public did not know the problem in all its details.

“We went to the region to inform the public. I did not only go to Kandil. My northern Iraq observations were published later. They were not limited with the interview. I believe that the reality of the PKK needs to be seen in all its details. I am working towards a solution without weapons.”

“This is another way of saying ‘do not conduct activities for peace’. In my interview I asked when these weapons were going to stop firing. I believe that the bigger problem is avoiding facing the war that has been going on for thirty years and that this is taking Turkey to a disaster.” (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 4, 2008)

Journalist Güler On Trial For Passing Information About Military Operation

Dicle News Agency (DİHA) Van Region Representative Sıddık Güler, former Party Assembly member for the Democratic Society Party (DTP) Alattin Ege,  DTP’s Çukurca District Head Mehmet Kanar and a parson named Muğdat Aslan are on trial for “revealing a cross-border land operation that was conducted secretly.”

The accused are on trial at Van’s 3rd High Criminal Court for “being members in an armed organization” and “helping a [terrorist] organization willingly and knowingly”; they are facing jail sentences from six months to 12,5 years.

Journalist Güler was at the court with other accused Kanar and his lawyers. Güler was apprehended while on his way to Hakkari in the eastern Turkey to report an incident. He was kept for 16 days and released pending trial.

Saying that he was doing his job as a journalist, Güler has asked for his acquittal. Güler is accused for passing  the information he received about the operation from the DTP authorities to the pro-Kurdish Roj TV in Europe.

The court was adjourned until October 7 to inspect the evidence. It also decided that Ege and Aslan were to be brought to the court by force and Kanar’s arrest was to continue.

Güler is on trial for article 220/7 (“The person who helps [a terrorist] organization willing and knowingly will be punished as a member of the organization, even though he may not appear in the hierarchy of the organization”) and article 314 (“Those who are members of [a terrorist] organization will receive sentences from five to ten years”) of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 4, 2008)

Journalists Face Prison For Reporting Nationwide Eavesdropping

A lawsuit has been filed against journalists Gökçer Tahincioğlu and Kemal Göktaş for making a story about Ankara’s 11th High Criminal Court’s giving permission to the Police Department, the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the Gendarmerie Head Quarters to monitor others.

After Ankara Public Prosecutor Hüseyin Görüşen’s investigation under article 6/1 of the Anti-Terror Law regarding “targeting the public officials who are part of the anti-terror activities”, the Office of Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor has demanded punishment of the two journalists.

The indictment prepared by the Office of Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor claims that the court orders that granted the Police Department and the MİT a general authority to monitor others were classified. Therefore, the journalists were guilty of reporting classified information. Furthermore, giving the name of the judge responsible for the court orders meant the journalists had also committed the crime of “making the judge target of the terrorist organization.”

The indictment is asking for three-year prison sentence for each journalist for securing “classified information” and “publishing this information.”

The 9th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals had ruled against a similar general monitoring permission granted to the Gendarmerie Head Quarters in a previous case, stating that general monitoring without specifying person’s name and telephone number was against the law.

Tahincioğlu and Göktaş had received the Media Freedom Award for this story from the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) on the Traditional Journalists Day of July 24. 

On the day the story was published, Göktaş had told bianet that they had applied the utmost sensitivity in this case, not printed any photographs and not turned anyone into a target. The story had appeared in the newspaper Vatan on July 1, 2008 under the title “Türkiye’yi Sarsacak Belge” (The Document That Will Shake Turkey) and stated that Ankara’s 11th High Criminal Court had approved the application  by the Office of the Public Chief Prosecutor regarding granting permission to the Police Department for securing the documents of all the telephone firms in Turkey.

Tahincioğlu had made a story named “İzleme İtirazı” (Objection About Monitoring) in daily Milliyet on June 2, 2008. (BIA, Erol ONDEROGLU, September 1st, 2008)

Orhan Pamuk publie le "Musée de l"innocence", un roman d'amour

Orhan Pamuk, le lauréat du prix Nobel 2006 de littérature, a lancé ce week-end son dernier livre en Turquie, le "Musée de l'innocence", une histoire d'amour qui se déroule à Istanbul entre un homme riche et une fille pauvre.

Le romancier turc, traduit dans 40 pays, raconte dans son roman la passion d'un couple à travers 30 ans d'histoire de la Turquie depuis les années 1970 en évoquant des sujets sensibles comme la sexualité et la virginité dans un pays musulman.

"Le Musée de l'innocence" est mon roman le plus tendre et celui qui abrite le plus de patience et de respect pour les gens", a expliqué le romancier dans un entretien accordé au journal Sabah, publié dimanche.

Environ 100.000 copies du roman ont été vendues en deux jours, selon le quotidien, qui cite la maison d'édition de l'écrivain.

Orhan Pamuk, 55 ans, auteur de "Neige" et de "Le Livre Noir" est un romancier controversé dans son pays. Il s'était en effet prononcé sur le massacre des Arméniens par les Turcs ottomans, durant la Première Guerre mondiale, et avait suscité la colère du pays. Des poursuites lancées à son encontre par la justice pour "dénigrement de l'identité nationale turque" avaient ensuite été abandonnées.

Après l'assassinat du journaliste turco-arménien, Hrant Dink, à Istanbul en janvier 2007, la sécurité de M. Pamuk avait été mise en danger. Il avait alors vécu sous surveillance policière. (AFP, 1 sept 2008)

Kurdish Question / Question kurde

Le PKK annonce une trêve le temps des fêtes de la fin du ramadan

Les rebelles kurdes de Turquie ont annoncé lundi qu'ils renonceraient à leurs opérations armées durant les fêtes célébrant la fin du ramadan, a rapporté l'agence de presse Firat News.

"Dans le but de montrer nos bonnes intentions, nous respecterons une trêve pour que le sang ne soit pas versé et que le coeur d'aucune mère ne soit brisé durant les fêtes de la fin du ramadan", a affirmé la direction du PKK, citée par l'agence sur son site internet.

Les musulmans turcs et kurdes célèbreront cette année entre mardi et jeudi la fin du mois de jeûne de ramadan.

Le PKK a également appelé les forces de sécurité turques à respecter cette trêve.  (AFP, 29 sept 2008)


Ban on Names Partially Continues in Turkey

Emir Osman Bulgurlu, a district administrator who attended the opening week celebrations of primary schools in Izmir’s Aliağa town objected to the performance of a student who was to read a poem, since the student’s name was “Rojda” i.e. Kurdish. Administrator told off the school director by saying ‘are there no Turks in the school’.

Article 16 of Statue 1587 on Birth Registration (… However, names.. inappropriate for national culture… cannot be used) have stopped parents from naming their kids as they liked for years. Article 16 of this 1972 dated law was amended through the sixth harmonisation pack of EU integration process passed in June 2003 as “Names morally inappropriate or aggrieving the public opinion cannot be used.” However The Reforms Monitoring Group introduced “the condition that the name is written in Turkish alphabet” despite the fact that it does not exist in EU integration laws, a Home Ministry directive sent to governors still prevents names containing letters such as Q, W and X which don’t exist in Turkish alphabet. (antenna-tr.org, 19 September 2008)

60 Years of Prison Wanted for Former Kurdish MP Leyla Zana

60 years of prison sentence was asked for Leyla Zana for nine different public addresses. Zana is a former MP of a closed down political party, DEP. Diyarbakır High Criminal Court Num.5 hears the case.

Following the presentation of the indictment Zana asked the court to consider her public addresses as part of freedom of expression.
Prosecution argued that Zana while not a member, committed crime following the demands of the terrorist organisation, at every public meeting she attended: "Suspect accepts that she does not consider PKK as a terrorist organisation, she views the ringleader of the organisation Öcalan as ’a leader of Kurdish people’, and accepts PKK’s struggle as a struggle of ‘freedom and democracy’."

Prosecution wanted 45 years prison sentence for committing the crime of "making terrorist propaganda" nine times, and 15 years for "committing crime on behalf of the organisation while being a non-member". Time given for defence case. (antenna-tr.org, September 19, 2008)

Newroz Celebration Brings Prison Sentences After Two Years

The members of the organization committee of the Adana Newroz meeting in 2006 have been sentenced to prison for “doing propaganda work for the Kurdish Workers Party” through the slogans chanted and the banners carried during the gathering.

Committee members Halil İmrek, Eylem Güden, Yılmaz Gül, Sima Dolak, Fadıl Bozan, Mehmet Aslan, Mehmet Yaşık and Yılmaz Gül had already been in prison for three months for the case filed against them.

In the hearing that took place three days ago, Ezgin Dursun and Cengiz Gültekin, speakers at the meeting, were sentenced to one year in prison as well.  

İmrek, one of the committee members and a member of the administrative board of the Labor Party (EMEP) gave bianet account of the court process and their experience.

Emphasizing that they had organized the meting together with the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Democratic Society Party (DTP), the EMEP, the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed (ESP), Mediterranean Culture Art Association, İmrek said:

“The celebration was held without any problems. Later they filed a lawsuit against us. Even though our addresses were known, we were still called in for our statements and they decided to keep us under arrest during our trial."

When the judge signed the verdict, he said he did not believe the accused were not going to commit the same crime again. İmrek said they appealed the decision.

“We hope that the Supreme Court of Appeals will overrule the decision. The decision is political and anti-democratic. The decision makes sense when one considers the pressures and the terror targeted at us. We think this is unlawful. The decision was taken beforehand and it seems that the necessary legal framework has been formed around it.”

“If the internal legal means are exhausted, we will take the case to the European Human Rights Court and express our reaction through public activities. (BIA, Bawer ÇAKIR, September 19, 2008)

Lawsuit Against DTP Administrator Who Was Nearly Lynched

Chief Prosecutor of the province of Sakarya near Istanbul filed a lawsuit against the head of Sakarya province for the Democratic Society Party (DTP) for the solidarity night festival he organized on April 27. The prosecutor is asking for five years in prison.

Aziz Koçak, the accused, is charged with “doing propaganda work for the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK)” and “praising the crime and the criminal” by Sakarya’s 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The first hearing will be in October.

The prosecutor dismissed the charges against the university students H.İ. and A.G., who had acted as announcers in the evening.

Far right nationalists, mostly young men, had stormed the solidarity night festival organized by the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Sakarya near Istanbul. 65 year-old Ebubekir Kalkalı, who was one of the nearly 500 people besieged by the angry mob, had died following a heart attack.

It is not known when the 19 people who led the lynch will be tried

Sakarya’s 1st Criminal Court of First Instance has not determined a hearing date for the case of the 19 people who tried to storm the building where the DTP festival was held.

Last year there were many attacks against the Kurds in Sakarya. In March 2007, a bomb exploded in the building where DTP’s Sakarya Province Branch Office is, causing damage.

In June 2007, two Kurdish young people were attacked for wearing t-shirts with the picture of Ahmet Kaya on them, a famous pro-Kurdish singer. Around the same time, two seasonal Kurdish workers were attacked and nearly lynched. (BIA, September 18, 2008)

Le gouvernement turc veut continuer d'attaquer le PKK en Irak

Le gouvernement turc va demander au Parlement une prolongation d'un an d'une autorisation pour mener des incursions contre les bases des rebelles kurdes du parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), en Irak, a déclaré mercredi un porte-parole, Cemil Cicek.

"Il a été décidé aujourd'hui (mercredi) lors d'un conseil des ministres d'envoyer une motion au Parlement afin que le mandat d'une autorisation précédente soit prolongé d'un an", a indiqué M. Cicek.

Le Parlement turc avait adopté le 17 octobre 2007 un texte autorisant pour un an le gouvernement turc à mener, si nécessaire, des incursion militaires dans le nord de l'Irak où sont retranchés des milliers de rebelles du PKK.

L'Assemblée nationale turque, actuellement en vacances, doit s'ouvrir le 1er octobre et son feu vert est acquis, la grande majorité des députés ayant soutenu le texte précédent.

En vertu de ce document qui autorise l'envoi de soldats turcs en territoire étranger, les avions turcs ont bombardé à plusieurs reprises depuis décembre 2007 les positions du PKK dans le Kurdistan irakien, provoquant de lourdes pertes. La Turquie a effectué des raids aériens ainsi qu'une opération terrestre d'une semaine en février dans cette région où sont retranchés, selon Ankara, plus de 2.000 rebelles kurdes.

Depuis le début des actions d'Ankara contre le PKK en Irak, les Etats-Unis, alliés de la Turquie au sein de l'Otan, l'assistent en lui fournissant en temps réel des informations sur les mouvements des rebelles kurdes en territoire irakien.

Le PKK, considéré comme une organisation terroriste par la Turquie, les Etats-Unis et l'Union européenne, se bat depuis 1984 pour l'autonomie du sud-est de la Turquie, peuplé en majorité de Kurdes.

Selon un bilan fourni mardi à un groupe de journalistes par le nouveau chef d'état-major turc, le général Ilker Basbug, le conflit a fait 32.000 morts dans les rangs du PKK et près de 6.500 dans ceux des forces de sécurité (armée et police).

Quelque 5.500 civils ont également perdu la vie dans le conflit, selon le général. (AFP, 17 sept 2008)

Alinak refused to pay fine and heads to prison again

DTP’s former Kars city chairman Mahmut Alınak who was released from prison over asking the city council to name some streets after Deniz Gezmiş and Vedat Aydın, seems to be heading back to prison again. Kars Criminal Court of Peace gave Alınak 4 months and 5 days prison sentence over a public speech he made at a conference organised by Caucasus Student Union.

Mahmut Alınak said in a written statement that the road to appeal court was blocked. Alınak said that the prison sentence was commuted to a fine but he would not pay it and go to prison instead. Alınak said:

“Prison sentence has been given for two reasons. I expressed my ideas about civil disobedience at a conference two years ago. And I called parents and public to cat to stop the deaths of young people. This prison sentence too has been commuted to a fine.

I refused to pay fine before and went to prison. Now too I will refuse to buy my freedom and I will go to prison.” (antenna-tr.org, September 17, 2008)

Chinese Free Kurdish Banned!

Education Ministry added Chinese into the curriculum while ignoring the campaign of TZPKurdi’s for “Êdî Bes e em perwerdehiya bi zimanê xwe dixwazin (Enough is enough, we want education in our mother tongue)”.

TZPKurdi’s campaign for education in Kurdish demands legal amendments allowing Kurds to have education in their mother tongue. Ministry of Education and AKP government denies the demands which interest around 20 million people in the country.

The Ministry added Chinese to its curriculum following English, German, Italian, French, and Russian. (antenna-tr.org, September 17, 2008)

Are The Forests Fires In Eastern And Southeastern Turkey Set Intentionally?

Hamit Geylani, Hakkari deputy for the Democratic Society Party (DTP), has submitted a question motion about the forest fires in the southeastern Turkey, which he claims are used in the fight against terror. He directed his question to Minister of Environment and Forestry Veysel Eroğlu.

Geylani says, in his motion, that most of the forested regions in the area have been destroyed by fires that arise because of  the clashes in the eastern and southeastern Turkey over the years.

Geylani says, “What is worse is they do not interfere, they simple watch them burn. The same sensitivity that is shown for the forest fires in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of the country should be shown for the ones in the eastern and southeastern regions.”

Geylani’s questions are briefly as follows:

- How many hectares of forests have been destroyed in eastern and southeastern regions between 1990 and 2008? Do you have some ideas about the causes of these fires?

- What do you know about the allegation that the forest fires in the region are being set by the security forces?

- Do you have information about the forests burned by the military operations up until today?

- Why nobody tries to put out these fires? Why the authorities watch them burn?

- Why no legal actions are taken against those who burn these forests?

- Are certain regions discriminated when it comes to the forest fires?

- Are the authorities trying to reforest these areas destroyed by fires? If yes, then how much reforesting have been done?

- Will you do anything about the land going bad in the eastern and southeastern Turkey? (BIA, Erkan ÇAPRAZ, September 18, 2008)

Le DTP pro-kurde, menacé d'interdiction, a présenté sa défense

Le principal parti pro-kurde de Turquie, menacé de dissolution pour collusion avec le Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, interdit), a présenté mardi sa défense devant la Cour constitutionnelle qui le juge.

"Nous voulons que le DTP (Parti pour une société démocratique) ne soit pas interdit", a déclaré à la presse le président du parti, Ahmet Türk, au terme de la défense présentée devant la Cour habilitée à dissoudre les formations politiques.

L'interdiction d'un parti qui a recueilli 2 millions de votes aux dernières législatives "va sans doute créer une déception chez les gens qui ont voté pour lui", a estimé M. Türk.

Le procureur de la Cour de cassation avait réclamé en novembre 2007 l'interdiction du DTP au motif que, par ses liens supposés avec les séparatistes du PKK, il était un "foyer d'activités préjudiciables à l'indépendance de l'Etat et à son unité indivisible".

Le DTP, qui détient 21 des 550 sièges du Parlement, rejette ces accusations, tout en refusant de qualifier le PKK d'organisation terroriste.

"Le DTP n'a pas de liens organiques avec le PKK mais nous ne pouvons pas ignorer les réalités" sur le terrain, c'est-à-dire dans le sud-est anatolien à majorité kurde, où le PKK continue de marquer les esprits.

Le PKK, considéré comme une organisation terroriste par la Turquie, les Etats-Unis et l'Union européenne, se bat depuis 1984 pour l'autonomie de cette région. Le conflit a fait plus de 37.000 morts.

La Turquie a entamé en 2005 de difficiles négociations d'adhésion à l'UE après avoir mené une série de réformes démocratiques, notamment en faveur de sa communauté kurde.

Le DTP succède à une lignée de partis pro-kurdes dissous, dont le plus connu à l'étranger est le Parti démocratique (DEP). Quatre députés, dont la lauréate du prix Sakharov des droits de l'Homme, Leyla Zana, ont purgé de 1994 à 2004 une peine de dix ans de prison pour liens présumés avec le PKK.

Le verdict de la Cour constitutionnelle sur le DTP devrait intervenir dans les semaines à venir.

La même cour a décidé en juillet de ne pas dissoudre le Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste), au pouvoir et accusée d'activités anti-laïques. (AFP, 16 sept 2008)

DTP's Oral Defense Presented by Chairman Ahmet Türk

Ahmet Türk, co-chairperson of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), presented his party’s oral defense in the closure case against it.

Commenting about the defense after its presentation, Türk said, “The decision should be made by taking into consideration the European Human Rights Court (EHRC) and the Venice Convention.”

“In our defense, we told them that there cannot be weapons and violence in a democratic environment, that the weapons cannot be a solution to the pains endured. The DTP is a kind of party that demands democracy and  wants people to live together with love. We conveyed these thoughts to the council. We hope that the decision will reflect these thoughts and that it will be positive.”

When you close the door to the democratic politics then all the hopes vanish

“When you close the door to the democratic politics then the people who believe in this will lose all their hope. We are trying to embrace 72 million politically. If a party with 2 million votes is closed then the hopes of those people who believe in it will be shattered.”

About the question if the DTP was established with the order of Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), and if they had an organic connection with this party, his answer was: “The DTP is a platform where every correct thought is evaluated. We have no organic connection with the PKK. But, there is a 25 year old reality and we want this to end. We will take into evaluation every correct method.”

What happened in the case so far?

In the closure case of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Yalçınkaya presented his oral explanation regarding why the DTP should be closed and he repeated his demand that this party should be closed and its administrators should be banned from political life.  The DTP submitted its written defense in February and claimed that the case was politically motivated. DTP stated that 141 acts in the indictment would not require a closure, 129 of these acts should be evaluated in the context of the freedom of expression and association. presented his oral explanation regarding why the DTP should be closed and he repeated his demand that this party should be closed and its administrators should be banned from political life.

Following DTP’s oral defense, the rapporteur of the Constitutional Court will collect all the information and the documents about the case and write his/her report about the matter of substance of the case. While these procedures are taking place, both the Chief Prosecutor and the DTP will be able to present additional evidence or written additional defense.

At least seven votes are required for closure

After the report is presented to the eleven members of the Constitutional Court, the President of the Court Haşim Kılıç will determine a meeting day, on which the members of the court will start discussing the substance of the case.

The case will be decided by the eleven members. In case one of the members is missing or retired, the most senior of the four alternate members will replace the missing member.

According to the Constitution, a qualified majority is needed to close a political party. Therefore, 7 out of 11 members of the Constitutional Court must approve the closure decision. (BIA, September 16, 2008)

Time To Face Diyarbakır Military Prison Of The September 12 Coup

The Justice And Facing The Truth About The Diyarbakır Military Prison Commission held a press release. They announced that they would try to reveal the truth by reaching the witnesses, victims and perpetrators who lived and experienced this period of 1980-84.

The commission, which is made up of journalists, academicians and human rights defenders, met at Istanbul Chamber of Medical Doctors (ITO). Prof. Dr. Gençay Gürsoy, president of the Turkish Medical Doctors Association (TTB), declared that we must to face the incidents in the Diyarbakır Prison, if we want to remove the obstacles in front of democracy.

Similarly, Tarık Ziya Ekinci, a former deputy for the Turkish Worker Party (TİP), reminded that there were military coups in other countries too, but these societies faced and settled with their pasts.

Nimet Tanrıkulu, a human rights defender, who read the press release, called upon everyone who experienced the period to give them information about it. Tanrıkulu said that they were not interested in taking  revenge, but wanted to help facing the September 12 Military Coup and the extermination policies targeting the Kurds.

Likewise, lawyer Ergin Cinmen also emphasized that the obstacles in front of  secularism and the Kurdish Problem were created with this military coup 28 years ago:

“If the state has a positive plan about the southeastern Turkey and the Kurds, then it must confront the Diyarbakır Prison.”  

The commission is made up of 57 names, including journalist Ahmet Tulgar, journalist Berat Günçıkan, President of the Human Rights Association (İHD) lawyer Hüsnü Öndül, Prof. Dr. Turgut Tarhanlı, lawyer Fikret İlkiz, Assoc. Prof. Nazan Üstündağ, Prof. Dr. Mithat Sancar, journalist Murat Çelikkan, lawyer Fethiye Çetin, Gülten Kaya, Celalettin Can of the 78’ers Initiative, Prof. Dr. Tahsin Yeşildere, Yavuz Önen of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) and doctor Mustafa Sütlaş.

The initiative had announced on May 18, 2007, the day of the anniversary of the death of Ferhat Kuntay, Necmi Öner, Eşref Ayık and Mahmut Zengin who had burned themselves in 1982 to protest the inhumane conditions in the Diyarbakır prison, that they had opened the Diyarbakır Prison file.

The commission was formed on September 12, 2007, following five-year long research, and it had immediately begun meeting with people from Istanbul and Urfa who had witnessed the period. (BIA, Bawer CAKIR, September 11, 2008)

Trois soldats et trois milices tués dans des combats avec le PKK

Trois soldats turcs et trois membres d'une milice pro-gouvernementale ont été tués dimanche au cours d'affrontements avec des rebelles séparatistes kurdes dans le sud-est de la Turquie, près de la frontière irakienne, a indiqué le gouverneur local.

Les six hommes ont été tués alors qu'ils participaient à une opération de l'armée, près de la ville de Semdinli, contre les rebelles du PKK, a précisé le gouverneur dans un communiqué.

Trois des victimes faisaient partie d'un groupe de miliciens kurdes -supplétifs de l'armée- en charge de la protection d'un village.

Deux militaires turcs ont également été blessés, selon le communiqué.  (AFP, 7 sept 2008)

Kurdish organisations react against honoring Turkey at the Frankfurt Book Fair

Each year the Frankfurt Book Fair elects a country as Guest of Honour. Through an agreement signed on the 26th of September 2006 between the organisation behind the Book Fair and the Ministry of Culture of the Turkish Republic, Turkey was elected Guest of Honour of the 2008 Fair. Subsequently the Ministry of Culture budgeted 7 million euros to this great event which takes place the 15th – 19th of October. In close cooperation with Turkish publishers, the Ministry of Culture intends to implement a program aiming to promote Turkey in the Frankfurt Book Fair.

We wish to emphasize the fact that we harbour no negative sentiments what so ever towards the Frankfurt Book Fair itself. Occurrences like this play an immensely important role in promoting national and universal cultures and literature as well as in the interaction and mutual influencing of each other. It is only natural for every country wanting to participate in international events to promote their culture, literature, folklore and themselves as a whole. ¬In this frame of general principles it is a quite natural and legitimate wish for Turkey to want to participate in international events in order to promote her own culture.

However, the matter is not all that innocent. Is Turkey going to spend 7 million euros on promoting its culture and values, or does Turkey intend to make chauvinistic and nationalistic propaganda in accordance with its racist state traditions? It has by now become quite clear that Turkey’s prepared program aims solely on displaying “the grandeur of the Turkish state”. First and foremost, keeping its current state and government policies in mind Turkey should never have been elected Guest of Honour to such a platform of culture and literature in that Turkey does not deserve such a status.

There is no doubt in our minds that the management of the Frankfurt Book Fair has made a mistake on this matter. This kind of recognition from an international culture platform should not have been given to a country which oppresses national, ethnic and religious communities within its own borders, conducts assimilation and genocide and shows an enormous lack of tolerance towards different cultures and finally designs policies aimed at wiping out the very same cultures.

Turkey today seeks to attain the total annihilation of the linguistic and cultural existence of the country’s own ethnic and religious minorities with the Kurdish people being the prime target. Why is a country, which tries to drive whole cultures to extinction and conducts cultural holocaust, being rewarded with honorary titles at an international platform of culture? How is it possible for the publisher community of a leading nation in the EU, which is founded on democratic norms, values and traditions, to make such a mistake? Turkey’s policies show a mentality of sheer cultural imperialism both domestically, regionally and internationally. In Turkey there is an unadulterated massacre going on aiming directly at the Kurdish language, culture and folklore.

The Turkish State has for decades now been trying to assimilate the Kurds linguistically and culturally, and in recent years these efforts have reached genocidal proportions. It must be one of the greatest paradoxes in the German intellectual world that a huge and esteemed cultural event like the Frankfurt Book Fair offers such a status to a Turkish State which in return conducts a war of annihilation in Kurdistan on religious, cultural and literary levels.

The Turkish State which finds it appropriate to limit and prevent the publishing of Kurdish books, should have been invited not as Guest of Honour, but in stead as a subject of criticism and persecution due to Turkey’s oppression of ethnic and religious communities. We as Kurds are openly and bluntly criticising the management of the Frankfurt Book Fair.

We as Kurds are also protesting the chauvinistic and racist policies of the Turkish Republic towards the whole of the Kurdish people and its language, culture, folklore and literature, and we accuse Turkey of acting flat out dishonourable and of being a foe of books and culture.

The Language and Education Commission of the Kurdish National Congress
The Kurdish Institute of Brussels
The Kurdish Institute of Germany
The Kurdish Institute of Stockholm
Kon-Kurd
Yek-Kom
Kurdish Teachers Association
The Kurdish Alewite Federation
The Federation of Yezidi Societies
The Islamic Community of Kurdistan
(Kurdish Info - Submitted by Tsiatsan on Friday, September 05 2008

DTP Mayor Convicted For Praising Pro-Kurdish Roj TV

Hüseyin Kalkan, Batman mayor from the Democratic Society Party (DTP), has been convicted for praising the pro-Kurdish Roj TV. He had said, “I feel good whenever I come to the Roj TV. The Roj TV is as holy for the Kurds as the cities of Medine and Mecca are for the Muslims.”

Diyarbakır’s 5th High Criminal Court convicted Kalkan to one year in prison in yesterday’s (September 2) hearing for “praising crime and criminal.” Taking into consideration the behavior of the accused during the trial, the court first reduced the sentence to ten months and then converted it to the fine of 9000 YTL (about 4500 Euro).

Kalkan had participated in the reception given for the first year anniversary of the Roj TV in Belgium on March 1 and had made a speech for the occasion.

