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INFO-TURK


A non-government information center on Turkey

Un centre d'information non-gouvernemental sur la Turquie

30th Year / 30e Année
Août
 
2006  August
N° 336
53 rue de Pavie - 1000 Bruxelles
Tél: (32-2) 215 35 76 - Fax: (32-2) 215 58 60
editor@info-turk.be
Chief Editor /Rédacteur en chef: 

Dogan Özgüden

Responsible editor/Editrice responsable:

Inci Tugsavul
Human Rights
Pressures on  media
Kurdish Question
Minorities
Interior politics
Armed Forces
Religious affairs
Socio-economics
Turkey-Europe
Turkey-USA
Regional Relations
Cyprus and Greece
Migration

 
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Titres des évènements du mois
Titles of this month's events



  O Droits de l'Homme / Human Rights O

Istanbul Police Chief approves the lynch attempt
442 avocats turcs contre l'isolement carcéral
Des opposants à l'envoi de soldats turcs au Liban molestés à Istanbul
Top court rejects suspension of 'secret constitution'
Appel pour une solution au conflit dans les prisons turques
Ban on GL Publication is Going to the ECHR
An alarming article on the death fast of Lawyer Behic Asci
Police send more Special Forces to east, southeast
Un centre antiterroriste de l'Otan en Turquie entraînera des Bosniaques
Trade Union leader arrested for terrorism
Electrochocs en garde à vue : la Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg
Gay rights group files complaint against police, officials and soccer fans
Marche de défense des homosexuels annulée sous la menace de lynchage
Le président Sezer demande l'annulation de deux articles de la LAT
Un double attentat à la bombe fait 17 blessés
IHD Blames Police For Istanbul "Provocation"


TIHV's Recent Human Rights Reports in Brief

O Pression sur les médias / Pressure on the Media O

Turkish Cypriot forces detain television team
Ultranationalists launch cyber attacks on human rights groups
Journalist Ipek Calislar pursued for "insulting Atatürk"
Heavier Sentences for Thinking in the Virtual World
Authorities asked to explain Kurdish journalist's death during an army operation
Court Re-Opens Daily Ozgur Gundem After Closure
"Anti-Terror Law" Ball in Constitutional Court
Kurdish Publisher Faces 3 Years in "Barzani" Case
Suspended daily Ozgur Gundem accuses Sezer of aiding govt to suppress press
Pro-Kurdish Daily Ozgur Gundem Closed Under "Terror Law"
Record Number of Cases Against Turkey in the Europen Court
15 years asked  for Journalist Hüseyin Aykol over an Interview
Erdogan poursuit un caricaturiste qui l'avait dépeint comme une tique
WIPC Campaign For Elif Safak's Trial Set for 21 September 2006


TIHV's Report on Recent Pressures on the Media


O Kurdish Question / Question kurde O

Lynch attempt against Kurdish workers in Konya
Kongra Gel Condemns Bomb Attacks
Les attentats pourraient fragiliser le tourisme en Turquie
Trois morts dans une explosion en Turquie après une série d'attentats
Plusieurs explosions en Turquie: 27 blessés dont 10 britanniques
Un mort et six blessés dans le conflit armé au Sud et Sud-Est
KKK’s proposal for the resolution of the Kurdish question
Turkish F-16 Jets Carry out Strikes Against PKK Targets in N. Iraq
Des livres suédois pour enfants traduits en kurde saisis à Istanbul

Semdinli bookstore owner faces charges of being PKK member
Des membres du PKK en Irak proposent un cessez-le-feu à Ankara
"Turkey sees it can't stop 'independent Kurdistan," says US advisor
Why not an International Criminal Tribunal of Kurdish Genocide?
Mayor questioned over municipal hearse for PKK member's funeral
Un gazoduc en flammes en Turquie après un sabotage présumé
Le procès s'ouvre en Irak concernant le génocide des Kurdes
Company Refuses to Distribute Kurdish Daily
Deux soldats turcs tués par des militants kurdes dans le Sud-Est
Ocalan pourrait appeler à un cessez-le-feu en cas d'"approche sincère"
 Turkish, Iranian armies build up forces along Iraq’s only quiet area
Iraqi Government banned th PKK in Baghdad
State Forces Suspected of Forest Fires in Kurdish Region
Deux policiers tués par une mine, 3 poseurs de bombe arrêtés
New manoeuvres for preventing Kurds' election to the Parleiament
Preventing the election of Kurds is no solution
Un militaire et un militant kurde tués dans le Sud-Est
Des attaques attribuées à la guérilla kurde font 3 morts et 8 blessés
TAK revendique 2 attentats, nouvelle explosion dans le sud
New probe into DTP Kars head Alinak
KRG has no plan to handover PKK members to Turkey
Turkey sends reconnaissance units into  Iraqi Kurdistan
Les nouveaux marchandages tripartites concernant le PKK en Iraq
Declaration of 38 Intellectuals on Kurdish Problem: “It is Our Problem As Well”


0 Minorités / Minorities 0

Armenian Patriarch Mutafian's Controversial Statements to the Turkish Media
 Turkish State Regards Own Citizens as "Foreigners"
CHP Leader Baykal: "There are no minorities in Turkey"


O Politique intérieure/Interior Politics O

La Turquie confrontée à une crise de la noisette
Le parti au pouvoir envisage des modifications à la loi électorale
Istanbul mega-flags stir nationalist wave


O Forces armées/Armed Forces O

The military's war cries at the takeover ceremony
Le gouvernement veut un vote rapide sur l'envoi de soldats turcs
Le gouvernement annonce officiellement la participation turque à la Finul
New Army Chief Büyükanıt Promises To Crush "Terrorism"
Multiple Investigations into "Bombing General"
 Ankara Bar Files Against "Military Impunity"
Büyükanit: Turkish Land Forces to shrink by 2014
Top brass of the Turkish Armed Forces reshaped
L'armée renvoie 17 militaires pour des activités pro-islamistes
Le Figaro: L'armée turque conforte son influence politique
Le Monde: Un "faucon" favorable à une opération en Irak
Jurists Demand Inquiry for General Tokat


O Affaires religieuses / Religious Affairs O

L'agression d'une femme en bikini par des islamistes trouble la Turquie
L'avocat du "taliban de Brême" dénonce une "co-responsabilité" de Berlin
Un Turc détenu à Guantanamo transféré vers l'Allemagne
91 femmes tuées dans des crimes d'"honneur" depuis 2000
Incidents au procès de l'auteur d'une attaque contre des juges


O Socio-économique / Socio-economic O

Le secrétaire d'Etat néerlandais à Ankara pour évoquer l'Otapan
Amiante: La Turquie refoule un navire mexicain (ministre)
Activists Demand Toxic Ship to be Sent Back to Netherlands
Turkey's southern and western coasts in flames
L'épreuve des touristes bloqués sème le trouble dans le monde du tourisme
European court asks Turkish gov’t for urgent brief on Ilısu
Des centaines de voyageurs bloqués en Turquie faute d'avion
Un sanctuaire chrétien menacé par un incendie de forêt
Still No State Policy on Earthquake Risks
Grogne à la Turkish Airlines: les pilotes menacent de faire grève
NGOs protest nuclear power plants in Turkey
La Turquie a lancé le projet controversé de barrage d'Ilisu sur le Tigre
Inflation rises to 11.69 percent in July
Hazelnut controversy heats up politics


O Relations turco-européennes / Turkey-Europe Relations O

Le débat Turquie-Union Européenne et la question kurde

EUTCC's Report on Turkey Sent to EP Political Groups


O Turquie-USA/ Turkey-USA  O

Former NATO commander Ralston named as US special anti-PKK envoy

 US calls for PKK to lay down arms, end terrorist attacks
"Triple Alliance": The US, Turkey, Israel and the War on Lebanon
TIHV Chairman: "UN's Primary Duty is to Defend Peace"
Turkish Intellectuals accuse Bush, Blair and Olmert
Turkey to purchase 30 F-16 planes from US- report


O Relations régionales / Regional Relations O

Des Arméniens du Liban manifestent contre la participation turque à la Finul
Deux ressortissants turcs tués en Afghanistan, un troisième enlevé
Zoom sur la presse turque : La Turquie face à la crise libanaise
Turkish president opposed to country's troops in Lebanon
La Turquie et son armée tiraillées entre le nord de l’Irak et le Liban
MGK discussed Turkey's contribution to a peacekeeping force in Lebanon
Thousands Protested Against Troops to Lebanon
Neuf combattants kurdes arrêtés et trois autres blessés en Iran
Palestinian protests against Turkish FM Gul for relations with Israel
La fédération arménienne contre la présence militaire turque au Liban
La Turquie a fouillé des avions iraniens se rendant en Syrie
Les Arméniens du Liban contre une participation turque à la Finul
Intellectuals' Call: "Don't Send Soldiers to Lebanon"
Ankara veut "plus de clarté" sur la force turque pour le Liban
L'Iran demande à la Turquie d'intercéder auprès de l'Ouest
Is Turkey Passively 'Bombing' Lebanon?
La Turquie déroule le tapis rouge pour le roi d'Arabie saoudite
Turkey's plan B to be ready for a possible division of Iraq
Le roi Abdallah d'Arabie entame une visite en Turquie
Marée noire au large du Liban: la Turquie menacée mais pas inquiète
Les députés turcs désertent le groupe d'amitié turco-israélien
Israeli flag burned as hundreds protest against Israeli agression
Un député turc réclame qu'Israël soit jugé pour crimes contre l'humanité
Le coeur des peuples de Turquie bat pour le Liban et la Palestine
Le chef de l'OCI accuse Israël de recourir au "terrorisme d'Etat"
Des députés turcs claquent la porte du groupe d'amitié turco-israélien


O Chypre et la Grèce / Cyprus and Greece O



O Immigration / Migration O

Fermeture des associations kurdes sous la pression en Allemagne

Intervieuw avec Dogan Özgüden sur l'extrême-droite turque en Belgique
(par Télé-Bruxelles le 25 août 2006)

Des « immigrés » nationalistes sur des listes démocratiques
La visite des candidats PS au siège des Loups Gris à Bruxelles
Campagne contre la menace d'expulsion pour deux réfugiés kurdes
Trois responsables présumés du PKK mise en examen en Allemagne
L'opération négationniste des candidats turcs au sein du MR
Candidats négationnistes sur les listes des partis belges
Un Turc mis en examen pour appartenance au DHKP-C
Petition against the UK Ban on KONGRA-GEL



Droits de l'Homme / Human Rights


Istanbul Police Chief approves the lynch attempt

The celebrations of August 30th Victory Day were marked with the lynching of four students who tried to open a flyer protesting the possible sending of Turkish troops to Lebanon.

Students were taken into custody by the police after being seriously beaten by side watchers.

Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah approved the lynching saying "There is growing reaction to such people and unfortunately there are university students. Citizens gave the necessary response to them. It was a nice response..."

No action was taken against the lynchers. It's reported that four students were taken as "terrorists" while just trying to open a flyer saying "We won't be Israel's soldiers".

Opposition to government

As the government is preparing to pass a ruling to send troops for the UN peace-keeping force in Lebanon the discussion continues in the public.

Opposition parties' leaders as well as the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer openly objected to a possibly military contribution to the peace-keeping force.

Youngsters confused

We went on to the street and talked to young people of different backgrounds about their views on the issue.

19 year-old Ramazan Sarıçiçek, who is bound to join the army on December said "I'll go to Lebanon if I have to. All is for the motherland".

On the other hand, film director Orçun Benli (26) remarks that under no circumstances he would go to Lebanon on such a mission.

The justificatives of the pro troop senders are that it would be good for the Turkish foreign policy, Turkey would have a say in Irak by such an action and we should help our "fellow musulmans" by proctecting them from Israel.

"We need to be proactive in the region and we can do this by military contribution" says university student Ayse Kocturk (23).

As military vehicles, tanks and rocket launchers marched through the main streets of cities to celebrate the victory in 1922 which led to independence, Arzu Balanlı sums it all:

"We're a society centered around the military. So we look there for the solution". (BIA News Agency, Kemal OZMEN, August 31, 2006)

442 avocats turcs contre l'isolement carcéral

A l'appel du comité de solidarité contre l'isolement carcéral (TKDK), 442 avocats et stagiaires ont signé une déclaration réclamant l'abolition de l'isolement et du « traitement » des détenus.

C'est le secrétaire général de l'association des juristes progressistes (Çagdas Hukukçular Dernegi, CHD), maître Selçuk Kozagaçli en personne, qui a donné le coup d'envoi à cette nouvelle campagne de dénonciation du régime d'isolement carcéral et de soutien à l'avocat Behiç Asçi en grève de la faim depuis près de 150 jours pour « le respect du droit à la vie de ses clients ».

En quelques heures, pas moins de 442 juristes ont ainsi répondu positivement à cet appel de solidarité avec l'avocat gréviste de la faim et avec les centaines de détenus politiques qui subissent des conditions de détention sévères dans les cellules des prisons de sécurité dite de « type F ».

Cet appel du TKDK précise : "Notre confrère Behiç Asçi est entré en grève de la faim au finish le 5 avril dernier, à l'occasion de la journée mondiale des avocats, avec pour revendication l'abolition du régime « d'isolement » et de « traitement » des détenus qui constitue une atteinte grave aux droits humains. Nous appelons le ministre de la justice ainsi que l'opinion publique à contribuer au débat en vue d'une solution aux conditions de détention précitées qui sont contraires à la nature humaine et tout simplement inhumaines. Ne laissons pas l'avocat Behiç Asçi mourir  » (Halkinsesi, Traduction: Bahar Kimyongür, le 31 août 2006)

Des opposants à l'envoi de soldats turcs au Liban molestés à Istanbul

Quatre à cinq opposants à l'envoi de troupes turques au Liban ont été violemment battus par une foule en colère à Istanbul lors d'une parade militaire commémorant une fête nationale, a constaté un photographe de l'AFP.

Les jeunes, membres d'une petite formation de gauche, ont déployé une banderole sur laquelle on pouvait lire "Non à l'envoi de soldats turcs au Liban" alors que des milliers de soldats paradaient sur la grande avenue Vatan, sur la rive européenne de la métropole.

La foule, rassemblée pour la fête qui commémore la victoire en 1922 des troupes de Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sur l'armée grecque qui avait envahi l'Asie mineure, s'est attaquée aux manifestants à coups de pied et de poing, empêchant dans un premier temps la police d'intervenir.

Des policiers ont finalement réussi à extirper les opposants, qui ont été conduits, visages ensanglantés, à un poste de police.

Le gouvernement turc a annoncé lundi sa décision de participer à la Force intérimaire des Nations unies au Liban (Finul), sans préciser le nombre de soldats devant être déployés. (AFP, 30 août 2006)

Top court rejects suspension of 'secret constitution'

The Council of State yesterday rejected a request for the suspension of the National Security Policy Document (MGSB), also known as the "secret constitution," saying that it's an advisory document. The MGSB was revised by National Security Council on 24 October 2005 and Council of Ministers confirmed it on 20 March.

The document is adopted by the National Security Council (MGK) and outlines the major domestic and foreign threats to the country and policies to be followed to thwart them.

The court rejected the request for the suspension of the document's implementation, filed by the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), but will debate a request to annul a Cabinet decree approving the document.

To rule on the request for the annulment of the Cabinet decree, the court requested that the Prime Ministry send related paperwork within 30 days.

Following the arrival of the documents the court will hear the request to strike down the Cabinet decree approving the document. (The New Anatolian, 30 August 2006)

Appel pour une solution au conflit dans les prisons turques
 
Cela fait 6 ans que dure le calvaire des prisonniers politiques en Turquie, confinés depuis le 19 décembre 2006 dans les cellules des prisons de type F.
Depuis 6 ans, 122 détenus ont perdu la vie, plus de 600 autres ont perdu leur santé et des milliers de militants solidaires ainsi que des parents de détenus ont perdu leur liberté pour avoir dénoncé un régime carcéral inhumain où règne la torture et l'arbitraire.

Que l'on soit d'accord où pas avec la méthode de la grève de la faim, il s'avère que ces militants politiques n'ont d'autre moyen d'expression et que leur lente agonie continue inexorablement avec l'espoir d'être, un jour, respectés en tant qu'être humains.  

Ces prisonniers ne demandent pas la lune. Ils ne demandent même pas la liberté.

Leur seule revendication est l'abolition du régime d'isolement qui les détruit physiquement et moralement ainsi que l'arrêt des sévices et des privations qu'ils subissent quotidiennement dans leur confinement.

En ce moment même, outre les détenus politiques, un avocat dénommé Behiç Asçi est en grève de la faim au finish depuis 147 jours à son domicile situé dans le quartier Sisli à Istanbul, afin de soutenir le droit à la vie de ses clients et d'autre part, une jeune maman de 33 ans, mère de deux filles et ex-prisonnière politique, du nom de Gürcan Görüroglu, observe un « jeûne de la mort » depuis près de 110 jours, par solidarité avec ses ex-codétenus, elle aussi dans son domicile, à Seyhan, faubourg de la ville méridionale d'Adana.

En Turquie même, les autorités mais aussi des centaines d'intellectuels se sont rendus à l'évidence que ni l'indifférence, ni le désintérêt face à ce conflit, ni la répression, ni la censure n'ont pu, ni ne pourront entamer la détermination des prisonniers à faire respecter leurs droits.

C'est ainsi au nom du droit à la vie et du respect de la dignité humaine que pas moins de 281 acteurs politiques, syndicaux, culturels, artistiques et scientifiques de la société turque ont signé un appel enjoignant les autorités à faire un pas vers une solution du conflit des prisons.

Cet appel a été publié à la fin du mois de juin dans six quotidiens turcs (Cumhuriyet, Evrensel, Vatan, Radikal, Birgün, Yeni Safak) et depuis, a été repris dans des dizaines de périodiques du pays.

C'est aussi au nom du droit à la vie et du respect de la dignité humaine que nous faisons appel à toutes et tous les démocrates de par le monde en les invitant à intervenir urgemment auprès des autorités turques afin de les inciter au dialogue avec les grévistes de la faim.

Pour ce faire, nous appelons à la constitution de délégations humanitaires qui se rendraient en mission en Turuqie afin de rencontrer toutes les parties en conflit.
Nous vous envoyons ci-dessous la traduction de l'appel des 281 intellectuels turcs.

D'avance, nous vous remercions pour votre solidarité et espérons vous voir nombreux aux côtés des forces démocratiques turques pour qu'enfin cesse l'hécatombe des prisonniers politiques. (tayadkomite@hotmail.com, 29 août 2006)
 
L'appel des 281 personnalités turques : "L'isolement carcéral est une torture "

Le système d' « isolement » et le « traitement » infligé aux détenus depuis le 19 décembre 2000 constitue une violation flagrante et sévère des droits humains.

Ce modèle carcéral qui est en vigueur tant dans les prisons de type F que dans les prisons de type E réaménagées et qui se base essentiellement sur l'isolement individuel ou en petits groupes, limite sensiblement et va jusqu'à nier des droits imprescriptibles que sont le droit de sortie, de visite, de lecture, de se vêtir ainsi que l'accès aux soins médicaux. Ces privations qui sont imposées au nom de « mesures d'apprivoisement », provoquent parmi les détenus des dommages irréversibles tant sur le plan de leur santé physique que sur celui de leur intégrité mentale, mais porte également atteinte à leur identité culturelle et politique.

C'est malheureusement le but visé par l'application d'un tel système basé sur l'« isolement » et le « traitement » du détenu.

Dans la résistance que poursuivent les détenus et les condamnés depuis le 20 octobre 2000, mais aussi des suites des actions de soutien aux prisonniers et des opérations militaires et policières menées dans les prisons, 122 personnes ont perdu la vie. Plus de 600 détenus souffrent de troubles psychiques et physiques irréversibles.  

Le 5 avril dernier, journée mondiale des avocats, maître Behiç ASCI qui est membre du bureau du droit du peuple (HHB) et membre du conseil d'administration de l'Association des juristes progressistes (CHD) a entamé un « jeûne jusqu'à la mort » avec pour revendication l'abolition du régime d'isolement dans les prisons.

Le mouvement de grève de la faim et de jeûne jusqu'à la mort se poursuit ainsi tant dans les prisons qu'à l'extérieur.

La vie de tous les protagonistes de cette résistance est en danger.

Au vu des ravages provoqués par l'isolement carcéral et de l'indifférence des pouvoirs politiques à l'égard de revendications humaines élémentaires, il est plus que temps pour les autorités de tendre de tendre l'oreille aux demandes de maître Behiç ASCI qui risque aujourd'hui sa propre vie pour défendre le droit à la vie de ses clients.
 
Nous, organisations et individus, signataires de la présente déclaration estimons qu'il leur est impératif de faire des pas concrets en vue de l'abolition de l'isolement carcéral.

Qu'entendons-nous par « pas concrets »?
 
- Le ministre de la justice doit accepter que la pratique de l'isolement carcéral soit discutable et doit rencontrer les porte-parole de cette initiative d'ouverture
- Durant toute la période de négociations entre d'une part les scientifiques, les organisations professionnelles, les détenus et leurs proches et d'autre part, les autorités pénitentiaires et ce, jusqu'à la fin de ces pourparlers;
- Les conditions carcérales ne doivent être alourdies par de nouvelles mesures coercitives.

 Nous tenons à faire savoir au ministère que dans la mesure où de tels pas seraient franchis, nous nous engagerions à entretenir et respecter le terrain des négociations et interviendrions auprès des grévistes de la faim afin de trouver une solution à leur action.

A l'inverse, si notre appel reste sans suite, le pouvoir politique actuel devra assumer indéfiniment la responsabilité juridique et historique des tortures, des lésions et des décès dus à l'isolement carcéral.

Salutations distinguées.
 
Signataires :

Abdullah AYDIN (Pdt des maisons du peuple), Abdurrahman SAYGILI (Chercheur universitaire), Abidin SIRMA (Secrétaire de recrutement à la centrale des travailleurs de bureau, BES), Adnan EKİNCİ (Journaliste-Ecrivain), Adnan KESKİN (Journaliste-Ecrivain), Adnan ÖZYALÇINER (Ecrivain), Afşar TİMUÇİN (Philosophe), Ahmet GÜNBAŞ (Poète), Ahmet KESKİN (Politicien), Ahmet SONER (Réalisateur), Ahmet ŞIK (Journaliste), Ahmet TELLİ (Poète), Akın BİRDAL (Ex-président de l'Association des droits de l'homme, IHD), Ali BALKIZ (Romancier), Ali BİLGE (Editeur-Journaliste), Ali ÇETİN (Secrétaire-général de la Fédération des associations de Tunceli), Ali ERDOGAN (Ecrivain), Ali KARADOĞAN (Corps académique), Ali POYRAZOĞLU (Comédien), Ali Rıza AKDORA (Membre du CA de la Chambre des comptables et des conseillers financiers indépendants d'Ankara), Ali ŞAHİN (membre du CA de la DISK/ Genel-Is), Alican KAYHAN (Pdt du syndicat des ouvriers en bâtiment Konut-Is), Arif DAMAR (Poète), Arif KESKİNER (Yazar-Cinéaste), Arife KALENDER (Gazeteci-Yazar), Ataol BEHRAMOĞLU (Poète), Atilla DORSAY (Critique), Atilla ER (Poète), Ayça ÖZYİĞİT (Journaliste), Aydemir GÜLER (Politicien), Ayhan ÇELİK (Ex-président de la section d'Ankara de la Chambre des architectes), Ayşe SARIKAYA (Musicienne), Aytaç ARMAN (Musicienne), Bahri CINAR (membre du CA du syndicat des travailleurs de la presse Haber-Sen), Bahri YILDIRIM (Secrétaire général du syndicat Yapı Yol-Sen), Bahtiyar ENGİN (Musicien), Bayram GÜNEŞ (Chercheur à l'université), Bedri TEKİN (Président du syndicat des travailleurs de la voirie Yapı Yol-Sen), Belkıs AKKALE (Musicienne), Beyzade ÖZKAHRAMAN (Pdt de la section d'Istanbul du parti populiste social-démocrate SHP), Bilgesu ERENUS (Ecrivain-musicienne), Burhan POSHOROĞLU (membre du CA du syndicat des ouvriers municipaux Tüm Bel-Sen), Bülent KAYABAŞ (Musicienne), Can DÜNDAR (Journaliste), Celal ÇİMEN (Réalisateur), Cem ERCİYES (Editeur de la revue d'art « Kültür Sanat »), Cem ÖZDEMİR (Eurodéputé des Verts allemands), Cengiz Oğuz GÜMRÜKÇÜ (Photographe Sanatçısı), Cengiz SEZGİN (Musicien), Cenk YİGİTER (Chercheur), Cevat ÖZKAYA (Pdt de l'association des droits humains MAZLUMDER), Cezmi ERSÖZ (Romancier), Coşkun ŞİMŞEKLİ (Poète), Çiğdem BİLGİN (Musicienne), Demir DEDEOĞLU (Dessinateur), Derya ALABORA (Actrice), Dilek GÖKÇİN (Réalisatrice), Dilek TÜRKER (Comédienne), Dinçer SEZGİN (Romancier-Poète), Doç. Dr. Cem SOMEL, Doç. Dr. Fikret BAŞKAYA (Université autonome), Doç. Dr. Kurtar TANYILMAZ, Doç. Dr. Ruken ÖZTÜRK, Doç. Dr. Sami GÜLGÖZ, Doç. Dr. Tayfun ATAY, Doç. Dr. Yıldıray OZAN, Dr. Attila ERDEN (Pdt de la Fédération de l'Union des Alevis), Dr. Gülseren ADAKLI (Professeur), Dursun YILDIZ (Pdt de la e section du syndicat des enseignants Egitim-Sen), Edip AKBAYRAM (Musicien), Efkan ŞEŞEN (Musicien), Ekin ERMAN (Sculpteur), Emre ALKAN (Musicien), Emre SALTIK (Musicien), Ender BÜYÜKÇULHA (membre du CA des Maisons du peuple), Engin SARI (Chercheur universitaire), Ercan KARAKAŞ (Homme politique), Erdal GÜNEY (Musicien), Erdal TOSUN (Musicien), Erol DEMİRÖZ (Musicien), Erol EKİCİ (membre du CA du syndicat des travailleurs municipaux DISK/Genel-Is), Erol KIZILELMA (Vice-président de la Fondation Social-démocratie, SODEV), Ertuğrul KÜRKÇÜ (Journaliste), Ertuğrul MAVİOĞLU (Journaliste), Eşber YAĞMURDERELİ (Avocat), Ezel AKAY (Réalisateur), Fahrettin TECİMER (membre du CA du syndicat des travailleurs municipaux DISK/Genel-Is), Fahri Özdilek ŞİMŞEK (Sociologue, pdt de la féd. des députés social-démocrate turcs HDF-NRW), Faik GÜRSES (Musicien), Fatih POLAT (Journaliste), Feramuz ACAR (Pdt de la fédération de l'Union des Alevi au Danemark), Fergun ÖZELLİ (Poète), Ferhat TUNÇ (Musicien), Fevzi ARGUN (Journaliste), Feyyaz YAMAN (Peintre), Fikret DEMİRAĞ (Poète), Filiz KOÇALİ (Pdt du parti de la démocratie socialiste SDP), Gökçer TAHİNCİOĞLU (Journaliste), Grup ÇIG, Grup YORUM, Gülçin ÜSTÜN (Journaliste), Gülsüm DEPELİ (Chercheuse), Gülten KAYA (Editrice de musique), Günay KOSOVA (Musicienne), Gürşat ÖZDEMİR (Réalisateur), Hakan SALINMIŞ (Musicien), Hakan TUNCEL (Académicien), Halil ALTINDERE (Peintre), Haluk GERGER (Ecrivain), Hamiyet KIZILER (membre du CA du parti de la liberté et de la solidarité), Hasan KAŞKIR (Pdt de la e section du syndicat des retraités), Hasan KIVIRCIK (Architecte), Hasan KURT (Secrétaire financier de la centrale du syndicat BES), Hasan ÖZKILIÇ (Ecrivain), Hasan SALTIK (Président de la maison de production musicale KALAN MÜZİK), Hatice TUNCER (Journaliste), Haydar ARSLAN (membre du CA du syndicat de la voirie Yapı Yol Sen), Haydar KAYA (Pdt de la section d'Ankara du parti du travail EMEP), Hayri K.YETİK (Poète), Hayri PAKER (Pdt de la section d'Ankara du parti SDP), Hikmet KARAGÖZ (Musicien), Hilmi YARAYICI (Musicien), Hümeyra ERDOĞAN (Réalisatrice), Hüseyin GÖLPINAR (Secrétaire général du syndicat BES), Hüseyin KARABEY (Réalisateur), Hüseyin KUZU (Scénariste), Hüseyin Yüksel BİÇEN (Président de l'association des juristes progressistes, CHD), Ilkay AKKAYA (Musicienne), Ilknur SOYDAŞ (Musicienne), Ilyas SALMAN (Acteur, musicien), Ismail ÖZHAMARAT (Membre du CA de la centrale DISK/ Genel-Is), Kamil KARTAL (Président du syndicat des travailleurs de la presse Disk Basın-is), Kani BEKO (Secrétaire général du syndicat DISK/ Genel-Is), Kazım ÖZ (Réalisateur), Kemal GÖKTAŞ (Journaliste), Kemal PEKÖZ (Editeur), Kenan AKBABA (membre du CA du syndicat BES), Kıvırcık ALI (Musicien), Kutlu ESENDEMİR (Editeur), Levent INANIR (Réalisateur), Mahir GÜNŞİRAY (Réalisateur), Mahmut KONUK (Syndicaliste), Mahmut SEREN (Pdt du syndicat DISK/ Genel-Is), Maya ARIKANLI ÖZDEMİR (Corps académique), Mazlum ÇİMEN (Musicien), Medeni Duran (Journaliste-Ecrivain), Mehmet ESEN (Corps académique), Mehmet GÜVEL (Pdt de l'association des familles de prisonniers TAYAD), Mehmet ÖZER (Poète), Mehmet Sadık KIRIMLI (Poète), Mehmet TALAY (Journaliste-Artiste), Melih YETKİN (Musicien), Melike DEMİRAĞ (Musicienne), Meltem SAVCI (Musicienne), Memet KILIÇASLAN (Pdt de la section d'Istanbul pour le parti EMEP), Menderes SAMANCILAR (Acteur de cinéma), Merdan YANARDAĞ (Réalisateur), Meryem ÖZSÖĞÜT (membre du CA du syndicat des travailleurs de la santé, SES), Metin KAYAOĞLU (Editeur de la revue "Teori ve Politika„), Metin UCA (Journaliste), Mihri BELLİ (Homme politique), Munis DÜŞENKALKAN (Sanatçı), Murat ÇELİKKAN (Journaliste), Murat İŞERİ (Secrétare de formation du syndicat BES), Mustafa ALABORA (Sanatçı), Mustafa ÇINAR ( BES Genel Başkanı), Mustafa ERDOGDU (Pdt du parti social-démocrate SHP au parlement des jeunes), Mustafa Kemal COŞKUN (Araştırma Görevlisi), Mustafa TURAN, (Musicien), Muzaffer HİÇDURMAZ (Journaliste-Comédien), Muzaffer İlhan ERDOST (Editeur-Romancier), Müjdat GEZEN (Comédien), Mümtaz BAŞAR (Secrétaire général du syndicat des travailleurs municipaux Tüm- Bel Sen), Müslim ÇELİK (Philosophe, romancier, poète), Namık KUYUMCU (Poète), Nazmi BELGE (Journaliste), Nebil ÖZGENTÜRK (Comédien), Nermin TELSİZCİ (Ingénieur mécanique), Neslihan ACAR (Musicienne), Nevin KIZILÖZ (membre du CA du syndicat des retraités Emekli-Sen), Nihat BAYRAM (membre du CA du syndicat de la voirie Yapi Yol-Sen), Nihat GENÇ (Ecrivain), Nilgün KURT (Réalisatrice), Nur BAL (Musicienne), Nur SÜRER (Actrice), Nuray URAL (membre du CA de la représentation du parti EMEP à Çankaya), Nurettin GÜLEÇ (Musicien), Oktay ETIMAN (Romancier), Oral ÇALIŞLAR (Journaliste), Orhan ALKAYA (Poète), Orhan GÖKDEMİR (Journaliste-Ecrivain), Oruç ARUOBA (Poète, Philosophe), Ozan CEYHUN (Ancien eurodéputé des Verts allemands), Özcan YAMAN (Photographe), Özgen SEÇKİN (Poète), Prof. Dr. Ahmet ÇAKMAK, Prof. Dr. Cem EROĞUL, Prof. Dr. Cevat ÇAPAN, Prof. Dr. Erdal ÖZMEN, Prof. Dr. Göksel N. DEMİRER, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin HATEMİ, Prof. Dr. Hüsnü DOKAK, Prof. Dr. İzzettin ÖNDER, Prof. Dr. Jale PARLA, Prof. Dr. Korhan KAYA, Prof. Dr. Mehmet BEKAROĞLU, Prof. Dr. Melek GÖREGENLİ, Prof. Dr. Nihal SABAN, Prof. Dr. Rıfat OKÇABOL, Prof. Dr. Semir ASLANYÜREK, Prof. Dr. Taha PARLA, Prof. Dr. Taner TİMUR, Prof. Dr. Toktamış ATEŞ, Rahmi SALTUK (Musicien), Raşit ÖZTÜRK (Poète), Recai ATALAY (Poète), Recep VURMUŞ (membre du CA du syndicat des transports Nakliyat-Is), Refik DURBAŞ (Journaliste-Ecrivain), Remzi ÇALIŞKAN (membre du CA du syndicat DISK/ Genel-Is), Rıdvan BADAK (Pdt du Parti SDP à Istanbul), Rutkay AZİZ (Acteur), Sabit Kemal BAYILDIRAN (Poète), Sami EVREN (ex-président de la Confédération des syndicats des travailleurs du public KESK), Sedat BAKICI (Journaliste), Selçuk YÖNTEM (Musicien), Selda BAĞCAN (Musicien), Selma AĞABEYOĞLU (Poète), Selma TARCAN (Musicien), Sennur SEZER (Poète), Serkan GENÇ (Musicien), Servet KOCAKAYA (Musicien), Sezai KAYA (Secrétaire général du syndicat des employés du secteur agricole et forestier Tarım Orkam-Sen), Sezai SARIOĞLU (Poète), Sırrı YUMBUL (Pdt du parti ÖDP pour la région d'Aybasti), Sinan TUTAL (Pdt du Part ÖDP pour la province d'Istanbul), Soner DEMİRBAŞ (Poète), Suat BOZKUŞ (Ecrivain), Suat KIZILTUĞ (Sculpteur), SUAVI (Musicien), Suha UYGUR (Musicien), Sanar YURDATAPAN (Musicien), Sekibe ARSLAN (Architecte), Serif GÖREN (Réalisateur), Seyhmus DİKEN (Ecrivain), T. Tolga ÖZÇELİK (Architecte), Tarık AKAN (Musicien), Tayfun GÖRGÜN (Représentant de la Confédération DISK dans la région d'Ankara), Temel DEMİRER (Ecrivain), Tolga SAG (Musicien), Türker KARAPINAR (Journaliste), Uğur POLAT (Musicien), Ulas AK (Réalisateur), Umur BUGAY (Réalisateur), Ümit Yasar ISIKHAN (Poète), Vedat TÜRKALİ (Ecrivain), Veysel ÇOLAK (Poète), Yaman TARCAN (Musicien), Yaşar KEMAL (Ecrivain), Yavuz TANYELİ (Peintre), Yılmaz DEMİRAL (Musicien), Yılmaz KAPTAN (Musicien), Yrd (Assistant). Doç. Dr. Ebru VOYVODA, Yrd. (") Doç. Dr. Ergun AYDINOĞLU, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Gülriz UYGUN, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Hüseyin KILIÇ, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Murat PAKER, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Nuray BAYRAKTAR, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Pınar BEDİRHANOGLU, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Sefa Feza ARSLAN, Yrd. Doç. Dr. Serap Türüt AŞIK, Yusuf ALATAS (Pdt de l'Association des droits de l'homme, IHD), Yusuf ALPER (Poète), Yusuf ÇETİN (Président de SİNE-SEN, syndicat des travailleurs du cinéma), Yusuf KOBAL (Journaliste), Zafer AKNAR (Rédacteur en chef de la revue satirique « Leman »), Zafer DİPER (Musicien), Zeki ÖKTEN (Réalisateur), Zeliha HACIMURATLAR (Chercheuse), Zerrin TAŞPINAR (Poète), Zuhal ERGEN (Musicien), Zülfü LIVANELI (Musicien-Ecrivain)

Adresse de Maître Behiç Asçi : Sisli Abide-i Hürriyet Cad. No: 133-135 Pay Apt. Sisli-İstanbul
e-mail: avukatbehic@gmail.com <mailto:avukatbehic@gmail.com>  ; avukatbehic@mynet.com <mailto:avukatbehic@mynet.com>
Tel: +90 212 343 46 33
 
Site web du comité turc de solidarité contre l'isolement carcéral (TKDK) : www.tecritekarsi.com <http://www.tecritekarsi.com/>
Adresse  e-mail du TKDK : tecritehayir@gmail.com <mailto:tecritehayir@gmail.com>
 
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Sakirpasa Mahallesi 37 Sok. No: 7 Seyhan/ Adana
Tel: 0090 (0) 537 553 48 14 – 00 90 (0) 322 432 60 66
e-mail: gulcangoruroglu@mynet.com <mailto:gulcangoruroglu@mynet.com>  ; gulcangoruroglu@yahoo.com <mailto:gulcangoruroglu@yahoo.com>

Ban on GL Publication is Going to the ECHR

Ankara First Instance Criminal Court held with the decision to ban the Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Studies and Solidarity Foundation's publication Kaos GL issue 28.