Kalkan was accused of “making propaganda of a terrorist organization. Later this accusation was changed to “praising the crime and the criminal.”

On April 15, DTP’s fifty-three mayors were convicted for writing a letter to Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to ask him not to close the Roj TV and were fined 1875 YTL (about 950 Euro).  (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 3, 2008)

DTP Members Forced To Walk The 70 Km To Their Opening

Hamit Geylani, the Democratic Society Party (DTP)deputy for Hakkari, an eastern Turkey province where the Iranian and Iraqi borders meet, told bianet how they had to cover the 70 km distance for the opening DTP’s Derecik branch office in 13,5 hours. The eight hours of the trip was made on foot.

The reason for the forced walk was military’s decision not to allow any vehicles in the direction of their destination for security reasons. In addition to Geylani, Van deputy Özdal Üçer and the mayors of Hakkari and Yüksekova were among the 700 DTP members who went to the opening.

Geylani summarized what had happened in following sentences: “They told us that they had received intelligence about a bomb attack. They said they had received orders to stop all the vehicular traffic. We said this was not the way to provide security. If there had been a security problem, we would not have gone, either. However, there were vehicles coming from the opposite direction, one after another. In other words, there was no problem.”

Since they could not get to their destination using their vehicles, the group members decided to walk the rest of the distance to Derecik, with the military vehicles in front of them.

When they got closer to Derecik, this time they were told, says Geylani, that only the two deputies could go. “We refused it. We said we had come with the people and we would have gone with the people. We finally reached Derecik at 12 at night, on vehicles provided from Derecik. Today (September 2), we did our opening and came back without problems.”

Geylani said that after he had talked with Minister of the Interior Beşir Atalay, the Hakkari governor had called him to tell that it was the soldiers who had taken the security measures.

Geylani said that they had been preventing opening of a DTP branch in Derecik, where close to half of the population consists of the village guards, a paramiliter groups employed by the military.

“Hakkari is one of the provinces where the DTP is the strongest. Therefore, it is not possible that there will be locality in Hakkari where the DTP will not be able to set up an organization. They have been preventing our initiatives for a long time. I called the Şemdinli district administrator and the Hakkari governor, reminding them that this was their right.

“Derecik is a place without a shopping quarter. We rented a place for our branch, but later the inhabitants were provoked to attack our new place. In order to protect the neighborhood inhabitants, our friends rented another place. When the opening day was finally known, the other place was bombed. I went to see what happened. It was also burned all the way down.”

“At last, we had a great opening. We emphasized that everyone needed peace and democracy.”  (BIA, Tolga KORKUT, September 3, 2008)

DTP Branch Offices Under Poisoned Letter Attacks

Head of the Gaziosmanpaşa district of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) Erhan Özer has informed bianet that three of their members were poisoned by a mail sent to them around eleven o’clock.

The DTP is waiting for the results of the analysis regarding the letter and an investigation that will ensue.

According to Özer’s account, the eyes of Ahmet Ece, Zeytin Işık and Günay Diri started burning after opening the letter. A little while, they also started showing signs of throwing up. Although they were fine after washing their hands and faces, when they came into contact with the letter to understand what was going on, the same process repeated itself.

Once they were taken to the hospital, they were able to find out they were poisoned, but the doctors could not figure out the type of the poison. The letter was taken by the crime scene teams, once the police was informed. In the meantime, Ece, Işık and Diri are doing fine.

Özer said that the letter that was sent from Büyükçekmece / Istanbul had consisted of insults, threats, fragmented sentences that were difficult to read and a telephone number that did not answer.

DTP’s Bağcılar district organization also received a letter that was made to look like the Human Rights Association (İHD) had sent it. This letter was not opened.

İHD’s İstanbul branch condemned the attack today and demanded from the authorities to solve the incident as soon as possible.

The İHD said that they had experienced a similar attack in June 2006, with three people getting hospitalized.  (BIA, Tolga KORKUT, September 3, 2008)

Army Casualties In The Fight Lead To Ethnic Tensions

Vasi Köse, who has been a journalist in Hatay for thirty-eight years, told bianet that the conflict between the Turkish armed Forces and the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in the region has been causing problems in their area, in Hatay, a province in the far eastern corner of the Mediterranean Turkey, causing tensions between the people that result in clashes.

Talking about the family of one of the soldiers who lost his life in Bingöl, Yaşar Kaya, Köse said, “He is a Kurdish youth, coming from a family residing in the Islahiye district. They weep in Turkish; many people are losing their lives in an environment of violence, which it is difficult to define. They have been suffering from poverty up until now; now they have to deal with death as well. This tension does result in clashes at times.

Giving an example form the Kırıkhan district, Köse says, “Kırıkhan is a cosmopolite place; there are Kurds, Arabs, Turks, Circassians, the Black Sea people and Nomads. Kurds are afraid of saying they are Kurds and Arabs are afraid of saying they are Arabs. We witness this all the time. The situation sometimes escalate to the point of throwing insults at each other.”

Köse says that if the corpses of soldiers from their region keep coming then the people will start denying or having reservations about their identities. (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 3, 2008)

Deux soldats tués, 9 blessés dans une embuscade

Deux soldats turcs ont été tués et neuf autres blessés tard mardi dans une embuscade tendue par des rebelles kurdes dans l'est de la Turquie, a-t-on indiqué mercredi de sources de sécurité locale.

Un groupe de rebelles du PKK ont attaqué un véhicule transportant des conscrits à un poste de gendarmerie, corps d'armée en Turquie, à Kigi, dans la province de Bingöl, a-t-on souligné de mêmes sources.

Une opération a été lancée pour capturer les assaillants, a-t-on ajouté. (AFP, 3 sept 2008)

Quatre soldats et deux rebelles tués dans des accrochages

Quatre soldats turcs et deux rebelles kurdes ont été tués dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche dans des accrochages survenus dans l'est de la Turquie, a-t-on indiqué de sources de sécurité locale.

Un groupe de rebelles du PKK ont attaqué dans la nuit un poste de gendarmerie, corps d'armée en Turquie, dans la préfecture de Yedisu (province de Bingöl), tuant quatre militaires et blessant trois autres, a-t-on souligné de mêmes sources.

Une opération a été lancée pour capturer les assaillants et deux rebelles ont été tués, a-t-on ajouté. (AFP, 31 août 2008)

Minorités / Minorities

"Colonel Ali Öz Should Be Tried For Neglect In Dink’s Murder"

Trabzon’s 2nd Criminal Court of Peace sent the file of the two gendarmerie officers who were on trial for neglect of their duties prior to the murder of Hrant Dink to the High Criminal Court by ruing lack of jurisdiction.

As the witnesses listened before, Lieutenant Hüsamettin Polat, Branch Director of Trabzon Provincial Gendarmerie’s Fight Against Smuggling and Organized Crime Unit, told as well that accused petty officers Okan Şimşek and Veysel Şahin had informed their superiors, among them Colonel Ali Öz, regarding the tip about the planning of the assassination of Hrant Dink.

Polat told in his statement that Şimşek and Şahin had brought up the information Yasin Hayal’s brother in law Coskun İğci had conveyed to them in the daily intelligence meeting held in July 2006.

Ergin Cinmen, one  the lawyers of Dink’s family told bianet that the investigation regarding Colonel Ali Öz and his friends should have been taken to the High Criminal Court and that he wished the prosecution would be held in the same court the murder case was being held.

According to Polat, Şimşek and Şahin brought up the information that Yasin Hayal, who is on trial as the instigator of the murder, was planning to kill Hrant Dink and he was trying to get hold of a gun to do it. Colonel Öz’s reply to them was “Let us not talk about this here, let us talk later.”

Polat also mentioned that the murder was brought up in the first intelligence meeting held in Trabzon right after Hrant Dink was killed in Istanbul on January 19, 2007, but Öz’s comment was “Tell Coşkun İğci not to talk about this around.”

Polat said, “Colonel Öz came against me when I wanted an investigation about the incident. In fact, he prevented me from participating in the meeting. The murder was known beforehand and they did not like it when I questioned the whole incident. I was warned by the colonel that I was gossiping around. They tried to prevent me from meeting Şimşek and Şahin. They changed the combination of the door to stop me from entering the Intelligence Branch.”

Stating that Şimşek and Şahin should be commended for doing the right thing, he said the responsibility was Öz’s.

“Colonel Ali Öz did not show the necessary sensitivity about the intelligence tip regarding Hrant Dink’s murder. This was not neglect or ignoring the tip. This did not seem normal to me. I got suspicious. It is not intentional, but I cannot say neglect, either. (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 29, 2008)

Dink’s Family Goes Against The Judges

Murdered journalist Hrant Dink’s family has filed a complaint with the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) against the three judges for not doing their duty.

Lawyer Fethiye Çetin accuses judges Atilla Sarp, İlhan Hanağası and Sadettin Yaman for “violating the law by making decisions without legal ground” and “restricting the effective right to apply to courts.”

Completing their application today (September 25), the lawyers want to initiate a legal and administrative investigation against the three judges and inspect their decisions.

The application of the lawyers emphasizes the fact that on June 27, the court ended the investigation of 1.5 years by the inspectors of the Ministry of Interior with one paragraph long decision without any legal ground. The investigation was conducted to determine the role of the  Istanbul Police Department in the murder of Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007.

The Regional Administrative Court refused to grant permission for the investigation of any of the officers, in spite of the information the inspectors were able to uncover against the officers and the conclusion by the experts that they had some responsibility.

The lawyer emphasized that with this decision, the chance to prosecute Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah, Intelligence Branch Director Ahmet İlhan Güler and the eight police officers ended.

The investigation by the inspectors and the two expert reports had showed that the administrators and officers in the Police Department, from the lowest to the highest rank, could be held responsible for the murder of Hrant Dink.

On June 27, the Regional Administrative Court of Istanbul had decided that Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah, Intelligence Branch Director Ahmet İlhan Güler, Intelligence Branch Vice Director Bülent Köksal, Chief of the Office of the Intelligence Branch İbrahim Pala, Section Chief Şevki Eldivan, Desk Chief Volkan Akbulak and police officers Bahadır Tekin and Özcan Özkan had no fault in Dink’s murder and therefore there was no need to grant permission for their investigation.

Reacting to the decision, the lawyers of the Dink family decided to go to the ECHR the third time. (BIA – Erol ONDEROGLU, September 25, 2008)

Rakel Dink Urges Raising Voices Against Discrimination Higher

Nor Zartonk, an organization formed by the young Armenians of Turkey after the murder of Hrant Dink to oppose war and discrimination, held a panel titled “To Be Minority in Turkey”on September 15 to discuss the concepts of “minority” and “other” and to celebrate Hrant Dink’s birthday.

One of the participants Viki Ciprut summarized the issue by stating “Problem is not to be part of the minority, but to be discriminated for it. We have to ask the question when and how the discrimination will end.”

In the same panel, Rakel Dink, Hrant Dink’s wife, asked the question who to blame? Those who withdraw or those who force people to withdraw?

Rakel Dink continued:

“Of course we will raise our voice, by uniting our positive pressures. What happens happens because those in majority say to the others that they cannot have what they have. Whether a person or a country, everyone should question him/herself.”

“What we can do is to become a thousand, ten thousand and raise our voice. Pain makes people rise. The past reminds its pains, too. We will continue without letting our pain take control of us. There are some who hear us.”

Estukyan: I do not hold grudges against anyone just because my ancestors used to live there

Answering the question if the Armenian community is resentful towards the Kurds for what happened in 1915, Pakrat Estukyan, one of the participants of the panel, said “I am resentful, but only towards the organization of Union and Progress. I am resentful towards those who still say, after so many years, that they graced 300.000 Armenians by making them Muslims, I am resentful towards those who put up a statue in honor of Topal Osman. I do not hold grudges against anyone just because my ancestors used to live there. It is nationalism that uses the concept of minority as something dangerous. Nationalism needs to be eliminated. I am against nationalism, ethnic and religious fanaticism and discrimination.”

“Ministry of Justice can still not say that it will not allow trials under article 301.”

Last week, Ministry of Justice gave permission for the continuance of the trial of Temel Demirer under article 301. Demierer is on trial for saying that Hrant Dink was killed not only because he was an Armenian, but also because he recognized the genocide. (BIA, Tolga KORKUT, September 17, 2008)

Turkey Attempting to Confiscate Assyrian Monastery's Land

The St. Gabriel Assyrian monastery, of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, was established in 397 AD, hundreds of years before its neighboring villages of Yayvantepe, Eglence and Candarli were founded. During the reign of the Ottoman Empire the monastery was officially declared as a foundation and is still legally regarded as such. Since its establishment the monastery has developed and continuously improved its environment. Over the last three decades it has developed into a major center that attracts tens of thousands visitors from Turkey and abroad. The entire region has benefited from this development.

Kurdish leaders from the villages of Yayvantepe, Eglence and Candarli, in cooperation with influential members of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), are now trying through dubious "lawful means" to confiscate the land of the monastery by claiming that the monastery has "too much" land for prayer and that land is needed as a meadow for these villages.

Two of the villages, Yayvantepe and Eglence, are in a dispute over their borders. But it is apparent that instead of solving their own disputes with regards to the determination of borders in the framework of general cadastral work, the heads of villages Yayvantepe and Eglence joined forces to turn on the monastery. In a press release issued on September 3, 2008, the Chairman of the Foundation of the St. Gabriel Monastery, Kuryakos Ergün, called unfounded the allegations brought forward against the Monastery by the heads of the three villages.

The Monastery has issued a detailed appeal to the Human Rights Office of the Turkish Parliament. A quick response is not expected.

Under the leadership of Archbishop Samuel Aktas, the monastery has been completely renovated over the last 30 years and serves as a religious and social center for the remaining Christian Assyrians. This is apparently a thorn in the eye of the Turkish government and its local subordinates, especially since many Assyrians return to their destroyed villages, reclaim their land that was occupied by Kurds and start rebuilding their homes.

"If the attacks against us in this way should continue and despite all the adversity all legal means are exhausted, we will, where appropriate, appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and the Commissions of the European Union", said Ergün.

Meanwhile, Assyrian Organizations in Western Europe have brought the issue to the relevant political bodies in various countries, including appeals to members of the European Parliament. Turkey continues to receive more than 500 million Euros for preparatory measures for the EU candidacy, while the Christian Assyrian minority is still harassed and distressed.

Despite the prospective negotiations on accession to the European Union (EU) since 2005, Turkey obviously does not hesitate to put pressure on the remaining Christians in the south-east of the country and especially target a monastery that seems essential for the survival of the remaining Assyrian Christian population.

Click here for more pictures of the St. Gabriel Monastery. (Assyrian International News Agency, Abdulmesih BarAbrahem, September 16, 2008)

L'OSCE demande à la Turquie de reconnaître le génocide des Arméniens

Cette demande constitue une première réponse de la Communauté internationale à la visite de Gül en Arménie

Göran Lennmarker, Président Emérite et Envoyé Spécial du Président de l’Assemblée Parlementaire de l’OSCE (Organisation de Sécurité et de Coopération en Europe) au Nagorno Karabakh a déclaré samedi 6 septembre 2008 que la Turquie devait « trouver le moyen de combattre son passé et reconnaître le fait qu’elle a commis un Génocide contre les Arméniens en 1915 ».

Selon la presse, M. Lennmarker a effectué cette déclaration lors d’une rencontre avec le Président de l’Assemblée Nationale arménienne, Tigran Torosyan.

De manière remarquable, cette prise de position est intervenue le jour même de la visite inédite du Président turc Abdullah Gül en Arménie, à l’occasion d’un match de football Arménie-Turquie et à l’invitation du Président arménien Serge Sarkissian.

Les Arméniens du monde entier et la Communauté Internationale restent partagés sur la visite controversée de Gül et sur les motivations réelles de ce déplacement. De nombreux observateurs craignent qu’il ne s’agisse que d’une opération de communication et qu’elle reste sans lendemain vis-à-vis de la politique anti-arménienne de la Turquie (négation étatique du Génocide des Arméniens, blocus conjoint de l’Arménie par Ankara et Bakou, exclusion de Erevan de tous les programmes de coopération régionale…)

« Cette prise de position inédite – qui survient le jour même de la visite de Gül – constitue de toute évidence un premier élément de réponse de la Communauté internationale à l’opération médiatique turque. Elle signifie que le monde entier attend – au-delà des effets d’annonce – que la Turquie renonce définitivement à sa politique anti-arménienne » a déclaré Laurent Leylekian, le Directeur Exécutif de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

L’OSCE regroupe 55 Etats-membres parmi lesquels la plupart des Etats européens, les Etats-Unis, la Russie et la Turquie. Elle a été créée afin de résoudre les conflits régionaux ouverts ou latents. La déclaration de Göran Lennmarker à propos de la nécessaire reconnaissance par la Turquie du Génocide des Arméniens est la première de ce genre de la part de cette institution internationale.

« Il est hautement significatif que cette déclaration soit le fait d’un haut responsable d’une organisation telle que l’OSCE. Ceci signifie que le négationnisme d’Etat turc ne constitue pas seulement une insupportable insulte à la mémoire de l’Humanité mais qu’il représente également une menace radicale à la paix et à la stabilité régionale » a conclu Laurent Leylekian.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne rappelle que, selon la plupart des experts, la Turquie constitue un puissant facteur de déstabilisation régionale au Caucase, notamment en raison de sa politique anti-arménienne avérée. La Fédération considère que tant que ce pays n’aura pas assumé clairement ses crimes du passé, elle ne pourra jouer un rôle crédible dans la région.(contact@EAFJD.EU, 12 septembre 2008)

Le petit-fils de Djémal pacha a déposé des fleurs à Dzidzernagapert

Plus de 300 citoyens turcs ont visité le Musée du Génocide arménien à Dzidzernagapert pendant leur visite à Yerevan lors du match de football entre les deux équipes nationales le 6 septembre 2008 a déclaré le directeur du musée, Hayk Demoyan.

Selon Hayk Demoyan, beaucoup de ces visiteurs turcs au musée étaient des étudiants, des supporters et des représentants d’ONG. Beaucoup d’entre eux ont visité le musée par curiosité, avec des réactions diverses selon les expositions passant de la sympathie aux remords, des regrets à la négation.


Le musée avait au début du mois lancé une exposition faisant sur la contribution des Arméniens au sport dans l’empire ottoman. Selon Hayk Demoyan cette exposition a été la plus fréquentée par les visiteurs turcs qui ont été étonnés d’apprendre le rôle des Arméniens dans le développement des sports dans l’Empire ottoman.

Selon lui, beaucoup de visiteurs ont déclaré qu’ils ne savaient pas que les Arméniens avaient tant contribué au sport.

Moment très attendu, le descendant de l’un des trois cerveaux du Génocide des Arméniens, Hasan Cemal, journaliste au quotidien Milliyet a visité samedi matin à 8h le Mémorial du Génocide Arménien de Dzidzernagapert où il a déposé des fleurs en mémoire des victimes du Génocide arménien.

Le petit-fils de Djémal Pacha, Hasan Cemal a écrit à l’occasion de sa visite un article intitulé « Respectons les douleurs de chacun ». Dans son article Hasan Cemal avait proposé qu’une minute de silence soit observée dans le stade avant le match « en mémoire de la page tragique dans notre histoire commune et la souffrance expérimentée par les Arméniens et les Turcs dans le passé ».

En 2005 Hasan Cemal, dans un article avait déclaré le 15 avril 2005 qu’il ne croyait pas à la thèse d’un génocide planifié mais admettait néanmoins que « cette position est discutable » et en appellait au respect de ceux qui affirment qu’il y a eu intention génocidaire. « Ignorer les souffrances et les malheurs qui ont frappé les Arméniens serait aller contre sa conscience et l’Histoire. C’est pourquoi nous devons pouvoir digérer cette période de l’Histoire ottomane sans chercher de faux-fuyants » avait déjà conclu Hasan Cemal. (Stéphane/armenews, 11 septembre 2008)

Volkan Vural : « La Turquie doit s’excuser auprès des Arméniens »

La Turquie doit immédiatement faire des excuses aux Arméniens au sujet « des événements tragiques du passé » a déclaré lundi 8 septembre 2008 Volkan Vural ancien ambassadeur de Turquie en Russie à la fin des années 1980 lors d’une interview au journal turc Taraf.

« Bien qu’il soit difficile d’imaginer que la Turquie reconnaîsse le Génocide, néanmoins, elle doit faire des excuses aux Arméniens et aux autres minorités ethniques - les Grecs, les Assyriens, les Kurdes - pour leurs déplacements et massacres et leur permettre de retourner sur la terre de leurs ancêtres et devenir des citoyens turcs » a précisé Volkan Vural.

« Le retour des biens et la restitution financière sont des questions difficiles à aborder. Cependant, il serait possible de faire une offre symbolique de restitution financière » a expliqué Volkan Vural, disant que l’expression d’une excuse est « un impératif pour un pays comme la Turquie ».

« La question arménienne ne peut pas être résolue par une commission d’historiens. Une telle commission peut seulement aider dans le processus de résolution en analysant certaines des questions » a déclaré Volkan Vural ajoutant que la question arménienne ne peut être seulement résolue que par des leaders politiques.

« Des relations diplomatiques entre les deux pays doivent être établies, sans perdre du temps » a ajouté Volkan Vural qui a indiqué que l’ouverture de la frontière avec l’Arménie profiterait non seulement à l’Arménie mais aussi la Turquie.

L’ancien ambassadeur a précisé que la Turquie a perdu une occasion magnifique d’établir des relations avec l’Arménie quand l’Union soviétique s’est effondrée, ajoutant que si la Turquie avait établi des relations diplomatiques avec l’Arménie en 1991, peut-être cela aurait évité le conflit du Karabakh.

Volkan Vural a ajouté que l’établissement de relations diplomatiques profiterait aussi à l’Azerbaïdjan.

« Bien que l’établissement de relations Arménie-Turquie ne vaincra pas entièrement les réclamations de génocide des Arméniens, cela fournira un sursis psychologique. Il est impératif de différencier la rhétorique avec les faits de la vie » a déclaré Volkan Vural.

« La Turquie doit avoir plus confiance en elle-même et pas devenir l’otage de la question du génocide » a précisé Volkan Vural, ajoutant que la Turquie doit avoir la force de reconnaître ce qui est arrivé dans le passé et travailler à établir des relations amicales et de bon voisinage.

« Les Arméniens de la diaspora pousseront toujours la question de la reconnaissance du génocide » a-t-il dit. « Mais si les relations entre la Turquie et l’Arménie sont normalisées, si les frontières sont ouvertes, si le commerce augmente et que les gens deviennent riches, leurs pressions perdront de leur efficacité » a conclu Volkan Vural.  (Stéphane/armenews, 11 septembre 2008)

Rencontre de ministres turc et arménien fin septembre à New York

Les chefs de la diplomatie arménienne et turque, Edouard Nalbandian et Ali Babacan, se rencontreront fin septembre à New York, à l'occasion de l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, a annoncé dimanche le ministère arménien des Affaires étrangères.

"Les ministres se sont entendus sur une rencontre fin septembre à New York dans le cadre de l'Assemblée générale de l'ONU", a précisé le service de presse du ministère dans un communiqué.

La décision a été prise lors d'une rencontre des deux hommes samedi vers minuit à Erevan, à l'issue du match aller Turquie-Arménie de qualification pour le Mondial 2010 de football, selon le communiqué.

"Les ministres arménien et turc ont exprimé leur volonté de normaliser les relations bilatérales. Ils ont souligné que toutes les mesures nécessaires doivent être prises pour cela", a ajouté le service de presse.

La presse turque de dimanche saluait la visite de M. Gül avec enthousiasme, tandis que la discrétion était de mise en Arménie, en l'absence de presse dominicale. La télévision ne faisait elle aucun commentaire.

Le quotidien conservateur turc Zaman titrait sur une "nouvelle ère" dans les relations bilatérales et le journal populaire Milliyet se félicitait d'"un début plein d'espoir".

En Europe, le président en exercice de l'Union européenne Nicolas Sarkozy a salué "un geste courageux" des deux pays "alors que la région traverse une crise grave", faisant allusion aux tensions russo-américaines autour du conflit en Géorgie.

Certains journaux estimaient que le sport avait permis de faire avancer la diplomatie, à l'image du quotidien italien La Repubblica, décrivant "un match qui a aplani la route vers la diplomatie et vers un rapprochement décisif entre Ankara et Erevan".

Un avis partagé en Espagne par le quotidien El Pais, et le journal conservateur ABC pour lequel "la Turquie marque un but historique dans la +diplomatie du football+".

Des analystes estimaient que cette visite ne suffirait pas à résoudre les problèmes aux racines profondes entre les deux pays, mais qu'elle permettrait toutefois d'accélérer les efforts de réconciliation.

"Les pourparlers ont montré qu'il était indispensable de poursuivre les contacts", estimait dimanche l'analyste arménien Sergueï Charkariants.

Attention, souligne toutefois l'analyste politique Cengiz Candar, de ne pas décevoir les espoirs de normalisation. "La déception sera grande si le rapprochement amorcé par le football n'est pas suivi par l'établissement de relations diplomatiques et l'ouverture des frontières", met-il en garde.   (AFP, 7 sept 2008)

“The Relations With Armenia Can Be Normalized By The People On Both Sides”

Dr. Cengiz Aktar describes President Abdullah Gül’s going to Armenian to watch the soccer match between the two countries with the Armenian President a very important and historical development. However, he also thinks that there are other obstacles needs to be overcome, so that this visit can bring positive results.

According to Aktar, Turkey is hoping that these kinds of steps will eventually end Armenia’s insistence in using the word ‘genocide,’ but it is futile, because Armenia does not even want to discuss this at the level of states.

Another obstacle is the factor of Azerbaijan: “Turkey is looking for alternatives other than Russia for energy, but Azerbaijan ties its hands because of the Mountainous Karabag conflict.”

On the other hand, Aktar thinks that this visit has given a great opportunity for many who have not been to Armenia to see what it is like.

“It will be a long process, but if this problem will be solved, it will be at the level of peoples.It will be solved by forming between the two societies.”

For this reason, says Aktar, it is helpful that those who are for the normalization of the relations between the societies can meet with each other. He thinks the cultural and artistic activities may be able to create the needed mediums for meetings.

At the end of the visit, the both presidents, Abdullah Gül and Serj Sarkisyan, had said that they would not left the solution of the problem between the two countries to the future generations.

Aktar says that although it will be nothing short of a miracle if the border between the countries, closed since 1993, is opened, lot of things will change. However, the necessary step has to be taken by Turkey. It will be a major step, says Aktar, if the problem of the recognition of the border between the two countries is solved.

Aktar says that people have been discussing more what happened in 1915 after the European Union process and the murder of Hrant Dink. The young people no longer believe in the “nothing happened” story.

“Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos, the newspaper of slained Dink, has played a major role in this. Those young people who can ask questions have started asking them. This may in time result in a movement of justice that may affect the both countries. The real issue is the matter of sharing the pain.” (BIA, Tolga KORKUT, September 8, 2008)

La visite de Gül en Arménie ponctuée de huées et manifestations

Le président turc Abdullah Gül et son homologue arménien Serge Sarkissian ont affiché samedi leur "volonté politique" d'apaiser les relations après des années d'acrimonie entre les deux pays, à l'occasion de la première visite d'un chef d'Etat turc en Arménie. M. Sarkissian avait invité son homologue à l'occasion du match aller auquel les deux dirigeants ont assisté ensemble samedi soir, remporté 2 à 0 par les Turcs.

M. Gül a quitté Erevan peu avant minuit (19H00 GMT) après une visite de quelques heures émaillée de manifestations exigeant une reconnaissance du "génocide arménien" qui remonte à l'empire ottoman au début du XXe siècle.

"Reconnaissez le génocide" arménien, "1915 plus jamais ça": de son arrivée samedi à l'aéroport d'Erevan jusqu'au match de football Arménie-Turquie, la visite du président turc Abdullah Gül en Arménie aura été ponctuée de manifestations et de huées.

Plusieurs centaines de manifestants, principalement nationalistes, commencent par former une chaîne humaine aux abords de l'aéroport Zvartnots et le long de la quinzaine de kilomètres emprunté par le cortège jusqu'à la présidence arménienne où M. Gül est attendu par son homologue Serge Sarkissian.

"Reconnaissez le génocide", "ouvrez la frontière sans condition", lit-on sur des pancartes écrites en anglais, turc ou arménien que les manifestants brandissent. Ils se sont postés en plusieurs points du parcours du convoi ultra-protégé par des gardes du corps dont les armes sont visibles aux fenêtres d'une dizaine de 4X4 aux vitres baissées.

Les manifestants arborent des drapeaux arméniens et des drapeaux rouges frappés de l'emblème du parti nationaliste Dachnak Tsoutioun.

"Nous sommes ici parce que nous voulons dire au monde entier que nous n'oublions pas le génocide de 1915. Nous ne dirons pas à Gül ou à quelque turc que ce soit qu'ils sont les bienvenus tant qu'ils n'auront pas reconnu le génocide", résume à l'AFP l'un des manifestants, Bardassar Akhpar

A son arrivée à la présidence, plusieurs centaines de manifestants l'attendent aussi. Cette fois, ils hurlent, chantent, sifflent.  "Reconnaissance", "arrêtez de nier le génocide", "1915, plus jamais ça!", crient-ils en choeur.

A peine Abdullah Gül est-il entré derrière la vitre blindée de la tribune présidentielle que les huées et les sifflets repartent de plus belle. Le public siffle en même temps l'équipe nationale turque qui arrive sur le terrain et l'hymne national.

La bronca se poursuit durant le match à chaque action de l'équipe turque, soutenue par quelque 200 supporteurs esseulés dans des gradins pouvant en accueillir dix fois plus.

Un important dispositif de sécurité a été déployé pour la rencontre, la première entre les formations nationales des deux pays.

L'accès au stade a été interdit aux véhicules environ deux kilomètres en amont de l'édifice et les spectateurs devaient subir plusieurs fouilles pour y accéder, empêchant l'introduction de banderoles hostiles à la Turquie.

Non loin de là, environ 80 jeunes du parti Dachnak Tsoutioun se sont rassemblés pour déposer des fleurs devant le mémorial dédié au "génocide arménien" et allumer des flambeaux.

"C'est notre façon de protester auprès du président turc contre la non reconnaissance par la Turquie du génocide arménien sous l'empire ottoman. Il doit savoir que la jeune génération n'oublie pas", explique l'un des organisateurs. Et pour lui montrer, "nous allons faire brûler nos flambeaux jusqu'à la fin du match", dit-il.

Malgré les protestations, Abdullah Gül s'est déclaré optimiste, lors d'une conférence de presse commune avec son homologue arménien. "Nous avons la volonté politique de résoudre les différends entre la Turquie et l'Arménie. J'espère que cette visite pourra créer la possibilité d'améliorer nos relations. Nous avons échangé sur la façon de favoriser la stabilité et la coopération dans le Caucase."

A son retour d'Arménie à Istanbul, Gül a estimé samedi que sa visite historique dans ce pays avait été fructueuse, soulignant qu'il avait de l'espoir pour l'avenir des deux pays voisins à la longue histoire pleine d'acrimonie.

"Je pense que ma visite a été fructueuse et porteuse d'espoir pour l'avenir. Je suis heureux de voir que nous sommes d'accord avec la partie arménienne sur la nécessité d'un dialogue pour faire tomber les obstacles afin d'améliorer les relations bilatérales", a-t-il déclaré lors d'une conférence de presse.

"J'ai souligné qu'il n'y avait pas de problème que le dialogue ne pouvait résoudre, et que le dialogue aiderait à réduire l'important manque de confiance entre les pays de la région", a-t-il ajouté. (AFP, 6 sept 2008)

La presse arménienne prudente sur la visite du président turc

La presse arménienne restait prudente samedi sur la visite du président turc Abdullah Gül après deux décennies de silence diplomatique entre les deux pays, n'attendant aucun "grand changement" dans l'immédiat.³

"Pas de grands changements attendus", résumait le quotidien indépendant Ayots Ashkar qui reprenait les termes du directeur du musée du génocide arménien affirmant: "Je n'attends pas de grands changements dans les relations entre la Turquie et l'Arménie. Mais je n'exclus pas que ce petit pas montrera la voie à plus d'ouverture".

Selon le quotidien, M. Gül évoquera trois sujets avec son homologue arménien: la création d'un forum pour le Caucase, la mise en place d'une commission d'historiens sur les massacres d'Arméniens entre 1915 et 1917 (un "génocide" pour Erevan) et la question de la région du Nagorny-Karabakh, enclave peuplée d'Arméniens en territoire azerbaïdjanais dont la sécession a conduit à une guerre entre les deux pays au début des années 90.

Le journal en langue russe "La Voix de l'Arménie" estime pour sa part que les opinions sont divisées, citant deux avis opposés. "Je suis convaincu que la Turquie n'a non seulement aucun regret pour ses crimes en 1915-1923 mais qu'en plus elle continue d'oppresser l'Arménie", estime un analyste politique Armen Aivazian.

La rencontre entre M. Gül et son homologue arménien Serge Sarkissian marque "la possibilité pour l'Arménie et la Turquie de débuter des négociations sans intermédiaires", avançait pour sa part le député Avet Adonts du parti pro-gouvernemental "Arménie prospère".

Le quotidien Aravot, par la plume de son rédacteur en chef Aram Abramian, estimait pour sa part "exagérée" l'ampleur donnée à cette visite.

"Il me semble que cette passion autour de cette visite est exagérée", écrit-il. "C'est seulement un jeu après tout. Si nous gagnons, nous pouvons tous le fêter et si nous perdons, ce n'est pas la fin du monde", conclut-il.

La Turquie et l'Arménie n'entretiennent aucune relation diplomatique depuis l'indépendance en 1991 de l'ex-république soviétique en raison notamment de divergences sur le caractère des massacres d'Arméniens commis entre 1915 et 1917 en Anatolie. (AFP, 6 sept 2008)

EAFJD: "La visite de Gül en Arménie ne doit pas être qu'un show médiatique"

Les Arméniens d’Europe suivent la venue du président turc en Arménie avec attention et prudence. La Fédération Euro-Arménienne (EAFJD) – traduisant les aspirations des communautés arméniennes d’Europe – considère que les relations entre l’Arménie et la Turquie doivent être globalement améliorées. Elle reste cependant vigilante sur les objectifs poursuivis par la Turquie dans cette visite, compte tenu du record négatif de la politique de ce pays en la matière.

« Nous aurions aimé que la venue de Gül en Arménie .corresponde à une volonté réelle de la part des autorités turques de mettre un terme à la politique anti-arménienne de la Turquie » a déclaré Hilda Tchoboian, la présidente de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.
La Fédération Euro-Arménienne appelle Abdullah Gül à saisir l’occasion de cette venue en Arménie pour marquer l’Histoire, par un geste politique fort, en allant se recueillir au Mémorial du Génocide de Dzidzernagapert, comme le font tous les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernements étrangers en visite en Arménie.

« Il serait en effet extrêmement grave que cela ne soit qu’un show sans lendemain destiné à redorer l’image de la Turquie et qu’aucun progrès concret ne découle de ce déplacement ; de même, il serait dangereux qu’il ne soit motivé que par la volonté de renforcer les positions de la Turquie au Caucase » a poursuivi Hilda Tchoboian.

Les Arméniens d’Europe à l’instar de tous les Arméniens du monde, attendent de la Turquie :

-               La reconnaissance formelle et la réparation du Génocide des Arméniens, parallèlement à l’arrêt de sa politique étatique de négation de ce Génocide,
-               La levée inconditionnelle du blocus de l’Arménie et la mise en place avec Erevan de relations normales de voisinage conformes à la Charte des Nations Unies,
-               L’arrêt de la politique de contournement et d’exclusion de l’Arménie de tous les programmes de coopération régionale – énergie et transport en tête – conformément aux engagements d’Ankara vis-à-vis de sa candidature à l’Union européenne,
-               L’arrêt de sa politique partiale en faveur de l’Azerbaïdjan dans le conflit du Haut Karabagh, et de son soutien à la militarisation de ce pays par la fourniture massive d’armement et de conseillers militaires,
-               La reconnaissance et le respect des droits culturels et sociopolitiques des Arméniens de Turquie, y compris ceux des Arméniens turquifiés et islamisés de force ; le retour des biens confisqués par l’Etat turc lors du Génocide à leurs légitimes propriétaires, en particulier les églises, les monastères et les lieux saints de l’Eglise arménienne.

« Les Arméniens du monde entier attendent encore le Willy Brandt turc. La démarche d’Abdullah Gül ne deviendra crédible et digne d’attention que si le président turc est assez fort pour s’engager sur cette voie historique de repentir et de réparation du génocide du peuple arménien » a conclu Hilda Tchoboian.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne appelle la Commission et le Conseil européens, ainsi que le Parlement européen à observer avec attention les développements qui suivront cette visite, afin de se faire, au-delà des effets d’annonce, une idée précise et objective de ses conséquences réelles sur les changements de la politique anti-arménienne de la Turquie. (contact@EAFJD.EU, 6 septembre 2008)

Socialist Deputy Uras Urges Better Relations With Armenia

Deputy for the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) Ufuk Uras said, “The steps taken because of the soccer match between Turkey and Armenia should be a beginning of a new era” and he listed a series of demands to improve the conditions of the Armenian citizens of Turkey.

Getting ready to go to Erivan for the game, Uras urged for the opening of the border and the development of the economic relations between the two countries.

“Our Armenian citizens should feel themselves as the equal citizens of this country; they should not face any discrimination in social life, especially in public life.”

“The history should be discussed freely; all the restriction should be removed. An atmosphere of discussion without any prejudices should be encouraged.”

President Abdullah Gül too is flying to Erivan to watch the game as the guest of Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan. Two presidents will also use this occasion to discuss some important matters.

Criticizing the opposition of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Uras said the following:

“Racing to prove who the best nationalist is cannot be part of the democratic mentality. Arguing for no-solution in the Armenian problem will bring no peace to the region.” (BIA, September 5, 2008)

Un passage obligé pour devenir un acteur régional de poids

La visite historique du président turc Abdullah Gül samedi à Erevan devrait, en atténuant les tensions entre la Turquie et l'Arménie, permettre à Ankara d'asseoir sa position d'interlocuteur obligé dans la gestion des crises régionales, estiment les analystes.

Depuis plusieurs mois, la diplomatie turque multiplie médiations et bons offices auprès des pays proches: entre la Syrie et l'Israël -la Turquie accueille les négociateurs des deux pays-, entre l'Iran et les puissances occidentales sur la question du nucléaire iranien.

Après le déclenchement en août du conflit entre la Géorgie et la Russie pour le contrôle du territoire séparatiste géorgien d'Ossétie du Sud, Ankara a une nouvelle fois offert ses services en proposant la création d'un forum de coopération pour le Caucase visant à rétablir la stabilité régionale.

Mais pour devenir une "force de paix" crédible, il faut encore que la Turquie entame un processus de normalisation avec l'Arménie, l'un des derniers pays avec lequel subsistent des tensions, estime Sedat Laçiner, spécialiste des relations internationales auprès de l'institut USAK.

"La Turquie est un grand pays de 70 millions d'habitants, elle n'a pas besoin de l'Arménie mais il s'agit du dernier pays avec lequel elle n'a pas résolu ses différends", affirme le scientifique. "Une première étape est d'établir un dialogue".

"La Turquie ne peut pas avoir l'image d'un pays qui a des conflits avec les petits pays qui l'entourent", confirme Beril Dedeoglu, professeur de relations internationales à l'université stambouliote de Galatasaray.

La visite de M. Gül, invité par son homologue Serge Sarkissian à l'occasion du match Arménie-Turquie de qualification pour le Mondial 2010 de football, sera la première d'un chef d'Etat turc en Arménie depuis l'indépendance de cette ancienne république soviétique en 1991.

Ankara et Erevan n'entretiennent pas de relations diplomatiques à cause de leurs divergences sur le caractère génocidaire des massacres d'Arméniens commis entre 1915 et 1917 en Anatolie.

La Turquie a par ailleurs fermé sa frontière avec l'Arménie en 1993 pour soutenir l'Azerbaïdjan turcophone dans son conflit avec l'Arménie sur la région du Nagorny-Karabakh.

L'annonce de la visite a déjà porté des fruits en terme d'image, la présidence française de l'Union européenne, avec laquelle la Turquie a entamé en 2004 des négociations d'adhésion, ayant salué jeudi "un geste fort et encourageant".

M. Sarkissian a quant à lui affiché son soutien au projet turc de forum pour le Caucase, affirmant que l'Arménie "apprécie tous les efforts visant à renforcer la confiance, la stabilité et la sécurité (...) dans la région".

Selon M. Laçiner, la crise géorgienne pourrait encourager la partie arménienne à un rapprochement avec la Turquie.

"L'Arménie a vraiment besoin de la Turquie. Son unique voie d'accès au reste du monde. La Géorgie n'est plus sûre", affirme-t-il, ajoutant que "la Turquie peut devenir un pont entre l'Arménie et l'Occident".

Pour autant, peu de progrès immédiats sont à attendre, tant la défiance est grande entre les deux pays, commente Mme Dedeoglu.

"Il y a des risques pour M. Gül, aussi bien que pour le gouvernement à Erevan, en raison de l'hostilité des milieux nationalistes. Il va y avoir des résistances", explique-t-elle.

"Si les relations d'ordre culturel se poursuivent, ces résistances finiront par faiblir", espère toutefois l'universitaire, qui se dit convaincue du désir du gouvernement turc de rouvrir, à terme, la frontière avec l'Arménie. (AFP, Nicolas CHEVIRON, 5 sept 2008)

Le chef de l'opposition turque ironise sur la visite de Gül

Le chef de l'opposition au Parlement turc a ironisé vendredi sur une visite, déjà qualifiée d'historique, samedi du président Abdullah Gül en Arménie, lui proposant "tant qu'il y est" de se recueillir devant le monument du génocide arménien à Erevan.

"Tant qu'il y est (...) il peut aussi aller visiter le monument du génocide arménien et s'y recueillir en déposant une couronne", a dit Deniz Baykal, le président du Parti républicain du peuple (CHP), totalement opposé à un voyage présidentiel dans la capitale arménienne.

"Qu'est-ce que l'Arménie a fait pour changer sa politique d'animosité envers la Turquie sur la question des mensonges sur les Arméniens, qu'est-ce qu'elle a fait pour se retirer du territoire azerbaïdjanais: rien", a martelé M. Baykal lors d'un entretien à la chaîne d'information NTV.

M. Gül ira samedi après-midi à Erevan à l'invitation de son homologue Serge Sarkissian pour assister au match Arménie-Turquie de qualification pour le Mondial 2010 de football.

Il sera le premier chef d'Etat turc à se rendre en Arménie alors qu'un profond différend oppose les deux nations sur le génocide arménien sous l'empire Ottoman que la Turquie nie catégoriquement et qu'elles n'ont pas de liens diplomatiques.

La Turquie a en revanche d'étroites relations avec l'Azerbaïdjan turcophone et musulman. Ankara a fermé sa frontière avec l'Arménie en 1993 après le conflit entre Bakou et Erevan sur le Haut-Karabakh.

L'opposition au Parlement et les milieux nationalistes ont dénoncé le déplacement de M. Gül qui s'inscrit dans le cadre de la volonté d'Ankara de créer un forum de coopération pour le Caucase visant à rétablir la stabilité régionale, notamment après la crise géorgienne.

La presse turque a publié vendredi des propos tenus par M. Gül en 1993 lorsqu'il était député d'un parti islamiste. M. Gül s'en était alors pris au gouvernement de l'époque qui avait invité le chef d'Etat arménien à assister aux obsèques du président Turgut Özal.

"Comment avez vous eu l'audace de serrer la main d'un président arménien dont le pays a envahi le territoire de l'Azerbaïdjan (...) Tout comme Israël, l'Arménie est un iceberg dans notre région", avait-il martelé du haut de la tribune du Parlement, selon le journal Vatan. (AFP 5 sept 2008)

Diplomatie de football: Abdullah Gül se rendra samedi en Arménie

Le président Abdullah Gül sera samedi le premier chef d'Etat de Turquie à se rendre en Arménie, mettant fin à deux décennies de silence diplomatique entre les deux pays du à un profond différend sur la question du génocide arménien.

M. Gül se rendra samedi à Erevan à l'invitation de son homologue arménien Serge Sarkissian pour assister au match Arménie-Turquie de qualification pour le Mondial 2010 de football, a annoncé mercredi la présidence turque dans un communiqué diffusé sur son site internet.

"Une visite effectuée dans le cadre de ce match est considérée comme susceptible de créer un nouveau climat d'amitié dans la région. C'est dans cette optique que notre président a accepté l'invitation", affirme le document.

"Ce match devrait lever les obstacles empêchant deux peuples qui partagent un histoire commune de se rapprocher et créera de nouvelles bases", poursuit-il.

La visite de M. Gül sera la première d'un chef d'Etat turc en Arménie depuis l'indépendance de cette ancienne république soviétique en 1991.

Ankara et Erevan n'entretiennent pas de relations diplomatiques à cause de leurs divergences sur le caractère génocidaire des massacres d'Arméniens commis entre 1915 et 1917 en Anatolie.

Autre pomme de discorde: Ankara a fermé sa frontière avec l'Arménie en 1993 pour soutenir l'Azerbaïdjan turcophone dans son conflit avec l'Arménie sur la région du Nagorny-Karabakh.

Le Nagorny Karabakh, territoire montagneux de 150.000 habitants majoritairement arméniens en territoire azerbaïdjanais, s'est auto-proclamé indépendant en 1991 suite à un conflit armé impliquant les troupes d'Erevan qui a fait près de 30.000 morts et provoqué l'exode de près d'un million de personnes.

De timides signes de réchauffement sont apparus avec la confirmation de discussions secrètes des deux parties en Suisse.

En 2005, le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait un fait premier pas en proposant que les deux Etats installent une commission mixte d'historiens et s'en remettent à ses conclusions. Erevan a rejeté cette idée.

La visite de M. Gül a Erevan, selon une source diplomatique, ne devrait durer que quelques heures et serait notamment motivée par les tensions régionales du conflit russo-géorgien, lancé début août. La présidence turque a appelé toutes les parties à saisir l'opportunité offerte "alors que les événements récents ont plongé les peuples du Caucase dans l'inquiétude".

M. Sarkissian a salué mercredi la proposition turque d'établir un forum pour encourager la coopération dans le Caucase, affirmant que "l'Arménie a toujours apprécié et apprécie tous les efforts pour renforcer la confiance, la stabilité et la sécurité (...) dans la région".

L'éventualité de la visite suscite depuis plusieurs jours des réactions indignées de l'opposition parlementaire et des milieux nationalistes turcs.

"Moi j'aurai préféré me rendre à Bakou pour un match et non à Erevan", a sèchement déclaré le chef de l'opposition Deniz Baykal, faisant référence à la politique turque traditionnelle de soutien à l'Azerbaïdjan.

L'opposition critique, la presse salue une visite "historique"

La décision du président turc Abdullah Gül de se rendre samedi en Arménie pour assister à un match de football a été saluée jeudi comme une visite "historique" par les médias turcs tandis que l'opposition parlementaire l'a critiquée avec force.

Alors qu'une grande partie de la presse turque a salué le caractère "historique" du voyage qui ne devrait durer que quelques heures et qui prévoit aussi un tête-à-tête Gül-Sarkissian, l'opposition turque a multiplié les critiques.

"Cette visite est totalement injustifiée alors que le peuple turc est injustement accusé de manière mensongère d'avoir commis un génocide et que l'Arménie ne montre aucun signe de renoncer à sa politique à cet égard", a estimé le vice-président du parti nationaliste MHP, Tunca Toskay.

La principale formation de l'opposition, le parti républicain du peuple (CHP) s'en est également prise à la décision du Président. "C'est un déplacement qui n'a pas lieu d'être. L'Arménie ne reconnaît pas les frontières turques et accuse la Turquie d'avoir perpétré un génocide", a souligné un responsable du CHP, Mustafa Özyürek.

"Cette démarche ne servira qu'à encourager la partie adverse", en l'occurence l'Arménie, a-t-il affirmé.

Les organisations turques de solidarité avec l'Azerbaïdjan, pays turcophone et musulman, avec laquelle Ankara a d'étroites relations et qui a fermé sa frontière avec l'Arménien en 1993 après le conflit entre Bakou et Erevan sur le Haut-Karabagh, ont également fustigé le voyage de M. Gül.

Le Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP), au pouvoir, a aussi pris ses distances avec la visite annonçant qu'aucun de ses députés n'accompagnerait le président.

Mais la plupart des commentateurs de presse ont vu dans cette "diplomatie du football" l'occasion d'une certaine normalisation des liens bilatéraux fortement tributaires de la question du génocide arménien.

"La diplomatie du foot rappelle la 'diplomatie du ping-pong' en 1972 entre les Etats-Unis et la Chine", a souligné Cengiz Candar dans le quotidien Radikal.

Pour le journaliste, même si la décision du président turc de se déplacer dans la capitale arménienne a été critiquée en Turquie, à long terme elle ne peut qu'avoir des répercussions bénéfiques sur les rapports entre les deux voisins.

Hasan Cemal du journal Milliyet a été plus loin et a proposé qu'une minute de silence soit observée dans le stade d'Erevan avant le match "à la mémoire des pages tragiques de notre histoire commune et des souffrances vécues par les Arméniens et les Turcs dans le passé". (AFP, AKINCI, 3 sept 2008)

Oppositon raises voice to prevent Gül's visit to Yerevan

Although deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will not attend a soccer game between Armenia and Turkey in Yerevan this weekend, it is likely that President Abdullah Gül will attend the match upon an invitation from his Armenian counterpart despite harsh criticism from the opposition.

While some academics say they cannot understand the attitude of the opposition, others say the visit may indeed be problematic.

Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan had previously invited Gül to watch the Sept. 6. World Cup qualifying match between the Turkish and Armenian national teams in Yerevan, with which Ankara does not have any official relations.

The necessary diplomatic back channels are in place for organizing the possible presidential visit.

Turkey's opposition parties have been extremely critical of Gül's possible visit. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said the government is trying to reverse the country's official policy without Armenia meeting any of the conditions demanded by Turkey for the normalization of ties. He also warned against alienating Azerbaijan, saying this country is of vital importance for Turkey in many respects.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), whose late leader, Alparslan Türkeş, worked to improve ties between Turkey and Armenia, has also opposed Gül's possible visit. MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli has said Gül's visit would be a historic mistake that would harm Turkey's national pride.

Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Armenia's independence, but it closed its border and severed formal ties with Yerevan after Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Turkish policy, the normalization of ties requires an Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijani territory, the shelving of Yerevan's support for the Armenian diaspora's efforts to win international recognition for Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire and Armenia's formal recognition of the current border with Turkey.

Professor Hasan Köni, from Bahçeşehir University's international relations department, says a visit by Gül to Yerevan would be in Turkey's interests and that if the opposition is opposing it, it may be because they are not well informed about the recent situation in the Caucasus.

"The situation in the Caucasus is even more complicated now. Turkey is trying to follow a policy that serves stability. Gül's visit will serve this aim," Köni says, adding that the Foreign Ministry should inform the opposition parties about the recent situation in the Caucasus.

Baskın Oran, another professor of international relations who supports Gül's possible visit to Yerevan, said that he finds it difficult to understand the position taken by the opposition parties. "Actually, I was not surprised by the attitude of the CHP. ... But the MHP's stance is surprising since their late chairman worked to improve relations between Turkey and Armenia," he says.

But another opposition party, the Democratic Society party (DTP), supports Gül's visit to Yerevan. DTP co-chairwoman Emine Ayna pointed out that the soccer game will not solve the problems between the two countries and Turkey will not lose anything, but that Gül's visit will nonetheless serve to develop dialogue between the two countries.

"Turkey is in denial about some things and the Armenians have some negative attitudes. These problems should be solved," Ayna told the Cihan news agency recently.

Apart from diplomatic concerns, the main practical reason for opposing Gül's visit is security.

Many AK Party deputies wanted to attend the game, but the party administration decided not to give permission due to security concerns.

Kaan Soyak, from the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, stressed that a new beginning is needed and that security will be assured in Yerevan. "I don't think that there will be protests but if there are any, the Armenian state will silence them," Soyak said.

But Center for International Relations and Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM) Chairman Sinan Ogan is doubtful about security in Armenia and warns that if there are any protests or security problems, relations between two countries could get even worse. "It is very difficult to control a stadium. There is a huge risk there and I am not sure it is worth taking this risk," he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim said yesterday at a press conference the game in Yerevan is a game, not a war: "It is true that our rivals will prepare for this game with a special motivation. For us this is just a soccer game. When I think about my friends from all over the world that I met because of soccer, it is impossible for me think in another way. You cannot prepare yourself for a game while thinking about history and political problems. We cannot carry the burden of history on our shoulders, if we do that it will slow us down."(todayszaman.com, AYŞE KARABAT, 3 September 2008)

Politique intérieure/Interior Politics

Le ministre de l'Intérieur ordonne une enquête sur l'escroquerie en Allemagne

Le ministre turc de l'Intérieur Besir Atalay a annoncé vendredi avoir ordonné une enquête sur l'organisation caritative turque Deniz Feneri, après la condamnation mercredi pour escroquerie de trois Turcs en Allemagne.

 "J'ai demandé aux inspecteurs de mon ministère d'enquêter sur les accusations portées contre Deniz Feneri", a déclaré vendredi Besir Atalay selon l'Agence Anatolie.

 Le ministre a indiqué que Deniz Feneri, dont le siège est à Istanbul, avait été inspecté en 2007 dans le cadre de contrôles réguliers qui ont lieu tous les deux ans.

Un ancien directeur de la branche allemande de Deniz Feneri et deux autres personnes ont été condamnés à des peines de prison par le tribunal d'instance de Francfort.

Le principal prévenu, Mehmet Gürhan, 45 ans, ancien directeur de l'antenne allemande de l'organisation de bienfaisance Deniz Feneri (Le Phare, en turc), titulaire de la double nationalité allemande et turque, était accusé d'avoir détourné avec deux complices, entre 2002 et 2007 14,5 millions d'euros reçus de la communauté et de filiales d'entreprises turques en Allemagne.

Il a été condamné à cinq ans et dix mois de prison et les deux autres prévenus, le Turc Mehmet Taskan, 44 ans, et l'Allemand Firdevsi Ermis, 40 ans, poursuivis pour escroquerie ou complicité, à respectivement deux ans et neuf mois et à un an et dix mois de prison.

Les trois hommes, qui avaient reconnu les faits, étaient considérés comme proches du parti au pouvoir à Ankara, le Parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP), issu de la mouvance islamiste.
  Le tribunal n'a cependant pas établi de lien entre ces faits et le soupçon, abondamment évoqué par une partie de la presse et de l'opposition turques, selon lequel l'AKP aurait été le bénéficiaire au moins indirect de l'escroquerie.

Selon la presse turque, la comptabilité de l'association révèlerait des trous d'environ 17 millions d'euros.

Une grande partie des sommes détournées aurait bénéficié à des hommes d'affaires turcs proches de l'AKP ainsi qu'à la chaine de télévision "Canal 7" qui soutient le gouvernement du Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ce dernier a nié à plusieurs reprises toute implication dans le scandale et dénoncé une campagne de désinformation menée notamment selon lui par le premier groupe de presse de Turquie, le groupe Dogan, qui contrôle plusieurs journaux, magazines et chaînes de télévision.