The court rejected the appeal to release the publication and declared that the decision is lawful and complies with the procedural proceedings.

The Foundation decided to carry the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Ankara Attorney Generalship, Division on Press Offences had called upon the court on July 24th to publicly ban the issue 28 of Kaos GL.

The court then ruled that the issue is "contradictory with the public morality" and should be collected from the vendors.

The issue subjected to the ban included a dossier on pornography and its relation to homosexuality.

Prominent academics, writers and artists such as Ahmet Tulgar, Fatih Ozguven, Hasan Bulent Kahraman and Bikem Ekberzade were featured in the issue. (BIA, August 22, 2006)


An alarming article on the death fast of Lawyer Behic Asci

Green Left Weekly published at its August 16, 2006 issue the following article of Simon Cooper & Ruth Riordan from Istanbulon the death fast of Lawyer Behic Asci:

In a modest flat in the Istanbul suburb of Sisli, a lawyer named Behic Asci has not eaten for over 120 days. His ongoing hunger strike — or "death fast" — is an act of defiance against unjust laws, a stand of solidarity with hundreds of Turkish political prisoners denied their most basic human rights, and a courageous call for solidarity from human rights supporters around the world. 

Asci began the death fast on International Lawyer's Day, April 5, because, he says, he could no longer sit back and watch his clients die.

Born in 1965, Asci has dedicated his legal career to the cause of human rights and social justice. A prominent member of the Turkish Association of Progressive Lawyers, Asci has represented more than 10,000 clients, including many of the political prisoners who have been sentenced for their membership of banned revolutionary socialist organisations. Political prisoners held in Turkey, including Kurdish political activists, number in the thousands.

Since 2000, 122 people have lost their lives through death fasts in a bid to secure basic human rights and end the policy of solitary confinement in Turkey's jails.

When we arrived at his flat for the interview, Asci was flanked by two-dozen supporters from the Association of Solidarity with the Families of Prisoners (TAYAD). Since its formation 20 years ago, TAYAD has campaigned relentlessly against government repression to bring the plight of the political prisoners to national and international attention.

Asci said some of the most horrendous crimes against political prisoners were committed during the introduction of the F-type isolation prisons in 2000. Attempts by the prisoners to resist their transfer to the new jails were met with extreme violence and 28 prisoners were murdered by the prison authorities.

Six of those killed were set alight and burned to death. Prison authorities simply returned the remaining ashes to the victims' families. The other 22 prisoners died from gunshot wounds. The perpetrators remain unpunished to this day.

Asci argued that the Turkish legal system provides no protection for the political prisoners held in isolation. In one instance when a guard demanded one of Asci's clients stand up for a prisoner count, she responded that given she was in an isolation cell there was no need for her to stand to be counted. Enraged at this small show of defiance, the guard attacked the prisoner, crushing her skull against the cell wall.

When Asci appealed to the court to protest his client's mistreatment, his suit was rejected as part of a "terrorist campaign" against F-type isolation prisons. The court concluded that the prisoner must have crushed her own skull.

The isolation prisons are designed to terrorise, humiliate and break the morale of the political prisoners. Many of the prisoners Asci represented have had their feet taped together and their hands taped behind their backs. Left alone, immobilised, for hours or days at a time and unable to avail themselves of toilet facilities, they are forced to endure the indignity of repeatedly soiling themselves. Many of Asci's clients, both men and women, had been raped while in custody, often by prison guards using batons.

Asci related another experience of one client during a court hearing who had been held in isolation and who had to halt midway through reading a statement to the court. He had lost his hearing and could no longer hear his own voice.

Prisoners in the F-type prisons typically suffer from a range of psychological illnesses including stress, anxiety and depression. The authorities also routinely deny prisoners medical assistance and access to legal representation. According to Asci, prisoners are arbitrarily refused visits from family members that they are legally entitled to. Their books, newspapers and other reading material are confiscated. The letters sent to their families are heavily censored — if they ever arrive at all.

Throughout the interview Asci was calm and eloquent as he explained the factors that led him to make this drastic protest. But the physical signs of such a long time without food were also apparent. Normally a human can survive at most for 60 days without eating. But vitamin supplements can allow a death faster to survive for as long as 300 days.

Asci said his death fast had already succeeded in modestly breaking through the defacto media censorship around isolation and the human rights abuses committed in the F-type jails. He has received support from progressive organisations, fellow lawyers and other professionals, artists and numerous human rights supporters. But his death fast will continue with the single central demand: end isolation.

Ultimate victory in the campaign for human rights in Turkey does not rest within the borders of Turkey alone, Asci said. Major western powers like the US and the European Union have refused to criticise Turkey's isolation prisons and have instead endorsed Turkey as a partner in the "war on terrorism". Only strong support and solidarity from human rights campaigners all around the world, combined with resurgent political and social movements within Turkey itself, can hope to hope to end the ongoing torture of Turkey's political prisoners, Asci concluded.

[Email messages of solidarity to Behic Asci at <avukatbehic@mynet.com> <mailto:avukatbehic@mynet.com> . To contact TAYAD, email <sydtayadkomite@mynet.com> <mailto:sydtayadkomite@mynet.com>  or visit <http://www.tayad-committee.com> <http://www.tayad-committee.com/> ]

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page. <http://www.greenleft.org.au/> 

Police send more Special Forces to east, southeast

After completing a six-month intensive training course, 242 Special Forces personnel have been appointed to posts in the east and southeast.

Reports say that with the newly appointed personnel, there are now 3,500 members of the Special Forces in Hakkari, Sirnak, Tunceli and Bingol.

After recent terrorist activities in the east and southeast the number of specially trained police officers has been boosted, explained a police official.

Officials also said they are planning to appoint additional personnel and increase that number to 7,000 countrywide.

Of the 250 police officers who took part in the Special Forces training program at Golbasi, Ankara 242 of them successfully completed their training.

Special Forces officials said that between 1993 and 2000 there were 7,000 members of the force in the country but that officers over 35 were transferred to other units, adding that this resulted in a drop of nearly 4,000 officers.

"As terrorist activities in the region have escalated we have decided to increase the number of personnel, and training of new personnel will continue," added an official. (The New Anatolian, 17 August 2006)

Un centre antiterroriste de l'Otan en Turquie entraînera des Bosniaques

Des militaires bosniaques spécialisés dans la lutte antiterroriste seront entraînés pendant un an en 2007 dans un centre de l'Otan en Turquie, aux termes d'un accord de coopération militaire signé lundi par des responsables turcs et bosniaques.

"Cet accord porte sur la coopération militaire dans les domaines de l'entraînement, de la technologie et des sciences et sur l'échange de personnels, de matériels, d'équipements et d'informations", explique le ministère bosniaque de la Défense dans un communiqué.

Le document a été signé par le ministre adjoint de la Défense bosniaque, Enes Becirbasic, et par l'attaché militaire turc en Bosnie, le colonel Osman Aksakal.

M. Aksakal a expliqué que l'accord portait notamment sur des entraînements gratuits pour les militaires bosniaques dans un centre de l'Otan pour la lutte antiterroriste en Turquie.

Les autorités bosniaques ont arrêté en octobre et novembre 2005 trois hommes, un Suédois, un Turc et un Bosniaque, inculpés pour avoir projeté un attentat contre un pays européen engagé militairement en Irak et en Afghanistan.

Ils sont jugés depuis le 20 juillet devant un tribunal de Sarajevo.

Pendant la guerre de Bosnie (1992-1995), des centaines de combattants arabes se sont rendus dans le pays pour prendre les armes aux côtés des musulmans bosniaques.

Ils ont été priés de quitter le pays après la fin du conflit, mais nombre d'entre eux y sont restés et ont obtenu la nationalité bosniaque, notamment en épousant des femmes bosniaques. (AFP, 14 août 2006 )

Trade Union leader arrested for terrorism

Ali Paşa Şanlı, the president of the Education Personnel Union's (Eğitim-Sen) Eskişehir branch, was arrested late on Tuesday for membership in the terrorist Turkey Workers' and Peasants' Liberation Army (TİKKO), one of the principal leftist groups before the Sept. 12, 1980 military coup.

Şanlı, who has been the Eskişehir head of Eğitim-Sen for the past four years and a prominent figure at their demonstrations, was arrested by an Eskişehir court. However, the arrest warrant for Şanlı was originally issued by the Malatya Third Criminal Court and he will consequently be sent to Malatya for questioning.

Eğitim-Sen Eskişehir branch Financial Secretary Sebahattin Poyraz, speaking in front of the Eskişehir Court of Justice, told journalists that the arrest was based on an incident that had occurred in Malatya 20 years ago. "They couldn't find him for 10 years and suddenly today (Tuesday), they captured and arrested him."

In 1984 Şanlı was accused of being a TİKKO member. The Malatya court issued the arrest warrant against him in 1997 and now has the right over his release.

Şanlı said, "It appears that the police were looking for me for nine years, but they couldn't find me." (Turkish Daily News, August 10, 2006)

Electrochocs en garde à vue : la Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg

La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme (CEDH) de Strasbourg a condamné mardi la Turquie pour violations de la Convention européenne des droits de l'Homme dans une affaire de torture lors d'une garde à vue.

Hüseyin Esen, 48 ans, condamné à 12 ans et 6 mois de prison en Turquie pour appartenance à l'organisation armée illégale du parti communiste marxiste léniniste MLKP, avait porté plainte en octobre 1996 contre sept policiers qu'il accusait de l'avoir torturé lors d'une garde à vue en septembre 1996.

Il affirmait notamment avoir été frappé, suspendu par les bras, arrosé de jets d'eau, menacé de mort et soumis à des électrochocs dans les locaux de la section antiterroriste de la direction de la sûreté d'Istanbul.

Corroborées par les observations d'un médecin de l'Institut de médecine légale d'Istanbul, ses accusations avaient valu aux policiers poursuivis des condamnations en 2002 à des peines allant de 11 mois et 20 jours à un an et deux mois, cassées en 2004 par la Cour de cassation qui a déclaré l'action pénale éteinte par prescription.

Estimant que les accusations de torture étaient avérées et constituaient une violation de la convention des droits de l'Homme, la CEDH a également condamné la Turquie pour avoir fait piétiner la procédure pendant 7 ans, et pour le maintien excessif du requérant en détention provisoire.

Considérant en outre que le recours de M. Esen contre sa condamnation était toujours pendant devant la cour d'assises d'Istanbul, plus de neuf ans et demi après les faits, la CEDH conclut également à une durée excessive de cette procédure. (AFP, 8 août 2006)

Gay rights group files complaint against Bursa police, officials and soccer fans

A gay rights group is set to take legal action against the institutions they hold responsible for preventing their demonstration on Sunday.

Bursa's Gokkusagi Association announced yesterday that they will file a complaint against Bursa Governor's Office, the provincial police headquarters and Bursaspor Fans Shop Owners' Association regarding the cancellation of their demonstration in the province on Sunday for security reasons.

Despite earlier authorization, gay rights demonstrators in Bursa were prevented from going ahead with their long-scheduled march due to threats from the Bursaspor Fans Shop Owners' Association. The soccer fans attacked the building belonging to the Bursa's Gokkusagi Association, and that for security reasons the police didn't allow demonstrators to leave the building for hours. They were finally escorted out of town by the police before they could hold their march.

Bursaspor Fans Shop Owners' Association head Fevzinur Dundar announced over the weekend that they would prevent the demonstration, saying that a demonstration by gays and lesbians in a city which used to be the capital of the Ottoman Empire is unacceptable. "They can hold the demonstration if they want to be attacked," said Dundar.

Gokkusagi Association head Oyku Evren said that Dundar threatened the demonstrators and the police prevented the demonstrators from going ahead with the march, instead of launching any legal proceedings against Dundar. (The New Anatolian, 8 August 2006)

Marche de défense des homosexuels annulée sous la menace de lynchage

Une marche pour la défense des droits des homosexuels a été annulée dimanche en Turquie, à Bursa (nord-est) pour des raisons de sécurité après qu'une foule en colère est descendue dans les rues, a-t-on appris auprès des organisateurs de la manifestation. Ces derniers ont accusé la police de ne pas avoir pris les mesures adéquates pour assurer la tenue de la marche autorisée.

Avant la manifestation, une association de commerçants a menacé les organisateurs de lynchage s'ils n'annulaient pas leur action.

Les forces de police auraient "pu prendre des mesures, mais elles ne l'ont pas fait. Elles ont même cherché à nous dissuader d'organiser la manifestation", a affirmé par téléphone à l'AFP Emir Birant, un militant de l'association de défense des droits des homosexuels (KAOS-GL).

La marche a été organisée pour dénoncer une action en justice du gouverneur de Bursa visant à faire interdire une association locale de défense des homosexuels en arguant qu'elle ne respectait pas les valeurs morales et familiales.

La police a donné l'ordre aux manifestants de rester dans le bureau de l'association à Bursa après que des centaines d'homophobes, dont des supporters d'une équipe de football locale et des militants d'extrême-droite, sont descendus dans la rue pour faire annuler la marche, selon Emir Birant.

Certains se sont rassemblés sur le trajet prévu de la manifestation et d'autres ont lancé des pierres sur l'immeuble abritant l'association.

"Il n'y a eu absolument aucune aide des autorités, ce qui démontre clairement la façon dont les homosexuels sont considérés en Turquie", a regretté M. Birant.

Des groupes de défense des homosexuels ont accusé l'Union européenne - avec laquelle la Turquie a entamé des négociations d'adhésion en octobre - de ne pas les soutenir et ont appelé Bruxelles à se prononcer en leur faveur dans la lutte pour l'égalité des droits.  (AFP et médias turcs, 6 août 2006)

Le président Sezer demande l'annulation de deux articles de la LAT

Le président turc Ahmet Necdet Sezer a demandé à la cour constitutionnelle d'annuler des restrictions controversées imposées aux médias par la nouvelle loi antiterroriste du pays, a rapporté vendredi l'agence de presse Anatolia.

M. Sezer s'oppose à l'article qui prévoit des peines d'un à trois ans de prison pour les médias qui publiraient des communiqués émanant d'organisations terroristes, a précisé l'agence.

Le président turc souhaite aussi l'annulation de l'article qui prévoit des peines d'un à cinq ans de prison pour des actes de propagande en faveur des groupes terroristes - des peines accrues de moitié si le responsable du délit est un organe de presse.

M. Sezer est également contre les lourdes amendes prévues pour les propriétaires ou directeurs de publications ayant commis ces délits, et contre la possibilité donnée aux juges et aux procureurs de suspendre ces publications durant 30 jours maximum.

Ces articles ont été critiqués par la presse qui y voit un retour en arrière par rapport aux réformes démocratiques engagées depuis plusieurs années dans le but de faciliter l'accès de la Turquie à l'Union européenne, avec laquelle Ankara a entamé des négociations d'adhésion en octobre. (AFP, 4 août 2006)

Un double attentat à la bombe fait 17 blessés

L'explosion vendredi de deux bombes près d'une banque à Adana, une ville du sud de la Turquie, a fait 17 blessés, ont affirmé les autorités locales.

La première déflagration a eu lieu devant une succursale de la banque Oyak Bank, à la hauteur d'un guichet automatique, et a été suivie six minutes plus tard par une deuxième explosion à environ 10 mètres de là, sur un chantier, a déclaré par téléphone à l'AFP un porte-parole de la police d'Adana.

Les explosions ont endommagé quatre véhicules de police et soufflé les vitres des magasins voisins, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Le gouverneur d'Adana Cahit Kiraç a déclaré que 17 personnes, dont huit policiers et deux stagiaires de l'école de police locale, avaient été blessées, selon Anatolie..

M. Kiraç a expliqué que le premier engin explosif était "une bombe à percussion", expression utilisée en Turquie pour désigner des dispositifs visant d'avantage à faire du bruit que des victimes, et que le deuxième était une bombe à schrapnel.

Le chef de la police Mehmet Cebe a indiqué que personne n'avait pour l'heure revendiqué les attentats.

Une succursale d'Oyak, qui appartient à un fonds de pension de l'armée, avait déjà été visée par un attentat à la "bombe à percussion" fin juillet à Izmir (ouest). Quatre personnes avaient alors été blessées.

Une mine pourrait avoir provoqué le déraillement d'un train

L'explosion d'une mine pourrait avoir provoqué vendredi le déraillement - qui n'a pas fait de victimes - de plusieurs wagons d'un train de marchandises dans le sud-est de la Turquie, ont affirmé des sources locales de sécurité.

La déflagration s'est produite sur la voie, près du village de Bakacak, dans la province à majorité kurde de Diyarbakir, faisant dérailler quatre des 15 wagons du convoi, ont précisé ces sources, indiquant que l'enquête privilégiait la piste d'une mine déposée sur les rails. (AFP, 4 août 2006)

IHD Blames Police For Istanbul "Provocation"

The Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul branch has claimed that plainclothes police officers were responsible for provoking incidents during an anti-Israeli rally in the city on July 31 where police used excessive force on protestors as well as tear and pepper gas to disperse the crowds.

Charging the city police force with using arbitrary force and excessive violence, the Association called for an investigation into the incident and the Security Directorate to make a formal statement on what happened. It said the way police resolved to use force on the crowds was similar to interventions witnessed in the 1990s.

The IHD also noted that it did not approve of a group of protestors throwing stones at a Flash TV crew while they were being dispersed.

According to the Association, the events started at around 20:30 local time when a group of about 1,500-2,000 people from various civil society organizations and political parties came together at the Beyoglu Tunnel Square to protest Israel's bombing of Qana.

Marching towards Taksim square and shouting "Palestinian People Are Not Alone, Murderer Israel", the crowd was stopped by a police barricade in front of Odakule on Istiklal Avenue.

Talks between representatives of the group failed to gain access to divert the protest to the European Union Information and Documentation Centre near Taksim Gezi Park after which the demonstrators sat down on the road in protest.

The sitting protest continued until 21:25 local time with tension increasing owing to the reinforcement of the police presence with counter-terrorist forces, public safety and associations desk officers arriving on the scene in large numbers.

IHD findings show that plainclothes police officers had infiltrated the group beforehand and were hiding wooden clubs under their t-shirts, which were produced as they provoked the crowds, sparking off retaliation from officers surrounding the group. The group was then attacked with truncheons and gas bombs while scores of officers caught runaway protestors and started beating them. In one instance more than 10 officers beat a demonstrator and non of the police chiefs present intervened.

The IHD also established that while the attack and beatings continued, officers were heard to be shouting "don't hit, don't hit" only when television cameras were recording the scenes and when the police cameras were themselves running.

Young plainclothes officers were head to be directing each other as uniformed forces chased and attacked the group. IHD charged that gas bombs were 'liberally used' in this residential area where many people, including those pedestrians who had nothing to do with the incident, were affected. (BIA News Center, August 2, 2006)

Presion sur les médias / Pressure on the Media

Turkish Cypriot forces detain television team

The International Federation of Journalists and its European network, the European Federation of Journalists, today called for the immediate release of two journalists subject to "intolerable and unacceptable intimidation" while covering events in the northern part of Cyprus.

Reporter Adonis Pallikarides and cameraman Nikitas Dalitis of the private SIGMA TV covered an event involving a Turkish Cypriot politician and former president of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce who called for the demolition of a bridge built by the Turkish army, being the obstacle to opening a new crossing point at a commercial street of Nicosia, on the demand of both communities.

The two journalists were arrested when they started interviewing Turkish Cypriot shopkeepers near the bridge. They were accused of videotaping military installations, detained overnight on Friday and were held before appearing before a court today.

"These journalists should be freed immediately and all charges against them lifted," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "It is another case of intolerable and unacceptable intimidation of colleagues who are trying to carry out legitimate journalistic work."

The IFJ and European Federation of Journalists have supported protests of its member organisation, the Union of Cyprus Journalists, which has accused Turkish occupation forces in the northern part of Cyprus of three serious cases of such violations over the past two months when Greek Cypriot journalists have been arrested while covering events in the northern part of Cyprus, controlled since 1974 by Turkish military forces.

The president of the Union, Andreas Kannaouros, says in previous cases the arrested Greek Cypriot journalists were quickly released after being punished, but this is the first time a further detention had been ordered. Turkish Cypriot journalists in the north of the country, represented by the IFJ-affiliated Basin Sen, also condemned the arrests and demanded the release of the two journalists. (IFJ/IFEX, 30 August 2006)

Ultranationalists launch cyber attacks on human rights groups

Two human rights groups were subject to Internet attacks by ultranationalists, reports said yesterday.

According to the reports, a website belonging to the Human Rights Association's (IHD) Istanbul branch was hacked by ultranationalists, who posted a text praising the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The IHD condemned the attack, which they described as racist, adding that they won't remain silent against any such further attacks.

Meanwhile, an online news agency, the Independent Communications Network (bianet), announced that their email server had been hacked by ultranationalists as well.

Reports said that hackers sent emails containing racist propaganda, requests for money and written attacks against the agency to its subscribers.

In a statement about the attack, bianet said that it had been perpetrated by people who can't tolerate the agency's understanding of journalism. The agency expressed determination to fight back against the attacks though free and independent journalism and solidarity with their subscribers. The agency also said that it will take legal action against the hackers.  (The New Anatolian, 29 August 2006)

Journalist Ipek Calislar pursued for "insulting Atatürk"

Bagcilar Attorneyship General opened a case against journalist Ipek Calislar claiming that she has insulted Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in her last book "Latife Hanim".

Calislar will be tried with 4,5 years of prison sentence based on a claim that she had insulted Ataturk by quoting a story where he avoids his opponents by putting on a scarf and fleeing the house by pretending being a woman.

The claim is based on a law "to protect Ataturk" which came into effect 55 years ago.

Several other journalists and writers were tried with opposing this law no 5816, among them Ragıp Zarakolu, Oral Calislar and Mehmet Terzi.

First hearing in the court is scheduled to October 5th.

Calislar's book on Ataturk's partner Latife got published this summer and became very popular.

At one point in the book, Calislar quotes a historically known story from Vecihe Hanim:

When Topal Osman surrounds Mustafa Kemal's house in Cankaya to murder him, Latife Hamim takes his place to trick Osman while Ataturk flees the house.

Latife wears his hat and stands in front of the window, mimicking his silhouette and Mustafa Kemal dresses in a black scarf and leaves to house pretending being a woman.

The trial is opened following an individual complaint.

"I'm saddened by this trial. This story is quoted in several sources as it is. Historians can argue about it but I don't see anything that bothers the justice system" Calislar commented.

"This trial is an unlucky incident regarding the democratization process in Turkey", she added.

"Prosecutors are giving way to the rising nationalism in the society by taking these individual complaints seriously. This is not lawful too" said lawyer Ercan Kanar, previous head of the Human Rights Association's Istanbul branch.

He remarked that the law itself is against the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. (BIA News Center, August 23, 2006)

Heavier Sentences for Thinking in the Virtual World

Ministry of Justice prepared a draft Law on IT crimes and regulation of IT networks and services’. The striking point about the draft is that some offences committed in virtual world will be punished heavier than the ones committed in the real world. Some of the virtual offences and punishments are as follows:

* Prison sentence between 6 months and two years for those who enter or stay in an IT system unlawfully.

* Between one and three years for who acquire data or program through entering an IT system.

* 3 years for those who monitor data in an IT network, 5 years for who monitor information in the system without entering the network.

* Betwen 2 and 5 years prison sentence for those who damage, destroy, change make unaccessible the data in the system or place programs or damage programs.

For 'Offences against the security of the state and public order” in the Internet punisments will be raised by half. Some of such offences are as follows:

* Violating the Law on Hats and Turkish Alphabet, revealing state secrets.

* Insulting the president, the symbols of the sovereignty of the state, Turkishness, the republic and the organs of the state, instigating war against the state, rebelling against the government, making agreement to commit crimes, encouraging the soldiers to disobedience, crimes against the national defense.

* Crimes against the secrets of the state and espionage.

* Insulting Atatürk.

* If the crimes of threat, blackmail, insult or slander is committed in the Internet, the punishments stated by TPC will be increased by half. (antenna-tr.org, August 11, 2006)

Authorities asked to explain Kurdish journalist's death during an army operation

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the death of Ayfer Serçe, a young Kurdish journalist and militant, during an army operation against Kurdish rebels on 24 July 2006 in Keleres, in the northeastern province of Azarbayjan, and called on the Iranian authorities to provide an explanation.

A Turkish national, Serçe worked for the Firat Haber Ajansi (Euphrates News Agency - FHA) using the pseudonym of Silan Aras. She had gone to Azarbayjan in early July to investigate suicides by women in the region, which has a sizeable Kurdish population.

"We call on the authorities to establish the facts of this case," Reporters Without Borders said. "We do not yet know if her death was linked to her work as a journalist but this possibility should definitely not be ignored."

The FHA has accused the Iranian military of killing Serçe. It also reported that when her relatives went to the hospital in the nearby town of Salmas with the aim of collecting and repatriating her body on 24 July, they were told that the Iranian authorities had taken it away. The family was also stopped and searched when they arrived in the town.

Serçe is said to have been a supporter of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed separatist group that is outlawed in Turkey. Iran has often been accused by Turkey of offering a haven to the PKK and the Iranian security forces have recently carried out several operations against the group. (RSF/IFEX, August 11, 2006)

Court Re-Opens Daily Ozgur Gundem After Closure

The Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court that on August 4 ruled for a 15-day closure of the pro-Kurdish "Ulkede Ozgur Gundem" newspaper on grounds that it was involved in continuous propaganda for an armed terror organization, has re-opened the daily after 5 days of suspension following an appeal made by its lawyers.

The Court evaluated the appeal made by Gundem's lawyers Ozcan Kilic and Inan Akmese, concluding that the recent 15-day print ban imposed on the newspaper on request of the Public Prosecutor's Office, as the first implementation of controversial articles of Turkey's new Anti-Terror Law (TMY), was in fact a violation of article 28 of the Constitution.

Recalling that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had applied to the Constitutional Court for the articles cited as reason for the newspaper's closure to be annulled, the court's decision to allow for Gundem to continue to print was relayed to the newspaper Tuesday night.

Ulkede Ozur Gundem's News Editor Nurettin Firat regarded the decision with cautious optimism, noting that the five day episode once again showed the initial decision taken against the newspaper was unwarranted and there was an arbitrary justice system in Turkey.

Firat announced that the newspaper would re-appear at the news stands as of August 10, Thursday. He told bianet, however, that they would still take legal action due to the five days they were suspended from print.

Continuing threat

Despite the reversal of court orders in Gundem's case, unless articles 5 and 6 of the TMY are annulled as requested by President Sezer in his application to the Constitutional Court last week, these restrictive articles of the law will continue to threaten media freedoms in Turkey.

These articles of the TMY, one of which was used to close down Ulkede Ozgur Gundem in the recent court order, seriously limit the media's coverage of terrorism and terror related human rights issues including alleged or reported violations of rights.

The article that led to Gundem's closure covers "publications openly encouraging the commission of crimes in the scope of the activities of a terror organization, praising committed crimes and criminals or containing terror organization propaganda" and allows for Public Prosecutors to issue orders in instances where delays need to be avoided, to suspend the said publication from 15 days up to a month.

It states that the prosecutor will inform a court of the temporary and preventative closure decision within 24 hours and if the decision is not ratified by the court in 48 hours, the suspension will be void.

The other article Sezer has taken to court to be annulled foresee the fining of owners and editors of publications for offences in the publication involving "disclosure of the identities of public officials involved in the counter terrorism struggle" and "publishing the communiqués and statements of terror organizations" whether or not they have taken part in the offence. (BIA News Center, Erol ONDEROGLU, August 9, 2006)

"Anti-Terror Law" Ball in Constitutional Court

Representatives of Turkey's journalist organizations and concerned journalists are calling on the Constitutional Court to act urgently to decide on whether or not to annul articles of the new Anti-Terror Law (TMY) that restricts media freedoms in the wake of the first implementation of the legislation that has left two publications, both noticeably pro-Kurdish in nature, closed for up to a month.

The 15 day print ban imposed on Ulkede Ozgur Gundem newspaper and a one month ban slapped on the affiliated Ozgur Halk magazine were relayed to the publications at the end of last week and are being appealed against while prints are currently on hold.

TGS: "We said so"

Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) chairman Ercan Ipekci said the banning orders, were expected from the very beginning of the debate on the anti-democratic nature of the TMY that allows for closures of publications with no formal trial or hearing.

"We shouted enough before this law was passed that closing down newspapers would once again come on Turkey's agenda" Ipekci told bianet in an exclusive interview. "But the intention was clear. Now they are enforcing that intention under a legal veil".

Noting that past experience showed the Constitutional Court was often delayed in taking decisions on issues, Ipekci warned that it was not certain when it would annul the article before it and said even if it did, any unjust done would remain done as Constitutional Court orders were not retroactive.

Ipekci predicts the plea of journalists will fall on deaf ears and says that courts will not wait for the Constitutional Court's final decision on two controversial articles of the new law that restrict media rights without enforcing them. "Those who are ruling, are reaching their targets" he says.

A certain amount of criticism from the top ranks of the TGS also goes to the mainstream media and in particular, owners of the mass circulation newspapers. "Media owners not even made a single statement" Ipekci points out.

"This law ties their hands and arms. The Gundem newspaper has been closed down but do they think the same article is not applicable to them? They could not take a bold step and instead they waited for professional organizations and bolder pens to react. And their voice came out weak. No one wanted to hear them."

The executive board of Turkey's Journalists Association (TGC) sent a letter to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Monday thanking him for asking the Constitutional Court to annul article 6/last of the TMY which allows for judges and prosecutors to close down publications that have "propaganda" content for periods of 15 days to a month.

Noting that Sezer's approach to freedom of press and expression were well known, TGC chairman Orhan Erinc told bianet his application for annulment was "concrete proof of this" but there was little else to do at the time being other than wait for the court's decision.

"We want and expect the prosecutors and judges to implement the law in force" Erinc said, adding that this was why a Constitutional Court decision was needed to clear the situation. "Because of this, it is against my opinion to say there is this law but don't implement it."

According to Erinc, as the Association is a trade organization it needed to evaluate developments according to traditions of the profession and freedom of expression as opposed to an angle discussing law.

He too, like Ipekci, recalls that Constitutional Court decisions cannot be retroactive and that even if any practice violates the constitution, that practice would take place in its time.

Journalists react

"Birgun" newspaper columnist Dogan Tilic said on the issue, "One wishes that the Constitutional Court could abolish the legislation that violates the freedom of expression in a way the President has objected to it, as soon as possible".

Criticizing the judges who issued the ban order of being "hasty" Tilic said this example was a "serious indicator of the vacuum of the democracy culture in Turkey" and called on the court to decide on the issue and annul articles against media freedoms as soon as possible.

"Cumhuriyet" newspaper writer Sukran Soner said the very fact that the President, who applied for the annulment was himself a man of law should itself expedite the decision making process. According to Soner, past experience shows Sezer's initiatives do achieve success.

Soner added that she hoped the justice would take into account those articles that threaten the freedom of media and expression and that at least some of them that are vital would be annulled to retain those freedoms.

Ozgur Gundem under new name

In the meantime, Ulkede Ozgur Gundem newspaper owner Ali Gurbuz and Editor Hasan Bayar have filed an appeal against the 15 day closure through their attorneys Ozcan Kilic and Inan Akmese.

Newspaper executives said that while as of today, August 8, the newspaper would remain closed, a new newspaper under the name of "Toplumsal DEMOKRASI" or Social Democracy, would go into print instead.  (BIA News Center, Erol ONDEROGLU, August 8, 2006)

Kurdish Publisher Faces 3 Years in "Barzani" Case

Doz Publishing House editor Ali Riza Vural faces up to three years imprisonment if found guilty on charges of "insulting and ridiculing the Republic" by publishing a two-volume book on Iraqi Kurdish leader Mullah Moustafa Barzani and the Kurdish national movement.

"Barzani and the Kurdish National Movement" was originally published in February 2003 and an initial court case launched against it was dismissed after a change in the law. A new investigation was launched after its second print in May 2005, which had led to this case, which was launched on April 6.

Vural is to appear at court for his next hearing listed for November 20 to be tried under article 301/2 of the Penal Code.

While the general content of the case is under question, its references to Kurdish revolts during in the early 20th century are subject to charges. The book evolved around the life and memoirs of Mullah Moustafa Barzani (1903-1979) who was father of current Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani.

"The Kurds rebelled one after another" says a section of the book. "They revolted against the imperialists and the regional states that robbed them of their rights. All of the uprisings were crushed with violence, In Turkey, Mustafa Kemal crushed the Kurds in a very hard way."

Continues the excerpt subject to charges:

"Whereas he, [modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal] managed to create the Republic, kick the Greeks our of Turkey's soil and have the allied forces recognize the Turkish state through the Kurds. At the beginning Mustafa Kemal was making generous offers to the Kurds but when his feet stood strong, he forgot all the promises he had given."

Another part of the book refers to the Armenian migration in the region, a particularly sensitive topic in Turkey and often subject to court cases where expressed in a form that does not conform with official history. (BIA News Center, Erol ONDEROGLU, August 8, 2006)

Suspended daily Ozgur Gundem accuses Sezer of aiding govt to suppress press

The president was buying time for the government to prosecute certain dailies by not moving against the Anti-Terror Law beforehand, claimed a Pro-Kurdish daily which was suspended for 15 days late Friday.

An Istanbul court ruled to suspend daily Ozgur Gundem on charges of "praising terror groups," a decision which came hours after President Ahmet Necdet Sezer asked the Constitutional Court to annul several articles of the controversial Anti-Terror Law regarding freedom of press.

The law, which was passed late June and approved by the president last month, drew fire from the opposition and civil groups on the grounds that it would limit basic rights and freedoms.

Sezer has sought the annulment of articles which ease the suspension of publications and makes owners and editor in chiefs liable to fines even if they don't personally commit a crime.

The daily, which criticized Sezer for not vetoing the law in the first place, also admonished the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for not opposing it as well.

In related news, on Thursday a different Istanbul court launched a case into the daily's editor in chief Huseyin Aykol under the Anti-Terror Law for an interview he carried out three years ago. He faces 15 years in prison over it. (The New Anatolian, 7 August 2006)

Pro-Kurdish Daily Ozgur Gundem Closed Under "Terror Law"

A Turkish Court has for the first time used relevant articles in the country's newly amended Anti-Terror Law (TMY) to close down the pro-Kurdish daily Ulkede Ozgur Gundem newspaper on charges of "conducting continuous organizational propaganda" in apparent reference of its coverage of developments in the Southeast region and activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court decision based on a request made by the Public Prosecutor's Office was relayed to the newspaper on August 4, effectively banning it from print for a stretch of 15 days as of August 5, Saturday.

Contemporary Journalists Association (CGD) Chairman Ahmet Abakay, Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Chairwoman Hurriyet Sener and Democratic Society Party (DTP) Deputy Chairman Hasip Kaplan reacted to the decision as a spokesman for the newspaper warned they were considering an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) if the persecution continued.

The Court's decision cited article 6 of the Anti-Terror Law allowing the banning of printing and distribution of a publication as preventative measure after concluding that where "the issue of the newspaper subject to offence and the previous issues that have been investigated are evaluated in whole, it is established that the Ulkede Ozgur Gundem continuously publishes content that is propaganda of the terrorist organization".

It said that as a measure the printing and distribution of the newspaper had been suspended for 15 days.

Holding a press conference at the IHD Istanbul Branch on August 5, Gundem's news editor Nurettin Firat noted that the court had based its closure decision on an article of the Anti-Terror Law which President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had himself taken to the Constitutional Court.