L'AKP, qui a déjà été menacé de dissolution cet été pour non respect de la constitution, pourrait faire face à de nouveaux risques de disparition s'il est prouvé qu'il a bénéficié de financements venus de l'étranger, ce qui est strictement interdit.   (AFP, 19 sept 2008)

Trois Turcs proches du pouvoir condamnés en Allemagne pour détournement de fonds

Trois hommes issus de la communauté turque d'Allemagne et considérés comme proches du parti au pouvoir à Ankara ont été condamnés à de la prison ferme mercredi à Francfort, pour avoir détourné plus de 14 millions d'euros des comptes d'une organisation caritative turque.

Le principal prévenu, Mehmet Gürhan, 45 ans, ancien directeur de l'antenne allemande de l'organisation de bienfaisance Deniz Feneri (Le Phare, en turc), titulaire de la double nationalité allemande et turque, a été condamné à cinq ans et dix mois de prison pour "escroquerie".

Le tribunal d'instance de Francfort (ouest de l'Allemagne) a condamné les deux autres prévenus, le Turc Mehmet Taskan, 44 ans, et l'Allemand Firdevsi Ermis, 40 ans, poursuivis pour escroquerie ou complicité, respectivement à deux ans et neuf mois et à un an et dix mois de prison.

Les trois hommes, qui avaient reconnu les faits, sont considérés comme proches du parti au pouvoir à Ankara, le Parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP), issu de la mouvance islamiste.

Ils ont été reconnus coupables d'avoir détourné à des fins non humanitaires, entre 2002 et 2007, une partie de l'argent récolté par "Le Phare" auprès de la communauté turque d'Allemagne, et destiné officiellement aux "musulmans nécessiteux".

Le tribunal n'a cependant pas établi de lien entre ces faits et le soupçon, abondamment évoqué par une partie de la presse et de l'opposition turques, selon lequel l'AKP aurait été le bénéficiaire au moins indirect de l'escroquerie.

Selon la presse turque, la comptabilité de l'association révèlerait des trous d'environ 17 millions d'euros.

Le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a nié à plusieurs reprises toute implication dans le scandale, et dénoncé une campagne de désinformation menée notamment selon lui par le premier groupe de presse de Turquie, le groupe Dogan, qui contrôle plusieurs journaux, magazines et chaînes de télévision.

Pour balayer ces critiques, M. Erdogan a expliqué qu'il s'agissait d'une campagne de calomnie, ourdie contre lui par Aydin Dogan, propriétaire du groupe, depuis qu'il a refusé à ce dernier de faire pression sur le maire AKP d'Istanbul, pour obtenir une modification des plans d'urbanisme de la ville.

Cette modification aurait été destinée à faciliter une opération de promotion immobilière de plusieurs centaines de milliers d'euros au profit du groupe Dogan.

Le gouvernement sous pression

L'opposition et une partie de la presse turques appelaient jeudi avec force le gouvernement islamo-conservateur à faire toute la lumière sur les possibles ramifications en Turquie d'une affaire de détournement de fonds en Allemagne.

"Si les suspects n'apparaissent pas devant la justice turque, il sera prouvé que le gouvernement AKP est un gouvernement qui protège la corruption", a affirmé jeudi Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, un responsable du Parti républicain du peuple (CHP), principale force d'opposition au Parlement, devant les journalistes.

Il faisait référence à certaines personnes proches du pouvoir, citées par la presse comme faisant partie d'un réseau ayant organisé le détournement.

Les trois hommes condamnés en Allemagne ainsi que d'autres personnalités citées comme d'éventuels suspects par les médias, comme Zekeriya Karaman, propriétaire de la chaîne de télévision pro-islamiste Kanal 7 et Zahid Akman, le président du Conseil audio-visuel turc (RTÜK), sont connus pour être très proches du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Le ministre turc de la Justice, Mehmet Ali Sahin, s'est prononcé jeudi pour l'ouverture d'une enquête sur d'éventuelles ramifications de cette escroquerie.

"Au tour maintenant de la Turquie", lançait le journal à gros tirage Hürriyet, estimant que l'instructuion de ce dossier serait un test de la détermination de M. Erdogan à lutter contre la corruption, alors que la Turquie souhaite adhérer à l'Union européenne. (AFP, 17-18 sept 2008)


Dogan-Erdogan Conflict: Bourgeoisie’s Fight Within Itself

Writer Sungur Savran, a member of the Revolutionary Worker Party Initiative (DİP-G), told bianet, in the evaluation he made about the conflict between the Prime Minister and the Doğan Media Group, that “Bourgeoisie’s dirty relations should be exposed as soon as they are in the open.”

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had reacted out of proportion to the news of the trial of Deniz Feneri (Light House) in the newspapers of the Doğan Media Group. Deniz Feneri is on trial in Germany for the charge of fraud for collecting donations from the Turks living in Germany for various disasters. It is accused of having used these donations in other areas and activities that have no connection with the advertised intentions.

Erdoğan's reply to the news was that the Doğan Group had produced these allegations when its business demands were not met. Head of the Doğan Group Aydın Doğan has been accusing the Prime Minister of blackmailing. 

“It is not only the Deniz Feneri”

Savran says that this time we are facing the Ergenekon of the bourgeoisie. He says that these allegations are being used firstly to attack the ruling party, to damage its credibility, in the fight within the bourgeoisie. 

On the other hand, he would also like to remind the Doğan Group, which has been complaining about ruling party's attack on their freedom of expression, the 2002 - 2007 period during which they were very quiet at the increased attacks of all sorts against the opposition press, against the Kurdish press. Secular opposition

Seeing a direct connection between this conflict and secular bourgeoisie’s opposition to the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Savran says the following:

“Doğan buys a big piece of land and tries to make hefty profit from it by trying to increase its price with a new zone plan and asks Prime Minister’s permission for a new refinery. Erdoğan says Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and Russian President Putin are involved in the whole thing. The bourgeoisie is making huge profits in these dirty relations and we learn about them when the holding boss and the prime minister get into an argument.”

“Privatization mentality”

Savran also points out to the struggle that the transfer of the public resources to the capitalists brought.

“If TÜPRAŞ (Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation, Turkey’s Largest Industrial Enterprise) would have continued to be a public enterprise, this would have not happened. When Doğan goes to the Prime Minister and asks for the said land, he tells him that “Our body Çalık is going to do that”. How can a prime minister talk like this? This discussion shows clearly the plunder over the public resources. These are the largest groups of the Turkish bourgeoisie.”

Savran claims that a third front is possible in this conflict:

“Workers should form their own policy about classes, independent of these two camps of the bourgeoisie and together with the Kurds. They have no interest in choosing one of the sides in this conflict.” (BIA, Onur AÇIKGÖZ, September 12, 2008)

Solution To Kurdish Problem Requires The Unity of The Left

The recent bombings, the clashes and that the government is unable to offer a solution causes the Kurdish problem to stay in the agenda.

We asked those who cast their votes for the leftist parties in the previous elections what they think should be done about the Kurdish problem.

35-year-old psychologist Cem Özgen says the problem should be seen as a security problem.

According to Özgen, there needs to be an apology for the things that were done between 1995 and 2000.

“There should be education in mother tongue. Pressure mechanisms should be formed to accomplish this end. There can be departments of Kurdish language and literature in the universities.”

Ayşe Akdeniz, 23 year old student, thinks that the solution is to create  living spaces for the Kurds.

“The Kurds need to be compensated for the damage of the 30 year war. The state needs to invest in the region. The Armed Forces need to retreat from the region immediately. The leftist parties should create a public opinion about the issue.”

Ali Met of the tourism profession says that he voted for Baskın Oran in the elections of the July 22.

“I do not find the argument that ‘I will not talk to that and I will not talk to this’ right. One should talk to anyone that may help solve the problem. It seemed the Justice and Development Party was taking the right steps, but it did not continue. We should keep this issue alive and produce a peaceful solution.”

Sociologist Eylem Çağdaş is 26 years old. She thinks that the policies regarding the Kurdish problem should be produced with the local representatives.”

“23 year old student Aykan Safoğlu thinks the best solution to the Kurdish problem would be forming a roof party that includes all the organizations for peaceful solution.

“Education in mother tongue should be accepted. Mandatory military service must end. The operations in the region must stop. The unlawful operations of the Gendarmerie Intelligent and Anti Terror Unit (JİTEM) must be revealed. The incidents like Şemdinli must be brought to light.” 

Safoğlu thinks that the Kurdish problem is not only an identity problem. 

Secretary Leyla İşbilir is 34 years old. She thinks that the problems can only be solved if the sides get around a table and start discussing it. “The left should provide the necessary atmosphere for this.”

38-year-old musician Ülker Uncu believes the solution has two legs.

“One of them is to communicate with the people of the region, produce projects and open them to discussion. The other one is to unite about the problem and bring it to the agenda of the country. (BIA, Bawer CAKIR, September 3, 2008)

Forces armées/Armed Forces

L'armée turque affirme avoir bombardé des positions du PKK en Irak

L'aviation turque a bombardé jeudi soir des positions des rebelles kurdes du PKK dans le nord de l'Irak, a affirmé vendredi l'état-major de l'armée turque.

"Seize objectifs ont été détruits hier (jeudi) soir dans la région des monts Qandil", a déclaré lors d'une conférence de presse hebdomadaire le général de brigade Metin Gurak, chef du service de presse de l'état-major, précisant que tous les appareils turcs avaient regagné leur base sans incident.

Les déclarations de l'armée turque confirment les témoignages de sources locales kurdes irakiennes, qui ont fait état de bombardements ayant duré plusieurs heures à Zarawah et Senkser, près de la chaîne montagneuse de Qandil, le long de la frontière avec la Turquie et l'Iran.

Six rebelles et un soldat ont par ailleurs été tués jeudi soir lors de combats dans le sud-est de l'Anatolie, a indiqué le général Gurak.

Les six rebelles ont péri lors d'un accrochage dans une zone rurale de la province de Siirt, tandis que le sergent a perdu la vie lors d'affrontements  dans le massif montagneux Cudi, dans la province de Siirt, a précisé l'officier.

La semaine dernière, le gouvernement turc avait indiqué qu'il allait demander au Parlement une nouvelle prolongation d'un an d'une autorisation pour mener des incursions contre les bases du PKK dont des milliers de membres sont retranchés dans le Kurdistan irakien.

Le Parlement turc avait adopté le 17 octobre 2007 un texte autorisant pour un an le gouvernement turc à mener, si nécessaire, des incursions militaires dans le nord irakien. Depuis, la Turquie y a mené de nombreux raids aériens ainsi qu'une opération terrestre.

Selon un récent bilan fourni par le nouveau chef d'état-major turc, le général Ilker Basbug, le conflit a fait 32.000 morts dans les rangs du PKK et près de 6.500 dans ceux des forces de sécurité (armée et police). Quelque 5.500 civils ont également perdu la vie dans le conflit.

Entre le 1er et le 26 septembre, 45 rebelles, 14 soldats et trois miliciens kurdes supplétifs de l'armée turque sont morts dans des combats, a affirmé vendredi le général Gurak. (AFP, 26 sept 2008)

Nouvelles inculpations dans l'affaire Ergenekon

Un tribunal d'Istanbul a inculpé samedi matin six personnalités, dont un journaliste connu, pour liens présumés avec le réseau nationaliste Ergenekon, accusé de vouloir renverser le gouvernement islamo-conservateur à Ankara, a rapporté l'agence Anatolie.

Tuncay Özkan, un journaliste farouchement opposé au Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste), au pouvoir, ainsi que cinq autres suspects, dont un ancien juge militaire, un ex-chef de police et un ancien maire social-démocrate, ont été écroués dans une prison de la métropole.

Ces hommes, placés en garde à vue mardi et interrogés depuis par la police et des procureurs, sont accusés d'appartenance au réseau Ergenekon, souligne l'agence.

Quelque 86 prévenus dont des militaires de haut rang, accusés d'avoir créé une organisation terroriste armée -le réseau Ergenekon- pour semer le chaos en Turquie et créer un climat favorable à un coup d'état militaire, doivent être jugés à partir du 20 octobre à Silivri (environ 50 kilomètres au nord-ouest d'Istanbul).

L'enquête dans l'affaire "Ergenekon", qui a vu plusieurs personnalités connues des milieux d'opposition arrêtées depuis l'an dernier, a commencé après la découverte de grenades dans une maison d'Istanbul.

Les arrestations et accusations de "terrorisme" qui ont suivi ont été interprétées comme un bras de fer entre le gouvernement du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et les milieux kémalistes très soucieux de préserver le caractère laïc du régime.

Plusieurs analystes ont accusé l'AKP de chercher à profiter d'"Ergenekon" pour mettre la pression sur ses adversaires défenseurs de la laïcité.  (AFP, 27 sept 2008)

Bülent Ersoy stands behind her anti-war comments at the court

Musician Bülent Ersoy who stands trial over her anti-war comments at a TV show “Popstar Alaturka” broadcasted by Star TV on 24 February appeared in court with the charge of “alienating the people from military service.” Ersoy had said “I cannot burry my son for other people’s war” meaning the military operations of the Turkish Army against PKK in Northern Iraq.

Bakırköy Criminal Court Num.18 decided to wait for the claims of the complainants including Retired Soldiers Association to arrive. Ersoy is asked to be imprisoned for three years. The next hearing is on 30 October.

Young Civilians and other supporters were outside justice hall to show solidarity with the musician.BBC, AFP and ZDF too followed the trial.

Ersoy said "during the show news arrived that more kids had been killed so I said as an answer to someone else, ‘You give birth to your own son, then send him to the army, you will see when you take his dead body.' I spoke not with the intention of alienating from military service but demanding a solution instead of death. I did not mean offence and there is no offence in what I said anyway."

As lawyer Yüzüak wanted Ersoy's acquittal he said "My client has served his conscript service” annoyed Ersoy who said "I am a citizen with pink identity card –gay-. I refuse those words. There is no need to go into that."

Judge told Ersoy that a neighbourhood was named after her in Batman and what was her reaction about her comments being used by some circles for their interests. Ersoy replied "I am honoured that a neighbourhood is named after me in Batman. However it does not mean that I have any connection with any groups. I spoke as a human."
A complainant invited Ersoy to visit Çanakkale Graveyard of Martyrs.

Ersoy is charges under article 318 of TPC. 10 people complained against him.  (antenna, September 25, 2008)

Call To Reject the Iraqi Operations Of The Armed Forces

The government has submitted the proposal to prolong the permission given to the Turkish Armed Forces to conduct operations in Iraq for one more year to the Parliament.

The previous permission had passed the Parliament on October 17, 2007. While the permission had found support from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the National Movement Party (MHP), only the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and Freedom and Solidarity Party deputy Ufuk Uras had opposed it.

Ayhan Bilgen, spokesperson for the Turkish Peace Assembly, with whom bianet met about the subject,  asks the deputies to reject the proposal on behalf of so many people already lost to this war.

Mihdi Perinçek, who is responsible for the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia region for the Human Rights Association (İHD), repeats the same demand by asking the deputies to end the operations:

“Many people have died, gotten injured or experienced traumas in the operations. The operations have affected the daily lives of the citizens negatively. Economic resources have been wasted. Nature has been ruined.”

According to Perinçek, the operations widens the gap between the Kurds and Turks about living together.

He suggests to the deputies to develop a political will for the humane and just solution of the Kurdish problem.

“The peace will not come right a way, but there is a chance to solve it in a few years, without more destruction, if mutual steps are taken.”

According to Bilge, “seeing that the operations are not the solution is the first important step for a peaceful solution.” His summary of what the Parliament can do is as follows:

Kurdish problem sessions: “There needs to be discussions about the Kurdish problem. There can be closed sessions. Why this problem has not been solved for so many years should be discussed with all its dimensions.”

Peaceful solution experts: “There is a great amount of experience about this matter in the world. The experts on the matter, the academicians who work in this field in the universities, the peace activists can be called in to express their opinions about the matter.”

A commission and a report: A commission can be formed to prepare a report that takes into consideration all the opinions about the matter.

“The public that was persuaded to end the death penalty can also be persuaded for this.”

Bilgen says that he knows from his meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan last year that the Prime Minister knows very well the operations are not the solution. He adds that because of this he did not defend the permission for the operations to his Eastern and Southeastern deputies, but instead asked them not to give the impression that their party was divided.

Bilgen believes that the Parliament needs to be independent of the government, but instead the approach that rules out parliament’s political will reigns.(BIA - Tolga KORKUT, September 23, 2008)

“Combine The Cases For The JITEM And The Ergenekon”

Tahir Elçi, one of the joint lawyers of the case in Diyarbakır’s 3rd High Criminal Court where ten members of the Gendarmerie Intelligence and Anti-Terror Unit (JİTEM) are on trial, demands that this case be combined with the Ergenekon file.

Elçi, with whom bianet met about the subject, said that he filed a complaint with the Office of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor to have the above demand formalized. 

Elçi says, “I think Susurluk, Ergenekon and JİTEM are different parts of the same organization. Their goals and strategies overlap and their high-level cadres consist of the same people.”

The accused in Diyarbakır are on trial for various kidnappings, murders and bombings in the region that includes the provinces of Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman and Şırnak. Elçi is part of the case that is trying to bring to light the torture and murder of Hasan Caner of Şırnak, Hasan Utanç and Tahsin Sevim.

Elçi says these three people were taken by the order of Cem Ersever, one of the JİTEM commanders, and murdered following their torture. 

Elçi points out to the fact that retired colonel Arif Doğan who was the commander of the army post in Silopi  when he was in active duty is on trial for the Ergenekon case.

According to the news article by Milliyet reporters Tolga Şardan and Türker Karapınar, Doğan already admitted that he was the one who set up JİTEM, worked for eight years under the command of the administration of the Extra Ordinary Conditions and then passed his duty on to Veli Küçük.

Elçi reminds that Veli Küçük, one of the figures in JİTEM’s administrative cadre, is on trial in connection with the Ergenekon investigation and Levent Ersöz, the Gendarmerie Regiment Commander of the Şırnak province at the time, is still not caught.

Elçi has pointed out to the relationship between these two people in both of his petitions.

Diyarbakır’s 3rd High Criminal Court will make its decision regarding Elçi’s demand on November 11.

Ten people claimed to be JİTEM members are on trial in Diyarbakır: İbrahim Babat (who used the name Hacı Hasan in Syria), Adil Timurtaş, Zahir Karadeniz, Lokman Gündüz, Faysal Şanlı, Recep Tiril, Abdülkadir Aygan, Ali Ozansoy, Hüseyin Tilki and Hayrettin Toka.

When the military court had ruled no jurisdiction over the JİTEM case, it had gone to one of the special courts of the Constitutional Court, the Dispute Court, which sent the case to a civilian court on May 5.(BIA – Tolga KORKUT, September 25, 2008)

Ergenekon Operations Continue With More Custodies

Journalist Tuncay Özkan, former owner of the TV channel Kanaltürk, was taken into custody this morning (September 23) in connection with the Ergenekon investigation.

Moreover, former Esenyurt Mayor Gürbüz Çapan and three more people were also taken into custody for the Ergenekon investigation.

Among the sixteen people taken into custody in operations in Ankara, İstanbul and İzmir are Duygu Dikmenoğlu, one of the founders of Kanaltürk, Adnan Akbulut, journalist and former news director of Kanaltürk, Evrim Baykara from the movement of How Many People We Are, Tanju Güvendiren, former military prosecutor retired colonel, and a police officer on duty at the Supreme Court of Appeals and Tuncay Özkan’s doctor.

Şahin Mengü, Manisa deputy for the CHP, said Özkan had called him this morning around 6:45 to tell him that he was being taken into custody for the Ergenekon investigation and hung the telephone.

Mengü pointed out to Özkan’s health problems, especially the one related to his cholesterol level.

Last week seventeen people, among them five lieutenant and one military students, were taken into custody for the Ergenekon case and eleven of them were arrested.

Özkan started journalism in 1981. He first worked at the newspapers Hürriyet and Cumhuriyet.

In 1993, he went to the field of television. He managed the Kanal D News Center.

He was a columnist for the newspaper Radikal between June 1998 and February 2001 and for the newspaper Milliyet between February 2001 and July 2002.

Former owner of KanalTürk TV channel, Tuncay Özkan sold his channel to owner of Koza Mining A.Ş. Akın İpek for 25 million US dollars.

He was one of the organizers of the Republic Meetings against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). On September 12, 2007, he called out to one million people to unite against the AKP.

Staring the movement of How Many People We Are, Özkan formed the platform for this movement. (BIA, September 23, 2008)

Investigation against Van Anti-militarist Initiative

Van Anti-militarist Initiative made a press statement on 21 June 2008 protesting the arrest and torture of conscientious objector Mehmet Bal and pressures on other objectors. Around 30 people including trade unionists and HRA members attended the meeting.

The press statement noted that militarist structures were among the pillars of power, and argued that conscientious objectors’ refusal of authoritarian mechanisms and a culture of obedience were humane actions and thus legitimate.

Van public prosecution service launched an investigation against Van Anti-militarist Initiative’s spokesperson Sami Görendağ, HRA Van Branch Chair Cüneyt Caniş and Teacher’s Union Van Branch Secretary Lezgin Botan with the accusation of “alienating the people from military service” (TPC article 318). (antenna-tr.org, 19 September 2008)

One Of The Ergenekon Generals Released, Eleven New Arrests

Şener Eruygur, one of the retired generals arrested for his role in the Ergenekon operation, has been released from prison for health problems upon the request of the prosecutor conducting the Ergenekon investigation. The retired general has been under intensive care for some time now.

Eruygur fell in the prison last week and according to his doctor Prof. Dr. Nazım Mutlu, experienced a cerebral hemorrhage, with four broken bones in his neck.

Former commander of the First Army and president of the Atatürkist Thought Association Eruygur was in jail since last July.

The five lieutenants and the military student, M. Ali Çelebi, Eren Mumcu, Noyan Çalıkuşu, Hasan Hüseyin Uçar and Yaşar Tozkoparan, were arrested by the court and sent to the military prison in Hasdal.

The court ruled for the arrest of  Hamza Demir, Mahmut Oğuz, Süleyman Solmaz, Kurtca Bektaş, Rıza Demir and Rıfat Yıldırım, too.

Lawyer Levent Temiz,  former head of the Istanbul branch of the Hearths of the Ideal,  performer Nurseli İdiz, Seyhan Soylu and five other people were released.  (BIA, September 22, 2008)

Taking five lieutenants into custody is not enough

Retired military judge Ümit Kardaş advises caution about the latest Ergenekon operation, in which some military personnel were taken into custody, too.

“It is important that some officers were taken into custody, but we do not know why they were. apprehended. If these officers had done something unlawful, their superiors, their commanders should know.”

It is the first time that military personnel who are on active duty have been part of the Ergenekon investigation that started last year in June. Criticizing this, Kardaş says, “This makes one question how useful this case will be in making Turkey a country where the rule of  law comes first and democracy reigns.”

According to Kardaş, “the operation consists of purging the spears that do not fit into the sack.”

“This [the operations] does not mean the system is cleaned. The real issue is how much the mentality is changed, how much the formations that produced the people in jail for the Ergenekon investigation have been deciphered. This operation does not look like the kind of purification needed on the way to democracy. Such a will power does not exist at the moment anyways. For the ruling power itself is not very clean either.”

Kardaş finds it very interesting that this operation came when the intensity of the reactions  against the government regarding the ‘Deniz Feneri’ (Lighthouse) case in Germany is on the rise; he thinks it is an attempt to change the agenda.

In the Ergenekon investigation, eighty six people, forty seven of them in prison, will appear before the court on October 20.The indictment about retired general Şener Eruygur and Hurşit Tolon have not been submitted yet. (BIA, Bawer ÇAKIR, September 19, 2008)

Turkish army says six military members detained

Five lieutenants and a military student were taken into custody by military authorities on Thursday, the Turkish army said in a statement posted on its website.

Fifteen people, including a well-known actress, were taken into custody in five provinces of Turkey under the controversial Ergenekon operation on Thursday, NTV news channel earlier reported. It said four of the detaines were soldiers.

Lawyer Levent Temiz, who is also the former head of a nationalist organization, actress Nurseli Idiz and Seyhan Soylu, an artist manager, were taken into custody in Istanbul on Thursday, NTV said.

Eight people were also detained in the Turkish capital of Ankara, media reports also said.

In the Ergenekon investigation, anti-AKP politicians, journalists, intellectuals and retired generals are accused of being members of an illegal organization believed to be planning provoking events that would pave the way for a military coup to overthrow the ruling government.

The 2455-page "Ergenekon" indictment has been filed at an Istanbul court, indicting 86 people, 47 of who are being held in custody. (Hurriyet, September 19, 2008)

Eleven Taken Into Custody For Ergenekon Investigation

Eleven people have been taken into custody in operations conducted in connection with the Ergenekon investigation today. Some of those taken into custody are actress Nurseli İdiz, former president of Ülkü Ocakları (Hearths of the Ideal, an organization associated with the Grey Wolves) and lawyer Levent Temiz and Seyhan Soylu.

Police went to Temiz’s house early in the morning and searched it with a lawyer present. He was taken into custody after the search.

Likewise, the houses of  actress Idiz and organizer Soylu were searched as well. İdiz had played Atatürk in Soylu’s “Republican Women Project”.

In Ankara, eight people were apprehended in connection with the investigation. The suspects will be sent to Istanbul after their medical exam. Six computers, one laptop, CD’s and documents were seized with these people.

Temiz had stormed an exhibition and threatened Hrant Dink

Together with a group including Ramazan Kırkık of the Union of Non-Governmental Organizations of Turkey, former president of Ülkü Ocakları (Hearths of the Ideal) Temiz had stormed an exhibition titled “September 6-7 Incidents” and organized by ‘Karşı Sanat Çalışmaları’ (Anti Art Works) together with the History Foundation of Turkey in Galatasaray, Istanbul.

The attackers had tried to destroy the pictures in the exhibition by throwing eggs at them. Not satisfied with the damage, they had also thrown some of the pictures from the balcony to the street, to be stepped on by their friends waiting there.

Temiz had also threatened Hrant Dink, murdered founder and chief editor of Agos, weekly Armenian Turkish newspaper, after Dink had written an article claiming that Atatürk’s adopted daughter and the first woman pilot of Turkey Sabiha Gökçen was really an Armenian, a survivor of 1915.

The discussions that had started after the article had quickly turned into provocations and a group of Hearths of the Ideal members had marched from the Şişli Branch office of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to the Agos building at Pangaltı, just a hundred meters away, while chanting slogans such as “Either love it or leave it”, “Down with Asala”.

Speaking on behalf of the group in front of the Agos building, Temiz had threatened Hrant Dink and told the crowd that he was the target of their hate.

However, the authorities had decided to prosecute Temiz not for “dangerous provocation leading to hatred and hostility”, but for “opposing the Law for Meetings and Demonstrations. (BIA, September 18, 2008)

General Basbug Hints that The Army Maintains Press Restrictions

Speaking at a press conference, his first since assuming the post of chief of general staff, Başbuğ claimed that the TSK does not have any special accreditation criteria and that the military has been using the general principles of journalism in its accreditation regulations. Those who abide by these principles will be authorized to attend TSK events and those who do not will be denied access, he said. As part of the TSK's attempts to ease the restrictions of the long-standing accreditation practices of the TSK, the pro-government dailies Yeni Şafak and Star have, for the first time, been invited to a press conference held by the military. Bans on the dailies Zaman, Today's Zaman, Bugün, Taraf, Vakit, Milli Gazete and Birgün continue. The TSK will hold a second press conference today for local TV stations.

Abdülkadir Selvi, the Ankara bureau chief of the Yeni Şafak daily, speaking with NTV, quoted Başbuğ as saying that depending on how the media have been covering TSK-related issues, the press restrictions will be either extended or narrowed.

"We want to contribute to this normalization process. Previously we were not given any answer at all by the TSK when we asked where martyrs' [soldiers killed during clashes with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)] bodies will be buried. This practice has been harmful to our conscience. We have now been welcomed by the TSK with love," Selvi said.

Western diplomats speaking to Today's Zaman described the TSK's decision to ease restrictions on media access to military-led events as a positive sign.

Meanwhile, Gen. Başbuğ said the TSK would hold press conferences every week to inform the media about the military's views on various issues.

Gen. Başbuğ said during the press conference that there will be a contact point at TSK headquarters answering questions for the media 24 hours a day.

Defense correspondents will also be in the forefront for covering military-led events, as Gen. Başbuğ stressed the importance of journalists having expertise on defense-related issues.

Gen. Başbuğ has upgraded the rank of the press officer, the head of the TSK's press office, from colonel to brigadier general.

The TSK is open to constructive criticism, Gen. Başbuğ, said, appealing to both the media and other groups in Turkey to not drag the Turkish military into politics.

However, a journalist pointed out to Gen. Başbuğ that a memorandum issued against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on April 27, 2007 and posted on the TSK Web site had been the most frequently discussed event of the year and had been seen as the TSK getting involved in politics. In other words, this journalist indicated that it had been the TSK itself, not the media, which triggered the debate that pulled the TSK into politics.

Gen. Başbuğ refused to comment on the e-memorandum on the grounds that it was published on behalf of the TSK and within the chain of command binding the TSK as an institution. "Do not expect me to make any comment on this issue," he said.

On the controversial visit paid by a general to two retired generals currently under arrest on charges of involvement in the Ergenekon terror organization, which is believed to have been plotting to overthrow the government, Gen. Başbuğ said the visit had been paid only as a courtesy call to show loyalty.

Western diplomats speaking to Today's Zaman noted their surprise and disappointment over the TSK-endorsed visit to the retired generals, cautioning against any act that may violate the supremacy of the rule of law, referring to certain parts of the Ergenekon indictment that do not necessarily constitute a crime.

Describing the visit as an attempt to influence the judiciary was not only unjust, but also disrespectful of the Turkish judiciary, Gen. Başbuğ claimed.

 Ümit Kardaş, a retired military prosecutor, has described Gen. Başbuğ's decision to ease accreditation rules against some media organizations as an attempt to neutralize the media and to bring them further into line with the military's views.

Gen. Başbuğ's remark yesterday that TSK has been acting on the basis of the basic principles of journalism while defending the restrictions on the media has been cited as evidence of Kardaş's analysis of the military's new policy.

 Speaking about the battle against the terrorists of the PKK, Gen. Başbuğ said the organization had reached the breaking point and that if this opportunity was taken advantage of by the Turkish state, it can be totally dissolved.

Steps should be taken to break the PKK apart, he said, voicing concerns about the terrorist organization's membership numbers.

The PKK's ranks in 1990, about 5,000, have not changed much, Gen. Başbuğ said, adding that young people from the Western parts of Turkey, as well as from Syria, have been joining the organization.

Gen. Başbuğ has previously stated his opposition to a general or partial amnesty for PKK members.

He said there has been no difference of opinion between the government and the TSK over the extension of the period of the decree that authorized the TSK to stage cross-border operations into northern Iraq to pursue the PKK, which is due to expire on Oct. 17. Gen. Başbuğ said that cooperation with the US, which has been providing real-time intelligence for this operations, would continue.

The US has also been understood to have agreed with Turkey on the continuation of its supply of real-time intelligence to Ankara.  (Zaman, September 17, 2008)

Chief Of Staff Keeps Pro-Left Media Out

The new Chief of Staff has added two new newspapers to the list of the allowable media organs in the meetings of the Armed Forces. Previously unwanted Yeni Şafak and Star were the new newspapers in the introductory meeting of the new Chief of Staff on September 16.

The ban continues for the newspapers Zaman, Vakit, Taraf and the STV channel. They wil not be able to be part of the meeting at the General Staff for the media institutions and their Ankara representatives.

Birgün’s Anakra representative Nuri Kayış said, “It may be helpful to be at the sources of the news and to aske question, but since these discussions will not stay hidden, I do not think it is a big loss.”

Director of Hayat TV Aydın Çubukçu and the bureaucracy reporter of daily Evrensel’s Ankara bureau Sultan Özer told bianet that they did not receive any invitation.

The General Staff has been continuing with its accreditation practice since 1999s. It had first started as a practice of the individuals. After February 28, it was turned into an institutional practice.

Chief of Staff İlker Başbuğ had turned the pro-Kurdish newspaper Ülkede Özgür Gündem into a target in a meeting given to the newspaper and television representatives on July 18, 2005. Following this, the prosecutor had closed down the newspaper. (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 10, 2008)

Ergenekon Case Prosecutors Under Investigation

According to Minister of Justice Mehmet Ali Şahin’s announcement in the parliament, criminal reports against Zekeriya Öz, prosecutor of the Ergenekon investigation have been filed.

Those who filed the reports are Ergenekon suspects Muzaffer Tekin, Ergün Poyraz, Kemal Kerinçsiz, Doğu Perinçek and Colonel Erdal Sarızeybek. The prosecutor is accused for “conducting a biased investigation, gross misconduct and exercises not fit to a prosecutor.”

According to the Ministery of Justice, two inspectors are working on the case.

Members of the Atatürkist Association (ADD) visited Ergenekon suspect retired general Şener Eruygur in the Kandıra F Type Prison.

In the press release that followed the visit, ADD secretary general Suay Kahraman said, “Our president informed us that he was very pleased for the visit of the Turkish Armed Forces. The visit was expected, but perhaps it was a little late.”

Three-star general Galip Mendi had visited Şener Eruygur and Hurşit Tolon, retired generals who are in prison in connection with the Ergenekon case, on September 3 on behalf of the Armed Forces. Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity  for the Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER) filed a criminal report against the visit on September 8 for trying to influence the trial process. (BIA, September 9, 2008)

The new army commanders and their first actions
 
30 August ceremonies of handing over the commanding positions of the army to a new cadre have become an excuse for high ranking army officials to make long and strong statements. İlker Başbuğ who took over from the former chief of staff Yaşar Büyükanıt repeated the words of his predecessor: “Nation state is not open to discussion. Ethnic rights cannot be granted under a constitutional regime. It is our duty to defend the Republic when secularism is in danger.”

And then, both of them backed the words of the new commander of land forces Işık Koşaner: “EU harmonisation laws are tying our hands in the fight against terrorism.”

During the summit of the Armed Forces the same trio underlined their hegemony by using Koşaner’s statement: “Turkish Armed Forces does not need any control over it apart from that of the nation.”

Normally neither their making such big statements is natural nor is media making them headlines.  Unfortunately it is received as normal in our country that the people we armed so they can defend us against attacks can actually use those arms as a threat against us. In a way it is us who provide them an illegal space thanks to our fear, silence or various political calculations.

What do those statements mean when weighed in the scales of law and freedom of expression?

Let us sum them up:

1.  Nation state cannot be opened to debate.

Anything can be debated in a democracy. What is outside democracy are taboos, red lines, red books and terrorising people by saying “Saying anything apart from what I say is treason”. Everything can be debated in a democracy but nobody attempts to force or threaten others to accept their ideas.

Moreover, “Unitary state” is not a sine qua non for a republic.  France is a unitary state, Belgium is not, Germany and Switzerland are federations, USA too. The fall of federal state in former Yugoslavia and the swaying of it in Belgium does not stop in others the functioning of federalism.

Besides, the same Pashas state in the same speeches that “Turkey’s place is in European Union”.  And what is European Union –future United States of Europe if it does not fall into pieces – if not a federation? If you like their principles and want to join, and it is your demand to join, naturally you should be prepared to share sovereignty too, just like someone wanting to get married is prepared to accept some restrictions on his/her freedoms by the freedoms of his/her spouse.

2. “Ethnic rights cannot be granted under a Constitutional regime”

Which rights for example? Right to speak, write or sing etc. in one’s mother tongue?

Treaty of Lausanne, article 39/4 and 5:

“No restrictions shall be imposed on the free use by any Turkish national of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, religion, in the press, or in publications of any kind or at public meetings”.
 “Citizens who speak languages other than Turkish: Members of this group would be given adequate facilities for the oral use of their own language before the Courts”.

Who could dare to deny the rights secured by the Treaty of Lausanne, the founding treaty of Turkish Republic?

3. “EU harmonisation laws tie our hands behind our back in the fight against terrorism”

EU laws have been short lived anyway. Shortly after, the unprincipled government who succumbed into the pressures of police and army made Anti-Terror Law even heavier despite having promised to cancel it once the Penal Code was passed. Amendments in Penal Procedural law and Execution Law completed the circle taking away more than what harmonisation laws had brought.

The logic of the military is based on the notions of “enemy” and “destroying the enemy”. That alone is enough to see how objectionable to leave it to the soldiers the responsibility of finding a solution. Answering PKK by insistent attacks after they demanded peace and got leading cadre give up arms or return to Turkey from Europe following the capture of Öcalan, served the interest of the hawks on that side. The result is obvious.

4. “Turkish Armed Forces does not need any control over it apart from that of the nation”.

Unfortunately that too is exactly the opposite of the truth. The fact that the decisions of the Higher Military Council are not accountable in the courts –just like the decisions of the Prosecutors and Judges Higher Board- weighs lighter comparing so many unlawful actions committed by the army.

Let alone the past and the Susurluk chain, remembering the events of last two years is more than enough:  Şemdinli event and what happened during trial process, “Pasha who got bombs exploded in their dormitories to get the judges in line”, General Örnek’s memoirs and what happened to Nokta magazine that published it,  27 April E- Coup threat, Ergenekon…

If there is anyone who knows how the nation controls Turkish Armed Forces please say it. We know that “Judiciary” cannot control it, on the contrary it gets the judiciary in line (remembers what happened to Şemdinli prosecutor).

Who needs 288?

Article 288 of Turkish Penal Code defines the crime of attempting to influence the outcome of an ongoing legal investigation. We witness at times that people especially journalists get prosecuted over their comments on the ongoing trials. A comment on the trial of Hrant Dink published in AGOS had become the subject of a court case too.

If you think about it, how can you or I that is ordinary citizens influence the decisions of the courts? This is a shield to protect “the judiciary” from the pressures of the “Implementation” so that the judicial system works freely.

Article 288 should be applied to the Commander of the Land Forces of the time (who became the chief of staff later on) who said “I know him he is a good boy” about someone who was captured as he planted a bomb. It should be applied to the general who visited the former generals and Ergenekon suspects, using the pretext of “humane purposes”, but noting that the visit was paid in the name of the Armed Forces, hence sending a convenient message to the judiciary.

TAF met Civil Society (!?) in Diyarbakir.

The new command level of Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) was in Diyarbakir on 4 September. They had a closed meeting with what they called “Civil Society Institutions”. Heads of Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Commodity Exchange, Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, Diyarbakir and South East Industrialists’ and Businessmen Associations were invited while the Bar, Doctor’s Chamber, Human Rights Association were not. It leaked that in this “civilian” meeting “things apart from the economy” were talked about.

On what sort of a social engineering plan that the generals are working on with their self-appointed attitudes should be the concern of all civilians not only the Young Civilians. We should show our reaction immediately to the attempts of governing our brains from the barracks.

There is a good saying often used by peace supporters:

“Imagine: A war gets declared but nobody goes!..”

Why not apply the same logic to all our democratic reactions?

“Imagine: TAF invites judges/media/businessmen civil society… to a meeting, but nobody goes!..”

Warm regards,
Şanar Yurdatapan

Chief Of Staff Moves To Cripple The PKK Economically

President of the Southeastern Journalists Association Faruk Balıkçı gave bianet his impressions of Chief of Staff İlker Başbuğ’s meeting chiefly with the organizations of Diyarbakır’s employers.

According to Balıkçı, Başbuğ concentrated on the economic development, but he claims that if solution to the Kurdish Problem is desired, then it is imperative that the political dimension of the problem is addressed.

According to Balıkçı, Başbuğ, who says that the operations will continue and the PKK is at the point of breaking, organized this meeting to find some answers to the problem of why they cannot prevent people from joining the PKK.

“Since the Chief of General Staff assumes that the problem is mainly economic and social, he called only the economic organizations to the meeting. He asked them how to prevent people from joining the PKK.”

Balıkçı said since the governor simply told them they were invited to a meeting with Başbuğ, but did not give any information about the content of the meeting, they could not prepare for it.

According to him, Başbuğ chose Diyarbakır, because it is the heart of the region.

Although the word democracy was mentioned from time to time, Balıkçı said, there was no mention of the political dimension of the Kurdish Problem. He thinks that Başbuğ’s approach was based on marginalizing the PKK by concentrating on the economy.

“However, I think the Kurdish Problem also has a political dimension and this is really the most important part. The economic approach may have a partial effect on the whole problem, because people become guerillas for a variety of reasons. There are those who go to the mountains for the economic reasons and there are those who go there for not being able to unite with their sweethearts… But there are also those who go to the mountains for the political reasons. We have to see the whole picture. Otherwise, the problem will go on.”

Balıkçı says that Başbuğ is hoping that with the launching of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), a major agricultural project designed to boost the economic development in the region, the economic problems will start going away. For this reason, Başbuğ said he would be following up the project. (BIA, Tolga KORKUT, September 5, 2008)

Ergenekon Visitor Gen. Galip Mendi Connected To A Past Assasination In Cyprus

Criticizing the permission granted to Garrison Commander Gen. Galip Mendi to visit the imprisoned Ergenekon generals Hurşit Tolon and Şener Eruygur, Hüseyin Yalyalı, a member of the board of directors of the Press Laborers Union of Turkish Cypriots, has demanded that the permission should be given for the investigation of his role in the murder of Kutlu Adalı.

Kocaeli garrison commander three-star general Mendi had visited both of the generals in the Kandıra prison on behalf of the General Staff.

Yalyalı reminded that Mendi’s name had appeared in Adalı’s murder in Northern Cyprus on July 6, 1996 and since the murder was not investigated, the European Human Rights Court (AİHM) had convicted Turkey.

Adalı was first threatened and then killed for the articles he had written about the illegal activities of the Civil Defense Organization headed by Mendi.

The Church raid, the search of the graves, Adalı murder…

Yalyalı said, “The General Staff was backing this person in the past, too.”

According to Yalyalı, Mendi’s name is mentioned in the raid of the Saint Barnabas Church, the search of the historical and old graves; he is known as one of those responsible for these incidents.

Yalyalı says the Civil Defense Organization, which was headed by the soldiers, used to do intelligence work rather than civil defense.

“This was Ergenekon at its best. I always say that if one wants to look at Cyprus, one will see the laboratory of the Special War Office of the deep state politics.

Nothing was done in spite of the EHRC decision. Yalyalı says “Although there were many details such as  the weapons and material kept in this institution, the Uzi gun used to kill Adalı and the fact that the Civil Defense people were at the murder scene before the police and the military, none of them were discussed.” 

He also reminded that the murders the Special War Office of Turkey had committed in Cyprus since 1960’s were not limited to the Adalı murder. For example, journalist Haşmet Gürkan, who had supported the continuance of the United Cyprus Republic, was killed as well. (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 4, 2008)

The Army Manifests Its Support to the Retired Generals Under Arrest

The garrison commander of Turkey's Kocaeli province paid a visit to two retired generals arrested during the controversial Ergenekon operation, the army said in a statement on Wednesday. Observers say the visit is a signal of a change in the army's stance on the controversial issue.

The visit of Lieutenant General Galip Mendi came a day after Air Forces Commander Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu said the essence of Ergenekon is unknown.
 
"This visit to the two retired commanders, who served in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) for a long time, was paid on behalf of the Turkish Armed Forces," the statement posted on the army's Website added.
 
It also said the army has full respect and belief in the Turkish judicial system.
 
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said it would wrong to try to create other meanings from this visit.
 
Observers say these signal a change in the army's stance against the Islamist-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) who survived a closure case in July, as General Ilker Basbug took over the Turkish army's top post from General Yasar Buyukanit last week.
 
Former army chief Buyukanit showed a more hands-off attitude toward the Ergenekon operation and refrained from making clear statements regarding the issue during his term.
 
In the controversial Ergenekon case, the two retired generals were arrested in June. The Ergenekon operation allegedly started to crackdown on an illegal organization accused of plotting a series of events that would pave the way for a military coup.
 
However the detainment of anti-government names in the operation created question marks about whether this operation was being used as a cover to suppress opponents of the ruling AKP.
 
The indictment on the case, however, failed to shed light on the merits of this controversial and complex case.
 
Hurriyet columnist Cuneyt Ulsever said he is surprised by this visit, adding the new army chief is sending a message that things would be different from now.
 
"The message I get is this: 'We are taking sides in this case from now on. This would create question marks in the prosecutors' and judges' minds although the army says it has full respect and belief in the judiciary... This shows the new army chief says 'I am different, I am taking a stance'," he added.
 
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said it is not strange that the army backed its two valuable former commanders.
 
"It is quite usual for the TSK to ask after their health or if they need anything," Onur Oymen, the party's deputy chairman, said. He added that the CHP does not believe this visit should be criticized, and added that it was appropriate. Hürriyet, September 3, 2008)
 
Un nouvel échelon de commandement et un processus dangereux

Les sensations de la cérémonie de changement de l'état major général s'est enfin clôturées. Alors que ce genre de cérémonie ne porte pas l'attention de la population dans les pays démocratique, cet événement éveil un grand écho en Turquie. La presse donna une grande place à cette cérémonie.

Chaque mot sorti de la bouche des Pachas ont été diffusé; les chaines télévisées ont diffusés cette cérémonie en live dans leur écran. Parce qu'en Turquie, tous le monde s'est rendu compte que le pays n'est pas dirigé par un système parlementaire démocratique mais par le système de la tutelle militaire. C'est pour cela que tous les yeux étaient fixés sur le changement de commanderie de l'État-major général.

Lors de la cérémonie les nouveaux État-major ont envoyés des messages concernant le problème kurde, la laïcité et la démocratisation.

1 - Il peut y avoir des richesses culturelles dans le cadre où il n'y aura pas de préjudice à la structure de l'état nation et que chaque citoyen restera un individu. Dans ce sens certaines modifications on eu lieu. C'est pour cela que personnes ne doit pensé à plus de démocratie, ni personnel ni de groupe, moins encore certains droit ethnique.

2 - Nous devons continuer la lutte générale contre le PKK. L'organisation passe de mauvais jours à cause des opérations militaires faite par l'aviation. Si les pressions faites contre l'organisation prennent de l'augmentation, leur espoir de réussite ne sera plus d'actualité.

3 -  Les ouvertures démocratiques faites dans le cadre de l'UE menotte les mains et les bras des forces de la sécurité dans leur lutte contre le PKK. Nous avons besoin d'amplifier au niveau juridique les droits d'emprise et d'autorité des forces de sécurité. Le Kurdistan Irakien ne doit plus être une région sécurisé pour l'organisation.

4 - Les mesures préventive contre l'engagement à l'organisation prend place entre les responsabilité de l'État. C'est pour cela que l'on doit constater les raisons d'engagement à l'organisation, et pour empêcher cela prendre les mesures nécessaires.

5 – Le système mondial porte en soit beaucoup de domaine de crise que porte atteinte et danger à la stabilité et la sécurité de l'État. Il faut immédiatement prendre des mesures contre le chaos crée par le système mondial.

6- Le TSK (force armé de la Turquie) prend sa force de la nation Turc. Le TSK n'a pas besoin d'un autre contrôle que sa propre nation.

7- Le TSK est la garantie de la laïcité et son adepte. Les préoccupations de la population envers la laïcité doit disparaître. On ne doit pas donner place aux communautés qui essaient de canalisés la vie sociale. (Kurdish Info, 1er Septembre 2008)

Military Prosecutor Finds Ergenekon Suspect Küçük’s Organizer Dangerous

Prosecutor Zekeriya Öz, who runs the Ergenekon case, has asked the General Staff about the content of Ergenekon suspect Veli Küçük’s personal organizer.

According to Star’s report, Öz asked General Staff Military Prosecutor whether the personal organizers that mentions collaborating with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and includes a document with a phrase that says “It was found appropriate to infiltrate the valued, talented and young officers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to the upper echelon of the PKK command structure” were military documents; whether they were documents about the TSK.

The General Staff replied by stating that some of the notes were fully and legally about Gendarmerie’s duty, authority, organization, intelligence and operations and some of the information could have jeopardized the lives of those whose names were mentioned in the notes and it could have caused speculations.

The military prosecutor announced that the said documents were created imitating military writing techniques and using computer techniques. The prosecutor also emphasized that recently some individuals who pretended to be officers were trying to attend to their interests by resorting to illegal means.

Orhan Pamuk: On the one hand, there are murderers; they have tried to kill me, too

In the meantime, Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2006, said in an interview with daily Sabah     that it was not ethical to protect the murderers, the Ergenekon criminals. (BIA, September 1st, 2008)


Affaires religieuses/Religious Affairs

Headscarf Confrontation At Boğaziçi University

With the first days of the new school year, the Boğaziçi University has found itself in a confrontation over the headscarf issue.

There was no problem with the headscarf worn by the young female students of the Muslim faith, when Ayşe Soysal was the rector of the university. However, new rector Kadri Özçaldıran, according to Başak Kocadost, a student in the university, began his administration by placing a form at the gate of the university for those students wearing headscarf to sign. The form said, “I accept the legal measures when I enter the university wearing a headscarf.” The new rector also had warnings placed at various locations in the university.

Seeing this, two hundred students, those wearing headscarf and those who support them, gathered at the gate of the university to protest the new policy and then entered the university.

Those students with the headscarves said the new rector only allowed hats and rain-hoods.

Kocadost’s opinion about the problem is:

“The students with headscarves should not be prevented from wearing their headscarves when entering the university and their classes. For the male students who share the same religious view do not face any problem. Moreover, this implementation means preventing one from exercising her/his right to education. That is why I find it absurd.”

Responding to the critiques, new rector Özçaldıran said he was simply implementing the decision of the Constitutional Court. He added that the problem was resolved since the students agreed to wear different headgears other than the headscarves.

Kocadost says that the students with the headscarves found some support in the first week. Since the student organizations are still active, she hopes the nine day long vacation will not affect the solidarity among the students negatively. (BIA, Emine ÖZCAN, September 26, 2008)

Erdogan s’énerve sur l’alcool, le groupe Doğan dénonce l’influence croissante de l’AKP

La confrontation Erdoğan-Doğan est, ces jours-ci, propice à une réactivation de la querelle de «l’agenda caché». Le gouvernement de l’AKP est-il en train d’arriver à ses fins, en accroissant progressivement ses pressions sur la République laïque et son influence sur la société turque ? C’est la question que se posent souvent actuellement, les journaux du groupe Doğan.

ll faut dire qu’en cette période de Ramadan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leur tend des perches. Participant le 9 septembre dernier à un iftar (repas de rupture de jeûne pendant le Ramadan) de son parti à Kadiköy, le premier ministre n’a pas pu s’empêcher de sonner une nouvelle charge contre l’alcool. Un rapport officiel a récemment révélé qu’en Turquie, au cours des trois dernières années, les points de vente d’alcool ont diminué de 12%. La nouvelle intervient au moment où plusieurs municipalités (Kadiköy, Üsküdar, Bursa, Ankara…) sont pointées du doigt pour des cas de restrictions de vente d’alcool, découlant de la mise en application d’une loi controversée limitant la vente d’alcool aux mineurs.

Plus spécialement, Kadiköy et Moda, quartiers de la partie asiatique d’Istanbul, sont régulièrement le théâtre d’incidents concernant la consommation d’alcool. En effet, la mairie du grand Istanbul a récemment confié la gestion du port de Kadiköy à l’une de ses sociétés «Beltur», qui s’est empressée d’interdire la consommation d’alcool alentour. Depuis, tous les vendredis, des gens ont pris l’habitude de venir consommer de l’alcool, à cet endroit, en guise de protestation. Dans ce contexte passablement tendu, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan n’a pourtant pas mâché ses mots, lors de l’iftar du 9 septembre dernier, en disant qu’à son avis, ce sont ceux qui ne boivent pas qui subissent les pressions les plus fortes. « Je dis à ceux qui boivent, je ne bois pas, laissez-moi tranquille. Ils disent non et veulent que je sois avec eux. Mais quel genre de mentalité est-ce là ? Ils croient qu’ils peuvent me dicter ma conduite...

Ces gens ne me voient qu’à travers une bouteille ou quoi ? Faisons attention à ceux qui veulent nous entrainer dans des conflits et des polémiques sans fin», a-t-il dit, en particulier. La tirade a provoqué de nombreuses réactions médiatiques, notamment celle d’Etuğrul Özkök, le très kémaliste rédacteur en chef du quotidien Hürriyet (groupe Doğan), amateur de vins fins, nommément mis en cause par ce discours, et dont ce n’est pas le premier accrochage avec le premier ministre au sujet de l’alcool. Le journaliste a estimé que le premier ministre ne devrait pas refuser de participer en Turquie aux réunions où il y a des gens qui boivent de l’alcool. «Il lève bien son verre avec les étrangers dans les meetings internationaux… alors pourquoi refuse-t-il de le faire avec son peuple ? », a-t-il conclu.

Un autre point d’achoppement concerne, à l’heure actuelle, le développement de l’influence de l’AKP au sein des institutions publiques, en particulier des institutions administratives indépendantes, comme la Commission des marchés de capitaux (SPK), le Conseil supérieur des universités (YÖK), l’Autorité de régulation du marché de l’énergie (EDPK) ou le Conseil suprême de la Radio et de la Télévision (RTÜK).

La moindre indépendance des ces instances tiendrait, d’une part, aux nominations nouvelles qu’y a effectuées l’AKP depuis qu’il maîtrise toutes les instances exécutives (en particulier la présidence) et, d’autre part, à des interventions et pressions intempestives dont le parti majoritaire aurait pris la fâcheuse habitude depuis quelques mois. Sont notamment évoqués la prise de position du nouveau président du YÖK en faveur du foulard à l’université, l’intervention du gouvernement dans l’attribution de canaux de télévision aux dépens de la compétence de RTÜK, et bien sûr la récente révélation d’Aydin Doğan racontant que le Premier ministre lui aurait dit avoir «réservé», sur le site stratégique de Ceyhan la construction d’une raffinerie au groupe Çelik avant même que l’EPK se soit prononcé.

On peut certes faire remarquer que le camp laïque est loin d’avoir toujours donné l’exemple en la matière. L’année dernière, le YÖK et son ancien président, comme d’ailleurs nombre d’organes de presse du groupe Doğan, étaient intervenus dans le déroulement des élections présidentielles, en soutenant l’exigence du quorum de 367 députés (notre édition du 7 avril 2007). Toutefois, on observe que ces polémiques illustrent les inquiétudes d’une partie de la société turque, à l’approche des municipales. Alors que des sondages révèlent que l’AKP demeure très influent et que les élections municipales se profilent à l’horizon, la crainte d’un développement des pressions religieuses sur la société et d’un contrôle par le parti majoritaire des administrations publiques tant nationales que locales est couramment évoquée actuellement au sein des classes moyennes. (ovipot.blogspot.com, September 17, 2008)

Evolutionist Dawkins’ Internet Site Banned In Turkey

Istanbul’s Şişli 2nd Criminal Court of Peace has banned world famous evolutionist Prof. Richard Dawkins’ internet site (richarddawkins.net) in Turkey on the grounds that Adnan Oktar’s personality was violated by this site.

The court reached the decision to ban the site on September 3. The site was accused of containing insults against Oktar’s (known as Harun Yahya too) book titled “Atlas of Creation”.