Firat said that if the process of what he called "illegality" against the newspaper continued, they would file an application with the European Court of Human Rights.

Saying that the TMY granted authority to prosecutors to rapidly close down newspapers, Firat argued that the penalty of suspending from print had not even gone through a trial proves and that this in itself was not legal.

He referred to a past court case at the ECHR against Turkey which resulted in favour of the Vakit newspaper and said they might do the same.

IHD's Sener who also spoke at the press conference stressed the newspaper's critical role in reporting on and uncovering human rights violations and counter-guerrilla murders in the Southeast region, saying the decision would prevent the people from being informed.

A number of institutions including the DTP, Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Education and Science Workers Union (Egitim-Sen), Mesopotamia Culture Center (MKM), Peace Mothers, Science Education Esthetic Culture and Arts Research Foundation (BEKSAV), Gokkusagi [Rainbow], Labourer Womens Association (EKD), Socialist Youth Association (SGD), Public Workers Unions Confederation (KESK) and Association of Solidarity With Prisoner Families (TUAD) supported the press conference.

Saying that the decision did not come as a surprise, CGD Chairman Ahmet Abakay argued that based on preparations made with laws, Turkey had quite recently entered a period of closing down newspapers and arresting journalists.

"Those who passed this law [TMY] are at fault. The government is responsible for this" Abakay said, adding "Justice Minister Cemil Cicek was saying in relation to this law that he hoped it would not be enforced. Laws are made to be enforced". Abakay said he hoped the President's own application to the Constitutional Court would be a success.

According to the CGD executive, initiatives to amend the TMY were particularly made against publications such as Ulkede Ozgur Gundem and added, "it is not enough to protest the TMY. We need to do everything we can to get this law put into correct shape".

Another reaction to the closure of Gundem newspaper came from the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party. DTP Deputy Chairman Hasip Kaplan said the closure was directed at "restricting the opposition press" and defined the order as being in violation of the Constitution and international conventions which would effect the harmonization period with the European Union. "It is a situation that eliminates the freedom of opinion and freedom of organizing" he said. (BIA News Center, Erol Onderoglu, August 7, 2006)

Record Number of Cases Against Turkey in the Europen Court

It has been revelaed that Turkey has the highest number of convictions for violating freedom of expression among European countries.

Strasbourg Court’s 22 of the 29 convictions over violation of freedom of expression in 2006 are against Turkey. The total amount of compensation Turkey paid in 2006 for violating frrdom of expression and related fair tial demands is over 100 thousand euros. In 2005 55 of 66 complaints over freedom of expression taken to European Court are against Turkey.

Turkey got convicted 38 times last year under article 10 protecting freedom of expression which makes her the country convicted her citizens most for freedom of expression. Turkey was convicted in 11 different freedom of expression cases on the same day, on 8 July 1999. Most of those cases were originated in OHAL (State of Emergency) Law, former ATL, Law for Protecting Ataturk and the orders of the State Security Courts closed in 2003. In 2005 Turkey paid 325 thousand TL only over Anti-Terror Law. Article 301 of TPC and the new ATL are expected to cause an increase in the number of cases against Turkey in the Europen Court.

67 people tried for disclosing opinion

BİAnet's Meida Monitoring Report published in July reveals that at present 67 writers and jouralists are being tried over expressing opinion in 56 cases. Most of the cases is under article 301/159 “insulting Turkishness and the institutions of the state” and article 288 “attempting to influence the outcome of a trial”.

European Court’s interpretation on the controversial articles of the new ATL and the TPC is awaited yet It is known that since Handyslide-Britain case in 1976 Strasbourg Court considers “aggresive, shocking and disturbing” ideas against the public authorities in the scope of freedom of expression unless “violence is encouraged in a way to cause material damage to public order”.

The EU is against article 301

The EU asked for the amndment of article 301 since amndments in TPC. Draft Progress Report also demans removal or change in articles 216, 277, 285, 288, 305 and 318. Olli Rehn, Member of EC in charge of Enlatgement also asked the removal of article 301 following Hrant Dink’s conviction. Dink is preparing to take the matter to the European Court following his conviction for “insulting Turkishness.”  (antenna-tr.org, August 4, 2006)

15 years asked  for Journalist Hüseyin Aykol over an Interview

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office has charged "Ulkede Ozgur Gundem" Editor-in-Chief Huseyin Aykol with "membership to an armed terror organization" due a 2003 interview he conducted with members and executives of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK/Kongra-Gel) organization in a mountain camp.

The prosecution's case coincides with the first implementation of media restriction articles of Turkey's Anti-Terror Law whereby two pro-Kurdish publications Akyol has been involved with, have been banned from print.

Akyol's Ulkede Ozgur Gundem newspaper (the Free Agenda in the Country) has been suspended from print for 15 days while the affiliated monthly Ozgur Halk (Free People) magazine has been banned for a month. Both publications were accused of carrying content in the nature of propaganda for a terror organization.

Akyol's first hearing has been listed for September 26 at the Istanbul 9th High Criminal Court and if found guilty of membership to a terrorist organization, he faces up to 15 years imprisonment.

The charges leveled against him stem from a trip he made to the Kandil mountains in August 2003 where he interviewed PKK militants and executives, covered their life and views. At that time he was the Foreign News Editor of the newspaper.

In May this year Akyol was detained by Anti-Terrorism teams while leaving the Istanbul Besiktas Justice Hall after which the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office concluded a preparatory investigation against him.

His interviews were seen as being evidence to his "membership to an armed terror organization" and charges have been brought against him under articles 314/2 and 53 of the Turkish Penal Code and article 5 of the new Anti-Terror Law (TMY).

While his alleged offence was committed almost three years before the current TMY went into effect, the prosecution is also demanding for Akyol to be stripped of all electoral and social rights under the new law, another first in the enforcement of this controversial legislation.

The indictment on Akyol cites as evidence a connection to photographs that were seized at Ozgur Halk magazine offices in Istanbul on July 15, 2004. The photographs, allegedly those of organization members, were later sent to other provinces and shown to captured PKK/Kongra-Gel members for identification purposes.

A prisoner identified as Hakan Bazo and arrested in Adana in January 2005 is alleged to have pointed out Huseyin Aykol among the pictures and said he was the journalist who visited the PKK camp in 2003 and interviewed the leaders and militants. (BIA News Center, Erol ONDEROGLU, August 8, 2006)

Erdogan poursuit un caricaturiste qui l'avait dépeint comme une tique

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a porté plainte contre un caricaturiste et un hebdomadaire satyrique pour un dessin le représentant sous la forme d'une tique, a annoncé mercredi un de ses avocats à l'AFP.

Me Fatih Sahin a indiqué avoir déposé une plainte mardi devant un tribunal d'Ankara contre le magazine Leman et le dessinateur Mahmet Cagcag pour offense au Premier ministre, après la publication du dessin incriminé en Une de l'hebdomadaire le 6 juillet dernier.

Faisant référence à une fièvre hémorragique transmise par les tiques qui a tué une vingtaine de personnes cette année en Turquie, Mahmet Cagcag avait dessiné M. Erdogan sous la forme d'une tique mordant dans la tête d'un homme et écrit en légende qu'il faisait "souffrir la Turquie".

Me Sahin a expliqué que le Premier ministre réclamait 25.000 livres turques (13.000 euros) de dommages et intérêts.

L'avocat a précisé qu'aucune date n'avait encore été fixée pour le procès mais qu'il allait probablement débuter à la rentrée judiciaire, en septembre.

Cette procédure est la quatrième engagée par M. Erdogan pour des caricatures.Le Premier ministre a perdu les trois précédents procès.

En avril 2004, il avait attaqué le quotidien de gauche Evrensel pour un dessin le représentant sous les traits d'un cheval, monté par un de ses conseillers.

Il avait poursuivi le journal Cumhuriyet en février 2005 pour une caricature le dépeignant comme un chat emmêlé dans une pelote de laine, puis, un mois plus tard, le magazine satyrique Penguen, qui l'avait représenté sous la forme de divers animaux pour marquer son soutien à Cumhuriyet.

Ces poursuites ont soulevé une vague de critiques dans la presse turque, qui s'est interrogée sur la sincérité du chef de gouvernement lorsqu'il s'affirme déterminé à accroître la liberté d'expression en Turquie pour faciliter l'entrée du pays dans l'Union européenne. (AFP, 2 août 2006)

WIPC Campaign For Elif Safak's Trial Set for 21 September 2006

From: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, cmccann@wipcpen.org

The trial against Elif Safak, a highly respected and best-selling author, will open on 21 September 2006 before the Istanbul Beyoglu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. She, alongside publisher Semih Sökmen and translator Asli Bican, are facing trial on charges of “insulting Turkishness” under the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code. They are accused in connection with Shafak"s book, The Bastard of Istanbul. International PEN considers that Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code falls foul of international standards that protect the right to freedom of expression and to which Turkey is a signatory. It urges that the court hearing the case takes this breach into consideration and reconsiders its decision to proceed with the case.

In June 2006, the Beyoglu Public Prosecutor in Istanbul dismissed proceedings launched against Shafak after hearing Safak and Sökmen"s argument that the book was a work of literature and it was therefore not appropriate for prosecution. They added that the book aimed to promote the culture of peace. However, in early July the Istanbul 7th High Criminal Court over-ruled the decision not to proceed, following a complaint filed by Kemal Kerincsiz, a member of a group of right wing lawyers known as the “Unity of Jurists” who have been active in the launching of prosecutions of numerous writers and journalists in recent months. The trial date has not yet been set.

Safak"s book tells the story of two families  one based in Istanbul, the other an exiled Armenian family living in San Francisco - who share a family secret dating from the early 19th century that continues to effect the lives of their daughters in the present. Originally written in English, the book was published by the Metis Publishing House in March 2006 and has since become a best seller. It is due to be published in English by Viking/Penguin. To read an interview with Elif Shafak on the trial go to http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,,1827788,00.html

Background

Elif Safak was born in France and spent her childhood in Spain. After studying political science in Turkey, she held teaching positions in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United States. She is now Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Near Eastern Studies at University of Arizona. Her publications include both novels and essays, among them The Saint of Incipient Insanities, which was her first book published in English, Bit Palas, Mahrem, which won the Turkish Writers" Association Best Novel of the Year Award. For more details go to http://www.rusoffagency.com/fiction/thesaint/elif_shafak_bionotes.htm

Metis Publishing House website: http://www.metiskitap.com/Scripts/

Please send appeals:

- Urging that there be a reconsideration of the decision to proceed with the case against Elif Shafak, Semih Sökmen and Asli Bican;

- Expressing dismay that writers, journalists and publishers continue to be brought before the courts in violation of their right to freedom of expression;

- Urging that there be an end to these trials and that there be a review its legislation with the aim of removing all remaining laws that allow for the prosecution of those who practice their right to write and publish freely;

- Calling on the Turkish government to do all that it can to abide by its commitments to the protection and promotion of freedom of expression.

Appeals to:

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara
Turkey

Fax: +90 312 417 0476

Foreign Minister and State Minister for Human Rights
Mr Abdullah Gül
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara
Turkey

Fax: +90 312 287 8811


TIHV's Report on Recent Pressures on the Media

August 29, 2006

Historian and Publisher on Trial... Public Prosecutor in Beyoglu launched a court case against sumerologist Muazzez Ilmiye Çig and director of Çag ve Analiz Publishing Ismet Ögütücü in connection with the book of Cig with the title “My Reactions as a Citizen”. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced according to the Article 216/2 (inciting people hatred and enmity) and increase of the sentence according to the Article 218 (article for increasing sentences commited by means of press). The book is a compilation of Cig’s letters to Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he had been Istanbul mayor and articles published in 1997 in the journal “Bilim ve Ütopya”. Cig alleges in the book that headscarf was used in the past to distinguish women from each other. She gives the example that bitches during Sumer period were using headscarves and Prophet Mohammed also wanted females in his family to use headscarves to be distinguished. (Cumhuriyet)

August 28, 2006

Journalist on Trial… On 24 August Bagcilar Penal Court of First Instance No 2 started and concluded the case against Murat Yetkin, writer with the daily Radikal, launched for the article he wrote on 18 September 2005 in connection with the trial of Orhan Pamuk. The court decided the drop of the case on the grounds that the case was not launched within the legal time limit. The indictment wanted Yetkin to be sentenced for “attempting to effect fair trial” (Article 288 TPC). (BIA)

Kurdish Books Seized… Kurdish editions of the cartoon “Pippi” written by Swedish author Astrid Lindgrens were allegedly seized in Istanbul. According to the news of the Swedish TT news agency. 1208 books brought to Turkey to be sent to the Southeastern Anatolia region were seized on the allegations that “there was deficiency in customs documents” and “official permission was not taken from National Education Ministry”. (25 August, Hürriyet)

Journalists and Demonstrators on Trial… On 25 August Adana Heavy Penal Court N0 7 continued to hear the case against correspondents with Dicle News Agency Evrim Dengiz and Nesrin Yazar, and 7 persons who were among people who were detained the demonstration staged on 15 February in Sanliurfa in connection with the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s being brought to Turkey (1999). The expertise report concerning the materials used to make molotov cocktails that were allegedly found in the car of the journalists. Lawyer Özcan Kiliç emphasized that there was not detention minute and put that “the detention of the journalists were extra-legal and the evidences that were allegedly found in the car are invalid.” (26 August, Özgür Gündem)

Journalists Beaten… Hüsamettin Erbas, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper “Bölgede Gelecek”, was beaten by Deputy Mayor Gürbüz Süleymanoglu and his guards during the ceremony organized for the start of a mosque construction by Esenyurt Municipality in Istanbul on 26 August. Reportedly, Mayor Necmi Kadioglu (from the AKP) got angry with Erbas in connection with the published news against him during the ceremony, and afterwards Süleymanoglu and the guards beat Erbas. Erbas, who made an official complaint to the public prosecutor in Büyükçekmece, stated that he had been beaten by Süleymanoglu before. (27 August, Cumhuriyet)

August 24, 2006

Journalist on Trial... General Chamber of the Court of Cassation confirmed the decision of acquittal given by Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 against the journalist Tuncay Özkan. The case had been launched against Özkan on the allegation that he “insulted the former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan” in his articles published on the daily Milliyet on 20-23 April 2001. The acquittal decision given by Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 2 had been quashed by the 4th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. However, when the Chief Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation objected the decision the file had been sent to the General Chamber of the Court of Cassation, who put the followings in the decision: “The style of the criticism, its being rude and impolite is related with the aim of the writer his/her psychology, level of education and culture. However, it should be accepted that freedom of press includes exaggeration and even incitement to a certain extend. Expressions used by the journalists, even they include polemic, cannot be seen as unfounded individual attacks when supported by objective explanations. Hard criticisms should be welcomed as natural by the people working or seek to work for public. The action does not include insult and humiliation.” (Radikal)

August 16, 2006

Journalist and DEP MPs on Trial… On 15 August, Bagcilar Penal Court of First Instance No 2 concluded the case against Nese Düzel, writer of the daily Radikal, and former DEP MP Orhan Dogan, a founder of Democratic Society Party on the allegation of “making propaganda of illegal organization”. The court decided the case to be dropped on the grounds that it was not launched within legal time limit. In his summing up the case Public Prosecutor wanted the case to be closed on the grounds that it had launched on 2 November 2005 although the interview titled “Öcalan Will be Released One Day” had been published on 15 August 2005.  (Birgün)

August 11, 2006

Pressure in Prisons… Elif Zavar, wife of Erol Zavar (former editor-in-chief of the journal Odak) who incarcerated in Sincan F-type Prison, announced that her arm was stamped with a seal used for letters writing “it was seen” when she went to visit her husband on 7 August. Eliz Zavar told that she was told, without this stamp, she would not be allowed to see her husband who suffers from bladder cancer so she had to accept to be stamped. Zavar told: “He had his last operation on 2 August. He is kept in a cell with two other prisoners. His illness is very serious so I had to see him.” Lawyer Selçuk Kozagaçli told that it was an arbitrary implication to stamp Zavar: “It is an extremely shameful and unacceptable implication. It is extra-legal and against the laws. They conduct such arbitrary implications saying that the computers do not work. The execution system has collapsed. They ill-treat families during visits. They make the visits of families and lawyers very difficult by using technical difficulties as an excuse.” (Özgür Gündem)

Concert Hindered… Selçuk Municipality decided to cancel the concert of the band Grup Yorum that would be held on 6 August in Selçuk district of Izmir. Spokesman of the band Inan Altin told that they took all the necessary permissions for the concert but a letter signed by Selçuk Mayor Vefa Ülgür saying that the concert was cancelled sent to the organizing company. Altin said that they had got permissions before from Security Directorate and the municipality. (ANF)

August 3, 2006

Publisher on Trial... On 26 July, Beyoglu Penal Court First Instance No 2 started to hear the case against Abdullah Yilmaz, the editor-in-chief of the publishing house Literatür Publishing House, according to the Article 301 TPC on the grounds that the Turks were insulted in the book of Mara Meimaridi entitled “The Witches of Smyrna”. The court decided that the case should not have been launched against Yilmaz and sent the indictment back to the Public Prosecutor. (BIA)

August 1, 2006

Writer on Trial... A court case was launched against the author Elif Safak in connection with her novel “Baba ve Piç (Father and Bastard)” on charges of “insulting Turks” according to the Article 301 TPC. An investigation had been launched upon the complaint of the Lawyer Kemal Kerinçsiz but the Public Prosecutor in Beyoglu had decided not to prosecute Safak in June. Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 7 that handled the case upon the appeal of Kemal Kerinçsiz for the cancellation of the decision and the court lifted the decision. The case would commence on 21 September at Beyoglu Penal Court of First Instance No 2. (Radikal)

Journalists Detained... Owners of local paper in Tunceli “Emek” Hüsniye Karakoyun, Umut Karakoyun and Dilek Karakoyun were detained on 27 July for sending an e-mail to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the grounds that Governor Mustafa Erkal was not giving official advertisements to the paper. They were released on 28 July. Ayse Tozan, working for the journal Özgür Halk, was detained on 28 July in Salihli district of Manisa. (Gerçek Gündem-Özgür Gündem)

Kurdish Question / Question kurde

Lynch attempt against Kurdish workers in Konya

A crowded group attacked the Kurdish workers in Bozkir district of Konya on 28 August. According to the news gathered a quarrel broke out between 6 workers from a marble factory and 25 workers from a construction company. Afterwards some 1000 persons gathered on the city square and they started to shout slogans against Kurds.

They also raided a coffee house where Kurdish workers were going frequently and beat Salih Yesilmen and another person. Police saved the workers by firing into air. The group went to the construction. Since they could not find any other worker there they came back to the square.

When the crowd was waiting on the square the Kurdish workers were taken out of the district.

According to the news erleased by Firat News Agency the worker with the first name Hasan said that the incidents continued all night long and people were cursing and threatening Kurds. The police also did not intervene. The worker Hayri Can stressed that villagers were brought from village to attack the Kurds.

Earlier, the following lynch attempts against Kurds have been reported by the press:

April 8, 2006: In Erzincan, a group of rightist activists attacked the spokesmen of the Youth Association of Erzincan holding a press conference. Attackers attempted to lynch them as well as DTP Vice-Chairman Hüseyin Sahin.

May 5, 2006: In Kemalpasa District of Izmir province, during a dispute between Kurdish tradesmen and municipal agents, a group of Grey Wolves (members of the MHP) attempted to lynch Kurds. Some Kurds were seriously wounded and some others were expelled from the area.

June 3, 2006: In Torbali district of Izmir province, a dispute during a wedding ceremony was followed by a lynch attempt against Kurdish community.

July 2006: In Ödemis district of Izmir province, 16 season workers of Kurdish origin were attacked by a rightist group attempting to lynch them. (Radikal-Özgür Gündem-TIHV, August 31, 2006)

Kongra Gel Condemns Bomb Attacks

Kongra-Gel  (People’s Congress of Kurdistan) Presidency condemns the bomb attacks that killed 3 people in the turistic region of Turkey.

The written statement of Kongra Gel indicated that, “Koma Komalen Kurdistan (KKK, Confederalism of Kurdistan, Kongra Gel is the Assembly) made a peace declaration declared on 23 August 2006 and they supported this. They also indicated that they were in search of solution without violence for the resolution of the Kurdish question and they expected a resopnse on this regard.

Kongra Gel also in the statement expressed their condolences for the dead. (ANF, Firat News Agency, August 29, 2006)

Les attentats pourraient fragiliser le tourisme en Turquie

Les attentats survenus ces deux derniers jours dans des sites touristiques en Turquie, revendiqués par un groupe kurde extrémiste, risquent de fragiliser le secteur vital du tourisme déjà touché par la grippe aviaire et la crise des caricatures de Mahomet.

Il ne fait nul doute que les attaques visaient essentiellement un secteur qui est la "poule aux oeufs d'or" du Trésor turc.

Il est impossible de mesurer dans l'immédiat l'impact pour le tourisme des attaques survenus à Marmaris (sud-ouest), Antalya (sud) et Istanbul (nord-ouest) qui ont au total tué trois personnes et blessé près d'une cinquantaine d'autres, dont dix touristes Britanniques.
 Pour le président de l'influente Union des agences de voyage (Türsab), Basaran Ulusoy, ces attentats n'auront aucun impact sur le tourisme turc.

"Cela se produit un peu partout, les évoquer sans cesse signifie en quelque sorte donner des points au terrorisme", affirme-t-il à l'AFP.

Mais certains professionnels se montrent plus inquiets.
 "Chaque fois que le tourisme reprend un peu, il se produit une nouvelle chose", a déclaré le président des hôteliers de la côte méditerranéenne, Osman Ayik, au quotidien Vatan.

Il exhorte à un renforcement des mesures de sécurité sur les sites touristiques, craignant que de nouveaux incidents ne se produisent avec pour conséquence de chasser les touristes et tarir les revenus de cette industrie.

Timur Bayindir, à la tête de l'union des investisseurs du tourisme, a noté pour sa part que "des attentats de ce genre ont lieu partout dans le monde. Il est impossible de les prévenir à 100%".

Le tourisme a rapporté au pays 18,1 milliards de dollars (14,1 milliards d'euros) en 2005.

La Turquie s'attendait à quelque 20 millions de touristes cette année mais des facteurs comme la grippe aviaire, qui a tué quatre personnes en janvier dans l'est de la Turquie, et la crise des caricatures de Mahomet, ont provoqué une baisse de 6,4% du nombre de visiteurs étrangers depuis le début de l'année par rapport à 2005, selon les statistiques officielles.

10,9 millions de touristes sont venus en Turquie sur sept mois, jusqu'à la fin juillet, selon ces chiffres>.

Cemalettin Özdemir, le sous-préfet de Marmaris, une région dont les belles plages sont prisées par des dizaines de milliers de touristes britanniques et scandinaves, a affirmé dans une entretien téléphonique à l'AFP qu'il ne fallait pas céder à la "panique".

"Nous n'avons pas d'informations sur des visiteurs qui ont fui notre ville" après l'attaque, a-t-il dit.

Les agences de voyage contactés par l'AFP n'ont signalé mardi aucune annulation significative de réservations.

Toutefois les deux plus grands voyagistes allemands, TUI et Thomas Cook, proposent depuis lundi soir des changements de réservation sans frais pour leurs clients ayant réservé un voyage en Turquie.

Plusieurs pays, dont la France, la Grande-Bretagne, la Belgique, la Finlande et les Pays-Bas ont recommandé la "vigilance" à leurs ressortissants voyageant en Turquie, sans leur déconseiller de s'y rendre.

A Londres, Sean Tipton de la fédération des tour-opérateurs a fait état de peu d'annulations de réservations vers la Turquie. Environ 1,8 million de Britanniques ont visité la Turquie en 2005.

Il a expliqué que ses concitoyens britanniques étaient habitués aux menaces terroristes. "Après 40 ans de terrorisme ici, vous avez tendance à les ignorer", a-t-il affirmé. (AFP, 29 août 2006)

Trois morts dans une explosion en Turquie après une série d'attentats

Le secteur vital du tourisme en Turquie a de nouveau été la cible d'une explosion lundi à Antalya (sud), qui a fait trois morts, après une série d'attentats ayant blessé 27 personnes la veille dans une station balnéaire et à Istanbul, et revendiqués par un groupe armé kurde.

L'explosion d'origine indéterminée survenue à Antalya a fait trois morts et 20 blessés, tous Turcs, a affirmé à l'AFP une responsable du gouvernorat d'Antalya, qui a démenti la présence de touristes étrangers parmi les victimes soignées à l'hôpital.

Selon le ministère israélien des Affaires étrangères, "quatre Israéliens membres d'une même famille ont été légèrement blessés dans l'explosion".

Un porte-parole de la police d'Antalya, Akif Aktug, cité par l'agence Anatolie, a indiqué que la déflagration s'était produite en face d'un souk, devant un immeuble de la municipalité, et avait été à l'origine d'un début d'incendie.

Cette explosion est survenue au lendemain d'une série d'attentats dimanche soir, revendiqués par le groupe armée Les Faucons de la liberté du Kurdistan (TAK), dans la station touristique méditerranéenne de Marmaris (sud-ouest) et à Istanbul, qui ont fait 27 blessés, dont dix Britanniques.

Sur leur site internet, les TAK ont affirmé lundi avoir commis ces attentats en représailles aux mesures de confinement dont fait l'objet le chef historique des séparatistes kurdes, Abdullah Öcalan.

A Marmaris, station balnéaire prisée des Britanniques et des touristes scandinaves, trois explosions quasi simultanées ont fait dimanche soir 21 blessés, dont dix Britanniques, selon le gouverneur local, Temel Koçaklar.

La première déflagration s'est produite à bord d'un minibus sur une des principales artères, bordée de bars et restaurants.

Près de trois quarts d'heure plus tard, une seconde explosion a eu lieu près du port de Marmaris, puis une troisième à proximité d'une zone résidentielle, toutes deux dans des poubelles, sans faire de victime, selon les chaînes de télévision d'information CNN-Türk et NTV.

Dix Britanniques blessés étaient toujours soignés dans deux hôpitaux de Marmaris et ils ont reçu lundi la visite de l'ambassadeur du Royaume-Uni à Ankara, Peter Westmacott.

"La vie de nos ressortissants n'est pas en danger", a déclaré le diplomate, cité par l'agence Anatolie.

Par ailleurs, à Istanbul, l'explosion d'un colis piégé dans la partie européenne de la première ville du pays a fait six blessés, tous turcs et dont aucun n'est dans un état grave, selon Anatolie, citant le chef de la police métropolitaine Celalettin Cerrah.

L'engin placé près d'un bâtiment officiel du quartier populaire de Bagcilar a explosé vers 18H30 GMT, a-t-il dit.

Les Faucons de la liberté du Kurdistan, avaient annoncé en avril leur intention de prendre pour cibles des zones touristiques afin de tarir cette importante source de revenus.

Ils ont déjà revendiqué plusieurs attentats, dont une attaque qui a coûté la vie en juillet 2005 à cinq personnes, dont une adolescente irlandaise et une Britannique, dans la station balnéaire de Kusadasi (ouest).

Le tourisme a généré 18,1 milliards de dollars (14,1 milliards d'euros) de revenus pour la Turquie en 2005. Déjà affecté par d'autres facteurs comme la grippe aviaire, qui a tué quatre personnes en janvier en Turquie, et la crise des caricatures de Mahomet, ce secteur a connu une baisse de 6,4% du nombre de visiteurs étrangers depuis le début de l'année par rapport à 2005, selon les statistiques officielles. (AFP, 28 août 2006)

Plusieurs explosions en Turquie: 27 blessés dont 10 britanniques

Vingt-sept personnes, six à Istanbul et 21 dans la station balnéaire de Marmaris, dont dix Britanniques, ont été blessées dans une série d'attentats dans la soirée de dimanche en Turquie, ont annoncé les médias turcs.

A Marmaris, une station balnéaire du sud de la Turquie, trois explosions ont fait 21 blessés, 11 turcs et 10 britanniques, a indiqué l'agence de presse Anatolie.

La première déflagration s'est produite à bord d'un minibus dans une des principales artères de la ville, faisant 21 blessés, dont 10 touristes britanniques. Selon la chaîne de télévision CNN-Turquie, elle a été provoquée par l'explosion d'une bombe placée sous un siège.

Près de trois quarts d'heure plus tard, une seconde explosion a eu lieu près du port de Marmaris, puis une troisième à proximité d'une zone résidentielle, sans faire de victime, a précisé CNN-Turquie.

Aucune confirmation officielle n'a pu être obtenue pour l'instant.

Une porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères à Londres avait indiqué auparavant que dix Britanniques se trouvaient parmi les blessés, et avaient été transportés à l'hôpital local. Quatre sont dans un état grave, mais leurs jours ne sont pas en danger, a précisé un porte-parole de l'hôpital.

A Istanbul, l'explosion d'un colis piégé dans la partie européenne de la ville a par ailleurs fait six blessés, tous turcs dont aucun n'est dans un état critique, selon l'agence de presse Anatolie, citant le chef de la police locale. (AFP, 28 août 2006)

Un mort et six blessés dans le conflit armé au Sud et Sud-Est

Un civil a été tué et deux militaires blessés dans un affrontement survenu dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi près de la ville de Bitlis, dans le sud-est de la Turquie, avec des militants kurdes, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie.

La victime, un homme qui ramassait du bois dans une petite forêt quand ont éclaté des heurts entre une patrouille militaire et des militants du PKK, a été tuée sur le coup, selon l'agence.

Deux soldats blessés ont été hospitalisés. 

Deux bombes ont explosé à cinq minutes d'intervalle vendredi soir dans le centre-ville d'Adana, au sud de la Turquie, faisant quatre blessés, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Le premier engin a explosé devant une banque, le second dans un immeuble de bureaux situé dans la même rue et hébergeant les sections locales de trois partis politiques de gauche -dont celui du Parti républicain du peuple (CHP, social-démocrate)- ainsi que d'une association de défense des droits de l'Homme.

Selon les premiers éléments de l'enquête, les deux engins sont des bombes assourdissantes, ont affirmé des sources policières citées par Anatolie, faisant référence à des dispositifs artisanaux de faible puissance.

Ces sources n'ont pas évoqué de piste ou de revendication.

Le siège régional du CHP à Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est anatolien à population majoritairement kurde, a été visé le 6 août par un attentat qui n'a pas fait de victime. (AFP, 25 août 2006)

KKK’s proposal for the resolution of the Kurdish question

Declaration of KKK (Kurdistan Democratic Confederalism) Executive Council for a democratic resolution of the Kurdish question:

The Middle East as a geographical region where there is heightened conflict continues to dominate the world’s agenda. Although this could be due to it being a place where the world system was formed, the main reason is due to the region not having democratizing. When a democratic culture is not fully developed, society and political forces are not respecting of the rights of each other, hence the results are conflicts. The reason and basis for the intervention of foreign forces is due to the fact that the political systems in the region are not democratic.

One of the fundamental reasons why the Middle East cannot democratize is the fact that the Kurdish question remains left unresolved. This question is not resolved at the fundamental level, hence all the efforts to solve other issues in the region are ineffective and cannot bring stability.

The responsibility for the question being left unresolved lies with both the international and regional forces. As a consequence, the Kurdish people have suffered grievously. However, the forces that are dominant over Kurdistan have not attained peace.

Without democratization, peace will not develop in the Middle East and the suspicions and anxiety felt by Arabs, Kurds, Turks, Persians, Assyrians, and Israelis against each other will go on. The tension that has developed through this will inevitably lead to future conflict.

The regional states, who have maintained policies according to a world shaped by the Lausanne Treaty, which denies the rights of the Kurdish people, have thus never acknowledged the Kurds as a people and shown the Kurds only force. These states do not have any positive policy towards the Kurds. They have only one policy and that is when Kurds seek their freedom, as is their right, they are suppressed with violence. Today this same mentality manifests itself in an anti-Kurdish alliance of Turkey, Iran and Syria. Throughout history the Kurds have resisted the same policy of annihilation and we have now reached a point of impasse. The pioneer of this mentality is the Turkish state with its policy of violence against the Kurdish people, which has resulted in much conflict and tension.

The new period in the world and in the Middle East and the achievements gained by the Kurdish Freedom Movement has put the states of Turkey and Iran into a mood of panic. They are both experiencing difficulties in continuing with their denial and annihilation policies. It is because of this that they have initiated a series of attacks against our movement since the spring. While Turkey is forming alliances with both Iran and Syria, it is also putting effort into strengthening alliances with the USA and the Iraqi state in order to develop this policy of confrontation. When it cannot achieve its aims it puts on the agenda cross border military operations.

Many groups of prominent people in Turkey and internationally, including many intellectuals, writers, civil society institutions and the South Kurdistan Federal Government, have issued proposals and calls on both sides for a ceasefire. Recently the USA Foreign Ministry Spokesman also made a call on our movement for a unilateral ceasefire and disarmament. Unfortunately, calls for unilateral efforts to resolve the conflict are not adequate. If this were the case, we would have put all our effort into doing unilaterally whatever was necessary to solve the issue. However, the history of our struggle has shown that unilateral actions are not enough to solve the issue.

Public opinion also knows full well that the Leadership of our Movement has made numerous unilateral ceasefires during the years of 1993, 1995, and 1998 all in attempt to open the path to a democratic resolution. However, these did not bring a solution. In fact, the Turkish state used it as an opportunity to seek to liquidate our movement by increasing its attacks. When it became clear that all these efforts were inconclusive and with the call of our Leadership Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali on 2 August 1999 our movement abandoned the armed struggle strategy. Thus the guerrilla forces withdrew beyond the border of Turkey and positioned themselves in a line of self-defense. In this way our movement gave another opportunity to Turkey to freely find the will to resolve the issue without putting on any pressure. Turkey, which had no reason not to take step to resolve the issue, still did not show any will to adopt this course. Turkey, despite pressures both internally and internationally, continued the denial and annihilation policies under new political conditions. They adopted measures, which could only be regarded as an insult to the Kurdish people, such as the permission for 45 minute Kurdish television broadcasts and private Kurdish courses which opened under enormous restrictions. They openly declared their real intentions by repeating many times statements such as the following, “we have done what was necessary, so no-one should ask from us any other steps”.

We made several calls to the state of Turkey to stop the delay and annihilation by putting off into future policy. Nevertheless, on March 2003 in response to the creation of the Kurdish federation in Iraq Kurdistan following the intervention of the USA in Iraq, the Turkish state formed an alliance with Iran and Syria in fear of a larger Kurdistan. To put a stop to the growth in Kurdish freedom they re-initiated extensive military operations and pressure policies.

Against these attacks on 1 June 2004 the period of self-defense was forced on us. In our new struggle strategy the HPG (People’s Self-Defence Forces) is not a force pursuing struggle as an armed struggle but is engaged in armed self-defense against armed attacks on our people. In the face of attacks launched on us the new period began with the retaliatory actions of the HPG.

On 10 August 2005 our movement began a 1 month no action period as a friendly gesture to Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech in Diyarbakir and in response to peace efforts of a group of intellectuals to give a chance to peace and democratic solution. In reply, however, the Turkish military increased its attacks and as a result during the 1 month no action period the HPG forces losses multiplied fourfold. Prime Minister Erdogan by not following through his word supported the violence perpetrated by the military. The attempts at a peaceful political resolution and the actions of the Kurdish people were judged as weakness and desperation by the political tradition that is used to seeing everything in terms of force in arms and violence.

While the world has entered a period of dialogue in these types of issues as a solution, there is only one reason for the closing of all routes to dialogue with the Kurdish Freedom Movement and opting for annihilation. That is, the fact that the Turkish state is determined to follow its denial and annihilation policies because it depends on its military and political strength.

The Kurdish Freedom Movement is not the party which is running away from a peaceful solution to the question nor is it the one that is insistent on violence. We do not see violence as a method to solving the issue. On the contrary, we have made great sacrifices, unilaterally, for a democratic resolution and peace. If the interlocutors show the necessary will for a resolution there will be no obstacle preventing it. Like our Leadership declared years ago, we are searching for an interlocutor. If Turkey shows the will for a solution there will be a ceasefire in one day and the issue will move towards a solution. We have many times declared several proposals for a resolution and issued projects that could be rejected before public opinion. However, no serious proposals for a solution have been put in front of us. For this reason we are not responsible for the current crisis and the continuing conflict. Despite all this, our movement has acted responsibly, demonstrated every possible effort and sensitivity so as not to escalate the conflict and exceed the limits of self-defense.

We believe that the current crisis and conflict brings harm to the Turkish, Kurdish and indeed all the peoples of the Middle East. For this reason and having taken into account the calls and desire for peace of some international forces, international institutions, and various circles, and in the framework of Leadership’s latest peace calls, we have decided to take a new step.