The internet users who try to reach the site come across a statement saying that ‘The access to the site has been banned by court order’; no explanations about why, when and by which court order the site has been banned are given. Oktar had managed to shut down the Google Groups in Turkey before as well.

According to Yasemin Arpa from NTV, Oktar filed a lawsuit for the damages of mental anguish against Oxford professor biologist and thinker Richard Dawkins in the amount of 8000 YTL (about 4000 Euro).  Dawkins' book The God Delusion is a best-seller in Turkey.

In addition to Dawkin’s site, video sharing sites Youtube, kliptube and geocities are still banned in Turkey.  In Turkey, internet sites are banned if their content is deemed harmful to children, encourage use of drugs, gambling, prostitution, dangerous elements for health, pornography, suicide and contain insults against Atatürk, founder of Turkey.

For example, Youtube has been banned for four months now for containing videos insulting to the memory of Atatürk.

On the other hand, there are some internet sites that are banned for supporting the Kurdish cause or simply being pro-Kurdish. For example, the internet sites of the newspapers Yeni Özgür Politika (yeniozgurpolitika.org) and Özgür Gündem (ozgurgundem.org), Fırat News Agency (ANF) (firatnews.com), and rojaciwan. These sites were charged with doing propaganda work for the Kurdish Workers party (PKK). (BIA, September 17, 2008)

Relatives Of Malatya Massacre Victims Sue State Organs For Negligence

Relatives of Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel who were killed at Malatya last year for supposedly doing missionary work filed a lawsuit against the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education.

Necati Aydın’s wife Şemse Aydın and her children Elişe Güneş Aydın and Ester Bahar Aydın, Uğur Yüksel’s mother Hadice Yüksel and his father İbrahim Yüksel demand 650 thousand YTL (about 325 thousand Euro) from these three institutions in damages.

The plaintiffs applied to the Ankara Administrative Court through their lawyers Orhan Kemal Cengiz and Mehmet Ali Koç. Although the application did not accuse the Ministry of Education directly, it held it responsible for negligence in the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools.

The accusation against the Ministry of Education emphasized that the students are thought only the Sunni Islam in the mandatory religion courses, nearly all the moral examples come from religion and there is nearly no information about plurality, democratic society, equality among people, tolerance, freedom of religion and belief diversity.

The application also accused the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) for not being able to prevent the massacre, to infiltrate reports about the activities of the missionary groups and different belief groups to the media and public. It also accused the General Staff for portraying these different belief groups as internal threat, danger and enemy.

The application accused the Ministry of Interior for not protecting the protestants despite keeping them under constant surveillance.

“Although they are obligated to protect both the freedom of religion and belief and the right to life, they violated the freedom of religion by keeping the protestants under constant surveillance, apprehending them and publishing reports and comments about them.”

The application also pointed out to the fact that contrary to the practice in the democratic countries, the crimes against different beliefs are not considered as hate crimes in Turkey, they do not receive the needed sentences.

On April 18, 2007, the Zirve Publishing building was raided and three Protestants Necati Aydın, Uğur Yüksel, German citizen Tilman Ekkehart Geske were brutally murdered.

Emre Günaydın, Salih Gürler, Cuma Özdemir, Hamit Çeker and Abuzer Yıldırım are in prison in connection with the murders. Two other suspects, not in prison, are on trial as well. The next hearing will be in Malatya’s 3rd High Criminal Court on October 10. (BIA, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 17, 2008)

IHD demands the abolishment of compulsory religion courses

Press release by the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD):

Some problems are being discussed in these days when schools are preparing themselves for a new semester.

Existence of problems in regard to using right to education and its relations with other rights and freedoms as a whole is a phenomenon in Turkey.

These problems are part of general human rights and democracy problems in Turkey. Compulsory religion course is one of these issues.

First it is an issue related with rights and freedoms. Consequently it is a problem for not only our Alevi citizens but also all citizens. Could state make religion course compulsory for children of its citizens without asking their will or despite their will? Does such an attitude of state comply with principle of ‘secular state’? Or, does such an attitude correspond to principle of ‘democratic secularism’? Should there be an exemption for religion course? Should religion courses be left to only by parents’ decision and should such courses not given by state under any conditions? Or, should religion courses be lectured as a real culture course and a disciplinary of a philosophy and morals? Should we believe frankly that system aims at ‘teaching religion’ and has such content in sincere manner in Turkey, or; is there a reality that existing system corresponds to practice of ‘religious education’?

These issues should be discussed and solved in the light of human rights and freedoms.

Human Rights Association (İHD) defends freedom of religion and conscience as a human right.

State cannot decide, on behalf of its citizens, to what to believe and vice versa or to how to believe. This issue belongs to individual completely and it is personal freedom matter. It is outside of state intervention. State, like in other fields, should respect pluralistic characteristic of the society in religion, belief and culture fields. It should not impose anything; there should not be discrimination.

We demand for first abidance by European Court of Human Rights’ decisions on compulsory religion course; abolishment of compulsory religion course by means of amendment in the Constitution and eliminating practices that are contradictions to supranational human rights instruments.

Hüsnü Öndül
President
(ihd@ihd.org.tr, September 9, 2008)

Socio-économique / Socio-economic

La Berd vote l'arrivée de la Turquie parmi ses pays d'opération

La Banque européenne d'investissement et de développement (Berd) a voté en faveur de l'arrivée de la Turquie parmi ses pays d'opération, a-t-elle annoncé mardi, et les Etats-Unis ont voté pour.

La Turquie, actionnaire de la Berd depuis les débuts de celle-ci en 1991, a demandé à faire partie de ses pays d'opération en avril, en indiquant qu'une contribution de la banque au développement d'initiatives entrepreneuriales et de marché dans ce pays "apporterait un bénéfice immense à la fois à la banque et à la Turquie", a rappelé la Berd dans un communiqué.

Le conseil d'administration, qui représente les 63 gouverneurs de la Berd, a pris sa décision "après une revue stratégique des implications d'un investissement en Turquie", et les gouverneurs prendront leur décision finale d'ici à la fin octobre, précise la Berd.

Le président de l'institution, Thomas Mirow, s'est félicité de "l'écrasante majorité qui s'est prononcée en faveur de cette décision", estimant qu'il s'agissait "d'un signe impressionnant d'unité parmi les actionnaires, qui renforcera encore l'institution".

De source proche de la banque, on indique que seule l'Arménie n'a pas voté en faveur de l'arrivée de la Turquie. Les Etats-Unis en revanche ont voté pour, après avoir souhaité une revue approfondie des implications de cette modification du champ d'activité de la Berd, de même que le Royaume-Uni.

Initialement en effet, la Berd a été créée pour aider les pays de l'ancien bloc soviétique à passer à l'économie de marché, et la Turquie ne répond pas du tout à cette définition.

M. Mirow a considéré que l'arrivée de la Berd en Turquie serait également profitable aux pays qui ont des liens commerciaux avec elle, comme les Balkans, le Caucase et l'Asie centrale, où la banque est déjà active.

En Turquie, la Berd a l'intention "de soutenir un plus grand développement d'une économie plus ouverte et entrepreneuriale, en promouvant la croissance des petites entreprises, en soutenant la privatisation, en apportant au secteur privé des financements, et du savoir faire sur la fourniture de services publics".

La Berd veut principalement mettre l'accent sur les investissement hors des grandes villes, et mettre la priorité sur le développement d'entreprises agroalimentaires et sur la promotion de l'efficacité énergétique.

La Berd a réalisé en 2007 1,9 milliard d'euros de bénéfices, et a investi 5,6 milliards d'euros, dans 35 projets. (AFP, 23 sept 2008)

La crise américaine fait peser une menace sur la croissance

La crise financière aux Etats-Unis va faire peser une menace sur la croissance de l'économie turque qui devrait cependant en souffrir un minimum à cause de réformes mises en vigueur dans le secteur bancaire, a assuré lundi le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Evidemment, la Turquie ne peut pas rester totalement à l'écart d'une tourmente qui secoue aussi fort le monde entier (...) Mais la Turquie n'est plus aussi vulnérable qu'elle l'était autrefois contre les crises et la volatilité", a-t-il dit lors d'une conférence de presse consacrée essentiellement à l'économie turque.

Depuis la grave crise qui l'a secouée en 2001, la Turquie a mis en vigueur une série de réformes pour assainir notamment son secteur bancaire.

"Notre économie est aujourd'hui plus solide (...) La Turquie traversera cette crise avec le moins de dégâts possibles", a-t-il souligné, ajoutant que la discipline fiscale et budgétaire continuera d'être de mise.

Le Premier ministre a toutefois précisé que la croissance du pays "n'atteindra pas le niveau élevé de ces dernières années", prédisant, sans donner de chiffres, une révision des objectifs de son gouvernement qui étaient de 5% pour 2008.

Le taux de croissance pour le deuxième trimestre de l'année, annoncé au début du mois par l'Institut turc des statistiques (Tüik), a été de 1,9% contre 6,7% pour le premier trimestre.

L'économie turque a enregistré une croissance de 6% en 2006.

M. Erdogan a par ailleurs indiqué que son gouvernement décidera au plus tard jusqu'à novembre des suites à donner à sa coopération avec le Fonds monétaire international (FMI) qui lui avait accordé en mai dernier une dernière tranche d'une ligne de crédit sur trois ans de 10 milliards de dollars.

Ce crédit avait remplacé un précédent programme triennal qui a permis au pays d'éviter l'effondrement financier après la crise de 2001.
(AFP, 22 sept 2008)

13 nouveaux-nés morts dans un hôpital d'Izmir, enquête en cours

Treize nouveaux-nés, souffrant probablement d'une maladie infectieuse, sont décédés en 24 heures dans un hôpital public d'Izmir, dans l'ouest de la Turquie, et une enquête est en cours, ont annoncé lundi des responsables de la santé.

Les nouveaux-nés, tous prématurés, sont morts samedi et dimanche dans le service de médecine néo-natale de l'hôpital Tepecik, l'un des principaux de la troisième métropole de Turquie, située sur la mer Egée.

"Le nombre de bébés décédés est de 13", a déclaré le directeur de la santé publique d'Izmir, Mehmet Özkan, à l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Une équipe médicale, chargée d'une enquête pour déterminer la cause de ces décès, a émis l'hypothèse d'une possible contamination bactérienne par voie intra-veineuse.

Selon cette équipe, comprenant des spécialistes en médecine néo-natale et des maladies infectueuses, les premières analyses d'échantillons sanguins de cinq nouveaux-nés décédés ont mis en évidence la présence d'une infection bactérienne.

"Nous sommes confrontés à une possible épidémie transmise par des solutions nutritives par voie veineuse", a déclaré le porte-parole de cette équipe, Recep Ozturk. Il a précisé que des analyses plus précises seraient réalisées ultérieurement.

Un autre médecin a souligné qu'un taux de mortalité aussi élevé n'avait jamais été enregistré dans cet établissement. "Pour nous ces décès sont un accident qui s'est développé et a pris fin en 24 heures".

Auparavant, le chef du service, Nejat Aksu, avait souligné que son équipe prenait en charge des prématurés ayant de graves problèmes de santé, comme des hémorragies cérébrales, des maladies cardiaques ou intestinales.

Il avait attribué ces décès aux pathologies dont souffraient ces prématurés.

"Nous sommes confrontés à un groupe (de patients) difficile à conserver en vie", a de son côté affirmé M. Özkan, qui a exclu une éventuelle "négligence" du corps médical.

Les cadavres de cinq des nourrissons, remis à leurs parents qui les ont inhumés, seront exhumés suivant les instructions données par un procureur chargé de l'enquête judiciaire afin de procéder à une autopsie, a précisé Anatolie.

Plusieurs parents s'apprêtent à porter plainte contre l'établissement, a ajouté l'agence.

Le médecin-chef de l'hôpital, le professeur Gazi Yigitbasi, a évoqué "une suspicion d'infection" à l'origine des décès.

"En temps normal, nous perdons 5 à 6 bébés en trois jours et au maximum 20 en un mois", a-t-il dit, cité par le journal Sabah.

Vingt-sept enfants, dont 24 nés avant terme, sont actuellement hospitalisés dans l'établissement concerné.

En juillet, 27 nouveaux-nés, tous prématurés eux aussi, étaient morts en deux semaines dans une maternité de la capitale, Ankara.

Les médecins avaient identifié diverses causes (infections, insuffisance cardiaque ou complications à la naissance), alors qu'un syndicat avait dénoncé de mauvaises conditions d'hygiène.

L'hôpital est un des plus fréquentés d'Ankara et accueille des cas difficiles venant de tout le pays. (AFP, 22 sept 2008)

Ouverture de la plus grande exposition sur Dali hors d'Espagne

La plus grande exposition jamais réalisée hors d'Espagne sur Salvador Dali ouvre ses portes samedi à Istanbul, avec 269 oeuvres présentées aux côtés de photos, de films et de manuscrits éclairant le travail de l'artiste surréaliste catalan.

Prêtés par la fondation Gala-Salvador Dali, basée à Figueras (Espagne), les 33 tableaux, 113 dessins, 111 gravures et 12 lithographies seront exposés jusqu'au 20 janvier par le musée Sakip Sabanci, coutumier des hôtes prestigieux: le peintre Pablo Picasso en 2005, le sculpteur Auguste Rodin en 2006.

La rétrospective retrace le parcours de Dali de ses premières toiles --des paysages de la campagne catalane aux alentours de Figueras, où il est né en 1904 et où il s'est éteint en 1989-- jusqu'aux ultimes hommages rendus par l'artiste après 60 ans de carrière à ses idoles, Velazquez et Michel-Ange.

L'exposition, conçue sur un mode didactique, n'en comprend pas moins selon les organisateurs quelques pièces rarement présentées au public.

"Pour la première fois, il sera possible de voir autant d'illustrations par Dali de pages choisies de Don Quichotte et de la Divine Comédie de Dante", a affirmé lors d'une conférence de presse Nazan Ölçer, la directrice du musée Sabanci.

"Je suis très fière de l'installation. Je pense qu'elle est élégante, sobre et baroque à la fois (...) Nous avons d'une certaine façon transporté à Istanbul l'ambiance du musée-théatre" fondé par l'artiste à Figueras et géré aujourd'hui par sa fondation, a déclaré la curatrice Montse Aguer Teixidor.

Pour Mme Aguer Teixidor, organiser une exposition sur Dali à Istanbul, où l'artiste et le surréalisme restent relativement méconnus, était un défi.

"C'était un défi pour nous d'expliquer toutes les complexités du travail de Dali", a indiqué la curatrice à l'AFP. "Nous avons donné de nombreuses clés pour ouvrir les yeux des visiteurs (...) à l'imagination, à la créativité et à la provocation".

La fondation Gala-Salvador Dali a été créée en 1983 par l'artiste pour la promotion et la protection de son oeuvre. Elle détient près de 4.000 de ses travaux, un fonds sans équivalent dans le monde.

Le musée Sakip Sabanci, ouvert en 2002 dans une ancienne demeure ottomane sur la rive occidentale du Bosphore, aspire à devenir un centre artistique d'envergure internationale.

Doté d'un riche fonds de calligraphie islamique et ottomane, il alterne les expositions d'art oriental et islamique --"Gengis Khan", "Istanbul, Ispahan, Delhi", présentation des collections d'art islamique du musée parisien du Louvres-- et les rétrospectives consacrées à des artistes occidentaux de renom.

L'exposition consacrée au peintre espagnol Pablo Picasso a battu tous les records d'entrées en Turquie en 2005/2006 avec 258.000 visiteurs payants, un record que le musée entend dépasser avec Dali. (AFP, 19 sept 2008)

Naufrage d'un ferry en Turquie: un mort et quatre disparus

Quatre personnes étaient toujours portées disparues lundi après le naufrage dimanche soir dans le nord-ouest de la Turquie d'un ferry transportant 101 personnes, au cours duquel une personne a péri et 34 autres ont été blessées, ont affirmé les autorités turques.

Le ferry, un bâtiment de 118 m de long qui transportait 73 camions et deux voitures, a sombré une demi-heure après avoir quitté la ville de Bandirma, sur la rive sud de la Mer de Marmara, vers 23H30 locales (20H30 GMT) alors qu'il se dirigeait vers Istanbul, à environ 130 km plus à l'est.

Le capitaine a déclaré qu'un chargement mal positionné pourrait avoir été à l'origine de l'accident, mais plusieurs chauffeurs ont estimé que le navire était surchargé.

La compagnie propriétaire du vaisseau sinistré, Marmara N maritime, a rejeté ces accusations, affirmant que le ferry n'était chargé qu'à moitié de sa capacité maximale.

"Le ferry qui peut transporter 100 camions et jusqu'à 5.273 tonnes, a pris la mer avec 75 camions transportant 2.400 tonnes", a souligné la compagnie dans un communiqué rapporté par Anatolie.

Le commandement de la marine nationale a affirmé dans un communiqué qu'une frégate, un démineur, quatre navires des garde-côtes, deux hélicoptères et 21 plongeurs continuaient de rechercher d'éventuels survivants.

Dans le ferry se trouvaient 106 personnes, dont 27 membres d'équipage, et 101 d'entre-eux ont été secourus, a annoncé Selahattin Hatipoglu, le gouverneur de la province de Balikesir où est située Bandirma, a rapporté l'agence Anatolie.

Un passager, un chauffeur de camion ne savant pas nager s'est noyé et quatre autres personnes sont toujours portées disparus, a indiqué le responsable.

L'épave du ferry se trouve par 20 à 30 mètres sous l'eau, selon les autorités locales. (AFP, 15 sept 2008)

Turkey's economy gives alarming signals amid rising political tension

The lowest growth rate of the last six years, rising inflation and current account deficit with the declining trend in the capacity usage have raised the question marks about Turkey's economy at a time investors expect the government to make economical reforms.

The lowest growth rate of the last six years, rising inflation and current account deficit with the declining trend in the capacity usage have raised the question marks over the health of Turkey's economy.
 
According to recent figures the economy grew 1.9 percent in the second quarter of 2008 compared to last year’s 4.1 percent. The growth rate was 6.7 percent in the first quarter.
 
Turkey, which has one of the highest interest rates in emerging markets, expects 4.5 percent growth in 2008, a sharp downturn from several years of growth near 7 percent.
 
With the double digit consumer price index inflation hitting 11.77 percent, $47 billion year-on-year rapidly increasing budget deficit and falling capacity usage figures in August, the investor confidence started to be more shaky in Turkey and the risk premium tends to rise for the country.
 
Analysts have been warning the government for taking steps to increase the resilience of the economy amid global credit woes. The government had so far failed to take necessary precautions.
 
Turkey's lira currency weakened and the stock market's loss increased after announced data combined with the negative effect from global markets.
 
Lira lost 2.5 percent against dollar and fell to 1.2680 on Thursday however it recovered to 1.2610 on Friday as stock market also lost 4.85 percent on Thursday but slightly rose 0.48 percent on Friday.
 
However, the rise in the risk premium is not only due to economical developments but also the latest incidents in the political arena.
 
The claims of a link between an ongoing fraud case on Deniz Feneri, a German-based charity, and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) raised the question marks over the political stability and triggered Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to attack country’s largest media group for its publications on the details of the scandal.
 
Analysts fear that the fraud case could eventually result in a new closure attempt for the ruling party. On the other hand Erdogan’s recent attack on Dogan Group is seen as a factor contributing to the risk premium.
 
The AKP hardly survived a closure case in late July, however the top court issued a serious warning for the party, signaling its acts would be monitored. (Hurriyet, Sepember 12, 2008)

Increased Police Persecution Against Transvestites And Transsexuals

Door of Woman Social Center held a press release at the Human Rights Association (İHD) for those transvestites and transsexuals who had experienced police brutality.

The press release was prepared by Aykan Safoğlu, a member of the Lambdaistanbul Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual Solidarity Association (LGBTT), and Ali Gök, a member of İHD’s Administrative Board, and was read by Eylem Çağdaş, a sociologist from the Door of Woman association.

Stating that the transvestites and transsexuals living on Bağdat Street in Istanbul have constantly been receiving fines based on the Law of Misdemeanors as those living in Ankara and İzmir, Çağdaş said that they had started the legal process against this.

“We have filed complaints against those police officers responsible for the persecution against us, starting with Police Chief Ömer Bahadır Gülseren. The persecution has increased after our complaints. They take us to their police cars while walking on the street and leave us at desolate places like Kayışdağı and Fikirtepe. Police is constantly around our houses.”

Safoğlu announced, “Our organized struggle is continuing; we will follow up our reports.”

Amargi Women’s Cooperative, Red Umbrella Sex Workers Net, Global Action Group (KEG) the Revolutionary Socialist Worker Party (DSİP), Purple Hand Eskişehir Homosexual Civil Society Initiative, Pink Life LGBTT Association, Kaos L Ankara, Solidarity Net Against Sexism and the January 19 Initiative gave their support to the announcement. (BIA, Bawer CAKIR, September 9, 2008)

Those Children Who Cannot Go To School…

14 million students and 662 thousand teachers have started the new school of 2008-2009, but there are also those who could not take their place in the classrooms.

According to the results of the work the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) did for the period of October-December 2006, with the support of the International Program to End the Child Labor by the International Labor Organization (ILO), 958 thousand of the 16 million 264 thousand children between the ages of 10 and 17 work. 

Although children have to complete their eight-year mandatory primary education, every year those children who are seasonal workers continue to work on the fields when their friends are taking their places in the classrooms. The work season starts before the schools end and continues after the schools start. According to the experts, one way to stop this is to inspect if the parents are sending their children to the schools as required by the law.

According to the information Ruhi Uzunhasanoğlu had given to bianet in July, there is a new bill in the assembly that intends to limit the state support to the education of the challenged children with one year.

“The challenged children have been receiving education in special rehabilitation centers for three years now. The state supports these centers financially for 6 to10 sessions a month, which is just what is given in a month. Is it enough? This is special education. In other words, they have to receive kind of education that is different from what other children receive. The state wants to end this because it is too expensive. What will happen to these children?”

In Turkey, the number of girls in school is lower than the number of boys. According to a 2008 Humane Development Report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the young women are not equal to the young men in education because of the conservative mentality that feeds the sexual discrimination in Turkey.

There are still many children in Turkey who cannot receive the necessary and mandatory primary education. (BIA, Nilufer ZENGIN, September 8, 2008)

La Convention de Montreux sur l'accès à la mer Noire

La Convention de Montreux de 1936, évoquée actuellement tant par les Etats-Unis que la Russie à propos du conflit géorgien, définit les conditions d'accès à la mer Noire, qui ne peut se faire que par une étroite voie maritime contrôlée par la Turquie.

Le contrôle du Bosphore et des Dardanelles qui conduisent à la Méditerranée, sont un sujet stratégique sensible depuis au moins le dix-septième siècle, avec des accords régissant le passage des navires au gré des alliances internationales.

Cela a toujours été un problème vital du point de vue de la Russie qui dispose de ports en eau profonde non bloqués par les glaces en hiver sur la côte septentrionale de la mer Noire, et en particulier dans la péninsule de Crimée.

La Convention, un des plus anciens accords internationaux en vigueur aujourd'hui, place le détroit du Bosphore sous le contrôle militaire de la Turquie, alors qu'il était auparavant sous supervision internationale.

La Convention autorise le libre passage des navires à travers le détroit, mais en limite le nombre et la taille. Elle limite aussi pour les bâtiments militaires la durée de leur présence dans la zone.

En général, les bateaux de guerre des pays qui ne sont pas de la région et qui jaugent plus de 10.000 tonnes ne peuvent pénétrer en mer Noire, et le tonnage d'une flotte -comprenant plusieurs navires- ne peut excéder 45.000 tonnes en une fois.

Les sous-marins doivent naviguer en surface. Les conditions sont modifiées si la Turquie, membre de l'Otan depuis 1952, est belligérante : elle peut alors imposer des restrictions au passage des navires de guerre.

Les pays extérieurs à la région ne peuvent rester en mer plus de 21 jours de façon continue. Les porte-avions sont interdits et les Etats doivent préciser  à l'avance à la Turquie les plans de passage.

L'accès à la mer Noire a pris une nouvelle signification depuis l'effondrement du bloc soviétique au début des années 1990. Les 45 années précédentes, tous les pays riverains -à l'exception de la Turquie- appartenaient à ce bloc.

Aujourd'hui, deux d'entre eux -la Roumanie et la Bulgarie- sont membres à la fois de l'Union européenne (UE) et de l'Otan.

L'Ukraine, qui compte sur son territoire le principal port russe dans la région, celui de Sébastopol, aimerait rejoindre tant l'UE que l'Alliance atlantique, comme la Géorgie.

La Turquie a, ces dernières années, refusé d'autoriser la principale puissance mondiale, à laquelle elle est alliée au sein de l'Otan, les Etats-Unis, à utiliser son territoire pour faire transiter du matériel pour la guerre en Irak.

Les pays qui ont ratifié la Convention de Montreux en 1936 étaient la Turquie, la Grande-Bretagne, la France, l'Union soviétique, la Bulgarie, la Grèce, l'Allemagne, le Japon et la Yougoslavie. L'Italie l'a ratifiée en 1938 et le Japon s'en est retiré après la seconde guerre mondiale.

Les Etats-Unis n'ont pas ratifié la Convention, mais ont généralement accepté d'en respecter les dispositions.  (AFP 5 sept 2008)


Relations turco-européennes / Turkey-Europe Relations

Liberal group in EP declares support to Turkey

The liberal group in the European Parliament have been extending support to Turkey's EU membership for years, the alliance's leader said Thursday after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.


The alliance was making proposals to speed up opening of different chapters during membership talks between the EU and Turkey, the leader of the Alliance of the Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Graham Watson, told reporters.

He added the alliance also wanted dialogue between Turkey and the EU as well as a speed up of the reform process in Turkey.

Watson also said Turkey should make more progress in the areas of freedom of expression, social issues and the role of women in the society.

Watson added they would closely follow the preparation process of the third National Program of Turkey, which covers a series of legal reforms designed to comply with European Union standards. (Hurriyet, September 19, 2008)

Erdogan accuse l'UE de traîner les pieds

Le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a accusé l'Union européenne de traîner les pieds dans le dossier de la demande de la Turquie d'adhérer à l'Union européenne et de "casser" la motivation de son pays, dans des déclarations publiées mercredi par la presse turque.

S'exprimant mardi au cours d'un dîner avec des diplomates étrangers, M. Erdogan s'est plaint du rythme des négociations ouvertes sur les 35 chapitres thématiques qui jalonnent les discussions préalables à l'adhésion.

"Plus nous manifestons de détermination et faisons preuve de persévérance, plus la partie européenne réagit avec des déclarations et des pratiques qui brisent notre enthousiasme et notre motivation", a déclaré le Premier ministre, selon le quotidien à grand tirage Milliyet.

"Si l'UE considère que nous sommes un fardeau, elle devrait le dire", a-t-il souligné, ajoutant: "Si c'est le cas, vous n'auriez pas dû prendre l'initiative d'ouvrir la porte" à la Turquie.

La Turquie a engagé jusqu'à présent des discussions sur huit des 35 chapitres, sur fond de conflits commerciaux au sujet de Chypre et d'une opposition affichée à son adhésion de quelques pays européens, dont la France.

Le gouvernement turc est critiqué, aussi bien au sein de l'UE qu'à l'intérieur du pays, pour avoir ralenti le rythme des réformes nécessaires à la progression des pourparlers en vue de son adhésion à l'Union européenne. (AFP, 17 sept 2008)

Conférence sur l'état d’avancement du processus d’adhésion de la Turquie

Le 2 octobre 2008, le sénateur Geert Lambert organise en collaboration avec le Groupe de Travail interparlementaire sur la Question kurde, l’Institut Kurde de Bruxelles, Koerdisch Instituut vzw, le Congrès National du Kurdistan (KNK) et Vrede vzw la conférence ‘L’état d’avancement du processus d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne’.