With this objective, we as the Koma Komalen Kurdistan (KKK, Confederalism of Kurdistan) Executive Council came together during 7-9 August 2006, discussed the situation and decided that for peace and democracy a new period must be initiated.

To this end the Turkish state must issue a statement to show the will for dialogue and solution, cease its attacks and end the heavy isolation conditions on our Leadership. These are not conditions; these are steps that any side needs to take in order to make a good gesture.

If these positive steps are taken by the Turkish state, Koma Komalên Kurdistan Executive Council will make all necessary efforts for the development of a ceasefire by the HPG. 1st September World Peace Day is an important opportunity to start such a process. Our people and movement will do whatever necessary from this day on to voice every opportunity for peace and democratic solution and we will increase our democratic actions on 1st September. The Turkish state, from its side, can follow its democratic will in the development of this process by showing peaceful efforts.

The two sides can develop a basis, with these steps to cease the conflict, and then the possibility of the second phase can come onto the agenda. The second phase will be the start of the democratic solution of the Kurdish question. A perspective of democratic autonomy within the borders of Turkey, which enables the freedom of the Kurdish question, can be a pivotal for a permanent solution.

The framework for the steps that need to be developed mutually in the second phase for a permanent solution:

1- The acknowledgement of the Kurdish identity and the constitutional guarantee of all identities under the identity of a Citizen of Turkey as the main identity,

2- The lifting of obstacles on the development of the Kurdish language and culture, the acknowledgement of education in the mother tongue and Kurdish acknowledged as the official second language alongside Turkish in the Kurdistan region, and with this to show respect to other minority cultures,

3- The acknowledgement, on the basis of freely practicing politics and organizing, of the right to thought, belief and freedom of expression, the lifting of all social inequalities in the constitution and laws, firstly being those of gender discrimination,

4- A social reconciliation project with the aim of mutual forgiveness of both people’s for the development of a peace and freedom union, on this basis the release of political prisoners including the PKK Leadership, and no obstacles to them participating in politics and social life,

5- The removal of forces in Kurdistan there for the purposes of special war, the abolition of the village guard system and the necessary social and political projects to be developed for the return of displaced villagers,

6- In parallel to the realization of the above articles, the initiation, with a timetable determined by both parties, of the gradual disarmament and legal participation into the democratic social life.

The permanent solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey can be developed with the carrying out of these fundamental issues. This also means that Turkey will become a fully democratic country. The resolution of the Kurdish question in Turkey will also mean the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question, within the current borders, in Iran and Syria. The resolution of the Kurdish question within these countries will mean the democratization of the Middle East. When suspicion and anxiety is eradicated in such a condition a period will develop for solutions to all the outstanding issues of the region.

It is quite clear that the resolution to the Kurdish question by this means will be for the benefit of the international forces and the people of the region, not the contrary. Stability and peace can only be developed within the democratic solution to the Kurdish question and from a perspective of democratizing the Middle East. Again friendship amongst peoples, mutual respect and a just system can only be sustained within such a project.

When the reality is clear to develop annihilation plans with violence against the Kurdish freedom movement only ends in conflict and instability that does not benefit any party.

It should be acknowledged today that the PKK and its Leadership is the fundamental reality of the Kurdish people. Today to try to separate them from one another, to pursue a no PKK and Ocalan solution search will only push the issue into an impasse and lead to the deepening of the conflict. This is a very important issue that needs to be seen by all forces for a lasting and right development of the solution. The solution projects of our leader Ocalan do not only concern the Kurds but represent a freedom and democracy project for the entire peoples of the Middle East. The just solution of the problems among the people including the Palestine and Israel conflict and the development of

The platform named as the key mechanism, on the basis that it aims for the deep-rooted solution of the issue, dialogue, and democratic solution, we as the Kurdish side will show the necessary effort and commitment for the solution of the question. In such case a Kurdish representative should be represented in the mechanism, in which our people and movement can trust. However, in a contrary case, if it is on the basis of the violence policies that Turkey has pursued over the years the Kurdish people will not accept this, it is quite clear that this can only escalate conflicts and deepen the impasse.

It is understandable that Turkey, which has no other policy besides denial and annihilation, desires the USA to attack the Kurdish Freedom Movement. However, there is no logic and explanation in the USA attacking the PKK. It is against the interests of the USA and the allied forces who say that they are in lines of democratic mentality to confront Koma Komalén Kürdistan which is struggling for this. The democratic people’s reality that the movement developed can easily be seen in the stance of the people of Diyarbakir (Amed), which is the symbol of the Kurdish people. We also believe that the interest of the international forces passes through the acceptance and respect to the will shown by the people of Amed.

It is an undisputable reality that the liquidation of the Kurdish Freedom Movement is a loss for the people and organizations of South Kurdistan and all the Kurds. The forces that are insistent on the denial of the Kurds in the region want to weaken the hands of the Kurds by annihilating our movement and hence believe they can have the upper hand in the policies in the Middle East. By these means they foresee that the international forces will come to point of acceptance of their policy of denial. We believe that all Kurds are aware of this. In this framework we call on the South Kurdistan Federal Government and parties to adopt a stance against all annihilation policies, and to make every effort for the peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish question. We indicate that we will be in a positive and participative position in any act of effort along these lines.

Although international forces and regional countries can play a facilitating role the place for solution of the question in North Kurdistan and its interlocutor is Turkey. Turkey must accept that the solution will be with the Kurds living in Turkey. Turkey must see that by urging the USA to join its alliance against our organization, establishing an anti-Kurdish alliance with Iran and Syria and attacking our forces, pressuring the KDP and PUK and by sending troops to Lebanon to show the international community a positive image, will not solve the problem.

The Turkish state instead of executing an anti Kurdish Freedom Movement diplomatic relations, and giving concessions after concessions, should listen to the calls of the Kurdish people and its Leadership, the issue is the condition where it can be resolved in a shorter period. Because the project that we have developed contains the most reasonable conditions, it expresses the interests of both sides. In reality if the denial, annihilation and chauvinistic outlook are put to one side it will be seen that this solution benefits the interests of Turkey.

On this basis within the framework of friendship among the Kurdish, Turkish, Arab and all regional peoples, we believe that all issues can be resolved through dialogue and peaceful methods in a just democratic system. We do not take the view that armed conflict is a method to resolve the issues. However, where human honour, dignity and fundamental human values are violated and no other means are left to defend them, we recognize as the UN has also accepted under international law that there is the right to armed resistance, within the framework of self-defence all resistance is legitimate and a legal right. All other armed violence apart from this we see as terror and we condemn them.

For the solution to the issues amongst peoples and for the development of a free democratic system we see this perspective as an important and contemporary one in the solution of such issues. We call on the international and regional media circles, intellectuals, writers, and all who are on the side of democracy to recognize our democratic and peaceful solution project and to take a stand against the annihilation policies on the basis of violence of the Turkish state.

We would like as a movement to emphasize once again that the right solution is a democratic autonomy within the borders of Turkey. We believe that a solution in the unity of Turkey will be for the benefit of firstly the Kurdish people and all the people of the region.

We call once again on all international and regional political forces and democratic circles to make an effort to start the democratic solution, to work for its success and to support the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question within the political borders of Turkey. (kurdmedia.com, August 20, 2006)

Turkish F-16 Jets Carry out Strikes Against PKK Targets in N. Iraq

Turkish jet fighters have commenced air strikes against the PPK bases in the Kanimasi and Snaht regions in northern Iraq.

Army officials stated that the F-16 jets which took off during the night had inflicted serious casualties on the PKK.

In addition to the air strikes, Turkish security forces are continuing their operations along the Iraqi border.

The U.S. government is looking into allegation of Kurdish reports of a joint Turkish-Iranian operation against the PKK in northern Iraq.

Speaking in Baghdad, spokesman for the U.S. and its allies in Iraq Maj. Gen. William Caldwell stated that there had been shelling in northern Iraq. "I'm not sure exactly where the shelling came from. So I'd be hesitant to say exactly who was responsible for it," the US general said. (Cihan News Agency, August 24, 2006)

Des livres suédois pour enfants traduits en kurde saisis à Istanbul

Plus de mille exemplaires en langue kurde d'une série célèbre de livres pour enfants de la romancière suédoise Astrid Lindgren ont été saisis par les autorités turques à Instanbul, a rapporté jeudi l'agence suédoise TT.

La cargaison, destinée à des librairies dans cinq localités kurdes de Turquie, a été saisie car elle n'était pas accompagnée de l'autorisation requise du ministère turc de l'Education, et il manquait également des documents douaniers, selon les autorités citées par TT.

Les 1.208 livres, dont 25 différents titres de "Fifi Brindacier", l'héroïne créée par Astrid Lindgren, avaient été embarqués en Suède le 7 août par l'association Komak qui s'occupe de projet d'éducation parmi la population kurde de Turquie.

Les aventures de Fifi Brindacier, fille aux taches de rousseur et portant des couettes, ont été traduites en 85 langues et publiées dans plus de cent pays. (AFP, 24 août 2006)

Semdinli bookstore owner faces charges of being PKK member

Charges of being a terrorist group member were filed yesterday against Seferi Yilmaz, who owned the bookstore bombed in last November's attacks in Hakkari's Semdinli. According to reports, the indictment prepared Van Public Prosecutor Halil Selcik on Yilmaz, who's currently being detained in Van's F-type prison, by is ready.

The indictment said that according to testimony from a terrorist group member, Hasan Sala, Yilmaz is involved with the PKK, has met with terrorist group members and run activities on behalf of the group, charging that Yilmaz is a PKK member.

Yilmaz is the owner of Umut bookstore which was bombed in Semdinli last November. The attack spurred debates about the secret activities of the military and raised political tension, which is ongoing.

The case against Yilmaz will be heard on Sept. 18 at Van's High Criminal Court

Following the bombing in Semdinli, noncommissioned officers Ali Kaya and Ozcan Ildeniz were convicted to around 40 years in prison, and Yilmaz was put in prison at the end of June on charges of aiding and abetting the PKK. (The New Anatolian, 24 August 2006)

Des membres du PKK en Irak proposent un cessez-le-feu à Ankara

Le groupe issu du parti séparatiste kurde PKK réfugié en Irak a proposé un cessez-le-feu au gouvernement turc, a déclaré mercredi un de ses responsables.

"En réponse à de nombreuses demandes du gouvernement autonome du Kurdistan irakien et d'autres groupes kurdes, et aux déclarations du département d'Etat américain, nous sommes prêts à observer un cessez-le-feu et à choisir de régler de manière pacifique et démocratique la question du peuple kurde en Turquie", a déclaré à l'AFP Murat Karayilan.

"Nous sommes prêts à un cessez-le-feu à partir du 1er septembre, le jour de la Fête de la paix dans le monde. La Turquie doit être prête à y répondre et à se montrer souple à cet égard", a ajouté Murat Karayilan, qui se présente comme le numéro deux du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) en Irak.

"Nous savons que la Turquie a des ambitions expansionnistes et nationalistes et veut mettre la pression sur les responsables kurdes irakiens. Nous ne nous attendons pas à ce qu'ils attaquent mais nous sommes prêts à nous défendre", a-t-il poursuivi, en référence aux milliers de soldats turcs massés à la frontière.

Des milliers de membres du PKK se sont installés au Kurdistan irakien depuis 1999, date de l'instauration d'un cessez-le-feu après l'arrestation par la Turquie d'Abdullah Öcalan, qui purge actuellement une peine de prison à vie. Ce cessez-le-feu a pris fin en juin 2004.

La Turquie se plaint de longue date de l'inaction de Bagdad et de Washington face au PKK, qui utilise ses camps du nord de l'Irak comme bases arrières pour ses attaques dans le sud-est anatolien.

Elle avait menacé en juillet d'intervenir militairement par-delà la frontière contre les camps du PKK en territoire irakien si Bagdad et Washington n'agissaient pas.

Le président irakien, le Kurde Jalal Talabani et le Premier ministre irakien, le chiite Nouri al-Maliki, ont assuré à plusieurs reprises qu'ils ne permettraient pas que l'Irak serve de base pour le PKK.  (AFP, 23 août 2006)

"Turkey sees it can't stop 'independent Kurdistan," says US advisor

Turkey cannot stop the formal creation of an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq and is beginning to understand this reality, a top U.S. adviser to Iraqi Kurdish leaders said.

Peter Galbraith, a former U.S. ambassador to Zagreb, also urged Washington to redeploy the American army to "Kurdistan," withdrawing from the rest of war-torn Iraq. He said there was nothing the United States could do to put an end to the country's ongoing "civil war" or to reunite Iraq.

"I don't advocate the breaking up of Iraq. It has already disintegrated," Galbraith said Monday in an address to the Middle East Institute, a think tank here. "I haven't met a single Kurd who would say 'I prefer to live in Iraq' rather than in an independent Kurdistan. There's no chance to persuade the Kurds to give up their independence."

He said the Kurdish entity in northern Iraq already has been de facto independent, only lacking a seat at the United Nations, and that winning formal independence was just a matter of time.

President George W. Bush told a news conference here Monday that his government would continue to work for a united Iraq and opposed calls for the country's break-up.

Asked to comment on Ankara's position on an independent Kurdish state, Galbraith said: "Turkey has long viewed anything Kurdish as an anathema, a threat to its national integrity, but that attitude is changing. Now there's a significant body of opinion that basically adopts a different approach."

He said that this new understanding developing in Turkey, which partly stemmed from European Union-related political reforms, acknowledged that invading northern Iraq was not an option, because this would involve huge political and military problems.

Galbraith said that those Turks with this new understanding knew that any Turkish move to invade northern Iraq would alienate the United States and make sure that Turkey would be forced to stay "out of the European Union for the rest of this century."

"So I think the basic argument is that Turkey doesn't have an alternative, doesn't have a way to stop the emergence of an independent Kurdistan. That being the case, what's the best strategy for Turkey? The best strategy is good relations with Kurdistan, and that's actually what is happening on the ground," Galbraith said, calling this attitude "a realistic approach."

He did not directly specify which groups or agencies in Turkey had adopted this new understanding toward a Kurdish state but said: "Turkey is by far the largest investor in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Turkish government has promoted investments in Kurdistan."

Galbraith is an advisor to both Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and head of the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq, and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, also leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). But sources say he is closer to Barzani. He was in Iraq in the wake of the 2003 war and during last year's negotiations for a constitution.

Galbraith suggested that the U.S. Army pull back from Baghdad and Iraq's central parts, scene of a simultaneous Sunni Arab insurgency and Shiite-Sunni sectarian fighting, and the Shiite-controlled south and instead redeploy in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.

Asked if the Kurds wanted the creation of a greater Kurdistan uniting the Kurds of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria and how Turkey's Kurds would behave, he said that Turkey's Kurdish problem was largely a civil rights issue.

"Most Turkish Kurds see that they're better off staying in a Turkey moving toward the European Union" rather than seeking alternatives, he said.

Galbraith said the Iraqi Kurds were not interested in a greater Kurdistan because this would make them a minority in such an entity, like in the case of "a merger of Moldova and Romania."

Asked to comment on Kurdish efforts to win full control of northern Iraq's multiethnic city of Kirkuk which sits on 40 percent of the country's oil reserves, he said that "the Kirkuk issue has already been settled" through a constitutional provision that calls for a referendum in the area before the end of 2007.

Turkey and a number of international experts have been warning that such a referendum, which would favor the Kurds amid an ongoing Kurdish exodus that is altering the city's demographic structure, would not be legitimate, but Galbraith said, "You can't make everybody happy." (Turkish Daily News, Umit Enginsoy, August 23, 2006)

Why not an International Criminal Tribunal of Kurdish Genocide?

The mockery trial of a so-called Tribunal by Iraqis seeking for Justice of what happened in Iraq last 40 years has come to the stage of Kurdish Genocide.

The first mistake of establishing the Iraqi Special Tribunal was making it a Local Tribunal rather than UN Tribunal backed by Security Council, just like Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The Iraqi constitution were not having specific section on the Crimes of Genocide, and the Iraqi judges selected for the Tribunal need to be trained by US judges. Iraqis did not have and do not sufficient resources (call it financial) to run a Tribunal, and the will of running the Tribunal has the problem of discontinuing after US withdrawal from Iraq. (1)

International Criminal Tribunals established to seek the justice, however Iraqi Special Tribunal has the potential problem of “seeking Revenge” due to the Local character of the Tribunal, which it will shadow the process of Reconciliation after Tribunal ended. Its neutrality and independence will not have the sufficient credibility in the eyes of international community.

As of Today still Federal Iraq is not a signatory state to statute (The Rome Statute) and
resolution of International Criminal Court, which is a contributing, factor to the detriment of international legal system. The global community has spent more then seven decades developing a relatively narrow international criminal justice system where ICC receives the jurisdiction of persecuting the Iraqi nationals for the crime of Kurdish Genocide.

To date four ad hoc international tribunal have been convened to prosecute accused genocidal perpetrators; the International Military Tribunal ( IMT) 1945, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East ( IMTFE) 1946, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia ( ICTY) 1992 and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1994. (2)

Persecuting crimes of Genocide through the International Criminal Tribunal demonstrate the commitment to international criminal law enforcement. According to the Statute of Iraqi Special Tribunal (SIST) the penalties that are prescribed are those of Iraqi Law, which does not include crimes like genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) on December 10, 2003 adopted the Statute of the Iraqi Special Tribunal (SIST). (3)

Its impartiality, legitimacy and fairness are questioned in the international law circles. Its foundation, selection of judges and functioning does not meet the criteria’s for approval by the international community to be recognized as a Criminal Tribunal. Already Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and a prominent Iraqi Shia politician Abdul Aziz Hakim talked about what the punishment should be for Saddam Hussein. It was very unwise interference with the ongoing trial process of the IST.

The other problem is the Time frame of crimes given to be investigated, from July 17 1968 and up until May 1, 2003, which is the Article 1(b) of the SIST. Coincidentally it is the period of BAAS Regime ruled Iraq.

This will extend the trial period far more then expected to end that people awaiting to see the justice done would be still living. The persecuted generation, the victims and their families should have at least some forms of compensation and emotional comfort from the results of the trials of IST.

If International community agrees on that Kurdish Genocide has been done then an International Criminal Tribunal for Kurdish Genocide should be established. In the eyes of many international human rights NGOs there is a issue of Kurdish Genocide, such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights, Human Rights First, etc where many Western states hesitates to acknowledge the Kurdish Genocide. Also the scholarly writings amounts to enough documentary evidence about the Kurdish Genocide that their credibility internationally recognized.

The documents captured during the Kurdish forces conquering Kurdish and Iraqi cities from the Iraqi Army amounts to thousands of truck loads volumes, where some has been taken to USA for translation. Many of those Iraqi state’ documents will prove the Kurdish Genocide. The recordings of “Chemical Ali’s “telephone conversation about the use of Chemical Weapons in Halabja is already made public.

Kurdish people has the right to ask for an International Criminal Tribunal for Kurdish Genocide, where many Kurdish demonstrations around the World has shown the dedication and sensitivity on the issue. (KurdishMedia.com, Hadi Elis, 22 August 2006)

Notes

1) Professor Leila N. Sadat
professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis
http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/6015.html
2) George S. Yacobian, and others
Iraq and the ICC: Should Iraqi Nationals be Prosecuted for the Crime of Genocide before the International Criminal Court.
War crimes & crimes against humanity Volume 1, No 1, January 2005, pages 47-74
3) Dr. Saby Ghoshray
Enforcing International Criminal Law in the Iraqi Special Tribunal: An Analysis of the Scope, Jurisdiction and Legtimacy of the Proposed Legal Framework
www.isrcl.org/Papers/2004/Ghoshray.pdf

Mayor questioned over municipal hearse for PKK member's funeral

A district mayor in Van was questioned by state prosecutors yesterday over providing an official municipality hearse last year for the funeral of a PKK member.

A probe was launched by the Sanliurfa Suruc Public Prosecutor's Office against Van Bostanici Mayor Gulcihan Simsek for sending an official municipality hearse to the funeral ceremony of Mehmet Sahin Bozan, a PKK member who died in a clash between the PKK and security forces. Simsek was questioned by the Van Public Prosecutor's Office yesterday upon the request of the prosecutors' office in Suruc.

Following the questioning, Simsek released a statement acknowledging that the municipality hearse was sent to Sanliurfa's Suruc district in June 2005.

Arguing that the municipality is obliged to provide service to all people, Simsek said, "The municipality provides the hearse to anyone upon their request. They also asked why I attended the funeral ceremony of Vahdettin Inan, who died recently in a clash in the district. He was a person living in our district; of course we will attend his funeral. We had tension in Van over that issue. We attended his funeral both in order to calm people down and to commemorate a person who lost his life in our district."

"This is not the case for Vahdettin Inan," said Simsek. "It could be anyone. If there is a funeral the people elected have to attend that. If a person is requesting the municipality's hearse, we have to provide that. There are no limits to our service. We did what's necessary. We would do the same in a similar case." (The New Anatolian, 19 August 2006)

Un gazoduc en flammes en Turquie après un sabotage présumé

Un incendie s'est déclaré samedi soir dans le nord-est de la Turquie sur un gazoduc alimentant ce pays en gaz iranien, ont annoncé les autorités locales, évoquant la piste d'un sabotage.

Le sinistre s'est déclaré vers 21H30 (18H30 GMT) près du village de Muratliköy, dans la province d'Agri, a déclaré le gouverneur de la province Halil Ibrahim Akpinar, cité par l'agence de presse Anatolie.

L'acheminement du gaz a été coupé et des unités de pompiers s'efforçaient de circonscrire l'incendie, a ajouté M. Akpinar qui a parlé d'un sabotage probable, sans donner plus de précision sur ses auteurs éventuels.

La population de la province d'Agri est en partie kurde et les guérillas du PKK y sont actifs. Le PKK a déjà été accusé de sabotages d'oléoducs dans le passé.

La Turquie importe depuis décembre du gaz iranien à des fins domestiques via ce gazoduc qui relie la ville de Tabriz, dans le nord-ouest de l'Iran, à Ankara.

Téhéran a annoncé cette semaine s'être entendu avec Ankara sur le transit de gaz naturel iranien via la Turquie vers les marchés européens.

Deux militants kurdes tués lors de combats dans le centre de la Turquie

Deux PKK militants ont été tués lors de combats avec les forces de sécurité dans la province de Sivas, dans le centre de la Turquie, a rapporté dimanche l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Les affrontements ont eu lieu dans une zone rurale proche de la bourgade d'Imranli, où les forces de sécurité ont lancé une opération sur la base d'informations fournies par les services de renseignement sur la présence de rebelles, a précisé Anatolie.

L'agence a indiqué que l'opération se poursuivait et disposait d'un soutien aérien.

La province de Sivas est située à la lisière des zones de peuplement kurde. (AFP, 19-20 août 2006)

Le procès s'ouvre en Irak concernant le génocide des Kurdes

Le président déchu Saddam Hussein, passible de la peine de mort dans un premier procès en cours, doit répondre lundi lors d'un deuxième procès, des accusations de génocide contre les Kurdes pendant la campagne Anfal (1987-1988), qui s'est soldée par au moins 100.000 morts.

Le parquet va essayer de prouver qu'en ordonnant la campagne Anfal ("butin de guerre", selon une sourate du Coran), Saddam s'est rendu coupable d'un génocide.

Moins d'un an après l'ouverture de son procès pour le massacre de 148 chiites de Doujail, dont le verdict doit être rendu le 16 octobre, Saddam va vivre son deuxième procès depuis la chute de son régime en 2003: il risque la peine de mort dans les deux procédures.

Le procès qui se déroule au Haut Tribunal pénal siégeant dans la zone verte, le secteur ultra-protégé de Bagdad, pourrait durer plusieurs mois selon des experts.

Le nom du juge, le chiite Abdallah al-Ameri, qui présidera les débats a été tenu secret le plus longtemps possible pour des raisons de sécurité: le premier juge du premier procès avait démissionné en cours de procédure alors que trois avocats de la défense avaient été tués.

Le procureur en chef du tribunal Jaafar al-Moussaoui a affirmé qu'il ouvrirait la séance et passerait ensuite la main à une équipe de trois avocats dirigée par Maître Munkis Taklif al-Faraon. Une équipe de quarante avocats, dont quatre participeront aux débats, représente les parties civiles kurdes.

Saddam Hussein et ses six co-accusés, dont le général Ali Hassan al-Majid dit "Ali le chimique" ou le "boucher du Kurdistan", seront défendus par une équipe de douze avocats.

La campagne Anfal avait pour objectif d'étouffer les velléités nationalistes kurdes en s'attaquant aux populations civiles, selon l'acccusation.

Si les troupes irakiennes ont effectivement été accrochées par de la guérilla kurde peshmerga, elles sont accusées d'avoir concentré leur puissance de feu sur les villages kurdes et d'avoir utilisé des armes chimiques.

"Les tueries ne sont pas en rapport avec la contre-insurrection", souligne l'observatoire américain des droits de l'Homme Human Rights Watch dans son rapport détaillé sur la campagne Anfal.

Le parquet tentera également de prouver l'existence de camps d'internement et des exécutions en masse.

"Les prisonniers étaient tués plusieurs jours ou même plusieurs semaines après que les forces de sécurité eurent atteint leur objectif", affirme le rapport précisant que ces points sont des indices d'une volonté de génocide.

En 1986, Saddam Hussein, dont le régime était fragilisé entre autres par la guerre contre l'Iran entamée en 1980, aurait ordonné à "Ali le chimique" de réprimer les Kurdes, dont la région échappait de plus en plus au contrôle de Bagdad.

Entre 1987 et 1988, au moins huit offensives ont été lancées contre le Kurdistan. Lors de celles-ci certaines régions étaient vidées et des populations déplacées dans des zones interdites où la répression faisait rage.

Le nombre de morts oscille entre 100.000 et 180.000 selon les différentes estimations.

Outre l'enjeu de la reconnaissance du génocide, le procès devrait également avoir un fort écho politique. Depuis 1991 et la fin de la première guerre du Golfe, le Kurdistan jouit d'une large autonomie qui était garantie en partie par la création d'une zone d'exclusion aérienne imposée par les Etats-Unis à Saddam Hussein.

Aujourd'hui, le Kurdistan est une province autonome de l'Irak, un pays gouverné par une fragile coalition d'union nationale, présidé par le Kurde Jalal Talabani.

L'avenir du Kurdistan est incertain. Le sort de Kirkouk, ville historique pour les Kurdes, mais habitée également par des turcomans, chiites et sunnites, pose un problème d'autant plus épineux que la région recèle du pétrole.

Le procès pourrait rassurer les Kurdes sur la volonté politique de punir les exactions du passé contre eux, mais il pourrait aussi rouvrir de vieilles blessures et relancer ainsi les velléités indépendantistes dormantes. (AFP, 18 août 2006)

Company Refuses to Distribute Kurdish Daily

The Kurdish language "Azadiya Welat" newspaper which after 12 years of printing in weekly editions has just become a daily is suffering from distribution problems.

Newspaper executives who prepared the journal for a daily format had to distribute the first issues through their nation-wide 12 offices when the company that used to distribute it in weekly format refused to do so on a daily basis.

Saying that talks were continuing to overcome the problem, the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief Tayyip Temel told Bianet that if no conclusion was reached, they would seek an alternative distribution company.

Newspaper bureaus have managed to distribute 25 thousand copies of the daily issue of the newspaper prepared for August 15 Thursday, he explained, noting that all copies in the east and southeast cities of Diyarbakir, Batman, Kiziltepe, Van, Adana, Mersin, Hakkari and Agri had sold out wile sales in the western province of Istanbul were high.

Temel, referring to the circulation and sales problems of opposition newspapers, agreed that the daily issue of Azadiye Welat would have problems even when distribution issues were resolved.

"When we take into account the Kurdish literacy rate, it is evident that we will have problems in the first stage. But our readers have been demanding a daily newspaper for a long time" he said.
Noting that approximately 15 million Kurds lived in Turkey, Temel said the Kurdish language faced a great problem in the country due to the policies enforced but that this should not be interpreted as this language not being necessary.

"Even though we have been printing weekly for about 12 years, our readership potential never fell under 7 thousand" he explained. "We thought that a weekly newspaper could not effectively meet the news requirement. Our target is for the Kurds to read news reports in their mother tongue".

Temel ecalled that of the court cases launched against the weekly version of the newspaper on grounds of conducting "visual and written propaganda" in favour of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), 20 were still continuing but claimed they would be "the voice of all Kurds in the world".

Temel, who believes practical restrictions against local Kurdish publications continue in the country says that even the allowing of Kurdish language broadcasts only for a limited time of 40 minutes is "an insult".

He argued that the Kurds had the right to protest these broadcasts by not listening to them and that it was important for the democratic quarters in Turkey to support a Kurdish newspaper.

Stressing that the daily version of the newspaper would be full of new initiatives, Temel said that for the first time Kurdish language sports and health news would be covered, marking a first in daily publishing.

To be published daily as an eight page newspaper, Azadiya Welat's editor is Hamdullah Yilmaz who was sentenced to three years imprisonment for "terror organization propaganda". Among its columnists is Istanbul Kurdish Institute Chairman Sami Tan, politician and writer Osman Ozcelik.

Temel said that author Mehmet Uzun had also promised he "will definitely write" for the newspaper. (BIA,  Erol ONDEROGLU, August 16, 2006)

Deux soldats turcs tués par des militants kurdes dans le Sud-Est

Deux soldats turcs ont été tués mardi dans des combats avec des militants kurdes du PKK dans le Sud-Est de la Turquie, a-t-on annoncé de source officielle.

Les affrontements ont eu lieu sur les hauteurs de Gabar, dans la province de Sirnak, proche de la frontière avec l'Irak, a souligné un communiqué du gouvernorat de Sirnak reçu à Diyarbakir, principale ville du Sud-Est anatolien peuplé majoritairement de Kurdes.

Un groupe kurde revendique un attentat

Un groupe armé kurde a revendiqué mardi un attentat à la bombe perpétré la veille dans un quartier touristique d'Istanbul qui a blessé trois personnes, a rapporté une agence pro-kurde, dont le siège est en Europe.

Une bombe de faible puissance a explosé lundi dans le quartier touristique de Sultanahmet. L'engin, une "bombe à percussion", expression désignant des dispositifs visant plus à faire du bruit que des victimes, était posé sous un banc de la place de Sultanahmet, bordée par la mosquée-musée de Sainte-Sophie, la mosquée de Sultanahmet et le palais ottoman de Topkapi.

"Nous assumons la résponsablité de cet acte (...) dont les conséquences auraient pu être beaucoup plus sanglantes", a indiqué les Faucons de la liberté du Kurdistan (TAK) dans un communiqué rapporté par l'agence Firat.

L'explosion est intervenue à la veille de l'anniversaire du déclenchement, le 15 août 1984, des attaques armées du Parti des travailleurs du PKK.  (AFP, 15 août 2006)

Ocalan pourrait appeler à un cessez-le-feu en cas d'"approche sincère"

Le leader du PKK Abdullah Öcalan a annoncé qu'il pourrait appeler ses militants à déclarer un cessez-le-feu si Ankara affichait une "approche sincère" pour la résolution du conflit, a rapporté une agence pro-kurde vendredi.

"Il est possible d'arrêter l'effusion de sang (...) Si le gouvernement affiche une position sincère nous ferons ce qui est en notre pouvoir. J'appellerai au cessez-le-feu et les affrontements cesseront", a déclaré le chef du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), cité par l'agence de presse Firat, basée en Allemagne.

Ces déclarations ont apparemment été transmises à l'agence par les avocats d'Öcalan, qui selon cette source, auraient rencontré le chef séparatiste dans sa prison sur l'île d'Imrali (nord-ouest), où il purge depuis 1999 une peine de prison à vie pour trahison.

"Nos demandes sont très claires (...) Nos enfants devraient être éduqués dans leur langue maternelle, et (pouvoir) écouter la radio, regarder la télévision et lire les journaux" en kurde, a dit Abdullah Öcalan.

 Désireuse d'affermir sa crédibilité en tant que régime démocratique en vue d'une adhésion à l'Union européenne, la Turquie a autorisé la diffusion de quelques programmes radio et télévisés et la publication de journaux en kurde ainsi que l'enseignement, à titre privé, de la langue kurde.

Mais la Constitution turque interdit l'utilisation d'une autre langue que le turc, seule langue officielle, dans les établissements d'enseignement public.

Öcalan a déclaré que si Ankara prenait "des mesures pratiques et donnait certaines garanties" après un éventuel cessez-le-feu du PKK, les rebelles se retireraient en Irak ou dans un autre pays.

"A l'étape finale, les armes seraient déposées pour de bon, dans le cas où une garantie juridique serait donnée", a-t-il souligné, dans ce qui a semblé être une allusion à une demande d'amnistie pour les membres du PKK.

"Un dialogue démocratique est nécessaire pour (aboutir à) une solution permanente", a estimé M. Öcalan.

"Vous ne pouvez pas en finir avec le PKK en suppliant les Etats-Unis et en coopérant avec l'Iran et la Syrie", a-t-il poursuivi.  (AFP, 11 août 2006)

Turkish, Iranian armies build up forces along Iraq’s only quiet area

Hundreds of Kurds had to flee their homes in the mountain village of Razqa, Iraq, when artillery shells came whistling down from Iran early this month, blowing apart their homes and livestock.

In Turkey, meanwhile, armoured personnel carriers and tanks rumble along its remote border with Iraq’s Kurdish zone. Turkey has sent tens of thousands of fresh soldiers in the last few weeks to beef up an already formidable force there.

The Kurdish provinces of northern Iraq are the country’s most stable and prosperous area. But to neighbouring Iran and Turkey, they are something else: an inspiration and a support base for the large Kurdish minorities in their own countries.

So Iran and Turkey are sending troops, tanks and artillery to the frontier to seal off the borders and send a message: if the U.S.-backed Iraqi government doesn’t clamp down on Kurdish guerrillas who use Iraq as a base, they’ll do it themselves.

That has left the United States in a quandary. If U.S. forces take action, they risk alienating Iraqi Kurds, the most pro-American group in the region. And if they don’t, they risk increased tensions – and possibly worse – with two powerful rivals.

Just listen to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

"We would not hesitate to take every kind of measures when our security is at stake," Gul said when asked whether Turkish troops might cross into Iraq. "The United States best understands Turkey’s position. Everybody knows what they can do when they feel their security is threatened."

Iran’s artillery barrages could be warning shots, a crackdown on Kurdish guerrillas now as a factor in the wrangling with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Kurds, who make up 14 per cent of Iran’s population, have long complained of discrimination in Iran. Iraq’s Kurds backed the U.S. invasion of their country. Would the Kurds of Iran take the American side if tensions escalated there?

"The Iranians are clearly very concerned over the mobilization of their own Kurdish minority," said Toby Dodge, an Iraq expert at Queen Mary College, University of London.

And Tehran may also be flexing its muscles to remind the United States that it shares a long border with Iraq, and could cause serious problems there for the United States.

The Iranians’ policy is to warn that "we have the potential to run you out of Iraq if you don’t give us some slack over the nuclear issue," Dodge said.

The traditional Kurdish region spans Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria and the guerrillas are based in a mountain range of northern Iraq that stretches into Turkey and Iran. They seem determined to keep up their decades-long struggle.

Kurdish guerrillas of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan, or PEJAK, have called on Kurds in western Iran to begin a campaign of civil disobedience. In clashes with Iranian security forces last year, dozens of PEJAK fighters and about a dozen Iranian soldiers were killed, according to official Iranian reports.

This year, more than a dozen members of Turkish security forces in southern Turkey have been killed fighting Kurdish guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is closely allied with PEJAK.

After Iran shelled a village used by Kurdish guerrillas, the PKK warned that it was "capable of responding to these attacks with more strength then ever."

The attacks, which heat up in the spring when snow-covered mountain passes clear, have led to the military buildups along the borders. Turkey and Iran have both rushed tens of thousands of troops to the area.

Iran has twice shelled Iraqi Kurdish villages believed to be harbouring PKK militants.

As the Iranians bombarded Razqa on May 1, hundreds of people fled. The shelling killed some farm animals but there were no reports of human casualties. Several homes could be seen severely damaged and holes from shells cratered the streets.

Olla Hamad, a villager, said most of the guerrillas are hiding in the mountains.

"PKK militants do not care about the bombings," he said, pointing toward the heights near the village. "They hide in safe rocky places in the mountains."

A Western diplomat said Turkish officials have hinted to the United States that they are considering a large-scale military operation across the border.

In a visit to Turkey in late April, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned against any major strike.

"We want anything we do to contribute to stability in Iraq and not to threaten that stability or to make a difficult situation worse," Rice said at a news conference with Gul.

The Western diplomat said Iranian troops on the border are not front-line combat troops and Washington does not believe there will be any Iranian cross-border operations. The diplomat agreed to discuss the situation only if granted anonymity because of the subject’s sensitivity.

Some analysts say that besides sealing off their borders to the guerrillas, both Iran and Turkey may be trying to intimidate Iraqi Kurds. The Iranians and Turks fear Kurdish success in creating an autonomous region in northern Iraq, and the prosperity of their enclave, could encourage their own Kurdish minorities.

"The Iranians and the Turks do not want a free Kurdistan there," said Nazmi Gur, vice president of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party. "They are saying to the Kurds `We are here.’ " (AP, Louis Meixler, August 12, 2006)

Iraqi Government banned th PKK in Baghdad

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki banned the PKK from operating in Baghdad in a move seen largely as a gesture to Turkey, which had threatened to send troops across the border to destroy the group's bases in northern Iraq. Al-Maliki told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the order during a telephone conversation Saturday, the statement said.

It was unclear whether the order would have significant effect on the party, known as PKK, which is not known to have a major operation in Baghdad. The PKK operates clandestine bases in the Kurdish self-ruled provinces of northern Iraq, where central government authority is limited.

Last month, Erdogan said Turkey was moving forward with plans to send troops into northern Iraq to attack PKK bases but was holding talks with the United States and Iraq in an attempt to defuse tensions.

In an interview with the New York Times published Saturday, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Iran was encouraging Shiite militias to step up attacks on U.S. forces in retaliation for Israel's assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Shiite Hezbollah is backed by Iran.

Privately, some senior U.S. officials are skeptical the Iranian government is doing more than providing money to select Shiite groups. Others insist Iran is providing weapons and training to some Shiite factions. (AP, Robert H. Reid, August 13, 2006)

State Forces Suspected of Forest Fires in Kurdish Region

Human Rights Association (IHD) Bingol Branch Secretary lawyer Cevat Ishakogulu has said that a forest fire that started in the province four days ago was still continuing with no intervention on part of officials to control or stop it.

The IHD Bingol branch on Thursday made a formal application to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry asking both for action to be taken to stop the spreading fire and for any officials who might have neglected their duty to be investigated.

Ishakogulu said that while forest cutting was continuing in the region due to security reasons, our opinion that this fire which is now endangering many villages was started for security reasons is getting stronger.

IHD Bingol issued a written statement on the issue where it said the fire that started near the Doganli village of Bingols Genc township four days ago had already destroyed a major part of the forest areas between the villages of Doganli, Dedebag and Camliyurt.

Although applications were made on Tuesday by the IHD provincial branch to the Bingol Governors Office, the Genc Local Governors Office, the Genc Forestry Directorate and the Elazig Forestry Directorate, no answer was received, Ishakogulu explained.

"While they have not intervened until today, they have not given any answer to our association either. Because of this, we have today made an application to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Ishakogulu added that as the fire was not only continuing but also spreading, thre were genuine concerns for the villages and their habitants in the forest areas.

He noted that this fire was exactly in the same area where in 2003 a forest fire had remained ablaze for a whole ten days and said this raised some questions.

NGOs believe the fire may be related to the forest cutting operation that has been underway in Bingol since Spring with the primary target of cleaning wooded tracts and bushes 50 meters either side of the railway line and the highway as part of security measures imposed in Turkeys war on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Last month, bianet had reported on a similar forest fire in Sirnak's Cudi Mountain, with local journalist Kerem Celik blaming the local Ikizce Commando Battalion for setting the fire on grounds of security.

Celik told bianet in relation to the Cudi fire then that the first fire was set off with a small area in the military field, around the (Ikizce Commando Battalion) station being set on fire for reasons of security. But the fire could not be controlled and it spread.

He added that as the fire was in a military zone, outside interference was not possible and said according to our observation, the soldiers took no observable measures to prevent the fire from spreading. (BIA News Center, August 11, 2006)

Deux policiers tués par une mine, 3 poseurs de bombe arrêtés

Deux policiers ont été tués et un autre blessé dimanche par l'explosion d'un mine activée à distance par des militants kurdes à Tunceli, dans l'Est de la Turquie, tandis que trois poseurs de bombe présumés du PKK ont été interpellés dans le Sud du pays.

Le premier incident s'est produit non loin d'un poste de la police anti-émeutes dans le centre-ville de Tunceli qui est depuis longtemps le théâtre d'affrontements entre militants et forces de sécurité, a-t-on indiqué de sources de sécurité locales à Diyarbakir, la principale ville du Sud-Est, dont la population est en majorité kurde.

Par ailleurs, trois poseurs de bombe présumés du PKK, dont une femme, ont été interpellés en possession de 1,5 kg de plastic à Alanya, station balnéaire populaire du Sud du pays, sur la Méditerranée, a annoncé l'agence Anatolie.

D'autre part, six personnes ont été blessées, dont une grièvement, dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche par l'explosion d'une bombe dans une poubelle à Istanbul, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie.

L'incident s'est produit devant un café internet du quartier de Kumkapi, dans la partie européenne de la première métropole turque.

La police a précisé que l'explosion est d'origine criminelle et que les artificiers tentent d'établir le type de l'explosif utilisé. (AFP, 13 août 2006)

New manoeuvres for preventing Kurds' election to the Parleiament

In a move to demonstrate the government's non-wavering commitment to democratic reform, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party is planning to convene Parliament for an emergency session to pass a critical harmonization package mid-September.

AK Party members said yesterday that Parliament will probably be called for an extraordinary session on Sept. 19 to pass European Union harmonization laws before the release of the EU's regular country report in October. Amendments to the Elections Law, announced last week by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, may also be brought up in the extraordinary meeting, they said.

The decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to hear a case filed by the defunct pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) against the 10 percent threshold in national elections led the government to address the anticipated adjustments to the Elections Law.

For the first time, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he favors lowering the 10 percent threshold in a statement over the weekend. Although there are claims that Erdogan has addressed the issue because of the possibility that the ECHR will oppose the 10 percent threshold, some commentators argue that Erdogan's remark is a political tactic.

Claims indicated that Erdogan said that the 10 percent threshold may be lowered because he is aiming to prevent any alliances or mergers among political parties. There are also certain circles who claim that Erdogan made the suggestion to use it as a bargaining tool against the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). CHP leader Deniz Baykal fiercely opposes lowering the 10 percent national threshold.

Meanwhile, some circles argue that lowering the 10 percent threshold may result in a fall in the number of votes for parties other than the AK Party, which currently has around 30 percent of the vote according to recent opinion polls. In this case, the claims suggest, while the AK Party will be able to get 30 percent of the votes, other parties will make up a fragmented structure, won't be able to get the number of votes they anticipate and will have fewer deputies than they expect.

The reason why these circles regard Erdogan's statement favoring the lowering of the 10 percent threshold with suspicion is the fact that Erdogan said at his party's retreat in Kizilcahamam last spring that the threshold will be kept unchanged for two or three more terms. At that time Erdogan opposed suggestions from the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to reduce the threshold to 7 or 8 percent.

Erdogan also suggested that the age limit for being elected a deputy be reduced from 30 to 25, that a deputy who resigns from his or her party should also lose his or her seat in Parliament, that auxiliary deputies be elected and that 100 out of 550 deputies be elected as "Turkey deputies."

He said that they will seek an agreement with the CHP for these amendments. However CHP deputy group leader Kemal Anadol said that the AK Party hasn't taken any official or unofficial initiatives in this regard about the changes to be made to the Elections Law. Anadol argued that Erdogan made the suggestions to distract attention from funerals held every day for soldiers dying in clashes with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The amendments Erdogan proposed need to be passed and put into force by November at the latest in order to be implemented in November 2007. Under the Constitution, amendments to the Elections Law can be implemented only if they are made at least one year in advance.

In the meantime, claims by Enis Berberoglu, a columnist for mass-circulation daily Hurriyet, that the AK Party is discussing a threshold for independent candidates, made the headlines in daily Vatan on Wednesday. According to claims, a threshold similar to the one in effect in Greece to prevent Turks from Western Thrace from being elected, will be applied to independent candidates in Turkey. The motive behind that is to prevent pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) members from running in the elections as independent candidates due to the national threshold.

The possibility of the DTP winning seats in Parliament from 11 to 13 eastern and southeastern provinces has been debated for the last year. AK Party Hakkari Deputy Mustafa Zeydan recently said that the DTP could get around 50 deputies if its members run independently in the elections and called on the party administration to take measures against this possibility.

However AK Party deputies have said that they are debating the changes to be made to the law amongst themselves, but haven't made a decision to apply a threshold for independent candidates. Although there are deputies in the AK Party arguing that a threshold is necessary, the party group's suggestions about the Elections Law aren't yet clear.

ECHR to examine election threshold on September 5

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Sept. 5 is to hear a case aimed at removing the 10 percent threshold in general elections.

The application to the court was made by candidates of the now defunct pro-Kurdish Party for Democracy (DEHAP), Resul Sadak, Mehmet Yumak and Fahri Elci, who failed to enter Parliament due to the 10 percent threshold in the 2002 general elections.

Under Turkish law, a political party contesting a national election must win10 percent of the national vote to enter Parliament.

The former DEHAP members said that despite receiving a high percentage of the vote in their provinces they couldn't enter Parliament. Sadak, who is currently the mayor of Idil, said despite receiving nearly 50 percent of the vote in his province in three general elections, 1995,1999 and 2002, he was not able to enter Parliament. Sadak also said that the 10 percent threshold is undemocratic.

Reports say that the ECHR has ruled on election systems in other countries before, but this will be the first time that the court is to rule on an election barrier. It has been said that the court's verdict on the case could have an effect on Turkish laws regulating election systems and political parties.

Officials said the court is expected to reach a final verdict by the end of this year. (The New Anatolian, 10 August 2006)

Preventing the election of Kurds is no solution

Until now Turkey's pro-Kurdish parties have participated in all parliamentary elections and received from 5 to 6 percent of the vote and therefore not been able to win seats because they didn't pass the 10 percent threshold.

Despite the fact that they didn't win any seats they still boasted that they had the backing of 5 percent of the electorate and should thus be taken seriously. But when your deputies are not in Parliament whatever you say or do is disregarded and so pro-Kurdish activists have now realized that they have to change tactics.

In the 2002 elections the pro-Kurdish Democratic Community Party (DTP) won 6.22 percent of the vote. In most southeastern provinces the party won an overwhelming majority of the vote but still didn't secure any seats and instead those seats were filled by deputies from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, which did well in the nationwide polls but badly in all those areas.

So the true representatives of the people of southeastern Turkey were not in Parliament …

With elections approaching in the second half of 2007, it seems the government is concerned that this time pro-Kurdish parties will field independent deputies to overcome the 10 percent threshold for parties seeking to enter Parliament. In normal circumstances, if pro-Kurdish activists had tried to enter Parliament as independents at least two dozen would be in Parliament today …

So there are reports that the government is trying to prevent this from happening by introducing a new threshold for independent deputies that will make sure they do not win in the polls.

But because this will create furor among circles both at home and from abroad, especially from the European Union, the government is reportedly planning to add a sugar coating through the introduction of a new system in which 450 deputies will be elected by the current proportional representation system with the 10 percent threshold, while 100 deputies are to be elected according to the percentage of votes they receive without the limitations of a threshold. This way, even a party which wins 6 percent of the vote, like the DTP, will have six deputies.

The idea is that then there would be only a handful of Kurdish activists in Parliament while under the current system there would be more than two dozen who could form a group and so make their voices heard …

Trying to silence Kurdish activists is not democratic. They should be in Parliament to the extent that the people of their region desire their presence there. Turks should not be scared to listen to realities being aired on the Parliament floor. When people are not allowed to voice their views legitimately then they have no option but to resort to illegal means and this only fuels secessionism and terrorism.

Turkey has to face its own realities without having to resort to shortcuts … The AK Party should not try to hang on to seats in southeastern and eastern Turkey if the local people do not want AK Party candidates to represent them in Parliament … (The New Anatolian, ilnurcevik@yahoo.com, August 10, 2006)

Un militaire et un militant kurde tués dans le Sud-Est

Un sous-officier turc a été tué tôt lundi dans sa maison du sud-est de la Turquie par des militants kurdes tandis qu'un militant a été déchiqueté lorsque l'engin qu'il manipulait a explosé dans cette même région, ont indiqué les autorités locales.

L'attaque contre le militaire par des militants du PKK s'est produite à Beytüssebap, à une cinquantaine de kilomètres de la frontière irakienne, dans une région peuplé majoritairement de Kurdes. Le fils du sous-officier a été blessé, a-t-on précisé.

Dans un incident séparé non loin de cette ville, un militant a été tué sur le coup dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi par un puissant engin qu'il manipulait et qu'il voulait déposer sur une route empruntée par des troupes militaires, selon un communiqué officiel. (AFP, 7 août 2006)

Des attaques attribuées à la guérilla kurde font 3 morts et 8 blessés

Trois soldats ont été tués et quatre autres personnes blessées dimanche en Turquie dans des attaques menées dans une zone rurale de la province de Gumushane (nord-est). Des gens armés ont attiré dans une embuscade un véhicule militaire qui s'est renversé après que le chauffeur eut été blessé et eut perdu le contrôle du véhicule, a indiqué le gouverneur de la province Veysel Dalmaz à l'agence Anatolie.

Un responsable local de la sécurité a attribué cette attaque au PKK.

Plus tôt dimanche, une mine, activée par télécommande, avait explosé sur le passage d'un train de marchandises dans le sud-est, entre les provinces de Bingöl et d'Elazig, blessant 4 gardes de la sécurité.

Des responsables locaux ont attribué l'explosion au PKK.

Cinq responsables de la sécurité avaient été tués l'an dernier par l'explosion d'une bombe au passage d'un train dans la province de Bingöl.

Au moins 94 militants du PKK et 62 membres des forces de sécurité sont morts dans les violences qui se sont multipliées cette année, selon un décompte de l'AFP.  (AFP, 6 août 2006)

TAK revendique 2 attentats, nouvelle explosion dans le sud

Une organisation radicale kurde, Les Faucons pour la Liberté du Kurdistan (TAK), a revendiqué samedi deux attentats qui ont fait 17 blessés vendredi dans le sud de la Turquie, tandis qu'un nouvel attentat a visé samedi un bureau du principal parti d'opposition.

La bombe, placée à l'entrée du siège régional du Parti républicain du peuple (centre-gauche) à Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est du pays à majorité kurde, a endommagé l'immeuble sans faire de victimes, ont indiqué les autorités.

Il s'agit d'une bombe assourdissante, selon des sources policières, qui n'ont pas donné de détails sur les auteurs de l'attentat.

Plus tôt samedi, le TAK a revendiqué deux attentats à la bombe simultanés, devant une banque à Adana (sud) faisant dix-sept blessés vendredi.

Dans un communiqué publié sur leur site internet, les TAK précisent que leur attaque était un acte de représailles contre "le traitement fasciste subi par le président Apo et par notre peuple".

"Nos actions deviendront chaque jour de plus en plus violentes", menace le TAK.

La succursale de la banque Oyakbank, proche du lieu des explosions, a été visée parce qu'elle dépend de l'armée, souligne le communiqué.

Oyakbank est la propriété des fonds de pension militaires turcs.

La première explosion s'est produite à proximité d'un distributeur de billets d'Oyakbank et a été suivie, six minutes plus tard, par une deuxième explosion sur un chantier à plusieurs mètres de là.

Dix-sept personnes, dont huit policiers et deux stagiaires de l'école de  police locale, ont été blessés.

Les TAK ont revendiqué dix autres attentats à la bombe dans divers centres urbains à travers la Turquie cette année, qui ont fait six morts et 120 blessés. (AFP, 5 août 2006)

New probe into DTP Kars head Alinak

A public prosecutor's office yesterday launched a new probe into Democratic Society Party (DTP) Kars branch head Mahmut Alinak, who is already facing several lawsuits.

It was launched by the Ardahan Public Prosecutor's Office over remarks made by Alinak in January claiming that last November's bombings in Semdinli, Hakkari were carried out by "hoodlums of the counter-guerilla republic."

Regarding the release of two non-commissioned gendarmerie officers on their own recognizance following questioning into the incident, he said, "That hoodlum worked for the counter-guerilla republic; of course the regime protected and released him."

The gendarmerie officers, Ali Kaya and Ozcan Ildeniz, were later sentenced to almost 40 years in prison apiece.

"Turkish politics is shaped by this counter-guerilla mentality; whatever the counter-guerilla republic orders, Parliament does, the General Staff does and the president does," charged Alinak. "Parliament is just a rubber-stamp organ that works under the authority of the counter-guerilla republic."

Ardahan Public Prosecutor Metin Aslan said that Alinak had insulted the republic and other constitutional organs, overstepped the limits of criticism and made insulting and unfounded remarks about the constitutional order. (The New Anatolian, 4 August 2006)

KRG has no plan to handover PKK members to Turkey

The spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government stated that his government has no plan to handover members of the PKK to Turkey, reported local media on Thursday.

The statement by Omar Fattah, the deputy Prime Minster of the KRG, ends the speculation of recent media reports alleging that the PKK would be attacked by southern Kurds. Fattah added that they pursue the end of the PKK in the region peacefully.

It was reported in the Turkish media that the Iraqi authorities handover high ranking members of the PKK.

Recently the President of Kurdistan, Massuad Barzani, told the media that even if he, as the President, ordered the attacks on the PKK, the Kurdish peshmarga would refuse to fight Kurds. (KurdishMedia.com, August 3, 2006)

Turkey sends reconnaissance units into  Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraqi officials said the Turkish Army sent reconnaissance units to the Kandil mountains over the last week. The Kandil mountains were believed to contain about 5,000 fighters of the Kurdish Workers Party. No clashes were reported.

Turkey had embarked on a military buildup along the border with Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. But despite repeated threats Turkey has not ordered an invasion.

"We got some information that there is some movement on the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey, and it seems some Turkish soldiers entered Iraqi Kurdish villages near Zakho," Fuad Hussein, an adviser to Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, said.

Officials said the Turkish military appeared to be preparing for a massive operation in Iraq. They said the United States, including President George Bush, has urged Ankara to exercise restraint.

"It is obvious that over the last two or three weeks, the Turkish Army has brought large numbers of soldiers to the Iraqi Kurdistan border," Hussein said.

The Baghdad government has examined options to counter any Turkish military invasion. A senior Kurdish official was expected to arrive in Irbil to discuss defensive measures.

"The main headquarters of the PKK is inside Turkish territory," Kurdish Affairs Minister Mohammad Ihsan said. "The Turkish government should solve its problems within its territory and not violate our territory."

Iran has also been operating against the PKK along the Iraqi border. Officials said the Iran Army has fired artillery toward Kurdish strongholds in northern Iraq.

For his part, Hussein expressed confidence that the United States would not participate in a Turkish invasion of Kurdistan. He said Washington maintains close relations with the Kurdish government.

"I think one must be realistic if one knows the area and the relationship between the United States and the Kurdish authorities here," Hussein said. (World Tribune.com - http://www.kurdmedia.com, August 2, 2006)

Les nouveaux marchandages tripartites concernant le PKK en Iraq

Le président irakien Jalal Talabani a assuré mercredi que l'Irak "fera tout son possible pour empêcher le PKK d'attaquer la Turquie depuis le sol irakien".

"Je suis personnellement intervenu sur la question du PKK et j'ai appelé le représentant turc pour lui assuré que le gouvernement irakien est sérieusement décidé à faire cesser l'utilisation du territoire irakien par des groupes armés visant des pays voisins", a déclaré le président irakien lors d'une conférence de presse.

"L'Irak fera tout son possible pour empêcher le PKK d'attaquer la Turquie depuis le sol irakien", a-t-il poursuivi, assurant avoir déjà ordonné la fermeture de bureaux du PKK, considéré par les Etats-Unis et l'Union européenne comme une organisation terroriste.

Une rencontre trilatérale entre responsables irakiens, américains et kurdes doit avoir lieu prochainement à ce sujet, a indiqué M. Talabani, lui-même Kurde, sans en préciser la date.

Plus tôt dans la journée, le porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères turc, Namik Tan, avait fait preuve d'optimisme quant à la collaboration de l'Irak et des Etats-Unis.

"L'Irak nous a récemment donné des informations sur les mesures qu'il prévoit pour faire cesser les activités de l'organisation terroriste du PKK en Irak", avait déclaré M. Tan.  "Au bout du compte, le PKK sera définitivement vaincu", a-t-il ajouté. "Nous le verrons très clairement très prochainement".

L'optimisme apparent de la Turquie intervient après qu'elle eut menacé le mois dernier d'intervenir militairement par-delà la frontière irakienne contre les camps du PKK si Bagdad et Washington n'agissaient pas.

M. Tan a souligné que la Turquie souhaitait accroître sa coopération avec les Etats-Unis et l'Irak sur ce dossier.

"Plus notre coopération se renforcera, plus vite nous pourrons observer des résultats concrets", a-t-il commenté. "Nous nourrissons un fort espoir que les résultats concrets de cette coopération vont commencer à apparaître bientôt".

Au moins 94 rebelles et 58 membres des forces de sécurité turques ont péri depuis le début de l'année dans le Sud-Est anatolien, peuplé en majorité de Kurdes, selon un comptage de l'AFP. (AFP, 2 août 2006)

Declaration of 38 Intellectuals on Kurdish Problem: “It is Our Problem As Well”

38 intellectuals of Turkey issued the following declaration over Kurdish problem under the title "It is Our Problem As Well."

“Some parts of this country is not less precious than the others. If there is suffering in one part it is my problem as well...

We are all in the same ship; women, men, Kurds, Turks, Alewis, immigrants, unemployed, youth, people trying to set up a decent life in the shanty towns around the big cities, minorities, victims of violence and those who feed violence unknowingly... We are all on the same way, comrades.. Whether we know that or not...

We do not want a country polarised on the axis of Kemalism-islamism or Turks-Kurds. We refuse to be part of a polarised scene. We defend all colours, midtones, bridges and synthesis...

What we demand in our country:

1. Political, legal, cultural, international dimensions are being taken into consideration in terms of a search for a solution to Kurdish issue. We want the humanitarian dimension to be prioritised...
2. In order for our country to be free of violence and terror it should be understood that politics can not go hand in hand with arms and that violence can not silence and stop the search for rights....
3. The issue should stop being viewed as a loyalty- treason issue, the nationalist viewpoint of seeing all critical approaches as the potantial enemy inside should be left behind....
4. To see that respecting the suffering of the others is basic to be and act as a society and live in peace....
5. To make effort to clarify that a long lasting solution will come not from outside but from inside, from us and it will not be a military solution but civilian...
6. Kurdish question is not one dimesnional and the solution will involve multiactors...
7. The initiatives big or small, to improve humanitarian conditions should be respected...
8. Womens issues should be separatelt addressed and the importance of an independent women’s movement should be acknowledged ...
9. Children of displaced Kurdish families should be provided with necessary help and assistance to be able to set up new lives in the new cities yhet settle....
10. A conciousness raising campaign should be launched against honour-traditional killings...
11. Multiculturalism and bilingualism should be acknowledged as a right...
12. The villages whose names have been changed should be able to assume their old names.... People should be able to name their children...
13. A new language of dialog should be encouraged free of escalating hostility and violence. Listening, understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation should be encouraged....
14. To see and to be able to show that we all share the same public space afterall and we have common values and interests...

Ahmet İnsel, Ahmet İçduygu, Ali Bayramoğlu, Ayşe Gül Altınay, Ayhan Bilgen, Can Paker, Derya Sazak, Ece Temelkuran, Elif Şafak, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Eyüp Can, Fazıl Hüsnü Erdem, Ferhat Kentel, Fuat Keyman, Gençay Gürsoy, İbrahim Betil, Kutbettin Arzu, Mesut Öztürk, Mesut Yeğen, Mithat Sancar, Murat Belge, Muharrem Erbey, Mustafa Karaalioğlu, Nebahat Akkoç, Necdet İpekyüz, Osman Kavala, Oya Baydar, Ömer Laçiner, Rojbin Tugan, Sabih Ataç, Salim Uslu, Sedat Yurtdaş, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Şahismail Bedirhanoğlu, Tahir Dadak, Tarhan Erdem, Yusuf Alataş, Zozan Özgökçe.


Minorités / Minorities

Armenian Patriarch Mutafian's Controversial Statements to the Turkish Media

It seems that Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Mesrop II Mutafian, is getting into the habit of ascribing his own opinion to the Armenian community and making grim conclusions and prognosis in Turkish printed media. Still in mid-June when Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II was getting ready for Istanbul visit, he suggested Turkish papers that "the Armenian community of Constantinople thinks that the Supreme Patriarch does not know the proper place for his statements," thus trying to forecast "possible unrest during his visit" and to let the world know about the Armenian community’s "concern."

Patriarch Mutafian’s gloomy forecast did not though hit the target. According to Armenian press of Istanbul, the community not only warmly welcomed His Holiness and enjoyed his presence but also was surprised at Mesrop Mutafian’s conclusion that "some fears in the community came true." The Armenian community strongly criticized Patriarch Mutafian "for casting shadow on the Catholicos’s visit" and emphasized: "When His Holiness was still in Istanbul, in his interview with Hurriyet Patriarch Mutafian showed that he can hardly follow a logic worthy a religious leader."

It was the interview with Sefa Kaplan published on June 28 in Hurriyet that Patriarch Mutafian provided "clarification" to the Catholicos’s press conference. In August 6 issue of Hurriyet answering the question of the same correspondent, the Patriarch made public his attitude to his compatriots in Armenia not forgetting to speak for the whole community.

Asked by Kaplan "what kind of relations do you have with your compatriots in Armenia? Do they turn to you with requests?", Patriarch Mutafian answers: "Two-three years ago they used to turn to us for money. Seeing that they were in desperate need we would help them paying for their ticket to Armenia. Then we saw that they return to Istanbul from Samsun or Trapizon but do not return to Armenia. That’s why we decided not to fund anymore. But the church still remains a meeting place for the latter. On Sundays Surp Astvatsatsin church is full of Armenians speaking Eastern Armenian. The Ethiopians and Africa-born Armenians also come. So when preaching you may think that people do not understand you."

Asked "what’s the education level of those people", the Patriarch says: "Almost all of them are university graduates but they found no jobs at home. There are even doctors among them who attend patients at home but earn more than in Armenia."

Answering a question about the relations between the Turks and the Armenians of Armenia, Patriarch Mutafian says: "Relations are rather good. I think if there were exchange programs of students, intellectuals, artists and media representatives, Turkey-Armenia relations would improve."

The most exciting in the interview were perhaps the last two questions. The correspondent asked: "Are there cases when the Armenian residents turn to you complaining of bad treatment?", to which the Patriarch answers: "As far as I know, they get along very well, and there were even marriages with the Turks."

Asked "if the local Armenian community is worried because of the Armenian residents", the Patriarch says: "Unfortunately, there is more distrust than worry towards them. The local community is slow to trust those people for unknown reasons. There is a firm opinion in the community that they are ‘untrustworthy and do not keep their word’. This is an inglorious phenomenon."

Firstly, it should be said that not all job seekers in Turkey are university graduates. The Patriarch simply lies fanning the fires of those who want to see Armenia ruined. As to the community, if they really consider their compatriots in Armenia untrustworthy, then it goes against the Patriarch’s words that the Armenians get along with the Turks and even marry them.

If Patriarch Mutafian ascribes distrust to the Armenian community, then he carelessly sticks a label of untrustworthy on the Turks who trust the Armenian residents to the extent of marrying them. In this case the Armenian community of Constantinople takes the stance of distrust to Turks because of its Patriarch’s wishful thinking.

It’s obvious that in order to "get well along with the Armenians" the Turks have to be at least equally bad, therefore the Patriarch’s suspicion towards his countryman should refer to Turks as well. We can only remind him the inscription that Lraber, the patriarchy’s newspaper, carries: "The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates." (www.azg.am, Hakob Chakrian, August 24, 2006)

Turkish State Regards Own Citizens as "Foreigners"

A recent report looking into the purchase of immovable property by foreigners in Turkey has drawn criticism to the State Supervisory Council for listing the country's minority foundations among foreign legal entities.

Minority law expert lawyers Kezban Hatemi and Murat Cano have said the Council's report is in breach of the Constitution while Prof.Dr. Baskin Oran, a lecturer at the Ankara University Political Sciences Faculty said any student who made a classification similar to the report would have repeatedly failed classes.

The State Supervisory Council (DDK/Devlet Denetleme Kurulu) is attached to the Office of the Presidency of the Republic and has some special power in every kind of state supervision.

Speaking to bianet on the DDK's Report Examining the Practices of Foreign National Real Persons and Commercial Companies of Corporate Nature Set Up in Foreign Countries Obtaining Immovable Property Inside The Borders of The Republic of Turkey, Hatemi described the classification in the text as "in only one word, a disgrace".

"A foreigner is a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of Turkey" Hatemi explained. "Foundations of congregations are foundations set up by people who are citizens of the Republic of Turkey coming together. This classification shows non-Muslim citizens of the Republic of Turkey as if they were foreigners".

She said the DDK, a constitutional supervisory institution established with the aim of performing and developing the regular and efficient functioning of the administration and its observance of law, needed first to supervise its own mentality in accordance with the Constitution.

"From the President to the individual, the Constitution is binding for everyone. The classification in this report is a constitutional offence. This mentality which defines those inside of it as foreigners is the obstacle in front of democracy" she said.

Adding, "The President should also condemn this. The minorities could use their right to petition and write to the President and condemn this".

Cano: State not based on religion or race

Lawyer Cano referred to the classification as "an illiterate exercise" stressing "The Constitution determines that the state is not founded on race of religion, that citizens are equal in rights and freedoms."

"Minority foundations are not foreign legal entities. Because they are institutions of the Republic of Turkey that are accepted as legal entities according to the laws of the Republic of Turkey. All of their executives are citizens of the Republic. Whatever rights and licenses the foundations set up by Turkish Republic citizen Muslims have, the minority foundations have the same rights and licenses".

Oran: Citizenship of Turkey important

Prof. Dr. Oran said the situation with regard to the report and its classification further showed how the concept of "being a citizen of Turkey" as they recommended in the Minority and Cultural Rights Working Group Report was important.

"Because, [the concept of] Turk signifies an ethnic group, not a nation. When this is the case we continuously come across things like this" he said.

"This way, the non-Muslims are formally being left out of the concept of citizenship. As Etyen Mahcupyan says, it leads not to being a non-Muslim but to being a non-citizen.

How Foundations became 'Foreign'

The Fourth Section of the DDK report titles "The Obtaining of Immovable Property in Turkey by Foreign Real Entities" lists among those entities those minority foundations formed in Turkey. A section of the report on corporate ownership also lists the foundations alongside companies of foreign capital or foreign companies.

The report describes "congregation foundations" as institutions set up by people of the same religion or race, aiming to serve their communities and allowed to obtain property in Turkey under permission of the General Directorate of Foundations to meet their requirements in religious, educational, social and cultural fields.

The report cites the foundations in Turkey as belonging to Turkish Orthodox, Greek, Armenian, Jewish, Bulgarian, Georgian, Assyrian, Maruni and Keldani people saying that as of December 31, 2004, they had a total of 161 congregation foundations in Turkey and that 159 of these had immovable property "in the borders of our country".

In an explanatory part of the DDK report, it is stated that the immovable property of congregation foundations in Turkey are divided into 5 groups based on the number of property and their size. According the property of Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Assyrian congregations are listed under their own names and individually while the Turkish Orthodox, Keldani, Maruni, Bulgarian and Georgian congregation properties are listed as "others".

The report says that 1.427 immovable properties with known surface areas belong to 142 congregation foundations in Turkey and these are 2.584.763 m2 in total. Of the 1.427; 650 (%45.6) belong to Greek foundations, 510 (%35.7) to Armenian, 122 (%8.5) to Assyrian, 113 (%7.9) to Jewish and 32 (%2.2) to the 'others'. (BIA, Tolga KORKUT, August 14, 2006)

CHP Leader Baykal: "There are no minorities in Turkey"

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that everybody in Turkey is a part of the Turkish nation and that there are no minorities in the country.

Speaking in Kahramanmaras over the weekend, Baykal said there's a deliberate political aim behind terrorism in Turkey, adding, "What will happen if you divide the country? You'll only become a pawn on a chess board and on someone's energy map. There are no minorities in Turkey; we are all one and united. Terrorism in Turkey is aimed at imposing a policy of divide and rule. The administrators of the country, meanwhile, are just trying to save the day regarding terrorism. We're preventing threats with our one-third of seats in Parliament."

Asserting that the biggest threat in Turkey is the abuse of religion for political aims, Baykal said that the country will become a Taliban-like regime if politics, the law and justice are mixed with religion.

"We're all Muslims and proud of our faith," Baykal said. "We're all one as a people, wearing a headscarf or not. But the regime will become a Taliban-like regime if you try to blend religion with politics, the law and justice. We won't allow them to repress or divide Turkey. We believe in the people." (The New Anatolian, 14 August 2006)

Politique intérieure/Interior Politics

La Turquie confrontée à une crise de la noisette

Le gouvernement turc est confronté ces dernières semaines à une crise agricole sans précédent provoquée par la colère des dizaines de milliers de producteurs de noisettes, très touchés par la baisse des prix de ce fruit dont la Turquie a le quasi-monopole mondial.

Ils étaient près de 100.000 selon la police et 150.000 selon les organisateurs, à manifester pour dénoncer la politique du gouvernement, fin juillet à Ordu, sur la mer Noire, dans le Nord-Est de la Turquie où est cultivée depuis des temps immémoriaux la noisette.

Le rassemblement a dégénéré en affrontements avec les policiers et le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan a limogé le chef de la police de cette petite ville, jugeant son attitude face aux manifestants par trop indulgente.

Les manifestants ont brûlé une effigie de Cüneyd Zapsu, important exportateur de noisettes et proche conseiller de M. Erdogan, qu'ils accusent de faire baisser les cours.

70 à 80% des noisettes produites dans le monde proviennent de Turquie, ressort-il des chiffres du ministère de l'Agriculture, et plus de deux millions de personnes vivent pour l'essentiel de cette culture dans la région de la mer Noire. Ce fruit représente plus de 30% de la production agricole nationale.

La production de noisettes excède la consommation mondiale, d'où l'effondrement du cours qui est passé depuis l'an dernier de 6 à 2,5 livres turques (3,2 à 1,3 euro) le kilogramme, le niveau le plus bas de l'histoire de la Turquie.

Les petits cultivateurs qui n'arrivent pas à écouler leurs noisettes se sont endettés auprès des banques, certains sont même ruinés.

Les pertes totales sont évaluées à quelque 2,5 milliards de dollars (1,95 milliard d'euros), disent les spécialistes du dossier.

L'Union des producteurs de noisettes (Fiskobirlik), chargée de la vente, ne peut payer les sommes qu'elle doit aux cultivateurs, faisant dégringoler les prix, et est très critiquée par le gouvernement, celui-ci la montrant du doigt pour son "incapacité" à gérer la crise.

Mais c'est le gouvernement qui est la principale cible des paysans.

En effet, l'Etat épongeait les dettes, estimées annuellement à 100 millions de dollars (78 millions d'euros), de Fiskobirlik, en achetant le surplus de noisettes.

Mais, depuis trois ans, le gouvernement refuse de renflouer Fiskobirlik en raison de ses engagements auprès du Fonds monétaire international (FMI) qui l'a sommé de réduire les dépenses budgétaires.

Mardi dernier, M. Erdogan a réuni un "sommet de la noisette" auquel ont participé de nombreux ministres pour faire le point de la situation et il a été décidé de racheter une partie du surplus de cette année, une décision jugée cependant insuffisante par les producteurs.

Le président de la puissante chambre de commerce d'Ankara, Sinan Aygün, a appelé à une "mobilisation" pour empêcher que cette crise ne débouche sur un fléau social dans les zones productrices.

Son organisation a décidé de distribuer des noisettes dans les écoles pour écouler la surproduction.

"La noisette est la pierre angulaire de l'économie turque", a-t-il été jusqu'à affirmer, appelant les Turcs à consommer davantage de ce fruit "national".

Le président de l'Union des chambres agricoles (TZOB) Semsi Bayraktar a quant à lui menacé le gouvernement de nouvelles manifestations au cas où le gouvernement ne s'impliquerait pas davantage dans le règlement de la crise.  (AFP, 12 août 2006)

Le parti au pouvoir envisage des modifications à la loi électorale

Le parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP), au pouvoir en Turquie, souhaite amender la loi électorale afin de réduire l'âge d'éligibilité et le seuil électoral qu'un parti doit franchir pour entrer au Parlement, a-t-on appris mercredi de sources proches du parti.