Est-ce la Turquie doit devenir membre de l’Union européenne ou favoriser l’établissement d’un ‘partenariat privilégié’ ? La religion, joue-t-elle un rôle important dans le débat ? Quelle est l’opinion des différents pays membre de l’Union européenne et qu’est-ce que la population turque pense ? Quels sont les enjeux pour la Turquie ?
C'est pour discuter de ces questions qu'est organisée une conférence afin de faire le point sur le processus d'adhésion.

Le 3 octobre 2005, ont commencé officiellement les négociations d'adhésion de la Turquie. Pour la première fois dans l'histoire de l'U.E., il avait été clairement indiqué que les négociations n'allaient pas conduire avec certitude au statut de membre pour le pays solliciteur. On s'attend à ce que ces négociations durent encore au moins pendant dix ans avant que l'on puisse parler d'une adhésion.

Après ces trois dernières années de négociations, la commission européenne a clairement fait comprendre qu'elle n'est pas satisfaite surtout à cause des lenteurs dans l'élaboration des réformes. Il n'y a toujours pas de solution à la question  chypriote, l'armée reste beaucoup trop influente dans la vie politique de l'État, la question kurde ne connaît aucun progrès, le conflit entre le Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) et l'armée connaît une dangereuse escalade et les organisations de défense des droits de l'homme font savoir que ceux-ci subissent encore de graves violations surtout vis-à-vis des Kurdes, des femmes et des minorités religieuses.

La conférence sera présidée par le sénateur Geert Lambert.

Intervenants: Bart Staes, parlementaire Européen (Groen); Prof. Dr. Dirk Rochtus, politicologue Lessius/KU Leuven; Abdullah Demirbas (DTP); Lionel Vandenberghe; Orhan Miroglu, écrivain kurde et politicien; Muharrem Erbey, Association des droits de l’Homme (IHD).

Débat: Dirk Van der Maelen (sp.a), Frieda Brepoels (N-VA), Elke Tindemans (CD&V), Hilde Vautmans (Open VLD), Ahmet Dere (KNK), Dogan Ozguden (Info-Turk) et Bart Staes (Groen); Modérateur : Ludo De Brabander, Vrede

ADRESSE: Maison des Parlementaires – Salle des Congrès (21, Rue de Louvain – 1009 Bruxelles)
DATE: 2 octobre 2008 - de 13h00 à 18h30
LES INSCRIPTIONS seront clôturées le 29 SEPTEMBRE 2008: lievedriesen@skynet.be ou fax: 02/231 00 97
LE FORMULAIRE D’INSCRIPTION SUR : http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/francaise/311.html
RENSEIGNEMENTS COMPLEMENTAIRES:
Geert Lambert, sénateur: geert.lambert@yucom.be ou T.: +32(0)2/513 20 36
Koerdisch Instituut vzw: lievedriesen@skynet.be ou T.: +32/(0)2 230 34 02

Sommet quadripartite à Damas jeudi sur les discussions syro-israéliennes

Un sommet quadripartite consacré aux discussions indirectes syro-israéliennes et réunissant la Syrie, la France, la Turquie et le Qatar aura lieu jeudi à Damas, ont confirmé mardi la présidence française et le président syrien Bachar al-Assad.

Le président Nicolas Sarkozy se rend mercredi et jeudi à Damas pour une visite qualifiée de "politique" par l'Elysée.

Il participera au sommet quadripartite en tant que président en exercice de l'Union européenne, Bachar al-Assad en tant que président du conseil de la Ligue arabe et l'émir du Qatar, cheikh Hamad ben Khalifa al-Thani, en tant que président du Conseil de coopération du Golfe.

Le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sera également présent à ce sommet destiné à évoquer "les sujets régionaux de la paix au Proche-Orient", a-t-on précisé à l'Elysée.

Ce sommet, "qui se tient à l'initiative de la Syrie", selon l'Elysée, se déroulera jeudi, à partir de 11h00 et durera une heure.
 Des négociations indirectes ont lieu entre la Syrie et Israël, sous l'égide de la Turquie.

Interrogé par France 3, le président syrien a confirmé sa tenue expliquant que "la Syrie est aujourd'hui présidente de la Ligue arabe, la France  présidente de l'UE et la Turquie est le seul pays qui a pu relancer le processus de paix même à travers des négociations indirectes" avec Israël.

"Nous voulons un rôle prépondérant pour l'Europe à travers la France, et pour tous les pays arabes à travers la Syrie le Qatar", a ajouté M. al-Assad.

Lors de sa visite à Paris le 12 juillet, le président syrien avait notamment demandé à la France de co-parrainer, le moment venu, avec les Etats-Unis, une négociation directe entre la Syrie et Israël. "Le président Sarkozy avait donné son accord, ainsi qu'Israël et les Etats-Unis", a-t-on rappelé à l'Elysée. Des délégations des deux pays devraient se rendre dans les prochains jours en Turquie pour un cinquième round de pourparlers indirects, avait annoncé lundi la radio israélienne.

Israël et la Syrie sont formellement en état de guerre depuis 1948 mais ont signé des accords d'armistice ou de cessez-le-feu.

En échange de la paix, la Syrie exige la restitution intégrale du plateau du Golan conquis par l'armée israélienne en juin 1967 et annexé par l'Etat hébreu en 1981, ce à quoi Israël s'est jusqu'à ce jour opposé.

Mercredi, Nicolas Sarkozy évoquera devant Bachar al-Hassad le contentieux territorial des "fermes de Chebaa", aux confins du Liban, de la Syrie et d'Israël. Israël estime que ce secteur stratégique de 25 km2 fait partie du Golan syrien conquis en 1967 et annexé en 1981, alors que le Liban en revendique la souveraineté avec l'accord de la Syrie.

"Ce problème ne doit pas servir de prétexte à une paralysie" entre la Syrie et Israël. "Nous sommes disposés à aider", a-t-on affirmé à l'Elysée.

Autre sujet qui devrait être abordé par MM. Sarkozy et Assad : l'Iran et sa décision de poursuivre l'enrichissement d'uranium envers laquelle les six pays chargés de dialoguer avec Téhéran (France, Royaume Uni, Allemagne, Etats-Unis, Russie, Chine) sont "réellement préoccupés", selon l'Elysée. (AFP, 2 sept 2008)

Turquie-USA/ Turkey-USA

Caucausus Crisis Leaves Turkey Torn Between US and Russia

The simmering crisis brought about by Russia’s recent incursion into Georgia is putting Turkey on the spot, presenting Ankara with an undesirable choice between backing its traditional western allies and preserving its growing trade relations with Russia.

"Turkey is torn between the latest developments, not only between Russia and Georgia but mainly between Russia and the United States and NATO as well. Even if we do not go back to the Cold War, at the point that we have arrived to today, Turkey cannot manage this crisis with ’platonic moves,’" said a recent commentary published by the English-language Turkish Daily News.

During the Cold War, Turkey -- a member of NATO and a long-time ally of Washington -- found itself on the frontlines of containing the Soviet Union. Even during the Ottoman period, Russia -- which invaded Eastern Anatolia at the start of World War I -- was viewed as a dangerous regional competitor.

The Turkish-Russian relationship has changed dramatically in recent years, though. Today, Russia is Turkey’s largest trading partner, with trade between the two countries expected to reach $38 billion this year, up from $27 billion the year before. Russia also supplies close to half of Turkey’s crude oil and 65 percent of its natural gas, used both to heat Turkish home and to run many of the country’s power plants. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

But following the invasion of Georgia, Turkey is suddenly facing the prospect of a resurgent Russian presence near its border. "There is a dilemma which Turkey faces," says Ihsan Dagi, a professor of international relations at Ankara’s Middle East Technical University. "Georgia is indispensable to Turkey’s overall Caucasian and Central Asian strategy, and is central to its claim to being an energy corridor."

On the other hand, he says, "Russia is mostly indispensable for the Turkish economy. What is at stake is Turkey’s economic stability."

Moscow forcefully reminded Turks of this fact when it imposed new trade restrictions in August on goods coming from Turkey, holding up Turkish trucks at Russian border crossings for lengthy inspections. For many Turkish observers, the new restrictions were a clear warning for Ankara not to pick the wrong side in the Georgia crisis. Turkish trade officials say they may lose roughly $3 billion over the short term due to the new Russian restrictions.

Turkey’s leaders, meanwhile, have been treading carefully around the Georgia issue. Although Turkey has publicly called for Georgia’s territorial integrity to be respected, it has refrained from embracing the stronger rhetoric coming out of Washington and Brussels. "We would never want such a thing [a new Cold War] to happen," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said recently. "America is our ally and the Russian Federation is an important neighbor. Russia is our number one trade partner. We are obtaining two-thirds of our energy from Russia ... We would be left in the dark."

In an effort to defuse the crisis, Ankara had suggested the creation of a "Platform for security and cooperation in the South Caucasus," which would create a regional security framework involving Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. But neither Washington nor Moscow seemed especially keen on the initiative.

"The idea sounds attractive, but it will not go far. Such pacts can work only if all members are willing to prioritize stability and good relations over their other interests. Yet if there is one thing we know, it is that there is no consensus for stability in the Caucasus," Michael Reynolds, an expert on Caucasian history at Princeton University, recently wrote in a blog maintained by Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs.

Given the prospect of prolonged uncertainty in the Caucasus, Ankara is exploring options for diversifying its gas supply, in case any tensions with Russia lead to a cut off. And when the United States recently asked for permission for its navy ships to pass through the Turkish controlled Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits in order to bring aid to Georgia, Ankara at first hesitated before giving an ambivalent "yes."

This ambivalence could ultimately impact the West’s future plans for dealing with any further developments in Georgia, experts warn. "Against a background of mixed European reaction to Russian behavior, Turkish ambivalence could be a troubling harbinger of [a] transatlantic disputes to come," Ian Lesser, an expert on Turkey at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, wrote in a recent policy paper. "In theory, Turkey’s proximity to the crisis and desire to play a larger diplomatic role in the Black Sea could make Turkey a lynchpin of NATO strategy in Georgia, especially if rapprochement with Armenia is part of the equation. But Turkish willingness to place its territory at the service of Western policy in Georgia is highly uncertain."

Added Lesser: "A large-scale economic and humanitarian assistance program for Georgia is virtually inevitable, and Turkey would be a natural partner for United States and European efforts. The United States and at least some NATO allies may go further and opt for significant military assistance to bolster what remains of Georgian independence, increase the country’s capacity for territorial defense, and raise the costs of renewed Russian military operations."

"All of this will be much more difficult without Turkish political and logistical support."

Ultimately, analysts say, the Georgian crisis may force Turkey to reconsider elements of its foreign policy, which seeks to draw on its Ottoman past as a power in the Middle East, Balkans and the Caucasus to help it develop good relations with its neighbors and to act as a regional mediator.

"The Georgian crisis put Turkish foreign policy in a predicament of how to reconcile Georgians and Russians and Ossetians and Abkhazians and Armenians and Azeris all at the same time," says METU’s Dagi. "Being a country with good relations with everyone is not possible during a time of conflict. You have to sacrifice something."

He adds: "Using soft power in the region is fine, but when a crisis emerges, it’s time for hard choices."

Editor's Note: Yigal Schleifer is a freelance journalist based in Istanbul. (Eurasianet, September 11, 2008)

Un navire de guerre US franchit les détroits turcs

Un troisième navire de guerre américain chargé de matériel humanitaire à destination de la Géorgie a franchi mercredi les détroits turcs des Dardanelles et du Bosphore et s'apprêtait à faire son entrée en mer Noire, a constaté un photographe de l'AFP.

Parti du port italien de Gaète, l'USS Mount Whitney, navire amiral de la VIème Flotte américaine, a franchi dans la matinée le détroit des Dardanelles, reliant la mer Méditerranée à la mer de Marmara, puis dans l'après-midi le Bosphore, qui traverse Istanbul pour unir la mer de Marmara à la mer Noire.

Il devait rallier dans les prochains jours la Géorgie, où deux autres bâtiments de la marine américaine, la frégate USS McFaul et le navire des garde-côtes Dallas, ont déjà acheminé de l'aide humanitaire.

Le passage de l'USS Mount Whitney intervient alors que la Russie a critiqué l'arrivée récente en mer Noire de plusieurs navires de l'Otan.

Mardi, le Premier ministre russe Vladimir Poutine s'est interrogé sur la nécessité de convoyer de l'aide humanitaire "à bord de bateaux militaires armés de systèmes de missiles ultramodernes" et a assuré que la Russie aurait "une réponse" à cette situation.

L'envoi de trois navires de guerre en mer Noire pour une mission humanitaire constitue la première mission humanitaire américaine par mer et la première projection d'une force militaire américaine dans la région depuis le début du conflit entre Russie et Géorgie, le 7 août.

Cinq navires de l'Otan -deux américains, un allemand, un espagnol et un polonais- ont par ailleurs fait leur entrée la semaine dernière en mer Noire, pour effectuer selon l'organisation atlantique des manoeuvres prévues de longue date, au large de la Bulgarie et de la Roumanie.

Unique voie d'accès à la mer Noire, le Bosphore et les Dardanelles figurent parmi les détroits les plus fréquentés au monde. La convention internationale de Montreux, signée en 1936, régit la circulation à travers ces détroits. (AFP, 3 sept 2008)

Relations régionales / Regional Relations

Ankara et Moscou signent un accord pour régler leur contentieux douanier

La Turquie et la Russie ont signé un accord afin de régler un contentieux douanier qui les oppose depuis plusieurs mois, a affirmé vendredi le vice-Premier ministre turc Hayati Yazici.

"Avec ce protocole, la crise douanière entre la Turquie et la Russie a été résolue d'une manière raisonnable", a-t-il dit, cité par l'agence Anatolie.

Le protocole signé jeudi entre les services douaniers des deux pays envisage une "ligne douanière simplifiée", une procédure qui devrait accélérer le passage de produits turcs par les douanes russes, a expliqué le ministre.

Il sera appliqué aux compagnies qui enverront volontairement au préalable aux autorités russes des informations sur les produits qu'elles souhaitent exporter vers ce pays.

Ces biens profiteront d'un passage prioritaire et seront à priori exemptés d'inspections, a souligné M. Yazici, ajoutant que l'accord devait entrer en vigueur en l'espace d'une dizaine de jours après ratification par les gouvernements respectifs.

Lors d'une récente visite en Turquie, le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères Sergueï Lavrov a indiqué que certaines compagnies avaient violé le code des douanes de son pays, le poussant à prendre des mesures plus sévères et à renforcer les contrôles, ce qui a frappé notamment les poids-lourds turcs, soumis à des inspections intensives.

Le volume du commerce bilatéral entre la Russie et la Turquie a atteint l'année dernière 28,2 milliards de dollars (18,9 milliards d'euros).

La presse turque avait avancé que les restrictions douanières russes pourraient avoir été instaurées en représailles au soutien exprimé par la Turquie à la Géorgie lors du conflit d'Ossétie du Sud. Mais les exportateurs turcs ont souligné que les inspections russes ont débuté bien avant le déclenchement de ce conflit.  (AFP, 19 sept 2008)

La Turquie et l'Azerbaïdjan affirment vouloir resserrer leurs relations

Le président turc Abdullah Gul et son homologue azerbaïdjanais Ilham Aliyev ont souligné mercredi, au cours d'une rencontre à Bakou, leurs "relations amicales" après la visite du chef de l'état turc la semaine dernière en Arménie.

"Le développement des relations amicales (entre les deux pays) a été souligné pendant la réunion ainsi que la nécessité de promouvoir les relations bilatérales pour renforcer la coopération régionale", a déclaré Aliyev dans un communiqué.

Le président Gul s'est rendu en Azerbaidjan après une visite "historique" en Arménie - dont les relations sont tendues avec ses deux voisins - pour tenter de renforcer le rôle diplomatique d'Ankara dans la région.

Membre de l'OTAN, la Turquie pousse à la création d'un forum régional pour faciliter la coopération dans le Caucase au moment où cette région a été le théâtre d'un conflit armé entre la Russie et la Georgie sur la question des territoires séparatistes de l'Ossétie et de l'Abkhazie.

Le chef de la diplomatie turque, Ali Babacan, avait indiqué mercredi à Ankara vouloir organiser une réunion trilatérale avec ses homologues arménien et azerbaïdjanais afin de discuter des litiges qui empoisonnent leurs relations. (AFP, 10 sept 2008)

L'Arménie va livrer de l'électricité à la Turquie

L'Arménie a signé un accord pour livrer de l'électricité à la Turquie, a annoncé mercredi le ministre de l'Energie Armen Movsisian, premier signe tangible d'un dégel dans les relations entre les deux pays depuis la visite historique du président turc Abdullah Gül à Erevan.

L'accord conclu pendant cette visite qui a eu lieu samedi, prévoit la livraison d'électricité vers l'est de la Turquie à partir de début 2009. Il a été signé entre la compagnie publique arménienne Réseau Electrique à Haute Tension et la compagnie privée turque UNIT, a précisé M. Movsisian.

"La Turquie est un nouveau marché pour l'Arménie qui avait pourtant livré de l'électricité à ce pays du temps de l'URSS", a-t-il souligné.

M. Gül est le premier président turc à s'être rendu en Arménie depuis l'indépendance en 1991 de cette ex-république soviétique. Il a rencontré samedi son homologue Serge Sarkissian avec lequel il a assisté à Erevan au match aller Turquie-Arménie de qualification pour le Mondial 2010 de football.

Ankara et Erevan n'entretiennent pas de relations diplomatiques en raison de divergences sur le caractère des massacres d'Arméniens commis entre 1915 et 1917 sur le territoire de l'empire ottoman.

Toute l'infrastructure pour les livraisons d'électricité est déjà en place du côté arménien, mais la mise en marche du réseau de transmission et l'installation d'un nouveau transformateur en Turquie pourraient prendre entre quatre et cinq mois, selon M. Movsisian.

Pour commencer, l'Arménie livrera 1,5 milliard de Kilowatts/heure à la Turquie, puis cette quantité pourrait monter à 3,5 milliards KWh.

La Turquie a fermé sa frontière avec l'Arménie en 1993 pour soutenir l'Azerbaïdjan turcophone dans son conflit avec l'Arménie sur la région du Nagorny Karabakh, enclave peuplée d'Arméniens en territoire azerbaïdjanais, dont la sécession a conduit à une guerre entre les deux pays.

Ce territoire isolé entre l'Arménie et l'Azerbaïdjan s'est autoproclamé indépendant en 1991, à l'issue d'un conflit qui a fait près de 30.000 morts.

Ce conflit n'est toujours pas réglé, constituant une source majeure d'instabilité dans cette région stratégique du Caucase du Sud située entre l'Iran, la Russie et la Turquie.


Une 5e série de discussions Syrie-Israël le 18-19 septembre

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a déclaré jeudi à Damas qu'une 5e série de discussions indirectes syro-israéliennes se déroulera les 18 et 19 septembre.

"Un cinquième round de pourparlers indirects, via l'intermédiarie de la Turquie, aura lieu les 18 et 19 de ce mois", a-t-il dit à un groupe de journalistes turcs dans la capitale syrienne.

Ses déclarations ont été retransmises par les chaînes de télévisions turques.

"Pour le moment, ce processus avance d'une manière positive (...) Nous travaillons pour le bon déroulement de ces pourparlers", a-t-il souligné sans préciser si les discussions auront lieu en Turquie, à Istanbul, comme les quatre premières série de négociations.

Israël et la Syrie, en guerre depuis la création de l'Etat hébreu en 1948, mènent depuis mai des discussions indirectes via la Turquie.

M. Erdogan a assisté jeudi matin à Damas à un sommet quadripartite qui a réuni outre la Turquie, la France, la Syrie et le Qatar.

Des informations avaient auparavant fait état du report de ce dernier tour de discussions.

"Après quatre rounds de négociations (entre la Syrie et Israël), il y aurait dû y avoir un cinquième, qui devait être crucial, mais la démission du négociateur (israélien) a fait reporter ce round qui devait déterminer l'évolution de ces négociations", a indiqué jeudi le président syrien Bachar al-Assad.
 
Israël n'avait pas confirmé la date de ce 5e round. 

La France prête à aider politiquement et militairement une paix Syrie-Israël

Le président français Nicolas Sarkozy, également président en exercice du Conseil européen, a affirmé jeudi à Damas que l'Europe était "reconnaissante" envers la Turquie de servir d'intermédiaire dans les discussions indirectes entre Israël et la Syrie.

"Je veux dire, comme je l'ai indiqué au président (syrien, Bachar al)-Assad, combien la France soutient l'effort de la diplomatie turque dans les négociations indirectes entre Israël et la Syrie", a déclaré M. Sarkozy.

Selon lui, "les Turcs ont fait un travail remarquable, qui doit aboutir à des négociations directes, et c'est toute l'Europe qui est reconnaissante (envers) la Turquie de cette action qu'ils ont engagée".

"J'ai dit au président Assad que si les Israéliens acceptent les principes et que les négociations directes commencent, la France, naturellement, est disponible pour aider à ces négociations directes de manière diplomatique, politique, économique, militaire, parce qu'à un moment donné il faudra bien qu'il y ait des décisions concrètes pour établir la confiance entre les uns et les autres", a-t-il ajouté.

Nicolas Sarkozy s'exprimait au début du sommet quadripartite qui réunissait jeudi matin à Damas, outre la France et la Syrie, la Turquie et le Qatar.

Au cours de ce mini-sommet d'une heure environ doivent être notamment abordées les discussions indirectes entre la Syrie et Israël, via la Turquie, les relations syro-libanaises, et la question du nucléaire iranien.

Selon M. Sarkozy, "ce n'est pas une folie que de s'occuper de tous les conflits de la région en même temps".

"Je crois qu'au contraire c'est sage, car tous les conflits de la région se tiennent, sont interdépendants. Vouloir en laisser un de côté, c'est une erreur" car il y a "tellement d'intérêts en commun qu'il faut avancer, ensemble, sur tous les fronts, avec ambition", a estimé le président français.

"Quels risques prend-on? Aucun, parce qu'on prend le risque de la paix et le risque de la paix est toujours moins cher que le risque de la guerre", a-t-il dit.
Le président Nicolas Sarkozy a offert un soutien politique, diplomatique et militaire de la France à un futur processus de paix entre Israël et la Syrie lors d'un sommet quadripartite jeudi à Damas.

"J'ai dit au président (Bachar al-) Assad que si les Israéliens acceptent les principes et que les négociations directes commencent, la France, naturellement, est disponible pour aider à ces négociations directes de manière diplomatique, politique, économique, militaire", a dit M. Sarkozy.

"Parce qu'à un moment donné il faudra bien qu'il y ait des décisions concrètes pour établir la confiance entre les uns et les autres", a-t-il ajouté. (AFP,  4 sept 2008)


Inquiètes de l'Iran, les monarchies du Golfe se tournent vers la Turquie

Inquiètes de l'influence grandissante de l'Iran dans la région, les six monarchies arabes du Golfe ont signé un accord destiné à renforcer leur coopération avec la Turquie dans les domaines politique, militaire et économique.

"Ce mémorandum est un pas sur la voie d'un partenariat stratégique avec la Turquie", a souligné cheikh Hamad ben Jassem ben Jabr Al-Thani, chef de la diplomatie du Qatar, qui préside actuellement le Conseil de coopération du Golfe (CCG).

La cérémonie de signature tard mardi, avec le chef de la diplomatie turque Ali Babacan, a eu lieu en marge d'une réunion ordinaire des ministres des Affaires étrangères du CCG (Arabie saoudite, Koweït, Emirats arabes unis, Qatar, Bahreïn, Oman), à Djeddah, dans l'ouest du royaume saoudien.

Une bonne partie de la rencontre a été consacrée à l'ouverture par l'Iran de deux bureaux administratifs sur l'île d'Abou Moussa, dans le Golfe, considérée par les Emirats arabes unis comme une violation d'un accord sur une administration conjointe de ce territoire.

La réunion a condamné, dans un communiqué, cette démarche et demandé à l'Iran de "démanteler ces bureaux", dont l'ouverture alimente un différend vieux de plusieurs décennies.

L'Iran a pris en 1971 le contrôle d'Abou Moussa et des îlots de la grande et petite Tomb, près du détroit d'Ormuz, après le départ des forces britanniques du Golfe et a toujours rejeté les prétentions des Emirats sur ces territoires.

Abou Moussa est une île de 12 km2 à peu près à égale distance de l'Iran et des Emirats. Sa position stratégique et ses réserves supposées de pétrole en font un enjeu important. Abou Dhabi reproche à Téhéran d'avoir remis en cause en 1992 le statu quo qui prévalait jusqu'alors, en renforçant sa présence militaire sur l'île.

Outre ce différend, les monarchies sunnites arabes du Golfe s'inquiètent, même si elles ne le disent pas publiquement, de l'influence croissante en Irak et au Liban de l'Iran chiite, qui cherche à s'imposer comme une puissance régionale et qui est engagé dans un bras de fer avec l'Occident autour de son programme nucléaire controversé.

Cheikh Hamad a affirmé que l'association avec la Turquie n'avait rien à voir avoir "l'équilibre des forces dans la région", dans une allusion à l'influence de l'Iran.

"Notre coopération avec la Turquie est importante et nous souhaitons parvenir à une même entente avec l'Iran", a-t-il souligné, faisant remarquer que son pays travaillait à un rapprochement avec Téhéran, mais que ce dernier avait besoin, pour se concrétiser, d'un consensus au sein du CCG.

De son côté, M. Babacan a exprimé, dans une déclaration écrite, l'intérêt de la Turquie pour la "stabilité du Golfe" et proposé de tenir une réunion annuelle entre son pays et ceux du CCG.

Il a précisé que les deux parties allaient se rencontrer au printemps prochain en Turquie pour un tour d'horizon des questions d'intérêt commun.

Cheikh Hamad a défendu le partenariat avec la Turquie en dépit des relations de ce pays avec Israël, en soulignant que "ces relations peuvent aider à établir la paix au Proche-Orient", donnant pour exemple le rôle joué par Ankara dans les négociations indirectes entre la Syrie et l'Etat hébreu.

Il a estimé aussi que "les manoeuvres militaires turco-israéliennes n'étaient pas dirigées contre les (pays arabes) de la région".

Le ministre a confirmé la participation de l'émir du Qatar, cheikh Hamad ben Khalifa Al-Thani, jeudi à Damas à un sommet consacré aux négociations indirectes syro-israéliennes et réunissant aussi la Syrie, la France et la Turquie. (AFP, Souleimane NIMER, 3 sept 2008)

La Russie accuse en Turquie l'Otan d'avoir armé la Géorgie

Le chef de la diplomatie russe, Sergueï Lavrov, a accusé mardi l'Otan d'avoir provoqué le conflit géorgien en vendant des armes à l'administration de Tbilissi.

"Tout d'abord, les accords internationaux ont été violés par la vente d'armes à la Géorgie", avant que ce pays n'attaque l'Ossétie du sud, a-t-il affirmé lors d'une conférence de presse à Istanbul avec son homologue turc Ali Babacan.

M. Lavrov, en visite de travail en Turquie, a rappelé que les accords internationaux sur le Caucase, notamment les documents de l'OSCE (Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe) "interdisent l'envoi d'armes dans les zones de conflit".

"Dans la pratique, ce sont les pays de l'Otan qui ont armé (le président géorgien Mikheïl) Saakachvili", a-t-il dit.

Le ministre russe a cependant évité de froisser la Turquie et souligné que ce pays, membre de l'alliance atlantique, à laquelle veut également adhérer son voisin géorgien, remplissait à la lettre ses engagements internationaux et menait une "politique responsable" quant à la crise au Caucase.

Une vaste offensive russe a été lancée le 8 août en Géorgie après que les forces géorgiennes eurent déclenché une opération pour tenter de reprendre le contrôle de la région séparatiste d'Ossétie du Sud.