Les cadres du parti du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan oeuvrent sur un projet d'amendement constitutionnel qui permettrait de réduire de 30 à 25 ans l'âge minimum pour être candidat à un siège à l'Assemblée nationale, qui compte 550 membres, a-t-on précisé.

Autre volet du projet: abaisser de 10 à 7% le seuil minimum des suffrages recueillis à l'échelle nationale pour qu'une formation puisse être représentée au Parlement, un changement demandé depuis longue date à la Turquie par l'Union européenne, avec laquelle elle a entamé l'an dernier des négociations d'adhésion.

Lors des dernières législatives de 2002, seul deux partis, l'AKP (issu de la mouvance islamiste) et le parti social-démocrate CHP ont pu envoyer des représentant au Parlement, tout les autres partis étant restés sous ce seuil.

Du coup, plus de 40% des électeurs n'ont pas été représentés.

Héritier du coup d'Etat militaire de 1980, le système électoral turc a jusqu'à présent empêché, avec son seuil électoral de 10%, les partis pro-kurdes d'entrer au Parlement.

Parmi d'autres modifications que l'AKP envisage d'apporter figure aussi une disposition qui rend plus difficile l'élection de candidats indépendants, et ce afin d'empêcher que des membres du principal mouvement pro-kurde de Turquie, le Parti pour une société démocratique (DTP), n'entrent au Parlement.

"Ils font des plans pour entrer à l'Assemblée comme députés indépendants. C'est une duperie, nous pouvons prendre des contre-mesures", a affirmé Burhan Kuzu, le président AKP de la commission constitutionelle au Parlement, à des journalistes.

Le Parlement rentre en principe le 1er octobre de vacances et ce projet devrait y être débattu dans sa forme finale après avoir obtenu l'aval de M. Erdogan. (AFP, 9 août 2006)

Istanbul mega-flags stir nationalist wave

Amid rising concern over a nationalist wave gaining ground in Turkey, Istanbul's mayor yesterday marked the first step by the municipality to furnish the city with huge national flags.

Istanbul Greater Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, hailing from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, hoisted a gigantic Turkish flag at a ceremony in Istanbul's Sarayburnu district, an elevated neighborhood that can easily be seen from around the city center.

The municipality aims to adorn the city with 10 flags, each weighing nearly 50 kilos.

However, several commentators watching these developments with concern have warned about what they see as a rapid escalation in nationalist sentiment and demonstrations, while urging authorities to stop "manipulating" the public.

On the other hand, a great many analysts have explained the rise in nationalist expression as an expected reaction to increased terrorism and Armenian genocide claims. It has become common to observe crowds marching against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) while carrying huge flags and shouting nationalist slogans.

Topbas, speaking at the ceremony, said, "The municipality wishes for all people living in Istanbul to feel the honor of living under the Turkish flag, the real love of the Turkish people, and that foreigners setting foot in the city notice these flags."

"The flags, which will be flown from 36 meter poles and be floodlit around the clock, will be in the sky forever," he added.

He also noted that each flag has an area of 150 square meters.

The enormous flags will be flown in the Emirgan Grove, Beylikduzu, Kartal and the Pendik districts, Camlica Hill and Istanbul's hilly Kayisdagi district.

The flag poles are made of a weather-resistant electro-plated material that can withstand gales and earthquakes.

Sisli district Mayor Mustafa Sarigul from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) also said recently that he is planning to have an extraordinarily large flag made to order. According to the mayor, one end of the flag could be placed in Taksim and the other in Sisli, a 15-minute walk away. (The New Anatolian, 3 August 2006)

Forces armées/Armed Forces

The military's war cries at the takeover ceremony

Taking over the helm of the General Staff from Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that never before had such danger and risk confronted Turkey as does today.The handover ceremony came amid speculations of a changed tone with Buyukanit taking the post of chief of General Staff from the academic, soft-spoken Ozkok.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and high-ranking military officials attended the ceremony in which retiring Chief of Staff Gen. Ozkok and Gen. Buyukanit both delivered speeches.

Ozkok, for his part, refrained from drawing a dark picture and chose instead to say that he leaves any judgment of his tenure to history.

Gen. Ozkok mainly touched on Turkey's security concerns, arguing that changing global conditions hadn't brought a bright picture for the country. Gen. Ozkok said that the security concerns around the world have changed. "While many countries have chosen to cut their defense expenses, Turkey remained at the center of security risks," he said.

Gen. Ozkok said terrorism and fundamentalism are two major security threats that Turkey should closely be watching and taking necessary measures to counter. Praising his successor, he said the new chief of general staff is a valuable commander who has proven himself at various posts over many years. "I have full confidence in him. I am sure he will carry the Turkish military to the 21st century," added Ozkok.

The theme of risk and dangers confronting Turkey was also sounded by the incoming chief of staff, but Gen Buyukanit also referred to domestic threats -- namely terrorism and fundamentalism.

"These have been present since the founding of the republic but I have to say that they have never been as strong as now," said Buyukanit. Gen. Buyukanit also stressed that "democracy" and "cultural rights" cannot be used to undermine the regime or the nation-state itself. He said at the ceremony he wouldn't answer the smear campaigns directed against him since he believes it's neither the right time nor place for such a thing.

After Gen. Buyukanit's speech, President Sezer decorated Gen. Ozkok with the State Medal of Honor, thanking him for his distinguished services as chief of general staff.

The new chief of General Staff, Gen. Buyukanit, will stay at the post for two years due to the age for mandatory retirement and probably will hand over his post to the current commander of the Land Forces, Gen. Ilker Basbug.

Büyükanıt is expected to adopt a tougher line towards European Union negotiations and in the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The change in military leadership comes as Turkey is insisting that Washington do more to crack down against PKK operating out of bases in northern Iraq. Many believe tension between the government and the military could increase under blunt-speaking Büyükanıt's leadership. But analysts were sanguine about relations between the military and the AKP, noting that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had hardened his stance on the PKK and introduced a tough new anti-terrorism law.

Büyükanıt raised eyebrows this year by praising a soldier subsequently jailed for a bombing believed to be aimed at stirring up unrest in the southeastern Anatolia. The bombing triggered riots in the region and a parliamentary inquiry. A regional prosecutor accused Büyükanıt of organizing an illegal group to plan the bombing, claims the General Staff strongly denied. The prosecutor was then sacked from his post in a move the EU said raised questions about judicial independence.

Analysts say Büyükanıt's no-nonsense views have been shaped by the time he spent in the Southeast during the 1990s, the heyday of the PKK, which is now seen as weakened but far from defeated. Büyükanıt's promotion also coincides with the renewed turmoil in Iraq and Lebanon. Ankara has said it may provide troops for an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon if conditions are right. (Turkish Daily News-The New Anatolian, 29 August 2006)

Le gouvernement veut un vote rapide sur l'envoi de soldats turcs

Le gouvernement turc va appeler le Parlement à écourter ses vacances pour examiner en urgence une motion sur l'envoi de troupes au Liban, a affirmé mardi aux journalistes le porte-parole du gouvernement, Cemil Ciçek.

"Nous projetons que la motion gouvernementale soit examinée au Parlement mardi" 5 septembre, a déclaré M. Ciçek au sortir d'une réunion avec le Premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, et plusieurs ministres. "C'est au président de l'Assemblée de prendre la décision, mais nous allons demander que cela ait lieu mardi", a ajouté M. Ciçek, dont les propos étaient retransmis par la chaîne d'information CNN-Türk.

M. Ciçek a indiqué plus tard au cours d'une discussion avec des journalistes que la durée de la mission confiée aux troupes envoyées au Liban serait d'au moins un an. "Les soldats qui seront envoyés au Liban seront en mission au moins un an, avec la possibilité d'une extension si nécessaire", déclaré le ministre, cité par l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Le gouvernement turc a annoncé lundi son intention d'envoyer des troupes en  renfort de la Force intérimaire des Nations unies au Liban (Finul), sans préciser le nombre de soldats devant être déployés. Selon la presse, la participation turque pourrait être de 600 à 1.200 hommes.

La rentrée parlementaire était initialement prévue pour le 1er octobre. Le parti gouvernemental de la Justice et du Développement (AKP) dispose d'une écrasante majorité au Parlement et une motion sur l'envoi de troupes à toutes les chances d'y être adoptée. (AFP, 29 août 2006)

Le gouvernement annonce officiellement la participation turque à la Finul

Le gouvernement turc a annoncé lundi officiellement la participation de son pays à la Force intérimaire des Nations unies au Liban (Finul), sans toutefois préciser l'ampleur de la contribution turque, qui sera arrêtée dans les jours prochain.

"La Turquie ne peut rester simple spectateur, comme un lointain pays (face) aux événements qui se déroulent au Proche-Orient (...) cet état de choses serait contraire à nos intérêts nationaux", a expliqué le porte-parole du gouvernement turc Cemil Ciçek au terme d'un conseil des ministres.

Le parlement turc, actuellement en vacances, qui aura le dernier mot sur l'envoi de troupes à l'étranger sera convoqué "dans les plus brefs délais" en session extraordinaire, a-t-il dit.

De source gouvernementale, on précise que l'Assemblée nationale pourrait se réunir dès cette semaine ou au plus tard d'ici la fin de la semaine prochaine.

La date de l'envoi des casques bleus turcs dépendra de l'adoption d'une motion gouvernementale à l'Assemblée nationale où le parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste), au pouvoir, dispose d'une écrasante majorité.

L'opposition parlementaire s'est prononcée contre la participation de militaires turcs à la Finul, qualifiant la position du gouvernement d'"aventurisme".

M. Ciçek, qui est également ministre de la Justice, a souligné que des travaux techniques étaient actuellement en cours à l'état-major des armées et au sein du gouvernement pour déterminer le nombre de soldats qui seront envoyés.

"Les détails sur le nombre de troupes seront connus ultérieurement", a-t-il dit.

Selon la presse turque, la participation turque serait de 600 à 1.200 hommes.

Le ministre a aussi souligné que les militaires turcs n'auront pas pour mission de désarmer la milice chiite libanaise Hezbollah.

M. Ciçek a par ailleurs rejeté les critiques du chef de l'Etat Ahmet Necdet Sezer qui s'était opposé l'envoi d'un contingent au Liban, affirmant qu'"il n'est pas question d'agir comme un simple spectateur aux faits".

 "La Turquie va assumer ses responsabilités et jouer un rôle actif" dans la zone, a-t-il ajouté.

Vendredi, le président de la République s'était clairement opposé à l'éventualité de dépêcher des troupes au Liban, estimant en substance que l'armée turque faisait face à d'autres problèmes, en particulier celui des séparatistes kurdes dans le sud-est du pays.

Il avait aussi stigmatisé l'empressement d'Ankara de s'engager en faveur d'un renforcement de la Finul.

La Turquie, pays musulman mais au régime laïque, occupe une position unique au Proche-Orient : elle jouit de la confiance d'Israël, pays avec lequel elle a signé un 1996 un accord de coopération militaire, et a des relations étroites avec les Etats arabes de la région.

Pour mettre à profit cette situation et renforcer sa position géostratégique, le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait laissé entendre le mois dernier que son pays enverrait un contingent au Liban.

La question de l'envoi de casques bleus au Liban sera également évoquée lors d'une visite à Ankara du secrétaire général de l'ONU, Kofi Annan, prévue le 6 septembre. 

Dissensions au sommet de l'Etat turc sur une participation à la Finul

L'éventuel déploiement de casques bleus turcs au Liban ravive les dissensions entre le chef de l'Etat Ahmet Necdet Sezer, opposé à une participation turque à la Finul, et le gouvernement qui y voit une occasion d'affermir la position géostratégique de la Turquie.

"Je suis opposé à l'envoi de soldats au Liban, il n'appartient pas à la Turquie de sauvegarder les intérêts nationaux d'autres pays", a déclaré M. Sezer vendredi lors d'une de ses rares interventions devant des journalistes à Ankara.

Le président a estimé en substance que l'armée turque avait d'autres chats à fouetter, en particulier le problème des séparatistes kurdes dans le sud-est du pays. Il a également désapprouvé les conditions d'engagement proposées par l'ONU et s'est dit plus favorable à une contribution humanitaire d'Ankara.

M. Sezer a ainsi pris le contre-pied du gouvernement du parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste) qui, sans avoir encore pris de décision officielle, s'est dit favorable à l'envoi d'un contingent pour renforcer la Force des Nations unies au Liban (Finul), la presse évoquant une participation turque à hauteur de 600 à 1.200 hommes.

"Alors que les grandes puissances sont toujours en train d'étudier la teneur de la résolution (1701 de l'ONU), nous nous sommes engagés avant même l'adoption du texte", a affirmé M. Sezer, stigmatisant l'empressement du gouvernement à se déclarer favorable, dès la fin juillet, à l'envoi de troupes.

L'opposition social-démocrate au Parlement a salué les déclarations de M. Sezer, qualifiant l'engagement du gouvernement d'"aventurisme".

L'offensive d'Israël au Liban a suscité un mouvement d'antipathie contre l'Etat hébreu et de nombreuses manifestations ont été organisées dans les grandes villes turques pour condamner les "massacres" commis contre la population civile.  (AFP, Burak Akinci, 28 août 2006)

New Army Chief Büyükanıt Promises To Crush "Terrorism"

The new chief of general staff promises to crush terrorism and dismisses attacks against the military and the republic under the guise of protecting democracy and human rights as futile ones that will only make them stronger

Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt, who will officially take over as the new chief of general staff on Aug. 28, said on Friday attacks on the military would only serve to make it stronger.

Speaking at a ceremony during which he handed over the post of land forces commander to Gen. İlker Başbuğ, Büyükanıt said the military was not like a small fire that could be extinguished by wind but was rather a huge blaze that became even bigger.

He said there were people who were attacking the soldiers and commanders who were putting their lives on the line to protect the country, adding that people guilty of such acts would be the victims of their own devices.

Those involved in antiterrorism acted in accordance with the law, he said, adding that anyone who wanted to attack the military and the police would be punished eventually. The Republic of Turkey and its military are determined to eliminate these groups. No one can hide behind human rights or democracy to attack this country or its regime.

He said it was important to act as part of the global community but added: Turkey faces both symmetric and asymmetric threats. These threats necessitate that Turkey have a strong military.

According to Büyükanıt the military's modernization efforts were misunderstood along with the process involved in transforming the force into a more mobile one that can fight wherever necessary.

He dismissed claims made in some newspapers about the Aegean Army and other commands being disbanded. We don't have any such plans. If you increase the capability and strength of a single brigade to that of three brigades, you can disband two, he said.

He also dismissed reports on the shortening of military service, noting that military service was shortened in 2003, resulting in the Land Forces shrinking by 20 percent. There will be no additional shortening of military service.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were also present at the ceremony. (Turkish Daily News, August 26, 2006)

Multiple Investigations into "Bombing General"

The Public Prosecutor's Office of the southeast Turkish Sirnak province has joined the list of those looking into retired Lieutenant General Altay Tokat's public revelation that he was responsible for ordering one or two clandestine street bombings when assigned to the region "to bring judges and civil servants in line".

The probe, coming in the wake of an ongoing investigation in Diyarbakir and another one launched at the end of July by the Chief of General Staff Headquarters, is meant to uncover whether Tokat was involved in similar extrajudicial activities while he was appointed as the Public Order Corps Commander in the region.

Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD), the Association for Human Rights and Solidarity with the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER), the Diyarbakir Bar Association and the Patriotic Front Jurists Initiative had previously filed criminal complaints against Tokat.

Self-confessed 'bomber'

Tokat's revelations were made during an interview with the "Aktuel" weekly and reported in summary in the July 27 issue of Sabah newspaper.

He was speaking in relation to the controversial bookstore bombing in Semdinli by members of the security forces, which the general described as a "possibly clumsy" operation.

"In my time," the retired general said, "I also had them throw a few bombs to some critical points. These were empty places! My issue was to give a message".

Tokat said the message given through street bombings targeted civil servants and judges who were assigned to the region and the explosions occurred close to were they lived.

"Civil servants, judges that come from the West [of Turkey] don't understand the seriousness of the situation... when things became calmer, they started to take this business nor seriously... In consequence I had [bombs] thrown at two places close to their houses. After that they understood that they needed to be careful. One [act of] disaster is better than a thousand words of advice. This way I educated them," he said.

"You can't immediately evaluate this by saying throwing bombs is illegal. I might have saved the lives of those people. I did not tell them either. Now if you construe this as assassination, I'll laugh at that" he was quoted as further saying. (BIA, August 14, 2006)

Ankara Bar Files Against "Military Impunity"

The Ankara Bar Association has filed a case with Turkey's Council of State against a Police General Directorate circular that prevents law enforcement officers from detaining soldiers or members of the armed forces even if where they are caught "red handed" in crime, out of uniform.

The case, filed on August 9 at the country's highest level court, states that the July 20 dated circular is in violation both of the Criminal Procedures Code (CMK) and the Regulation on Capture, Detention and Taking Statements. It stresses that the new regulation will also prevent any required measures that are normally taken where offenders are apprehended before or during the commissioning of a crime.

The Bar Association said that as military legislation did not cover this area, the code of the Regulation on Capture, Detention and Taking Statements should be enforced to everyone. Article 6, requiring a suspect to be captured, searched and stripped of any weapons to prevent his escape or endangering anyone else would therefore be applied to military personnel and soldiers.

The Association also asked the State Council to apply to the Constitutional Court to annul the Turkish Armed Forces Internal Service Law (TSKIHK) on grounds that it contradicted with the principles of "equality" and "fair trial" guaranteed by the Constitution.

In its argument against articles 92 and 93 of the TSKIHK, the Bar Association said these covered offences that soldiers might be involved in but because the articles ruled that even offences unrelated to the duty of the soldiers would be subject to special investigation procedures, they violated "equality" and "fair trial" rights under the Constitution.

Wednesday application to the State Council follows another case filed in the past week against the same circular by a senior Turkish police officer.

Kadir Ozdemir, a Turkish police superintendent based in the northern Black Sea town of Ordu filed a case against the same administrative circular with the Ordu Administrative Court arguing that the immunity granted to offending soldiers and armed forces staff would lead to irreparable harm.

He said the relevant circular contradicted the Turkish Constitution and was a violation of democracy and the rule of law. Ozdemir's petition stressed that as the circular needed to be enforced, it would force police officers to continuously commit the offence of neglecting their judicial duty.

The circular, since issued by the Police General Directorate, has been challenged by the Human Rights Association (IHD) for violating the principles of equality and supremacy of law. (BIA News Center, August 8, 2006)

Büyükanit: Turkish Land Forces to shrink by 2014

Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, who will be Turkey's new chief of general staff for the next two years starting from the end of the month, said yesterday that Turkey needs a robust land forces since it's in the center of an area of global crises.

But this does not mean that the it will increase in number. On the contrary, the outgoing Land Forces commander said that it will shrink by 20 to 30 percent by 2014.

Incoming Chief of General Staff Gen. Buyukanit gave significant messages during an interview with Defense and Aerospace Magazine, due to appear on the newsstands next week.

The general described Turkey's region and the steps that Turkey needs to take in the interview.

"Despite the detente after the end of the Cold War and the arms-race, the threats, instability and uncertainty in our region continue and are on the rise," he said.

Quoting Ataturk, Buyukanit said that a good armed force must not be aggressive but be materially and morally ready for defense in the face of an unjust offensive.

"It's extremely important for us to have deterrent armed forces in our region. Turkey's geopolitical location, combined with the fact that the country lies in the very center of various crisis areas, necessitates the army to assume various roles both in times of war and peace. The country must have strong and modern Land Forces," he said.

Forces 2014

Gen. Buyukanit, who sent crucial messages regarding the future of the Land Forces, said that the country2s own instabilities should also be taken into consideration. He reported that the land forces will shrink considerably within the next eight years. But he said that despite this process, the force's capacities will be increased.

"The Land Forces aim at being equipped with new opportunities and capabilities in order to carry out its duty in full strength against a large variety of threats, varying from classical threats to asymmetrical ones.

"The targets for our land forces are to be realized through 'Forces 2014' project. This project aims to shrink the forces without undermining its combat capabilities. On the contrary, under the plan the efficiency of the force will increase.

"Within this period of time the Land Forces will gradually decrease by 20 to 30 percent in terms of number of personnel and forces formations. It will be equipped with modern arms and war devices as the distinct features of this new formation. Thus the battle capability will be given to high-ranking brigades. Moreover with the Combat Zone Management System, the land tactical map will be numerically formed in real-time or close to real-time and a constant tracking will be provided," said Buyukanit. (The New Anatolian, Evren Deger, 10 August 2006)

Top brass of the Turkish Armed Forces reshaped

The top brass of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has been reshaped following the three-day meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS).

Following the appointment of Yasar Buyukanit to the helm of the General Staff effective Aug. 30, former First Army Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug replaced him as Land Forces commander.

The Navy and the Air Forces commanders weren't appointed this year since appointments to those posts were made last year, which means those commanders have another year left in office.

Although not officially confirmed, Lt. Gen. Atilla Isik and Lt. Gen. Hasan Igsiz were promoted to a higher rank in the YAS meeting. According to reports, Gen. Isik was appointed to the Land Forces Command chief of staff and Gen. Igsiz was appointed to the 2nd Army effective Aug. 30.

Reports indicated that there were two candidates for Gendarmerie General Command: Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner and Gen. Ismail Kocman, the commander of Education and Doctrine Command (EDOK). The sources were uncertain about the reports that Gen. Kosaner was appointed to the post. If Gen. Kosaner is appointed to the post, he will be appointed to the helm of the Land Forces Command following two years in this post and to the helm of the General Staff itself in 2010. Aegean Army Commander Gen. Fethi Tuncel remained in this post.

According to reports about the YAS decisions, which are expected to be officially announced today, appointments are as follows:

Land Forces Command Chief of Staff Gen. Ergin Saygin was appointed as deputy chief of General Staff, Third Army Commander Gen. Orhan Yoney was appointed as EDOK commander, Second Army Commander Gen. Sukru Sariisik was appointed as First Army commander, Lt. Gen. Isik, who was promoted to a higher rank as of Aug. 30, was appointed as Land Forces Command chief of staff, and Lt. Gen. Igsiz, who was promoted to a higher rank as well, was appointed as Second Army commander. (The New Anatolian, 4 August 2006)

L'armée renvoie 17 militaires pour des activités pro-islamistes

L'armée turque a annoncé vendredi dans un communiqué avoir renvoyé 17 militaires pour des activités pro-islamistes et pour indiscipline.

Les expulsions ont été décidées lors de la réunion annuelle du Conseil militaire supérieur, rassemblé trois jours durant sous la présidence du Premier ministre pour statuer sur les promotions, les départs en retraite et les exclusions au sein de l'armée, selon ce document.

Les exclus ont été convaincus de "participation à des activités réactionnaires" ou "d'avoir agi immoralement d'une manière portant atteinte au prestige de l'armée et d'avoir ignoré les avertissements (les appelant) à améliorer leur conduite", affirme le communiqué.

Le communiqué ne donne pas de détails sur la nature des actes d'indiscipline des officiers congédiés, mais l'armée, qui s'est érigée en gardienne du régime strictement laïc en vigueur en Turquie, a dans le passé expulsé des centaines de militaires soupçonnés de militantisme islamiste.

Le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et le ministre de la Défense Vecdi Gonul, dont le gouvernement est issu de la mouvance islamiste, ont au cours des dernières années émis des réserves sur ces expulsions, tout en les entérinant.

Bien qu'il ait publiquement renié ses convictions islamistes, le Parti de la justice et du développement de M. Erdogan est toujours regardé avec suspicion par l'armée et les défenseurs de la laïcité.

Les décisions du Conseil militaire supérieur sont irréversibles et ne sont pas susceptibles d'appel. (AFP, 4 août 2006)

Le Figaro: L'armée turque conforte son influence politique
 
L'ARMÉE a remporté une manche dans sa bataille contre le gouvernement AKP islamo-conservateur. Le général Yasar Büyükanit, qui appartient à la tendance dure de la hiérarchie militaire, a été nommé lundi chef de l'état-major. Son arrivée à la tête des forces armées confirme le regain d'influence du clan des souverainistes au sein de l'institution et intervient alors que les relations entre l'armée et le pouvoir civil se durcissent en Turquie.
 
La possible arrivée en 2007 au palais de Cankaya, fief laïc, d'un chef de l'Etat sorti des rangs de l'AKP, cristallise cette radicalisation. «Si jamais le premier ministre Erdogan brigue la présidence de la République, il y aura des tensions, assène Gündüz Aktan, directeur du think-tank Asam, proche des cercles militaro-nationalistes. L'armée le mettra en garde gentiment.»
 
Le message semble avoir été bien reçu par le gouvernement et la majorité AKP du Parlement, chargé d'élire le chef de l'Etat : les noms de présidentiables plus consensuels que celui du premier ministre circulent. L'enjeu de cette élection présidentielle est révélateur de l'intervention de l'armée dans le jeu politique turc. Toujours bien présente même si elle s'est faite plus discrète, notamment sous la pression de l'Union européenne.
 
Depuis 2003, de nombreuses réformes ont été menées pour réduire la capacité d'ingérence politique des militaires. Ainsi, ils ne disposent plus de représentants au sein du conseil de l'audiovisuel ou du YÖK, le puissant organisme de tutelle des universités. Surtout, le Conseil national de sécurité (MGK), sorte de cabinet ministériel parallèle qui permettait à l'état-major d'imposer ses vues au gouvernement, a été démilitarisé. Tout comme la majorité de ses membres, l'actuel secrétaire général du MGK vient désormais de la société civile.
 
Le processus de négociations d'adhésion à l'UE, soutenu par l'armée, a également réduit la marge de manoeuvre des militaires dans le sud-est du pays à majorité kurde. La guerre civile entre les troupes du séparatiste Abdullah Ocalan et l'armée a causé 37 000 morts dans les années 1980-1990. «Bruxelles soumet désormais l'armée à sa discipline en quelque sorte», explique Umit Cizre, politologue à l'université Bilkent à Ankara. Les combattants du PKK ont repris ces derniers mois leurs attaques : seize militaires ont été tués ces deux dernières semaines. Pourtant les requêtes d'une partie de l'appareil militaire pour restaurer l'état d'urgence n'ont jusqu'à présent pas trouvé d'écho favorable.
 
Mais selon Levent Unsaldi, sociologue auteur de l'essai Le Militaire et la politique en Turquie (*), les réformes obtenues par Bruxelles n'ont entamé qu'à la marge le pouvoir de l'institution : «Ses intérêts sont intacts, tout comme son droit d'ingérence dans la vie politique et sa mission de gardienne de l'intégrité de l'état.» Le Parlement valide toujours le budget des dépenses militaires sans discuter. Et la loi précisant les obligations de l'armée n'a pas été modifiée.
 
Son devoir reste «de surveiller et protéger la République établie constitutionnellement». En 1997, jugeant la laïcité en danger, l'armée avait acculé le gouvernement islamiste de Necmettin Erbakan à la démission. Ce pouvoir législatif est consolidé par un soutien sans faille du public. «Il faut garder à l'esprit que 80% de la population lui fait confiance, rappelle Mehmet Ali Birand, journaliste vedette à Kanal D et spécialiste des enjeux militaires. Une partie de la société civile soutient cette influence.»
 
Après l'assassinat en mai dernier d'un juge du Conseil d'Etat au cri de «Allaho Akbar !», des milliers de manifestants avaient scandé dans les rues d'Ankara «Erdogan, assassin !» Le chef de l'état-major de l'époque, Hilmi Özkök, était intervenu publiquement pour féliciter ses concitoyens.
 
L'actualité en Turquie est rythmée par les déclarations des généraux. Mais les interventions de l'armée ne se limitent pas au débat public. En novembre 2005, l'explosion d'une bombe dans une librairie pro-PKK à Semdinli, près de la frontière irakienne, avait fait un mort. Les responsables de l'attentat avaient été pris sur le fait : il s'agissait de deux gendarmes.
 
Un procureur de Van avait réclamé l'ouverture d'une enquête contre le général Büyükanit, commandant de l'armée de terre, et soupçonné de liens avec les deux militaires. Le magistrat, accusé par l'opposition d'agir pour le compte de l'AKP, a été radié. «Concernant les enjeux essentiels, le gouvernement est obligé de partager le pouvoir avec les militaires, résume Umit Cizre. Ils ont toujours le dernier mot sur les sujets sensibles comme Chypre ou les Kurdes.» (Le Figaro, Laure Marchand, 2 août 2006)

(*) Ed. L'Harmattan, Paris 2005.

Le Monde: Un "faucon" favorable à une opération en Irak

Le gouvernement turc a nommé à la tête de son armée, lundi 31 juillet, un général considéré comme un "faucon". Cette nomination intervient au moment où la Turquie relance ses menaces d'intervenir dans le nord de l'Irak et s'interroge sur sa participation à une force de paix au Liban.

Conforme aux traditions de rotation à la tête de l'état-major, la nomination du général Yasar Büyükanit, 66 ans, commandant des forces terrestres, pour remplacer le général Hilmi Özkök, un "modéré" qui part à la retraite, met fin à des mois de spéculations sur la volonté supposée du gouvernement turc de s'opposer à cette succession.

Le gouvernement du Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP), aux racines islamistes, fut ainsi accusé par l'opposition "kémaliste", laïciste et nationaliste comme les militaires, d'avoir poussé un procureur de province à demander - audace sans précédent - la mise en examen du futur numéro un de l'armée pour liens occultes avec un gang de provocateurs antikurdes.

Le procureur fut radié, mais le général Büyükanit, bien que déclaré au-dessus de tout soupçon, pourrait réagir en "animal blessé", estiment certains commentateurs, et chercher à se venger.

Le général Büyükanit est, en effet, connu pour ses rigidités sur les questions sécuritaires et ses penchants nationalistes, tout en étant accusé, dans les milieux islamistes qu'il combat, d'être "pro-américain" et "pro-israélien". Il serait surtout un "faucon" de la lutte contre le PKK - le parti ex-marxiste et séparatiste des rebelles kurdes de Turquie qui opèrent aussi à partir du nord de l'Irak.

En novembre, il critiqua le gouvernement pour son refus d'ordonner une intervention de l'armée contre les camps irakiens du PKK, après des attaques de celui-ci en Turquie. En juillet, des attaques plus meurtrières encore - 15 militaires turcs tués par le PKK en trois jours - ont fait la "une" des médias et amené le gouvernement à menacer d'intervenir "au cas où le gouvernement irakien ou les forces américaines en Irak ne prenaient pas eux-mêmes les mesures nécessaires".

Mais les Etats-Unis ont, comme toujours, exprimé leur opposition à toute opération "unilatérale" de l'armée turque en Irak, tout en promettant de coopérer avec la Turquie, membre de l'OTAN, contre le PKK - que Washington, de même que l'UE, ont inscrit sur leurs listes d'organisations terroristes. Ces promesses ne furent jamais mises en oeuvre, ce qui a nourri le soupçon, en Turquie, que les Etats-Unis veulent préserver le PKK comme une arme contre les régimes d'Iran et de Syrie, où celui-ci est également actif. C'est, en tout cas, ce qu'affirme l'ambassadeur d'Iran à Ankara, qui se félicite de la bonne coopération de la Turquie avec son pays contre le PKK.

Dans ce contexte, l'attaque israélienne contre le Liban à la poursuite du Hezbollah a eu pour effet d'accroître l'irritation turque contre Washington, les médias dénonçant la politique de "deux poids, deux mesures" des Américains, qui "encouragent Israël à faire ce qu'ils interdisent à la Turquie". Le premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a dû hausser le ton et tancer les Américains avant d'en obtenir des mises au point, confirmant que la Turquie "a le droit de se défendre contre le terrorisme".

Des séries de rencontres entre représentants turcs, américains et irakiens, ainsi que des entretiens téléphoniques entre MM. Bush et Erdogan, ont permis à ce dernier d'assurer à son pays que, cette fois, les Américains seraient décidés à agir contre le PKK. Des membres de l'administration kurde d'Irak entamaient, par ailleurs, leurs premiers entretiens sur le sujet en Turquie.

Mais, c'est surtout l'éventualité d'une participation turque à la force de paix envisagée pour le Liban qui donnerait à M. Erdogan l'espoir de voir les besoins sécuritaires de son propre pays pris finalement en compte.

Pour autant, les militaires turcs - et sans doute le général Büyükanit lui-même, qui doit prendre ses fonctions le 30 août - restaient très prudents sur leur intérêt à se joindre à une force dont les conditions de déploiement sont inconnues, où ils risquent d'être les seuls membres musulmans et de se retrouver au côté uniquement de membres de l'OTAN, estimait-on, lundi, de source diplomatique à Ankara. (Le Monde, Sophie Shihab, 2 août 2006)

Jurists Demand Inquiry for General Tokat

Jurists are preparing to file a criminal complaint against former Turkish Lieutenant General Altay Tokat who revealed in a recent interview that he had ordered clandestine street bombings while on duty in Southeast Turkey "to make judges and civil servants take their jobs serious and get in line". He reportedly had at least two bombs thrown close to residential compounds hosting the officials "to educate them".

Tokat's revelations were made during an interview with the "Aktuel" weekly and reported in summary in the July 27 issue of Sabah newspaper. He was speaking in relation to the controversial bookstore bombing in Semdinli by security officials, which the general described as a "possibly clumsy" operation.

"In my time," the retired general said, "I also had them throw a few bombs to some critical points. These were empty places! My issue was to give a message".

Tokat said the message given through street bombings targeted civil servants and judges who were assigned to the region and the explosions occurred close to were they lived.

"Civil servants, judges that come from the West [of Turkey] don't understand the seriousness of the situation... when things became calmer, they started to take this business nor seriously... In consequence I had [bombs] thrown at two places close to their houses. After that they understood that they needed to be careful. One [act of] disaster is better than a thousand words of advice. This way I educated them," he said.

"You can't immediately evaluate this by saying throwing bombs is illegal. I might have saved the lives of those people. I did not tell them either. Now if you construe this as assassination, I'll laugh at that" he was quoted as further saying.

Criminal Investigation

Diyarbakir Bar Association Chairman Sezgin Tanrikulu told bianet on Thursday that the association will be filing a criminal complaint to start an investigation into Tokat who "openly confessed his crime" while a former senior military judge said the revelations raised suspicions of an organized formation.

According to Tanrikulu the very essence of Tokat's statement is a crime in itself and prosecutors should take action on their own. "There is a direct threat and an influencing of justice" he said. "These bombing incidents should be investigated. There is also the praising of crime".

Referring to Tokat's assignment to the Diyarbakir Public Order Army Corps Command before serving as the Hakkari Commando Regiment Commander in the region, Tanrikulu explained that his revelations proved correct the existing suspicion over he impartiality of trials held in Diyarbakir and Van provinces in the 1990s.

Recalling that the Bar Association had long been raising questions on justice handed out during the 90s, Tanrikulu called for a debate on the impartiality of judges to start based on the former general's statements.
Kardas: Bombing may not be the only crime

Retired Military Prosecutor and Judge Umit Kardas told bianet in an exclusive interview that Tokat's statement was definitely a confession and added, "A Lieutenant General can't just go around exploding bombs as if he was using fireworks."

Kardas said in reference to the Semdinli bombing, "While non commissioned officers are exploding bombs, where does Tokat find the courage to say these things? It means they rely on a formation, a focal point. They rust that this cannot be revealed."

According to the former military justice, "This cannot be something personal. If there is a criminal conspiracy, a gang, this needs to reveal. In fact this itself might be a more severe crime. It might even fall under the scope of acts to change the constitutional order."

Kardas also said that he was not too hopeful any results would be achieved. "To be correct," he said, "the prosecutor where Tokat was on duty should open an investigation. But the Semdinli case has shows us things. No civilian prosecutor can do this anymore. "

Stressing that the incident was not only limited to the military Kardas concluded "This is not just a military issue. It is a general system with its soldier, politician and media. One needs to ask politicians how they just watched on". (BIA News Center, Tolga KORKUT, August 1, 2006)

Affaires religieuses/Religious Affairs

L'agression d'une femme en bikini par des islamistes trouble la Turquie

Une jeune femme turque, en bikini sur une plage, a été prise à partie par des islamistes dénonçant sa tenue, une agression qui illustre pour certains une dérive islamiste de la société turque, pays musulman mais république laïque.

L'incident, qui s'est produit la semaine dernière à Karaburun, une station d'été située près d'Izmir, aurait pu passer inaperçu, mais la victime, qui a saisi la justice, est la fille d'une journaliste du quotidien à gros tirage Hürriyet, qui n'a pas manqué de rapporter l'affaire en dénonçant une atteinte aux principes laïques de la République.

La jeune femme, qui avait prié des femmes en tchador de ne pas souiller le sable avec les langes sales de leurs bébés, a été traitée de "prostituée" car elle portait un bikini et a par la suite été molestée par les hommes du groupe.

L'agression a défrayé la chronique dans le pays où, depuis l'arrivée au pouvoir en 2002 du parti aux origines islamistes de la Justice et du Développement (AKP), la puissante hiérarchie pro-laïque, dont l'armée, ne cesse de déplorer une islamisation galopante de la société.

Des hôtels de luxe ont fait leur apparition ces dernières années sur les côtes turques, imposant de strictes règles islamiques et offrant à leurs clients des piscines et plages séparées pour hommes et femmes.

La vente des "hasema", des maillots de bain qui recouvrent les femmes voilées de la tête aux pieds et auxquels s'ajoutent une capuche, va bon train. Une nouvelle raison pour les défenseurs de la laïcité d'affirmer que les valeurs instaurées par le père fondateur de la Turquie moderne, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), prennent l'eau sous les coups du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et de son parti.

"Les partisans de l'AKP ne doivent pas agir avec la mentalité de ceux qui se croient tout permis parce que leur parti est au pouvoir", affirme Ertugrul Özkök, rédacteur-en-chef de Hürriyet, qui évoque une "impertinence sociale" des cercles ultra-musulmans.

Ce comportement pourrait, selon lui, provoquer un "sentiment de revanche" au sein de l'establishment pro-laïque pour lequel le port du voile islamique est un défi aux principes d'Atatürk et constitue un signe ostensible d'appartenance à l'islam politique.

Les épouses de la plupart des cadres de l'AKP sont voilées, dont celle de M. Erdogan. Le parti avait promis d'abolir l'interdiction du port du voile dans les universités et la fonction publique mais a dû, à chaque tentative, faire marche arrière.

Le responsables du tourisme se sont aussi dit inquiets.

Le président de l'association des investisseurs du tourisme (TYD), Oktay Varlier, a affirmé que l'incident nuirait au secteur qui a rapporté 18,1 milliards de dollars (14,1 mds d'euros) au pays en 2005.

"C'est un acte isolé mais il ternit l'image du pays à l'étranger", a-t-il dit.

Les journaux ont rapporté entre-temps d'autres incidents sur les plages impliquant les islamistes.

Les Rufai, une secte orthodoxe, ont installé un camping sauvage à Sile (nord-ouest), près d'Istanbul, empêchant pendant deux long mois les vacanciers de se promener sur une portion de la plage publique en raison de la présence des femmes du groupe, indique Radikal.

Les tentes du complexe ont été démontées mercredi soir à la suite de plaintes, ajoute le journal.

Et enfin, dernier épisode en date, un danseur du ballet d'Ankara a été agressé par des islamistes dans une crique de Seferihisar (ouest) car il a osé se baigner alors que des femmes voilées se détendaient dans les environs, rapporte Cumhuriyet.  (AFP, Burak Akinci, 25 août 2006)

L'avocat du "taliban de Brême" dénonce une "co-responsabilité" de Berlin

L'avocat de Murat Kurnaz, un Turc rentré jeudi en Allemagne après plus de quatre ans de détention sur la base américaine de Guantanamo, a dénoncé vendredi une "co-responsabilité" de l'ancien gouvernement allemand dans cette affaire.

"Il y a là une co-responsabilité" du gouvernement social-démocrate/Vert au pouvoir entre 1998 et 2005, a déclaré Me Bernhard Docke à la presse à Brême, ville de naissance du Turc de 24 ans à laquelle il est retourné après sa captivité.

"Pire encore, il existe un soupçon de défaut d'aide concrète" de la part de l'ex-gouvernement allemand, a estimé l'avocat. L'ancien chancelier social-démocrate Gerhard Schröder était en froid avec Washington en raison de son opposition à la guerre en Irak.

Me Docke a en revanche remercié l'engagement de l'actuelle chancelière conservatrice Angela Merkel pour la libération de son mandant.

"Ce jeune homme a vécu dans une cage" pendant plus de quatre ans sous une lumière au néon jamais éteinte, a souligné l'avocat.

Même dans l'avion qui l'a ramené en Allemagne jeudi, il est resté attaché aux mains et aux pieds, "humilié, avili: c'est dans cet état qu'il a été remis aux autorités allemandes", a-t-il ajouté.

Kurnaz, titulaire d'un passeport turc et né à Brême, est arrivé à la base américaine de Ramstein (sud-ouest) jeudi avant de rejoindre sa famille à Brême.

Le Parquet de Brême a annoncé vouloir rouvrir une instruction judiciaire à son encontre pour soupçon de fondation d'une association criminelle. Cette enquête avait été ouverte après le départ de Kurnaz pour le Pakistan et interrompue pendant sa détention à Guantanamo.

Murat Kurnaz avait été arrêté par les forces américaines au Pakistan après les attentats du 11 septembre 2001. Soupçonné d'activités terroristes, il avait été transféré sur la base de Guantanamo à Cuba en 2002.  (AFP, 24 août 2006)

Un Turc détenu à Guantanamo transféré vers l'Allemagne

Murat Kurnaz, un Turc né en Allemagne, a été libéré jeudi après avoir été détenu plus de quatre ans à Guantanamo et est arrivé à la base américaine de Ramstein (sud-ouest de l'Allemagne), a annoncé son avocat Bernhard Docke.

"Murat Kurnaz est libre. Il a été transféré de Guantanamo vers l'Allemagne, remis aux autorités allemandes à Ramstein et remis en liberté", selon un communiqué de Me Docke.

"Il se trouve au sein de sa famille", après quatre années et neuf mois de détention.

Titulaire d'un passeport turc et né à Brême, dans le nord-ouest de l'Allemagne, Murat Kurnaz avait été arrêté par les forces américaines au Pakistan après les attentats du 11 septembre 2001. Soupçonné d'activités terroristes, il avait été extradé vers Guantanamo en 2002.

Son avocat a souligné que son client allait "consulter un médecin et ne pas s'adresser à l'opinion publique pour le moment". "Il aura certainement besoin de temps pour réaliser ce passage abrupt de la prison de torture à la liberté", a-t-il ajouté.

Une conférence de presse est prévue vendredi à 11H00 GMT à Brême en présence de la mère de l'ancien détenu, Rabiye Kurnaz, et de l'avocat américain, Baher Azmy, a indiqué Bernhard Docke.

La presse allemande avait récemment évoqué sa prochaine libération. Des informations qu'avaient confirmées mercredi le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères puis le chef de la diplomatie allemande, Frank Walter Steinmeier, jeudi après-midi.

Surnommé le "Taliban de Brême" par la presse allemande, Kurnaz ne sera pas extradé vers la Turquie, car il n'y est pas recherché, selon Ankara.

Me Docke a remercié la chancelière allemande, Angela Merkel, et le ministère allemand des Affaires étrangères, qui "ont négocié depuis janvier 2006 avec les Américains pour la libération de Kurnaz".

Il a critiqué en revanche le "manque d'engagement actif du précédent gouvernement" du chancelier sociale-démocrate Gerhard Schröder, qui était en froid avec Washington en raison de son opposition à la guerre en Irak.

En mars dernier, l'hebdomadaire Der Spiegel avait affirmé que les Américains avaient rapidement été convaincus que Kurnaz n'était pas lié à al-Qaida, et que le Turc avait eu la malchance de se trouver "au mauvais endroit au mauvais moment". Washington avait donc proposé sa libération dès 2002, mais "les Allemands ont voulu empêcher son retour, car ils le considéraient comme dangereux", avait alors affirmé le Spiegel.

Le président américain George W. Bush avait affirmé en mai dans une interview à la télévision publique allemande ARD qu'il souhaiterait fermer le camp de Guantanamo et traduire en justice les personnes détenues sur cette base américaine à Cuba.

Mais le ministre américain de la Justice, Alberto Gonzales, a estimé début août que le gouvernement pouvait maintenir "indéfiniment" en détention des "ennemis combattants", pour la plupart incarcérés à Guantanamo (Cuba).

Près de 500 personnes sont détenues à Guantanamo, la majorité d'entre elles ayant été capturées en 2001 en Afghanistan.

Les conditions d'incarcération et le maintien en détention indéfinie de suspects non inculpés suscitent la controverse dans le monde. (AFP, 24 août 2006)

91 femmes tuées dans des crimes d'"honneur" depuis 2000

Les crimes d'"honneur" ont coûté la vie à 91 femmes depuis l'an 2000 en Turquie. Les violences infligées aux épouses par leurs maris y sont très répandues, selon un rapport de la police, cité par la presse. Ce genre de crimes dit d'"honneur est tristement très répandus, notamment en Jordanie et au Pakistan. En toute impunité ou presque.

Ces 91 femmes, âgées de 19 à 25 ans, ont été tuées pour laver l'"honneur familial", selon le rapport. Les auteurs de ces crimes sont originaires pour la plupart des régions de l'est et du sud-est anatolien, peuplées majoritairement de kurdes et largement régies par des règles claniques.

Selon un sondage réalisé par des organisations féminines à Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est, 37,4% des gens interrogés approuvent les "crimes d'honneur", précise le document.

Les familles se réunissent en "conseil" pour désigner le membre du clan qui sera chargé de tuer la femme qui, à leurs yeux, a entaché "leur honneur", le plus souvent en ayant une liaison hors mariage.

Les violences conjugales sont aussi devenues pratiquement banales dans l'ensemble de la Turquie. D'après le rapport, 62% des femmes sont victimes de violences au foyer et ces incidents sont d'autant plus répandus dans les métropoles comme Ankara et Istanbul.

La Turquie, qui souhaite adhérer à l'Union européenne, a été enjointe par Bruxelles d'améliorer le statut des femmes. Ankara a ainsi renforcé les sanctions prévues pour les auteurs de crimes d'honneur, qui peuvent désormais être condamnés à la prison à vie.  (apic/ag/arch/pr, 18 août 2006)

Incidents au procès de l'auteur d'une attaque contre des juges

L'auteur présumé d'un attentat contre le Conseil d'Etat turc, qui avait fait un mort et quatre blessés en mai à Ankara, a tenté de fuir la salle d'audience lors de l'ouverture de son procès vendredi, obligeant la cour à suspendre la séance.

Alparslan Arslan, un avocat de 29 ans, a auparavant reconnu avoir commis l'attentat contre la plus haute juridiction administrative turque ainsi qu'une attaque à la grenade contre le quotidien de gauche Cumhuriyet, en évoquant des motivations d'ordre religieux.

Le jeune homme était en train de faire sa déposition lorsqu'a retenti hors du tribunal l'appel du muezzin à la prière.

"C'est le moment de la prière du vendredi, je dois me conformer aux ordres d'Allah", a répété à plusieurs reprises le prévenu, le juge refusant de le laisser quitter l'audience pour prier.

Arslan a alors bondi par dessus le box des accusés et tenté de prendre la fuite, mais a été rapidement maîtrisé par les gendarmes présents dans la salle.

Face aux remous créés par l'incident - et notamment la bronca créée par les huit complices présumés de l'avocat, jugés avec lui -, la cour a suspendu l'audience pour deux heures.

Plus tard dans la journée, Arslan a fait une deuxième tentative de fuite, sans succès, après avoir entendu l'appel à la prière de l'après-midi.

Arslan a admis avoir commis l'attentat contre la 4e chambre du Conseil d'Etat, où il avait fait feu sur cinq juges, en tuant un et blessant les quatre autres, de même qu'une des trois attaques à la grenade perpétrées à la même époque contre le quotidien Cumhuriyet, qui n'avaient pas fait de victimes.

Selon des témoignages, l'avocat avait fait irruption dans une salle d'audience du Conseil d'Etat en criant "Je suis un soldat de Dieu".

"J'ai planifié dans ma tête les événements du Conseil d'Etat et de Cumhuriyet", a-t-il déclaré. "J'ai un caractère enclin à la violence".

Le prévenu a expliqué avoir agi en réaction à une décision du Conseil d'Etat sur le port du foulard islamique.

Cette institution est connue comme un bastion de la laïcité et pour la vigueur avec laquelle elle fait respecter l'interdiction du port du foulard islamique dans les administrations publiques et les universités.

Arslan a indiqué que les attaques contre Cumhuriyet visaient à punir le journal après la publication d'une caricature représentant un porc (animal impur pour les musulmans) affublé du foulard islamique.

L'avocat a par ailleurs donné des indications sur son passé politique en expliquant que l'un des coprévenus, Süleyman Esen, son maître à penser quand il était étudiant, était à l'époque le chef d'une section locale des Foyers d'Idéalistes, une organisation d'extrême droite.

Le ministère public a requis la prison à vie sans réduction de peine pour Arslan, accusé de tentative de renversement de l'ordre constitutionnel, d'assassinat, de tentative d'assassinat, d'usage d'explosifs et de violations de la loi sur les armes à feu, et quatre de ses complices supposés.

L'attentat contre le Conseil d'Etat avait provoqué de vives tensions politiques, l'opposition accusant le gouvernement, issu de la mouvance islamiste, d'avoir encouragé le geste de l'assaillant en prenant position contre l'interdiction du voile islamique et en critiquant les décisions du Conseil d'Etat sur le sujet. (AFP, 11 août 2006)

Socio-économique / Socio-economic

Le secrétaire d'Etat néerlandais à Ankara pour évoquer l'Otapan

Le secrétaire d'Etat néerlandais à l'Environnement, Pieter van Geel, est arrivé à Ankara lundi pour rencontrer son homologue turc Osman Pepe, afin d'évoquer le sort de l'Otapan, un navire chargé d'amiante parti d'Amsterdam et refoulé des eaux turques jeudi.

"Pieter van Geel doit rencontrer son homologue (Osman) Pepe dans l'après-midi", a indiqué à l'AFP le porte-parole du secrétaire d'Etat, Jeroen Bos.

Le secrétaire d'Etat "se sent une responsabilité morale" de régler l'affaire de l'Otapan, navire poubelle battant pavillon mexicain, parti le 25 juillet d'Amsterdam afin d'être désamianté dans un chantier près d'Izmir (ouest de la Turquie), a poursuivi le porte-parole.

Jeudi, le ministère turc de l'Environnement avait annoncé que, "d'après les analyses effectuées, la quantité d'amiante sur l'Otapan est supérieure à celle annoncée", et avait refusé par conséquent qu'il pénètre dans les eaux territoriales turques.

Se fondant sur les déclarations du propriétaire du navire, les autorités néerlandaises avaient fourni à la Turquie une estimation selon laquelle il comportait une tonne d'amiante.

"Nous avons été légers. Selon des estimations plus réalistes, il comporte 45 tonnes d'amiante", a indiqué Jeroen Bos.

Il a également précisé que l'Otapan a été vendu par son propriétaire Basilisk au chantier naval de Simsekler près d'Izmir, qui est censé le démanteler.

"Comme la vente a été conclue dans les eaux internationales, nous ne savons pas si le navire est déjà propriété turque", a expliqué M. Bos.

Selon des informations diffusées précédemment par le gouvernement néerlandais, l'Otapan était à la fois propriété de l'Etat néerlandais et de Basilisk, une compagnie spécialisée dans le rééchelonnement et le recouvrement de dettes.

L'arrivée de l'Otapan est un sujet sensible en Turquie, déjà échaudée par l'affaire du MV Ulla, un navire battant pavillon de Saint-Vincent (Caraïbes) qui a sombré en 2004 avec 2.200 tonnes de cendres toxiques d'origine espagnole dans le port d'Iskenderun (Sud), où il était immobilisé depuis quatre ans en raison d'une bataille juridique. (AFP, 28 août 2006)

Amiante: La Turquie refoule un navire mexicain (ministre)

La Turquie refuse l'accès de ses eaux territoriales à l'Otopan, un navire battant pavillon mexicain qui devait gagner un chantier naval turc pour y être désamianté, car il transporte une quantité trop élevée d'amiante, a affirmé jeudi le ministre turc de l'Environnement.

Le bâtiment, qui était bloqué à Amsterdam depuis 1999, a quitté les Pays-Bas le 25 juillet pour gagner le chantier d'Aliaga, près d'Izmir (ouest).

"Notre ministère a été informé par (...) le ministère de l'Environnement néerlandais que, d'après les analyses effectuées, la quantité d'amiante sur l'Otopan est supérieure à celle annoncée", a déclaré Osman Pepe à des journalistes lors d'un déplacement à Rize (nord-est).

"Sur ce, nous avons informé que nous refuserons le navire Otopan. En conséquence, l'Otopan ne pénètrera absolument pas dans les eaux territoriales turques", a poursuivi le ministre, cité par l'agence de presse Anatolie.

La Turquie avait demandé mi-août aux Pays-Bas de confirmer que le navire comportait bien une tonne d'amiante, comme indiqué dans une notification précédente, faute de quoi il serait refoulé des eaux territoriales turques.

Selon la branche turque de l'organisation de défense de l'environnement Greenpeace, l'Otopan, en mauvais état au point de devoir être remorqué pour atteindre les abords de la Turquie, comporte 10 tonnes d'amiante et non une tonne.

La Turquie a déjà été échaudée par l'affaire du MV Ulla, un navire battant pavillon de Saint-Vincent (Caraïbes) qui a sombré en 2004 avec 2.200 tonnes de cendres toxiques d'origine espagnole dans le port d'Iskenderun (sud), où il était immobilisé depuis quatre ans en raison d'une bataille juridique.

L'Otapan appartient à la fois à l'Etat néerlandais et à Basilisk, une compagnie spécialisée dans le rééchelonnement et le recouvrement de dettes. (AFP, 24 août 2006)

Activists Demand Toxic Ship to be Sent Back to Netherlands

Environmentalist activists demanded Osman Pepe, the Minister o Environment and Forests to keep his promise and send Otapan, the ship loaded with asbestos back to Netherlands.

Pepe had announced that they had consulted with authorities in Netherlands and in case the level of asbestos on the ship exceeded the amount declared, it should be sent back.

While the time limit ended yesterday, there were no responses from the home country.

"Cheap labour force"

Otapan was sent to Izmir, Turkey to be teared down. No country had accepted that mission and it was resting in Netherlands since 1999.

Initiatiative to Prevent Hazardous Ship Decomposition, formed by more than ten NGO's, said that the Dutch government is violating both the EU law and the Basel Convention which forbids toxic waste trade.

The spokesperson for the initiative remarked that Otapan is now outside Turkish waters but the Dutch government hadn't yet acted to take the ship back.

The Dutch government had confessed that Otapan was sent to Turkey because of low labour costs. (BIA News Center, August 23, 2006)

L'épreuve des touristes bloqués sème le trouble dans le monde du tourisme

Cent soixante des quelque 500 vacanciers, Français pour la plupart, qui étaient bloqués en Turquie depuis le week-end dernier, ont quitté ce pays mardi. La mésaventure des touristes français bloqués plusieurs jours en Turquie à la suite d'un litige financier dans lequel chacun se renvoie la balle a mis sur la sellette la responsabilité et la fiabilité de certains voyagistes.

L'affaire est d'autant plus complexe qu'elle met en scène une série d'acteurs : la plupart des touristes ont réservé auprès d'agences en ligne, Lastminute.com ou Promovacances, qui ont eu recours au tour-opérateur français Elégance qui, lui, a fait appel à une compagnie aérienne turque, Atlas Jet.

Atlas Jet avait refusé dimanche d'embarquer à Izmir (ouest) des passagers français voulant rentrer à Paris, accusant Elégance de ne pas avoir réglé la prestation. Une accusation réfutée par Elégance, qui assure avoir payé.

Alors que la majorité des touristes devaient être rapatriés mardi, une polémique s'est déclenchée entre les acteurs d'un secteur atomisé qui compte une myriade de plus de 4.000 entreprises générant un chiffre d'affaires de 12 milliards d'euros par an.

Inquiet de voir un cas isolé jeter le discrédit sur l'ensemble de la profession, le président de l'Association des tour-opérateurs français (Ceto), René-Marc Chikli, a pris les devants pour fustiger le "manque de capacité professionnelle et de vigilance" de certains acteurs du tourisme.

Pour lui, il faudrait "réformer le secteur pour éviter d'accorder des licences à des gens qui n'auraient jamais dû en avoir".

"Nous sommes un tour-opérateur qui dérange. Il y a quelque chose ou quelqu'un qui veut nous couler", a rétorqué Erol Dil, co-gérant d'Elégance, basé à Noisy-le-Grand (Seine-Saint-Denis), créé en 2004 et adhérent du Syndicat national des Agences de voyage (SNAV).

Egalement en cause, la guerre des prix que se livrent les sites de voyages en ligne : "certains distributeurs, pour faire des économies, vont chercher des fournisseurs qui n'ont aucune crédibilité", accuse M. Chikli.

"L'arbre ne doit pas cacher la forêt. 14 millions de Français passent par une agence de voyage par an, quelques centaines sont restés bloqués, mais ce n'est pas pour cela qu'il faut remettre en cause tout un système", tempère Rachid Temal, secrétaire général du SNAV.

Quant aux responsabilités des voyagistes vis-à-vis des clients, la loi prévoit que "l'agent de voyages est de plein droit responsable à l'égard des touristes de la bonne exécution du voyage", rappelle à l'AFP Cyril Gory, avocat au barreau de Paris et spécialiste des droits des voyageurs.

En cas de défaillance, poursuit-il, il doit à la fois organiser le retour et indemniser le client pour le préjudice subi, en l'occurrence "les deux jours passés dans le stress et l'affolement en Turquie" en attendant un autre avion.

Lastminute.com et Promovacances ont d'ailleurs pris leurs responsabilités, en affrétant des avions pour rapatrier leurs clients, 165 pour le premier et 55 pour le second. "Il y aura des compensations pour les désagréments que nos clients ont connus", a aussi promis le PDG de Lastminute.com, Pierre Alzon.

De son côté, le tour-opérateur Elégance, qui a aussi vendu directement des billets par le biais de son agence et son site internet, doit prendre en charge ses propres clients.

Mais la répartition des responsabilités n'est pas forcément aussi évidente. Juridiquement, précise Cyril Gory, le terme "agent de voyages désigne à la fois l'agence de voyages et le tour-opérateur", et non pas seulement le vendeur ultime du billet.

Si aucune solution à l'amiable n'est trouvée, il vaut donc "mieux assigner en justice l'agence de voyage et le tour-opérateur, car les deux sont juridiquement responsables", recommande-t-il. (AFP, 22 août 2006)

Turkey's southern and western coasts in flames

Fires destroying almost 1,000 hectares of forestry, above all along the country's southern and western coasts, are a threat to nature and sowing panic among the public with the authorities reporting yesterday that there were over 90 fires nationwide over the weekend.

Firemen and forest fire teams worked hard to extinguish fires in 20 different places in the Aegean and Mediterranean and late yesterday another fire broke out in Bodrum, one of Turkey's major holiday resorts and officials were working to put it out.

The fires were around Antalya and the Selcuk district, Izmir which is also known for faith tourism.

While a total of 300 hectares of forestry had been destroyed by fire in three different locations in Antalya, the authorities said that it will take a few more days to extinguish fires in the Kas district.

Saying that the deep Kas valley is protected by the National Parks Department as it's an isolated area, Forestry Directorate Provincial head Osman Gedikagaoglu added that the valley is home to wild animals as well the natural habitat of cedars, pines and junipers.

Gedikagaoglu told the Anatolia news agency that it will take two to three years for the ecology of the valley to recover after the fire has been put out. Local officials suspect that lightening may have caused the fire in the valley.

A forest fire in the Manavgat district, which started early Sunday, was reported under control by officials yesterday. The gendarmerie evacuated some neighborhoods as some of houses in the area were damaged by the fire.

After the fire in the hamlet of Meryemana, Selcuk destroyed 300 hectares of land, some villages were evacuated, Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe reported after going straight to the area Sunday night. The fire spread to the Kusadasi district and caused panic among tourists visiting Meryemana and teams worked hard all day yesterday to get the fire under control.

Pepe then held a press conference with Izmir Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal, Forestry Directorate General Manager Osman Kahveci and Selcuk kaymakam (local official) Aziz Inci and promised that the area will be replanted after the fire has been extinguished.

Unlike Pepe, the head of Mugla Provincial Forestry Directorate claimed that 500 hectares of forestry have been destroyed.

A fire over the weekend on agricultural land in Didim, Aydin, where many British people have holiday homes, destroyed 200 hectares of olive groves.

After that fire was extinguished yesterday, another one followed but was put out immediately. Forestry teams were also reported to be extinguishing fires that started the same day in three different districts in Mugla.

A farmer from Mugla who burned the stubble in his field caused panic as the fire spread to a greenhouse 100 meters from a filling station.

Mersin Greater Municipality's fire fighting teams got the fire under control but couldn't save the greenhouse as it was completely destroyed by the fire.

The ministry issued a warned to the public to be more careful about not starting forest fires during the summer in the wake of the fires.

According to the ministry's statistics, nearly 2,500 hectares of forestry was destroyed by fire in 447 incidents in the first eight months of this year.
It's of the utmost importance to find out about fires as early as possible, explained Isparta Forestry Directorate Provincial head Mehmet Bahar yesterday, who then went on to complain about hoax calls.

Bahar said that a hotline for the public to call and notify them of fires is now being wiretapped by the prosecutor's office because of too many hoax calls, adding that 40 percent of calls are hoaxes. (The New Anatolian, 22 August 2006)

European court asks Turkish gov’t for urgent brief on Ilısu

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights has ruled that a complaint filed regarding the construction of Ilısu Dam in Batman's Hasankeyf district -- destroying the homes of many locals and submerging historically and culturally significant ancient structures -- was admissible and asked the Turkish government to urgently brief the court about measures planned to be taken to preserve the historic site.

The complaint was filed in February by Professor Zeynep Ahunbay, head of the restoration department at Istanbul Technical University; retired Professor Metin Ahunbay; Professor Oluş Arık, head of the art history department at Ankara University; Atlas magazine's editor in chief, Özcan Yüksek; and lawyer Murat Cano.

Despite finding the file admissible, the court, however, rejected requests to impose interim measures or prioritizing the case.

This decision means that the European Court of Human Rights technically qualifies cultural heritage as a fundamental right. This is the first and only such result since 1948, Cano was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

The scope of the concept of human rights has been broadened by this decision, said Atlas magazine's Yüksek.

This decision means that human beings exist not only within their body and psychology but also their culture. And, destroying culture and history is and act against human rights. Thus, Turkey, who wishes to join the European Union, has brought this conceptual enlargement to the court, he added.

Delegations from the Austrian, German and Swiss governments, which have not yet allowed their national institutions to finance the construction of Ilısu Dam, are expected to visit Hasankeyf this week.

Construction of the dam officially began on Aug. 5 with a ceremony in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally launched the project, which is expected to change the landscape dramatically. Almost 80 percent of the town of Hasankeyf will be submerged by the water collected by the dam, and 199 communities will have to be relocated.

The dam will be 135 meters high and 1.82 kilometers long. The dam's lake, which will have a surface area of 313 square kilometers and a capacity of 10.4 billion cubic meters of water when completed, will generate 4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.

In 1978 Hasankeyf was declared a first degree protected site by the Turkish High Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Entities and Monuments. The then Culture Ministry -- now Culture and Tourism Ministry -- declared the ancient city, located on the Tigris River and dating back 12,000 years, a natural conservation area in 1981.

In an interview with the Turkish Daily News, Ethem Torunoğlu, head of the honorary board of the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects Chambers' (TMMOB) Chamber of Environmental Engineers, said the government's policy to move all artifacts from the city of Hasankeyf, the sole intact ancient city in Anatolia, to another area in order to create a new Hasankeyf in no way spelt preserving the cultural legacy of the city.

Today, the Hasankeyf issue concerns not only historical and cultural values but also natural and humanitarian values. Moving artifacts that face being submerged! That is not preservation but rather a mechanical approach which excludes both human being and nature, he said at the time, in an apparent reference to Erdoğan's remarks at the launching ceremony.

The prime minister then said the government was preserving the cultural legacy of Anatolia, and added: We can't sacrifice the precious artifacts in Hasankeyf. We have 25 million euros in funding to be used in saving Hasankeyf. We will create a new Hasankeyf by moving its structures to another area. (Turkish Daily News, August 21, 2006)

Des centaines de voyageurs bloqués en Turquie faute d'avion

Des centaines de voyageurs en majorité français étaient bloqués en Turquie dimanche, au retour des vacances estivales, à la suite d'un différend entre leur agence de voyage et la compagnie aérienne turque devant les ramener en France.

Erol Dil, directeur commercial de l'agence de voyage Elégance, basée à Noisy-le-Grand en banlieue parisienne, a dans un premier temps fait état de quelque 700 personnes concernées par un "malentendu" avec Atlas Jet ayant empêché le décollage de quatre avions, un à Istanbul (nord-ouest), un à Antalya (sud) et deux à Izmir (ouest).

Des sources consulaires françaises ont établi à 290 le nombre de voyageurs bloqués à Izmir et à 170 ceux retenus à Istnabul, tout en précisant que des Turcs résidant en France figuraient dans ce décompte.

Elles ont en revanche démenti l'existence de problèmes à l'aéroport d'Antalya et assuré qu'Elegance avait cessé ses activités depuis plusieurs semaines dans cette station balnéaire.

L'aéroport d'Antalya a confirmé qu'aucun touriste n'était resté en attente dans ses locaux.

M. Dil n'était pas immédiatement joignable pour commenter ces nouvelles données.

Selon Atlas Jet, le "malentendu" évoqué par Elégance serait en fait un défaut de paiement ayant conduit la compagnie aérienne à interrompre ses activités avec l'agence de voyage.

"En dépit de nos avertissements par la voie légale, Elégance n'a pas rempli ses obligations contractuelles et a gelé ses paiements", affirme dans un communiqué la compagnie aérienne qui précise avoir arrêté ses vols pour l'agence le 18 août et notifié cette décision aux autorités de l'aviation civile turque et française.

M. Dil a assuré avoir rencontré un responsable d'Atlas Jet et avoir avec lui "mis un projet sur pied pour permettre aux passagers de rentrer en France dans les plus brefs délais".

Il a précisé que l'attente ne devrait pas durer au-delà de mardi matin et que les voyageurs seraient hébergés à l'hôtel.

Par ailleurs, un vol Atlas Jet qui devait quitter l'aéroport de Roissy, au nord de Paris, pour Izmir dimanche à 18H15 avec 180 passagers à son bord a été annulé, a-t-on appris de sources aéroportuaires concordantes.

Rassemblés dans un hôtel de Roissy, les 180 passagers attendaient dimanche en fin d'après-midi une attestation d'annulation de l'agence de voyage Elégance qui avait affrété le vol, pour faire annuler leur séjour en Turquie.

La compagnie Atlas Jet, fondée en 2001, dispose d'une flotte de 17 avions et dessert une quinzaine de villes turques ainsi qu'une vingtaine d'aéroports internationaux, principalement en Europe. (AFP, 20 août 2006)

Un sanctuaire chrétien menacé par un incendie de forêt

Un sanctuaire chrétien, la Maison de la vierge Marie, était menacé par un vaste incendie de forêt dimanche dans l'ouest de la Turquie, où des touristes ont été brièvement encerclés par les flammes avant d'être secourus, ont rapporté des médias turcs.

"La priorité était de secourir les touristes étrangers et turcs bloqués dans le secteur de la Maison de Marie, ce qui a été fait par des équipes de gendarmes, de la sous-préfecture et des eaux et forêts", a expliqué sur la chaîne d'information CNN-Türk Oguz Kagan Köksal, le gouverneur de la province d'Izmir, où le sinistre s'est déclaré.

"Nos équipes se sont rendues en priorité dans la zone où se trouvent les bâtiments de la Maison de Marie pour éviter qu'ils brûlent et ont pour l'instant empêché l'incendie d'avancer", a ajouté M. Köksal.

Selon l'agence de presse DHA, près d'un millier de touristes sont temporairement restés bloqués aux abords du sanctuaire situé dans les monts Bülbül, près de la cité antique d'Ephèse et de la mer Egée.

"On ne peut pas dire que l'incendie soit maîtrisé" dans son ensemble, "mais on peut dire qu'il est complètement sous contrôle" dans le secteur de la Maison de Marie, a déclaré M. Köksal, faisant état de 15O hectares de forêt déjà détruits.

Cinq avions bombardiers d'eau, sept hélicoptères, une soixantaine de véhicules et plus de 350 personnels ont été mobilisés pour lutter contre le feu, a indiqué la Direction des forêts dans un communiqué cité par l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Le sanctuaire de la Maison de Marie accueille chaque année plusieurs centaines de milliers de pèlerins. La tradition chrétienne y situe l'Assomption de la vierge Marie.

Les papes Paul VI et Jean Paul II ont visité le site respectivement en 1967 et 1979.

Le pape Benoît XVI a prévu de se rendre à Ephèse dans le cadre d'une visite en Turquie fin novembre. (AFP, 20 août 2006)

Still No State Policy on Earthquake Risks

This year again commemorations have been organized in the places the earthquake hit while NGO's criticize the government's apathy.

"The reactions that grew up in public and expectations of change after the August 17 earthquake are left unsatisfied" told Mehmet Soganci of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB).

"Politicians gave promises yet to be realized. Nothing concrete has been done. Earthquakes can't be peoples destiny", he added.

People gathered in Golcuk, which took the worst damage seven years ago, exactly at 03.02 a.m, the time the disaster struck.

Head of the Golcuk Rescue Team (GESOTIM) Necmi Kocaman and his crew lighted a torch on the sea side by side with a flag saying "We didn't forget the disaster, have you?".

Mayor of Kocaeli İbrahim Karaosmanoğlu gave a speech during the ceremony noting that earthquakes are not dangerous but only human intervention and negligence make it harmful.

Karaosmanoglu promised not to repeat the mistakes which turned the earthquake into a disaster seven years ago.

TMMOB on the other hand, drew attention to the fact that there is no comprehensive state policy regarding the measures to be taken to minimize life loss during the predicted earthquake in Istanbul as well as in other parts of the country.

The organization asks the government to leave the policy of giving out amnesty to unregistered housings.

"Planning and specialized legal regulations concerning the responsibilities and competences of professionals working in the field are urgently needed. Chambers of those professions must be provided with the authority of inspection and they should be held accountable in case of a failure".

TMMOB accuses the government of not being transparent on its implementation of policies after the earthquake and transferring the budget built for it to other areas such as the payment of public workers' salaries and debt payments.

Transfer of public authority of inspection to private sector by Law no. 595 is also denounced. According to the organization the building of safe housings in the region has also been done without following necessary scientific requirements. No resolution in the 8th Development Plan was realized in this regard.

Soganci demanded for the building of planned, earthquake resistant housings which involve the participation of engineers, architects and city planners as well as a national earthquake plan that involves the implementation of necessary legal regulations. (BIA, August 17, 2006)

Grogne à la Turkish Airlines: les pilotes menacent de faire grève

Les pilotes et les hôtesses de l'air de la compagnie nationale aérienne turque Turkish Airlines (THY) ont menacé jeudi de faire une grève d'un jour pour protester contre les longues heures de travail qui, selon eux, pèsent sur la sécurité des vols.

Cette menace d'un arrêt de travail intervient en pleine saison touristique.

"Si les négociations avec la direction de la THY se concluent par un échec, les équipages useront de leur droit à un jour de récupération après le 17 août en raison de la fatigue et de leur sens de responsabilité (...) afin de protéger la sécurité des vols", souligne une lettre ouverte de leur syndicat Hava-Is, publiée dans les grands journaux.

Appelant les usagers à soutenir le mouvement, le syndicat explique que "la fatigue tue".

Le président du syndicat Atilay Aycin a expliqué que la THY s'était rapidement développée ces deux dernières années, en multipliant les vols intérieurs et à l'étranger, sans prendre en considération les intérêts de son personnel.

"Le nombre des avions a augmenté de 70 à 96 mais le nombre des employés n'a pas changé, ce qui a provoqué des horaires excessifs", a-t-il insité.

La compagnie a ajouté 24 nouvelles destinations de vol à l'étranger pour 2006 et a transporté quelque 14 millions de passagers en 2005.

Selon le syndicat, les heures de travail ont été rallongées parfois à 17 heures.

La THY a pour sa part rejeté les accusations, affirmant que "la sécurité de son personnel et de ses passagers est la première priorité".

La compagnie, autrefois fleuron de la Turquie, est régulièrement critiquée pour sa mauvaise gestion depuis l'arrivée au pouvoir en 2002 du parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste) qui a changé l'ensemble de sa direction. (AFP, 17 août 2006)

NGOs protest nuclear power plants in Turkey

Harshly opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants in Turkey several non-governmental organizations over the weekend held a meeting in Mersin to warn people of the danger of nuclear energy.