M. Lavrov a par ailleurs réaffirmé que la Russie est favorable à l'envoi d'une force de police internationale dans le cadre de l'OSCE pour assurer la sécurité autour des républiques séparatistes géorgiennes d'Ossétie du Sud et d'Abkhazie dont Moscou a reconnu l'indépendance.

"Il serait utile dans les zones de sécurité d'assurer une présence policière internationale", a déclaré le ministre qui doit quitter mardi soir la métropole turque.  (AFP, 2 sept 2008)

Erdogan: Pas question d'ignorer la Russie

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a affirmé mardi qu'"il n'était pas question d'ignorer la Russie" en raison de la crise géorgienne, et souligné que son pays tenterait d'imposer un "équilibre" quant à l'imbroglio commercial opposant les deux pays.

"La Russie pour nous est un pays avec lequel nous entretenons de très importantes relations commerciales", a indiqué M. Erdogan dans un entretien au journal Milliyet.

M. Erdogan s'exprimait à la veille d'une visite de travail du chef de la diplomatie russe Sergueï Lavrov qui doit rencontrer mardi à Istanbul son homologue turc Ali Babacan.

"Quand vous regardez nos rapports commerciaux et économiques avec la Russie, vous ne pouvez ignorez la Russie. La Turquie imposera un équilibre dans le cadre de ses intérêts", a-t-il souligné.

Lundi matin le ministre turc du Commerce Kürsat Tüzmen a annoncé que la Turquie avait imposé des restrictions douanières à Moscou en réplique à des restrictions russes. Plus tard, au terme d'un conseil des ministres, le porte-parole du gouvernement turc a démenti une telle mesure.

Les douanes russes soumettent depuis près d'un mois les camions turcs à des inspections intensives, ce qui les contraint à stationner à la frontière pendant plusieurs jours, voire plusieurs semaines, selon les médias turcs.

La question des contrôles douaniers doit être discutée lors de la rencontre Lavrov-Babacan.

M. Erdogan a averti que la Turquie ne pouvait pas se permettre de compromettre ses liens commerciaux avec la Russie, d'autant moins qu'elle est dépendante de ce pays dans le domaine de l'énergie.

"La Russie est pour nous une importante source d'énergie", a-t-il dit.

Le volume du commerce bilatéral entre la Russie et la Turquie a atteint l'année dernière 28,2 milliards de dollars (18,9 milliards d'euros). La Russie fournit à la Turquie 63% de son gaz naturel et 29% de son pétrole.

Selon les  médias turcs, les restrictions douanières russes pourraient avoir été instaurées en représailles au soutien exprimé par la Turquie à la Géorgie lors du conflit d'Ossétie du Sud.

Ankara s'est prononcé en faveur de l'intégrité territoriale de la Géorgie, sans condamner ouvertement l'intervention russe. (AFP, 2 sept 2008)

Sofia proteste contre des taxes pour ses poids lourds en Turquie

La Bulgarie a protesté mardi par note diplomatique contre les taxes et restrictions imposées depuis la veille par la Turquie aux camionneurs bulgares, a annoncé le ministère des Transports.

La Turquie a introduit lundi une taxe de 83 euros pour les camionneurs qui livrent des cargaisons ou transitent par son territoire. Par ailleurs, les véhicules bulgares sans catalyseur et les camions produits avant 1992 ne pourront pas entrer en Turquie.

La Bulgarie, elle, exige déjà depuis le 1er juillet une taxe de 83 euros aux camionneurs qui transitent par son territoire. Ainsi, "la partie bulgare a exprimé son désaccord avec les mesures prises par la partie turque à l'exception de la taxe de transit", selon le communiqué.

Les autorités bulgares ont rappelé avoir accordé à la Turquie 125.000 permissions gratuites de transit pour 2008, soit une hausse de 20% par rapport à 2007. Ainsi seulement la moitié des camionneurs turcs auront à payer une taxe de transit.

Un représentant du ministère des Transports, Volodia Kirov, a indiqué que les passages en transit de camions bulgares par la Turquie sont 20 fois inférieurs à ceux de camionneurs turcs transitant par la Bulgarie. (AFP, 2 sept 2008)

Ankara dément avoir imposé des restrictions douanières à la Russie

Le porte-parole du gouvernement turc a démenti lundi qu'Ankara ait imposé des restrictions douanières à la Russie en réplique à des restrictions russes, comme l'avait annoncé quelques heures plus tôt le ministre turc du Commerce.

"Nous sommes deux pays voisins qui ont de bons rapports et des relations économiques mutuellement bénéfiques. C'est pour cela que je crois que le problème actuel sera résolu par le dialogue", a déclaré le vice-Premier ministre turc Cemil Cicek, qui est également le porte-parole du gouvernement.

Les douanes russes soumettent depuis près d'un mois les camions turcs à des inspections intensives, ce qui les contraint à des attentes à la frontière de plusieurs jours, voire plusieurs semaines, selon les médias turcs.

Lundi, le ministre turc du Commerce, Kursat Tüzmen, a affirmé que la Turquie avait commencé, en représailles, à soumettre les marchandises russes à des inspections détaillées à la frontière.

"Nous devions répondre aux restrictions imposées aux exportations turques, que nous ne pouvons pas comprendre", a déclaré M. Tüzmen, cité par l'agence de presse turque Anatolie, en marge d'une foire commerciale internationale à Pékin.

Mais M. Cicek a ensuite indiqué que M. Tüzmen avait demandé que des mesures de rétorsion soient prises par Ankara, mais que le gouvernement n'avait pas encore approuvé une telle mesure.

"Nous ne lui avons pas donné une réponse positive", a-t-il déclaré.

La question des contrôles douaniers sera discutée en détail mardi au cours d'une rencontre à Istanbul entre le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères Sergueï Lavrov et son homologue turc Ali Babacan, a indiqué M. Cicek.

Des diplomates turcs en poste à Moscou discutent également de cette question avec les responsables russes, a-t-il ajouté.

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a averti au cours du week-end que la Turquie ne pouvait pas se permettre de compromettre ses liens commerciaux avec la Russie, d'autant moins qu'elle est très dépendante de ce pays dans le domaine de l'énergie.

"Les deux tiers de l'énergie dont nous avons besoin proviennent de Russie", a déclaré M. Erdogan, cité par les médias. "Des firmes turques ont procédé à des investissements significatifs en Russie. Nous ne pouvons pas l'ignorer."

Le volume du commerce bilatéral entre la Russie et la Turquie a atteint l'année dernière 28,2 milliards de dollars (18,9 milliards d'euros). La Russie fournit à la Turquie 63% de son gaz naturel et 29% de son pétrole.

Selon des spéculations des médias turcs, les restrictions douanières russes pourraient avoir été instaurées en représailles au soutien exprimé par la Turquie à la Géorgie lors du conflit d'Ossétie du Sud.

Ankara s'est prononcé en faveur de l'intégrité territoriale de la Géorgie, sans condamner ouvertement l'intervention russe.

La Russie a été particulièrement irritée par la décision d'Ankara de laisser deux navires militaires américains entrer en mer Noire par les détroits des Dardanelles et du Bosphore pour apporter de l'aide humanitaire à la Géorgie.

Moscou a estimé que cette mission humanitaire pouvait masquer une escalade de la présence militaire américaine dans la mer Noire.

L'Otan a rejeté cette accusation. Ankara a déclaré que l'entrée des navires américains s'était faite en conformité avec la convention de Montreux, qui régit la présence de navires militaires en mer Noire. (AFP, 1 sept 2008)

Les monarchies du Golfe veulent renforcer leurs relations avec la Turquie

Les riches monarchies pétrolières arabes du Golfe vont signer un accord avec la Turquie pour le renforcement de leurs relations, a annoncé dimanche le secrétaire général du Conseil de coopération du Golfe (CCG), Abderrahmane Al-Attiyah.

Le "mémorandum d'entente", qui sera signé mardi dans la ville saoudienne de Djeddah, sur les rives de la mer Rouge, va assurer "la coopération dans les domaines économique, politique et de sécurité", a ajouté M. Attiyah à l'AFP.

Les ministres des Affaires étrangères du CCG verront leur homologue turc Ali Babacan en marge d'une réunion qu'ils tiendront ensemble mardi à Djeddah, a-t-il poursuivi.

Le mémorandum d'entente va ouvrir la voie à la conclusion d'un accord de libre-échange entre le CCG et la Turquie, en discussion depuis 2005, selon lui.

Le CCG regroupe l'Arabie saoudite, Bahreïn, les Emirats arabes unis, le Koweït, Oman et le Qatar. Ces pays entretiennent de bonnes relations avec Ankara.

"La Turquie joue un rôle important dans la région. C'est un rôle équilibré et modéré", a dit M. Attiyah.

Les monarchies sunnites arabes du Golfe s'inquiètent de l'influence croissante en Irak et au Liban de l'Iran chiite, qui cherche à s'imposer comme une puissance régionale et qui est engagé dans un bras de fer avec l'Occident autour de son programme nucléaire controversé.

Mais elles défendent un règlement négocié de cette crise.

M. Attiyah a indiqué que les ministres du CCG allaient discuter de la récente décision de l'Iran d'ouvrir deux bureaux administratifs sur l'une des trois îles du Golfe au centre d'un conflit territorial avec les Emirats.

Les Emirats avaient dénoncé comme "illégale" l'installation d'un poste de secours en mer et d'un bureau d'enregistrement maritime sur l'île d'Abou Moussa, dont ils revendiquent la souveraineté. (AFP, 1 sept 2008)

Chypre et la Grèce / Cyprus and Greece

Les négociations sur le fond débutent entre dirigeants grec et turc

Les dirigeants chypriotes grec et turc ont entamé jeudi à Nicosie le dialogue sur le fond qui doit permettre au terme des négociations de consacrer la réunification de l'île, divisée depuis 34 ans.

Une semaine après le lancement formel de cette nouvelle tentative qualifiée d'"historique" par l'ONU, le président chypriote Demetris Christofias et le leader de la République turque de Chypre du Nord (RTCN, autoproclamée) Mehmet Ali Talat ont débuté leurs discussions vers 10H00 locales (07H00 GMT).

Durant deux à trois heures, sur le site de l'aéroport désaffecté de Nicosie, dans la zone tampon contrôlée par l'ONU, ils devaient aborder les questions de partage du pouvoir.

Tout au long du processus, les deux dirigeants, qui se connaissent de longue date, sont convenus de se voir au moins une fois par semaine.

Il s'agit de la tentative la plus sérieuse pour résoudre le problème chypriote, qui influe sur la question de l'adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union européenne, depuis l'échec d'un plan de l'ONU en 2004.

Celui-ci avait été accepté par référendum par la partie chypriote-turque mais rejeté par la composante grecque. Dans la foulée, l'île était entrée divisée dans l'UE.

"Le difficile processus (...) visant à trouver une solution négociée au problème chypriote a débuté dans la sincérité", a fait valoir mercredi le chef de la mission de l'ONU, Taye-Brook Zerihoun.

"Le recherche de la meilleure solution pour le peuple de Chypre est la clé pour dépasser les rancoeurs et les divisions du passé", a-t-il ajouté.

Récemment, l'ambiance des discussions a été plombée par les déclarations des deux camps concernant notamment l'intégrité du territoire et l'avenir des colons turcs installés dans le nord.

Dans un sondage publié dimanche par le quotidien chypriote-grec Simerini, 60% des personnes interrogées affirment ne pas croire à une issue positive.

"Je pense que dans six mois, si le processus ne mène nulle part, il faudra se poser des questions graves. D'ici l'été prochain, ils devraient parapher un document et l'affaire être pliée", a estimé un diplomate occidental auprès de l'AFP.

La Turquie veut conserver son droit d'intervention obtenu dans les traités qui ont accordé l'indépendance à l'île en 1960.

"La question chypriote est liée à la sécurité, la stabilité et la paix en Méditerranée orientale. Les droits (...) de la Turquie sur l'île sont une nécessité pour la sécurité et la stabilité", a dit mercredi soir sur la chaîne locale NTV le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères Ali Babacan.

"Nous espérons que les affirmations de Christofias selon lesquelles il veut une solution sont sincères (...). Une telle fenêtre d'opportunité (pour une solution) n'est pas si fréquente", a-t-il ajouté.

Mehmet Ali Talat, qui veut croire en une fin des négociations avant début 2009, a souligné récemment la nécessité pour tout règlement de prévoir deux "Etats constitutifs" placés sur un pied d'égalité, ce que refuse totalement la communauté chypriote-grecque, qui représente 80% de la population.

"Nous ne pourrons jamais accepter" deux Etats à Chypre, a répondu M. Christofias qui a par ailleurs, dans un effort de compromis, proposé que 50.000 colons turcs puissent rester sur l'île.

L'envoyé spécial de l'ONU, Alexander Downer, ancien ministre australien des Affaires étrangères, s'est rendu en Grèce et en Turquie pour s'assurer de la bonne volonté de ces deux pays.

Tout accord devra être soumis à l'approbation des Chypriotes par référendum. (AFP, 12 sept 2008)

Athènes conditionne les relations Turquie-UE à un règlement à Chypre

La chef de la diplomatie grecque Dora Bakoyannis a estimé mardi que la procédure d'adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union Européenne sera "influencée" par l'issue du nouvel effort de réunification en cours à Chypre.

"Le cheminement de la Turquie vers l'intégration européenne est influencé, sinon à la lettre du moins sur le fond, par un règlement du problème chypriote," a déclaré Mme Bakoyannis, après un entretien avec son homologue chypriote Markos Kyprianou.

"C'est l'essence de la question, c'est pour cela que je dis qu'une solution à Chypre est dans l'intérêt du peuple turc", a-t-elle insisté, exprimant l'espoir que la Turquie "comprendra" cet enjeu.

La Grèce fait partie des pays soutenant une adhésion de la Turquie à l'UE à condition qu'Ankara en remplisse toutes les conditions, parmi lesquelles ne figure pas nommément une réunification préalable de l'île de Chypre. 

Exprimant un "optimisme réservé" sur l'issue des négociations inter-chypriotes, relancées la semaine dernière, Mme Bakoyannis a réaffirmé qu'une solution devait être conforme aux "valeurs et principes de l'UE".

Elle s'est notamment élevée contre toute "limite de temps artificielle" aux efforts de règlement, alors que la Turquie plaide pour l'adoption d'un calendrier.

Avec l'entrée des discussions dans le vif du sujet à partir de jeudi, "l'heure de vérité a sonné" a pour sa part relevé M. Kyprianou, prévoyant une "procédure difficile, avec des divergences et des obstacles" qui nécessitera "obstination et patience".   (AFP, 9 sept 2008)

Le président de la République de Chypre en faveur d'une adhésion turque

Le président de la République de Chypre Demetris Christofias s'est déclaré vendredi en faveur d'une adhésion turque à l'Union européenne, sous certaines conditions.

"Nous sommes en faveur" d'une adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union européenne (UE), si celle-ci respecte les critères exigés par l'UE et reconnaît l'existence de la République de Chypre, a déclaré M. Christofias lors d'une conférence de presse à Stockholm.

M. Christofias était en visite officielle en Suède où il s'est notamment entretenu avec le Premier ministre suédois Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Le Premier ministre suédois a quant à lui déclaré que la Suède était "connue pour être un pays en faveur de l'élargissement de l'Union européenne".

M. Reinfeldt a par ailleurs rappelé que la question du protocole d'Ankara sera de nouveau discutée lors de la présidence suédoise de l'Union, à partir de juillet 2009.

Par ce protocole, signé en 2005, Ankara acceptait d'étendre, notamment à la République de Chypre, l'accord d'union douanière qui lie la Turquie à l'Union Européenne, sans pour autant reconnaître officiellement la partie grecque de l'île.

"La question de Chypre sera alors au centre des discussions", a déclaré M. Reinfeldt.

Une partie des discussions a également porté sur la réunification de l'île alors que des négociations en vue de cette réunification ont été lancées mercredi.

"J'ai envie d'être optimiste et avec mon vieil ami Mehmet Ali Talat (leader de la République turque de Chypre du Nord, ndlr), nous tâcherons d'être raisonnables, flexibles et de montrer de la bonne volonté", a ajouté le président des Chypriotes-grecs, précisant que cela ne serait "pas un travail facile".

"Nous souhaitons trouver une solution pour libérer notre pays d'une présence militaire et avoir une Chypre unie", a déclaré M. Christofias.

 Les dirigeants chypriotes grec et turc ont formellement lancé mercredi des négociations en vue de la réunification de leur île et entreront dans le vif du sujet la semaine prochaine.

Les deux hommes se sont rencontrés dans la zone tampon de Nicosie contrôlée par l'ONU. (AFP 5 sept 2008)

Athènes souhaite que la Turquie montre "l'indispensable volonté politique"

La chef de la diplomatie grecque Dora Bakoyannis a souhaité mercredi que la Turquie et la partie chypriote turque fassent preuve de "l'indispensable volonté politique" pour aboutir à une solution de la question chypriote.

Se félicitant de la rencontre des dirigeants chypriotes grec et turc qui ont formellement lancé mercredi des négociations en vue de la réunification de leur île divisée, Mme Bakoyannis a souligné que le dossier était "une question d'invasion et d'occupation d'un pays membre indépendant de l'ONU et de l'Union européenne qui reste sans solution depuis trente quatre ans".

"La Grèce soutient cette nouvelle initiative pour aboutir à une solution juste, viable et fonctionnelle, dans le cadre d'une fédération bizonale et bicommunautaire, avec une souveraineté, une citoyenneté et une représentation nationale", a-t-elle ajouté dans un communiqué.

La Grèce espère que "la Turquie et la partie chypriote turque feront preuve de l'indispensable volonté politique, de modération et d'attitude constructive, afin que les efforts aient une issue heureuse avec la fin de l'injustice et de la division de Chypre, et la réunification de l'île", a ajouté la ministre.

"Une Chypre unie profitera à la stabilité dans la région de la Méditerranée du sud-est", a encore estimé Mme Bakoyannis.

Chypre est divisée depuis 1974, quand la Turquie a envahi le tiers nord de l'île après un coup d'Etat à Nicosie de nationalistes chypriotes-grecs soutenus par la junte militaire alors au pouvoir à Athènes. (AFP, 3 sept 2008)

Chypre Nord, "mini-Turquie" militarisée et zone de non-droit dans l'UE

Pour la première fois depuis 2004 et l'échec du plan de paix de Koffi Annan, les négociations directes entre les deux parties de Chypre vont reprendre, mercredi 3 septembre, sous les auspices des Nations unies. Le président chypriote grec, Demetris Christofias, élu en février sur la promesse d'une relance des négociations, et le leader chypriote turc, Mehmet Ali Talat, rouvriront symboliquement les pourparlers en vue d'une réunification des deux moitiés de l'île, séparées par la Ligne verte depuis 1974. Sitôt élu, M. Christofias avait rencontré M. Talat et relancé le dialogue. Des groupes de travail bicommunautaires ont été créés, auxquels ont participé des collaborateurs des deux présidents pour évoquer tous les dossiers sensibles en vue d'un accord de paix. Les négociations vont se poursuivre. M. Talat espère un accord "d'ici à la fin de l'année", mais aucun calendrier n'a été adopté.

Le long de la route littorale qui court au nord de Famagouste, les côtes sont dissimulées derrière de hauts murs. "Zone militaire, photo interdite." Quelques sentinelles cuisent dans leur mirador. Des kilomètres de plages face aux côtes libanaises sont confisqués. D'innombrables casernes parsèment le petit territoire de la République turque de Chypre du Nord (KKTC), le tiers septentrional de l'île, occupé par les militaires turcs depuis 1974. Aucun pays, hormis la Turquie, ne reconnaît son existence. Les Chypriotes grecs parlent de "zone occupée". Débarqués à l'époque pour protéger les Chypriotes turcs d'exactions commises par les milices grecques, environ 40 000 soldats sont toujours cantonnés à Chypre. Le ratio est d'un soldat pour six habitants. Pour un officier turc, être muté à Chypre représente une promotion enviable : la solde est doublée. Le climat méditerranéen et le calme qui règnent sur l'île donnent l'impression d'un camp de vacances.

Après trente-cinq ans d'occupation, la KKTC est devenue une annexe d'Ankara. Le drapeau est un calque en négatif du drapeau turc. L'hymne national, la monnaie et le culte de Mustafa Kemal sont repris à l'identique. L'économie demeure sous perfusion. Le courrier arrive du port turc de Mersin.

Environ 50 000 colons et des milliers de travailleurs immigrés venus d'Anatolie ont, peu à peu, transformé la structure de la population. Les paysans ont imposé leur mode de vie, différent de celui des Chypriotes, qui se sentent mis en minorité. La pratique religieuse, quasi inexistante avant 1974, est devenue ostentatoire : construction de mosquées, cours coraniques et distribution de nourriture pour le ramadan... "Dans le centre de Nicosie, il reste environ 15 % de Chypriotes turcs, constate le démographe Mete Hatay. Les autres ont déménagé dans les banlieues. Des villages entiers de colons ont été créés dans tous les coins de l'île." Le fossé entre Chypriotes et Turcs s'est irrémédiablement creusé.

BANQUES OFFSHORE

Pour les diplomates turcs, les postes à Nicosie-Nord figurent parmi les plus prestigieux... Par la fenêtre de son bureau, jonché de dossiers et de cendres de cigarette, le journaliste et dissident Sener Levent montre le trottoir d'en face. "Le véritable pouvoir n'est pas là, dans le Parlement chypriote turc, mais à l'ambassade de Turquie." Déjà visé par deux tentatives d'assassinat et emprisonné pendant plusieurs mois, cet intellectuel rebelle continue de tirer à vue contre l'armée turque. Le titre du jour de son journal, Afrika : "Le gouvernement est une marionnette des militaires." Lundi 1er septembre, la KKTC a interdit le passage d'un groupe de pèlerins qui voulaient traverser pour assister à une messe orthodoxe à Morfou. L'incident, dont Sener Levent impute la responsabilité à l'armée, a déclenché la colère et "empoisonne l'atmosphère" des négociations qui s'ouvrent mercredi, selon le gouvernement chypriote grec. "En 2004, les Chypriotes turcs ont rêvé d'Europe, constate un diplomate européen. Mais ils craignent une nouvelle fermeture du pays."

La KKTC demeure une zone de non-droit oubliée au sein de l'Union européenne. Sa quarantaine de casinos, tenus par des proches du gouvernement turc ou par des officiers de l'armée à la retraite, ses banques offshore, ses maisons de passe et ses officines de paris sportifs en font un lieu de choix pour le blanchiment d'argent, béni par toutes les mafias de la région.

Des milliers de villas en béton ont été construites à la chaîne le long des côtes vierges du nord, le plus souvent sur des terrains spoliés à des Chypriotes grecs et revendus à des retraités britanniques en quête d'exotisme bon marché. Les criminels anglais en cavale en ont aussi fait leur repaire, sans risquer une extradition. La trace de Sean Lupton, auteur du plus gros braquage commis outre-Manche, parti avec 32 millions de livres (39,5 millions d'euros), a ainsi été retrouvée en Chypre du Nord début 2008. (Le Monde, Guillaume Perrier, 2 septembre 2008)

Immigration / Migration

35.000 Kurdes d'Europe réunis pour un festival à Gelsenkirchen

Quelque 35.000 Kurdes d'Europe se sont réunis samedi à Gelsenkirchen, dans l'ouest de l'Allemagne, pour un festival culturel qui s'est déroulé sans le moindre incident, a indiqué à l'AFP un porte-parole de la police de la ville.

Pour cette 6e édition du "Festival des Kurdes", une rencontre organisée chaque année pendant la première semaine de septembre, des familles entières de Kurdes avaient fait le trajet depuis la France, l'Autriche, la Belgique ou encore les Pays-Bas, a souligné le porte-parole.

Quelques photos et pancartes réclamaient çà et là la libération du leader du PKK Abdullah Öcalan, condamné à la prison à vie, mais aucune manifestation à caractère politique n'a été organisée à l'occasion de ce festival, selon le porte-parole.

Öcalan avait été condamné à mort pour "séparatisme" en juin 1999 mais sa peine a été commuée en 2002 en prison à vie après l'abolition de la peine capitale en Turquie.

Près d'un demi-million de Kurdes vivent en Allemagne, la plupart de nationalité turque. (AFP, 6 sept 2008)

Les Verts sur le point d'avoir un président d'origine turque, une première

Les Verts allemands (opposition) devraient porter à leur tête en novembre le député européen Cem Özdemir, qui deviendra ainsi le premier dirigeant d'origine turque d'un parti politique allemand, a-t-on appris jeudi.

Le président du groupe écologiste au parlement de la ville-Etat de Berlin, Volker Ratzmann, a annoncé jeudi qu'il renonçait à briguer la tête du parti, laissant de fait Cem Özdemir seul candidat pour succéder à Reinhard Bütikofer, qui ne brigue pas de nouveau mandat, lors d'un congrès prévu du 14 au 16 novembre à Erfurt (est).

M. Ratzmann a justifié sa décision par le fait qu'il s'apprête à devenir père et veut consacrer du temps à son enfant.

Les Verts, partenaires de la coalition gouvernementale de Gerhard Schröder de 1998 à 2005, disposent d'une co-présidence. Pour l'autre poste, l'actuelle co-présidente Claudia Roth a annoncé qu'elle briguerait un nouveau mandat.

Né en Souabe, dans le sud-ouest de l'Allemagne, Özdemir, 42 ans, fut la première personnalité politique d'origine turque à être élue à la chambre des députés allemands (Bundestag) en 1994, après avoir obtenu la nationalité allemande deux ans plus tôt.

Il a été à une époque le porte-parole pour les questions d'immigration au sein du groupe parlementaire des Verts. Habitué des plateaux de télévision, il avait démissionné de ses fonctions de député en 2002, avant d'être élu député européen en 2004.

Les gouvernements turcs successifs l'ont régulièrement pris pour cible en raison de prises de position fermes sur les atteintes aux droits de l'Homme en Turquie.

Les Verts disposent de 51 sièges de députés. (AFP,  4 sept 2008)

Athènes accuse des gardes-côtes turcs de trafic d'immigrés clandestins

La garde-côte grecque a indiqué jeudi avoir repéré pour la deuxième fois cet été un patrouilleur de la police portuaire turque tentant d'acheminer en Grèce des immigrés clandestins, ce contre quoi Athènes va protester auprès d'Ankara.

Une démarche de protestation doit être effectuée dans la journée après l'incident, survenu tôt dans la matinée près de l'île de Lesvos, au nord-est de l'Egée, à quelques encablures des côtes turques, a-t-on précisé au ministère des Affaires étrangères.

Selon le ministère de la Marine Marchande, le patrouilleur turc remorquait dans les eaux grecques un canot gonflable rempli d'un nombre indéterminé d'immigrés, et a fait demi-tour vers le port turc d'Ayvali à l'approche des gardes-côtes grecs.

La garde-côte grecque avait déjà été confrontée à un cas similaire le 19 août dernier, au large de Lesvos, et Athènes avait protesté auprès d'Ankara et informé ses partenaires européens, a-t-on précisé au ministère des Affaires Etrangères.

Ce premier incident n'a toutefois été rendu public que mercredi, par le quotidien grec Ethnos (opposition socialiste).

La Grèce est ces dernières années confrontée à un afflux incessant de migrants arrivant sur les îles de sa façade égéenne en provenance des côtes turques proches.

Au premier semestre 2008, 5.332 migrants clandestins ont été arrêtés par la police portuaire, pour un total de 9.240 clandestins en 2007, deux fois plus qu'en 2006.  (AFP,  4 sept 2008)

 informations du mois passé Informations of the past month
Toutes les informations depuis 1976 All informations since 1976