Hundreds of protestors opposed to nuclear energy attended the meeting, organized by the Anti-Nuclear Power Platform (NKP), in Aydincik in the southern province of Mersin to show their determination in resisting the government's alleged projects to build nuclear power plants in Turkey.

Many youth organizations and the Turkish Union of Engineers' and Architects' Chambers (TMMOB) were there to support the NKP and express their opposition to the use of nuclear energy in Turkey.

Speaking at the meeting, TMMOB head Mehmet Soganci said that Turkish people are being unilaterally informed on the issue. "We will never surrender to international nuclear power lobbies," charged Soganci, urging the government to heed their calls.

Electrical Engineers' Union (EMO) chair Kemal Ulusaler argued that the government is delegating its responsibilities to the private sector through build-operate-transfer (BOT) type projects. Ulusaler also accused state officials of not doing anything on the energy issue. "We will speak for feasible and public-friendly energy policies," Ulusaler added.

Also opposed to nuclear energy Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) Chair Ismail Hakki Tombul said not Turkey but those who want more profit need nuclear energy.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said in June that as of then Turkey's electricity production was around 38,900 megawatts, adding that in 2010 demand for electricity in the country will reach 200-250 billion kilowatts.

According to the government's calculations, Guler said that the three nuclear power plants proposed under the current plan will meet 5 percent of Turkey's electricity needs from 2015 to 2020. In order to meet the future demand Guler claimed that in addition to the current and under-construction facilities, there's needs to be a further 50,000 megawatts by 2010.

Guler also said that waste produced as a toxic byproduct of nuclear power plants does not constitute a problem during the lifetime of a plant.

The minister said that with nuclear waste, the guidelines of the International Atom Energy Agency (IAEA) must be followed. Guler noted that there is work underway in a number of countries on the storage of waste, citing the U.S., Sweden, Finland and France. (The New Anatolian, 8 August 2006)

La Turquie a lancé le projet controversé de barrage d'Ilisu sur le Tigre

La Turquie a lancé samedi la construction d'un grand barrage sur le Tigre, malgré les violentes critiques suscitées par le projet qui pourrait, selon ses opposants, détruire un site historique majeur et provoquer le déplacement de plusieurs milliers de Kurdes.

Le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan a participé à l'inauguration du chantier du barrage d'Ilisu, près de Dargecit, à 45 kilomètres de la frontière syrienne, posant la première pierre d'un projet très controversé depuis sa conception, à la fin des années 70.

Quelque 4.000 personnes se sont rassemblées vendredi soir sur le site du futur barrage d'Ilisu sur le Tigre, situé à 47km au nord de la frontière syrienne, dans le sud-est de l'Anatolie. L'ouvrage, dont la construction devrait être terminée d'ici 2013, sera l'un des plus grands du pays, selon l'agence de presse publique Anatolie.

En janvier dernier, une trentaine de communes et d'organisations locales se sont regroupées pour lutter contre ce projet, et notamment pour sauver le site archéologique de Hasankeyf.

Au coeur des critiques, la petite ville d'Hasankeyf, sur les bords du Tigre, cité prospère de l'ancienne Mésopotamie aujourd'hui frappée par la pauvreté, risque de voir une partie de ses terres ensevelies sous le lac du barrage.

Les nombreux opposants au projet, qui prévoit également la construction d'une centrale hydroélectrique, craignent la disparition non seulement d'un site historique unique, où se côtoient des monuments assyriens, romains et ottomans, mais aussi d'un style de vie traditionnel, préservé jusqu'ici par sa population, kurde et arabe.

"Ce barrage est une arme de destruction culturelle massive, pas seulement à cause du grand nombre de monuments mais aussi de la culture, des gens d'ici", explique Maggie Ronayne, archéologue à l'Université nationale d'Irlande de Galway, qui travaille dans la région depuis 1999.

Pour arrêter le projet, des militants ont remis une pétition à la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme (CEDH) de Strasbourg et ont appelé les créanciers étrangers à suspendre leurs prêts au consortium international chargé de la construction de l'édifice.

Le 15 mai à Berne, des maires de la région d'Ilisu ainsi que des représentants d'initiatives citoyennes locales ont dénoncé les conséquences de la construction de ce méga-barrage: 55'000 personnes déplacées, des écosystèmes et des biens culturels vieux de milliers d'années détruits.

Selon M. Erdogan, ce projet est une preuve de la volonté d'Ankara d'améliorer les conditions de vie de la minorité kurde de Turquie. "Le pas que nous franchissons aujourd'hui montre que le Sud-Est n'est plus négligé (...) Ce barrage apportera des profits substantiels aux populations locales", a-t-il déclaré au cours de la cérémonie.

Prévu pour 2013, le barrage d'Ilisu deviendra le deuxième plus grand réservoir d'eau et la quatrième centrale hydroélectrique du pays, avec une production annuelle de 3,8 milliards de kW/h. Son coût est estimé à 1,2 milliard d'euros.

Selon des responsables, 80% des sites archéologiques d'Hasankeyf, dont des tombes et des centaines de maisons souterraines déjà usées par le temps et des années de négligence, resteront au-dessus du niveau de l'eau.

Les autres, notamment des mosquées, un hammam et les restes d'un ancien pont enjambant le Tigre, seront transférés dans un musée en plein air, qui deviendra, selon le voeu de M. Erdogan, un "pôle touristique".

Le gouvernement est déterminé à préserver le patrimoine d'Hasankeyf, a ajouté M. Erdogan, rappelant que 66 millions d'euros avaient été alloués aux recherches archéologiques, déjà bien avancées.

Des opposants estiment pour leur part que même si les monuments sont transférés, l'intégrité du site et le paysage original seront dénaturés pour toujours.

Le gouvernement prévoit aussi d'indemniser les habitants de près de 200 villages qui seront expropriés, et de bâtir une nouvelle ville pour accueillir ceux d'Hasankeyf.

"Le barrage va détruire 12.000 ans d'histoire", déplore Abdulvahap Kusen, le maire d'Hasankeyf, membre d'un groupe civique opposé au projet. "Ni moi, ni personne d'autre n'ira s'installer dans ce nouvel endroit. Si Hasankeyf est inondée, nous migrerons tous vers les grandes villes", a-t-il déclaré à l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Le barrage d'Ilisu fait partie du Projet pour le Sud-Est anatolien (GAP), qui prévoit la construction de 22 barrages et de 19 centrales hydroélectriques dans la région, essentiellement sur le Tigre et l'Euphrate.

Le GAP a été vivement critiqué par l'Irak et la Syrie, qui accusent la Turquie de s'approprier les eaux de deux fleuves coulant vers le sud de leurs territoires frappés par la sécheresse. (AFP-AP, 5 août 2006)


Inflation rises to 11.69 percent in July

Consumer prices in Turkey continued to climb in July, rising by 0.85 percent from the previous month and by 11.69 percent on an annual basis, the Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) said on Thursday.

Producer prices went up by 0.86 percent from June to July and by 14.34 percent over the year, the institute said.

The Turkish Central Bank said last week that year-end inflation would hit a level between 9.1 and 10.5 percent, doubling the official target of 5.0 percent.

Inflation in Turkey has been on the rise since April, pushed up by increasing oil prices and a depreciation of the Turkish lira. The currency, which has lost about 20 percent of its value against the dollar, was hit by global capital flight from emerging markets and domestic political tensions.

The central bank has said that it is optimistic that the 2007 target of 4.0 percent remains within reach, provided tight monetary policies are implemented.

In a series of moves to rein in rising prices, the bank has increased its key overnight borrowing rate three times since June, from 13.25 to 17.5 percent.

Fighting inflation is a key element in a three-year economic stability program that Turkey is implementing with the support of a 10-billion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

IMF-backed tight financial policies have helped the government beat its inflation targets over the past three years, bringing the rate from 29.7 in 2002 to 7.7 percent in 2005. (AFP, August 4, 2006)

Hazelnut controversy heats up politics

The government discussed its hazelnut policies yesterday amid mounting criticism from hazelnut producers and the political opposition that its strategy is responsible for a record decline in nut prices, impoverishing hundreds of thousands of producers.

No statement had emerged from a Cabinet meeting that tackled, along with other issues, the hazelnut controversy, by the time the Turkish Daily News went to press.

Criticism peaked when some 100,000 demonstrators, bussed from nearly 40 provinces, gathered in the Black Sea province of Ordu on Sunday, blocking the Ordu-Samsun highway for several hours in protest of the government's hazelnut policies.

They shouted slogans against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his advisor, Cüneyd Zapsu, who is involved in the hazelnut export business and is currently chairman of the board of directors of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council.

Critics claim the government's nut policy is shaped according to Zapsu's personal business interests and that Zapsu and Prime Minister Erdoğan, who backs him at the expense of alienating hazelnut producers, are responsible for record-low prices for hazelnuts this year.

Political tension reached a critical point in July when a fight broke out between the government and the Association for Hazelnut Marketing Cooperatives, or Fiskobirlik. The association failed to announce a base price this year and made no purchases from producers due to the economic hardship it is currently facing.

Fiskobirlik's failure to pay producers has intensified a decrease in the wholesale price of hazelnuts, since desperate producers are hardly able to sell their product at sufficiently higher prices elsewhere. Prices currently stand around YTL 2.5 per kilogram, down from YTL 7 just earlier this year.

The government has made it clear that it is not responsible for Fiskobirlik's failure to buy hazelnuts from producers. Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coşkun has repeatedly assured that the government has no intention of paying the debts of Fiskobirlik.

In a speech in Ordu in June, Erdoğan, responding to a call on the government to seize Fiskobirlik's assets and repay its debts, said the government had already paid YTL 2 billion to write off Fiskobirlik's debts but asserted that it would not do so again.

Go and knock on Fiskobirlik's door, he had then said.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, in a meeting last week in Ordu, blamed Erdoğan and Zapsu for the miserable situation the hazelnut producers are in and pledged to work with advisors who would look at the issue from the perspective of the interest of the producers, if his party comes to power. (Turkish Daily News, August 1, 2006)

Relations turco-européennes / Turkey-Europe Relations

Le débat Turquie-Union Européenne et la question kurde

La réunion des ministres des Affaires étrangères qui s’est tenue à Luxembourg le 12 juin, a ouvert le premier volet – consacré à la recherche et à la science – parmi les trente cinq chapitres du futur traité d’adhésion entre l’Union Européenne et la Turquie. Donc, officiellement, le processus des négociations a été lancé. Nous ne savons pas si ce processus va aboutir à la décision d’adhésion à l’Union Européenne ou non.

L’enjeu turc a ravivé les passions séculaires d’un débat qui, pour être constructif, se doit d’être juste et équilibré. Parfois, hélas, ce dernier a pris les habits d’une confrontation idéologique figée où, pour certains, l’Occident devrait se fermer à l’Orient et vice-versa, la religion musulmane s’affronter aux valeurs judéo-chrétiennes, l’humanisme étant définitivement miné par l’intégrisme. A ce débat, de notre point de vue mal engagé, il faut ajouter l’épineuse question de la géographie et le jeu des alliances stratégiques et militaires qui fondent des interrogations forcément complexes sur la Turquie actuelle.

Ce débat sur l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union Européenne, qui devrait courir pendant une période d’au moins dix ans, à travers les 80 000 pages de l’acquis communautaire à assimiler, ne sera pas un long fleuve tranquille à traverser. La question kurde, la question chypriote, la reconnaissance du droit des minorités, l’égalité hommes - femmes, le respect de la laïcité, le respect des droits de l'homme demeurent des points d’interrogation, auxquels sont attentifs, me semble-t-il, les responsables européens.

D’après les analyses concernant la politique turque, la position d'Ankara à l'égard de Chypre n’aura pas beaucoup de changements, même si cela signifie la suspension des négociations d'adhésion. Ceci a été déclaré aussi par le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Et ce malgré les multiples efforts des 25, qui demandent à la Turquie d’ouvrir ses ports et son espace aérien aux Chypriotes grecs et d’aller vers une reconnaissance du gouvernement de la République de Chypre. Concernant cet aspect, le président de la République Française, Monsieur Jacques Chirac, a aussi exhorté la Turquie à "respecter les engagements qu'elle a pris" avant l'ouverture des négociations avec l'Union européenne, en ajoutant : "sinon elle mettra elle-même en cause sa capacité à poursuivre le processus d'élargissement". Le Président français a rappelé également l'engagement pris par le gouvernement turc sur l'ouverture de ses ports et aéroports aux marchandises venant de Chypre. Nous savons bien que la position de la France a beaucoup d’influences sur la politique européenne.

Il serait donc nécessaire qu’en 2007 au plus tard, l’Union Européenne reçoive des éclaircissements de la Turquie sur cette épineuse question.

Malgré tout cela, le premier ministre turc Recep Tayip Erdogan a prévenu que la Turquie ne répondrait "jamais" à la demande de l'Union européenne concernant l’ouverture de ses ports et aéroports à Chypre, tant que l'isolement international qui est appliquée contre la partie chypriote turque de l'île ne serait pas levé.

Le Processus des Négociations et la Question Kurde

Malheureusement, dans le processus des négociations avec la Turquie, la politique européenne n’a pas encore d’exigences importantes en ce qui concerne la question kurde. Les Européens gardent toujours le problème chypriote en première ligne. Dans les réunions dont le sujet est l’adhésion de la Turquie, toujours le problème chypriote est sur la table. Bien sûr, ceci est important pour l’Europe, mais les problèmes que l’Union a avec ce pays ne consistent pas simplement en celui-ci. Il faut que les Européens sachent que la question kurde non résolue est un véritable obstacle à la démocratisation de la Turquie. Si la Turquie s’obstine à ne pas résoudre ce problème de la question kurde, son adhésion à l’Union Européenne reste problématique.

Depuis le mois de mars 2006, la situation de la Turquie devient de plus en plus critique au regard des libertés et des droits de l’homme. Avec les soulèvements populaires du mois de mars 2006 au Kurdistan, qui ont duré plus de trois jours, les oppositions d’attitudes entre les forces armées turques et le gouvernement de l’AKP se sont aussi multipliées. Et parfois, les contradictions entre ces deux camps sont apparues au grand jour. Ce conflit a influencé la justice turque, qui devrait a priori être indépendante, et cela continue. D’après nous, ce processus va se poursuivre jusqu’à l’an 2007. Avant les élections générales de l’an prochain et tant qu’un nouveau gouvernement ne sera pas désigné, il semblerait que peu de changements aient lieu dans ce pays.

Avec l’apparition des discussions concernant les éventuelles élections anticipées, la situation de la Turquie devient encore plus critique. Les opérations militaires continuent dans toutes les régions du Kurdistan, provoquant systématiquement des morts et des blessés. Les forces armées turques utilisent les méthodes de cruauté dans la guerre contre les militants kurdes. Malheureusement, cette utilisation de la force permet aux militaires de devenir les vraies autorités gouvernementales du pays. Nous pouvons dire que, actuellement, la Turquie est dirigée par les généraux. Cela va conduire, hélas, le pays vers un avenir sombre et très mauvais.

Tout ce qui se passe actuellement en Turquie compromet les projets pour la démocratisation du pays. Cette situation ne concerne pas seulement les Kurdes, l’avenir de tous les peuples et des minorités du pays est en danger.

C’est pourquoi il faut réagir vite et dans le bon sens. (kurdishinfo.com, Ahmet DERE, 7 août 2006)

EUTCC's Report on Turkey Sent to EP Political Groups
 
Dear Distinguished Chairpersons of the Political Groups of the European Parliament,

Re: European Parliament’s draft report on Turkey’s progress to accession

We are writing in regard to the European Parliament’s draft report on Turkey’s progress to accession which will be debated by the European Parliament in September 2006. 

The EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC)  seeks to promote the accession of Turkey as a member of the EU, in order to guarantee respect for human and minority rights and a peaceful, democratic and long-term solution to the Kurdish situation. To this end, it monitors and conducts regular audits of the European Union’s performance in ensuring Turkey’s full compliance with the accession criteria, as defined within the meaning of the accession agreements.

We therefore submit an assessment of the implementation gaps that exist in Turkey’s domestic law that includes comments on the content of the draft parliamentary report which we believe you will find to be useful in light of the upcoming debate. 

In order that Turkish accession retains credibility and fulfils its potential as a force for democratisation in Turkey, it is vital that the process is consistent with the human rights criteria lain out in Copenhagen in 1993.  As the Council of Europe openly acknowledged in its Parliamentary Assembly in 2004,(1) EU membership is predicated on a just resolution to the Kurdish question and attainment of democratic standards equivalent to those in other EU member states.

Mounting evidence suggests that since the opening of accession negotiations a sense of complacency has pervaded the Turkish government’s attitude towards full implementation of the reforms.  The EUTCC is concerned that without pressure from the EU on Turkey to keep the promises it has made, the human rights situation in the country will remain fundamentally unchanged.

Torture

Despite Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gül’s encouraging statement in 2003 that Turkey has a “zero tolerance” policy towards torture, the legal amendments that have thus far been enacted have fallen short of this goal.  Instances of torture in Turkey continue to be widespread in the Kurdish areas and little has been done to end the culture of impunity that purveys amongst security personnel.

Encouragingly, during 2005, courts investigated numerous allegations of torture by state security forces. There were 232 convictions out of the 531 cases that actually went to full verdict. Meanwhile a staggering 1005 were acquitted.  Of the convictions, only 37 carried jail sentences, and the rest received fines or other reprimands; statistics which are not encouraging for the 34 preparatory investigations that were launched in June against police officers in Diyarbakir alleging torture of children and adults during and after the disturbances in the city at the end of March 2006. 

Paragraph 7 of the draft report does go some way to expressing some of our concerns at the high rate of instances of torture.  However, we consider it crucial that the report highlights the failings in Turkish law which is allowing these practices to continue.

Turkey has made great strides in abolishing incommunicado detention by guaranteeing detainees immediate access to a lawyer.  All this work will be undone once the new Anti-terror law comes into force (discussed further below). Article 9 states that during detention, the detained suspect’s right to meet with a lawyer can be restricted for a period up to 24 hours – the period when the detainee is at the greatest risk of being tortured.  These concerns are amplified by the apparent contempt security agents have shown to the rights of detainees. Reports suggest that lawyers’ access to clients has been restricted until a statement is signed, and arrests are often registered at the Police station several hours —and sometimes days— after taking place in order to extend the detention period.

As the practice of torture is prevalent outside of detention centres (2), Turkey must monitor more closely the practical effect of provisions in the new Code of Criminal Procedure and the Law on the Execution of Sentences, which allow the transfer of detainees from a detention centre, to see if they are permitting torture.   Effective medical examinations of detainees are crucially important in the fight against torture, as security forces have adopted methods which do not leave any physical signs on the body to avoid detection to circumvent the legal amendments. The medical examinations are, though, inadequate; they are usually brief and informal, and detainees have been refused access to a second examination by the authorities. More training of medical practitioners is needed as only 300 out of the 80,000 doctors in Turkey have the forensic skills to diagnose instances of torture.

Minority rights

We welcome the points raised by paragraphs 14 to 20 of the draft report regarding the protection of minorities in Turkey.  Our concern is that this section contains little reference, other than in paragraph 20, to the treatment of the Kurds as a minority in Turkey.  The fundamental problem is that Turkish law does not afford recognition to ethnic groups as a “minority” under law, as the Turkish constitution follows the strict definition under article 39 of the Treaty of Lausanne which states that only the rights of Turkish nationals belonging to “non-Moslem minorities” will benefit from legal protection. Articles 14, 26, 27 and 28 of the constitution allow Turkish authorities to criminalise non-violent expression of ethnic identity simply on the basis that they are contrary to the constitutional definition of “Turkish” and a danger to the integrity of the state. 

The ramifications of this are evidenced by the trial of Professor Baskın Oran and Professor İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu who were prosecuted for simply arguing, in a report commissioned by the Prime Minister’s own office, that “Turk" is an identity of only one ethnic group and that Turkey also includes other ethnic groups such as "Kurd" or "Arab".

Even commonplace expressions of identity, that are taken for granted in other European states, are subject to restriction. The Kurds were unable to officially register non-Turkish names for years in Turkey.  The Registration Act now allows children to be given names that do not “offend the public” but this has been used in practice to refer to names only using the Turkish language’s alphabet.  Kurdish names with the letters “w”, “x” and “q” cannot be officially recognised and used, effectively prohibiting their usage altogether.  In addition, article 49(9) of the constitution continues to maintain that no language other than Turkish can be taught as mother tongue to Turkish citizens at institutions of training or education.

The lack of any constitutional recognition of cultural, ethnic or linguistic minorities makes addressing access to minority rights impossible. We believe that the amendments that Turkey has made to its constitution do not go far enough.  The European Parliament must urge Turkey in paragraph 12 of the report to address these constitutional concerns in order to offer meaningful protection to the rights of minorities.

Freedom of expression

We support wholeheartedly paragraph 6 of the draft report which calls on Turkey to amend the provisions of the revised Turkish penal code (TCK) in order to protect the right to free expression as enshrined by article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Prosecutions continue to be frequently instigated despite the revision of the TCK in 2005, with over 60 free expression cases being pursued in the last year.   In the first week of June 2006 alone, courts in Istanbul heard 6 cases involving the freedom of expression.

We believe, however, that the wording of the draft report’s conclusion in paragraph G that the acquittal of Professor Ibrahim Kaboglu and Professor Baskin Oran is a “positive development” is misleading.  Even the instigation of a criminal prosecution against individuals expressing a legitimate opinion tears at the heart of the right to free expression enshrined by article 10.  The fact that the charges in most free expression cases are often dropped once the case provokes international condemnation does not negate the “chilling effect” that they have on free speech. Prosecutions, no matter how spurious, taint the work of human rights defenders with the smear of illegality and criminality, undermining their work in the eyes of the public. Court appearances are time consuming, inhibiting human rights defenders, and those organisations that rely on them, from carrying out their work and slowing down the progress of society on every level.

With financial support from the EU, the Turkish government has started a program of human rights training for judges, prosecutors and lawyers but the continuing frequency of prosecutions and convictions of writers and journalists in Turkey would suggest that this program needs to be pursued with more vigor as fundamental human rights principles have failed to fully take hold in the adjudication process. 

It is crucial that international and European human rights instruments are fully assimilated into the Turkish legal consciousness.  Turkey must review its training process and monitor judicial decisions more closely to fully assess its success.

Democracy and the rule of law

We welcome the reference in paragraph 11 of the draft report which calls for Turkey to reform its electoral law which is discriminatory towards the Kurds and their political representation and remains one of the fundamental impediments to Turkey attaining true democratic status. 

Until the ten percent threshold rule is amended, the Kurds as a minority group do not and cannot have any political representation in parliament which can represent their interests and put forward their agenda. (3) Turkey must also amend its Political Parties law so that political parties that include Kurdish Rights in their platform are able to discuss these issues in Kurdish. Leaders of Hak-Par (the Rights and Freedoms Party) appeared before a court in June for speaking Kurdish at their party congress.

We believe it is imperative that the report states that Turkey must amend the Political Parties law which forbids political parties from using any other language other than Turkish in written material, public meetings or in video or audio cassettes.
   
In paragraph 1, the draft report does note the “insufficient progress” that has been shown as regards the independence of the judiciary and we welcome the European Parliament’s concern at the dismissal of the prosecutor in the Şemdinli case.

In this regard, it is vital that Turkey addresses article 140(4) of the Constitution which ties the administrative functions of the judiciary to the Ministry of Justice, creating a direct link between the judiciary and the executive, and undermining the former’s independence.

Turkey must also address the unduly restrictive legal regime that governs the relationship between a lawyer and their client if it is to adhere to standards of due process and the right to a fair trial under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The work of defence lawyers is impeded by restrictions on client confidentiality (5) and by the risk of being exposed to a criminal investigation. (6)  A lawyer can be immediately suspended before any guilt is established and he or she cannot visit or contact their client. Human rights defenders who are often subject to and specifically targeted for prosecution can be permanently prevented from representing their clients, as the Code of Criminal Procedure prevents lawyers who have been prosecuted for an offence from representing clients who have been charged with similar crimes. These provisions seem to be designed to unduly frustrate the work of the defence team, placing the principle of “equality of arms” in jeopardy.  

Security situation in the Kurdish areas of Turkey

The EUTCC strongly believes that the resolution of the conflict in the southeast is central to the establishment of a stable and democratic Turkey and to bringing about an end to human rights violations in the region. 

We commend the European Parliament for calling on the Turkish government to pursue a democratic solution to the conflict and for recognising that the problem in the Kurdish areas has political and economic dimensions (paragraph 24).

We are, however, concerned with wording of paragraph 21 of the draft report.  It fails to acknowledge the inflammatory and provocative effect that the human rights violations committed by state security forces have on the level of violence in the region.  As we have mentioned above, instances of torture are still prevalent in the region. Security forces have shown a hard-line attitude towards unarmed civilians and aggressive dispersal tactics during pro-Kurdish protests. There have been a number of violent clashes between police and civilians, with reports of police firing on civilians and children. 

A fact finding mission sent by Kurdish Human Rights Project (a founder member of the EUTCC) to the southeast region in April 2006 (7) found that the rule of law was clearly put aside during the security forces’ handling of the violence that sparked following the funerals of PKK guerrillas at the end of March 2006.  Police used indiscriminate, disproportionate and lethal force, clearly condoned by their superiors, chillingly reminiscent to many of the security force’s behaviour under the state of emergency during the 1990s.  Ten civilians lost their lives, including three children; hundreds of civilians were detained, many of whom have alleged that there were tortured during their detention.

The report must provide an impartial view of the situation in the Kurdish areas of Turkey to maintain the EU’s political objectivity. We urge the European Parliament to acknowledge that violence from both parties has contributed to the resurgence in hostilities, which must be halted in order for a democratic solution to be reached.

The draft report also neglects to mention that the ongoing conflict has also impacted women severely, leading to the use of sexual violence by state security forces as a means to humiliate and weaken the Kurdish community.  The violence in the region also dissuades communities from abandoning traditional practices that violate human rights.  The ongoing conflict and continuing spiral of violence can be directly linked to the rise in incidences of domestic violence, honour crimes and the number of female suicides. 

The EUTCC commends the Turkish government for enacting the Law on Compensation for Damage Arising from Terror and Combating Terror (Law No. 5233).   However, paragraph 25 of the draft report makes no mention of the inherent flaws in the scheme which will mean that the majority of IDPs will not receive the compensation they are owed for the losses they have incurred within the context of the conflict. The compensation scheme will not offer redress to those who left their homes of their own “free will” or compensate for losses sustained before 1987.  The documentation requirements for receiving compensation are burdensome, requiring the production of deeds to property which are impossible for many IDPs to lay claim to.  The scheme has also awarded sums of money that are below what is recommended by the European Court of Human Rights.  

The new anti-terror law

The draft report must be stronger in its condemnation of the amendments to the 1991 Law on the Fight against Terrorism (Act 3713) that have recently been passed by the Turkish Parliament. The language used in paragraph 4 of the draft report which states that the European Parliament “expects that the new Anti-Terror Law will not further restrict the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms” is disingenuous. The EUTCC believes that these amendments are fundamentally flawed, are clearly a threat to rights and freedoms in Turkey and will undo the good work that the reform process has already achieved. 

The anti-terror law is an affront to the rule of law.  The poor drafting of the legislation means that it will be difficult for the ordinary, law-abiding individual to regulate his/her behaviour so as to avoid criminal liability. The likely result will be that individuals will be prosecuted for “terrorist” acts without having any real links to the terrorist organisation itself.  Article 6 has the potential to label anyone who expresses an idea contrary to the official state ideology as a “terrorist”, as its ambiguous terms will almost assuredly lead to legitimate criticism being incorrectly labelled as “terrorist propaganda”. In addition, the offence of “financing terror” contained in article 7 is couched in vague and confusing language, criminalising those who “willingly” provide funds “directly or indirectly” knowing they would “entirely or partially” be used to commit terror crimes.  This offence could potentially apply to overly broad number of crimes and their funding.   

The amendments also disproportionately punish behaviour that, to the layman, would not constitute “terrorism”. Under article 6, the types of activity that will be deemed to be a “terrorist offence” are broadened to include the carrying of an emblem, signs or placards of a terrorist organisation and attempting to conceal your own identity during a demonstration.  

It must be pointed out to Turkey that extending the list of terrorist offences carries the risk of diverting police time away from the real threat posed by individuals who utilise violent means to further their cause.

Conclusion

Despite our unease at the stalling reform process in Turkey, the EUTCC continues to support the accession process in Turkey. We are convinced that accession, with its attendant enforceable standards on human and minority rights, remains by far the best hope for mainstreaming Kurdish concerns and bringing human rights reform and the Kurdish issue to the fore of political debate in Brussels and beyond.  This anticipation is based on the belief that the institutions of the EU will ensure that the prospect of EU membership remains a powerful incentive for change in Turkey by adopting a robust approach to ensuring Turkish compliance with accession standards. We would therefore be grateful if you could raise the issues discussed in this letter during the debate in the European Parliament so that they may be included in the final draft of the report and be presented to the Turkish administration.

1 Council of Europe (COE), Parliamentary Assembly, Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe, ‘Turkey: Explanatory memorandum by the co-rapporteurs, Mrs. Mady Delvaux-Stehres and Mr. Luc Van den Brande (Co-rapporteurs)’, March 2004, p38
2 According to the Diyarbakir-based Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, out of the 180 torture cases who applied to their rehabilitation centres in 2005, more than half cited that the torture took place outside a detention centre.   http://www.tihv.org.tr/eindex.html
3 There are over 100 Kurdish MPs in the Turkish Parliament but they were elected as representatives of parties that do not include Kurdish Rights in their platform and so cannot be relied upon to represent the Kurdish interest.
4 Paragraph 6
5 Under Turkish law, the presence of a law enforcement official can be required at meetings between a lawyer and their client, discussions can be taped and documents confiscated based only on a suspicion of “abetment”. Under the new anti terror law, a judge can request to see the defence lawyer’s documents and for a law enforcement official to be present at meetings if it is considered that the lawyer is “liaising” with the terrorist organisation. 
6 This can be instigated against a lawyer who is representing a client on terrorist offence charges if he or she is considered to be “assisting” their client (Sections 22 and 151 of the Turkish Penal Code)
7 “Indiscriminate Use of Force: Violence in South-east Turkey” KHRP Fact Finding Mission Report July 2006

Yours faithfully,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the EUTCC
Kariane Westrheim                       
Chairperson                           
(Email: kariane.westrheim@iuh.uib.no)

Turquie-USA/ Turkey-USA

Former NATO commander Ralston named as US special anti-PKK envoy

Washington has named former NATO Supreme Allied Commander of the U.S. in Europe Joseph W. Ralston a special envoy to coordinate efforts in combating the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), U.S. sources said on Sunday.

Turkish officials told TNA yesterday that they had not yet been informed about an official appointment, but expressed their positive view of the U.S. move. One official said Ankara is now waiting for an official announcement from the U.S. side over the appointment, as well as clarification of the mission of the envoy, before deciding to appoint a similar special coordinator from the Turkish side.

Retired Gen. Ralston has an impressive professional career. He served as vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1996 to 2000. In 1997, upon the retirement of John M. Shalikashvili, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Ralston was the top candidate to succeed him but withdrew his name from consideration when it became public that he had had an adulterous affair with a CIA employee during the 1980s while he and his wife were separated. The job eventually went to Hugh Shelton, and Ralston remained vice chairman until 2000.

Gen. Ralston retired after serving as the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe from 2000 to 2003 and vice chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Then Defense Secretary William Cohen stood by Ralston despite the scandal, and appointed him vice chairman of consulting company the Cohen Group after his retirement, a post he retains to this day.

Gen. Ralston, during his service at NATO, had close cooperation with the Turkish military. He attended an award ceremony in which the U.S.-based Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs honored retired Turkish General Cevik Bir in October 1999.

Bir described Ralston as "my colleague with whom I developed friendship and shared similar values throughout my career."

In the capacity of supreme allied commander, Ralston visited Ankara prior to the Iraq war to persuade Turkey open its territories for the U.S. troop's northern front, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

The U.S. move to appoint a special envoy to coordinate efforts against PKK follows a strong warning from Ankara last month to both Washington and Baghdad to make concrete steps in eliminating the PKK threat in northern Iraq, cautioning that otherwise it is ready for a cross-border operation.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson commented on the identity of the coordinator several days ago, saying he is well known to Turkey, and Ankara will be pleased and surprised when the name is announced.

Despite its 130,000 troops in Iraq, Washington strongly opposes any possible cross-border operation that might be launched to deal with the presence of the PKK in northern Iraq. It says this may further complicate the situation in Iraq and undermine efforts for stability and the political process.

Turkish jet fighters commenced limited airstrikes last week against PKK targets in northern Iraq. Turkish F-16 jets took off from the military air base in Diyarbakir and bombed several PKK targets in the Kanimasi and Snaht areas of the region.

The Iranian military also launched a limited cross-border operation into northern Iraq late last week, following attacks on border patrol points along the border by the PKK's sister party PEJAK. (The New Anatolian, 28 August 2006)

US calls for PKK to lay down arms, end terrorist attacks

The US administration has called on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay down its arms and end its terror attacks on Turkey.

"We (US) call the PKK for a termination of its attacks and laying down the arms on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of its attacks against our ally Turkey, US Department of State spokesman Sean McCormack said on Monday in a written statement.

The statement recalled that PKK have claimed the lives of over 30 thousand people in Turkey since August 15, 1984- when it began operating.

McCormack went on to say in the statement that the violence declined a few years after the arrest of "terrorist" Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of PKK, in 1999, however, it resumed again in 2004.  (Cihan News Agency, 14 August 2006)

"Triple Alliance": The US, Turkey, Israel and the War on Lebanon

by Michel Chossudovsky

While Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned Israel for the atrocities committed in Lebanon, his government remains a staunch ally of Israel and a major military actor in the Middle East and Central Asia, with close ties to Washington, Tel Aviv and NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"This war is unjust... The Israeli war ...is simply fueling hatred... It is not difficult to see that a terrible global war and a huge disaster await us.”", said Erdogan  at the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, in early August.

In a cruel irony, Turkey, through its military alliance with Israel and the US, is a de facto partner in the "terrible global war" alluded to by Prime Minister Erdogan.

The Turkish head of government's apparent indignation responds to strong anti-Israeli sentiment within Turkey and the Middle East. His Justice and Development Party (AKP), which dominates the ruling coalition is considered to be a "pro-Islamic political entity". Yet beneath the gilded surface of Turkish party politics, the ruling AKP coalition government led Prime Minister Erdogan is complicit in Israeli war crimes.

Turkey's condemnation of Israel is in blatant contradiction with the substance of its longstanding military cooperation agreement with Israel, which the ruling AKP government has actively pursued. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not only supported Israeli interests, he had also developed a close personal rapport with (former) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The contradictions underlying Turkey's foreign policy also relate to complex divisions within the ruling coalition as well as between the government and the Military hierarchy, which historically  has maintained a close rapport with the Pentagon and NATO. While the alliance with Israel may be the source of political contention in the Turkish parliament, it has, nonetheless, been accepted and endorsed, since the mid-1990s, by successive government coalitions.

The Israeli-Turkish Military Alliance

A significant turnaround in Turkish foreign policy occurred in the immediate wake of the Cold War, which contributed to redefining the Turkey-Israel relationship. Initially forged under the helm of Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, the Israeli-Turkish military pact is characterized by the landmark 1994 Security and Secrecy Agreement (SSA). This strategic realignment of Turkey with Israel was part of Washington's post Cold War agenda in the Middle East, which was also supported by US covert intelligence operations. In 1997, Mrs. Ciller was accused of having been recruited by the CIA and "of accepting money from foreign governments [the US] to work against Turkey's national interests". (Voice of America, 17 July 1997)

The 1994 Security and Secrecy Agreement emulates a defunct secret agreement between Israel and Turkey formulated in the late 1950s at the height of the Cold War, entitled the "Peripheral Pact":

"By 1958, however, a fascinating secret agreement, sometimes referred to as the "peripheral pact", had emerged between the two nations. It’s conceptual framework can be traced back even before the founding of the state [of Israel] to the ideology of Baruch ‘Uzel [Uziel], an Israeli leader who would later become a member of the Liberal Party.

Notably, exact details of the alliance remain hidden in numerous classified Israeli documents, and are obscured by Turkish secrecy, classified documents, and insistence that there was no actually documented pact between the countries. Nonetheless, it seems the alliance had three fundamental tenets. The diplomatic tenet involved joint public relations campaigns to influence general publics. The military aspect allegedly involved the exchange of intelligence information, joint planning for mutual aid in emergencies, and Turkish support in the Pentagon and at NATO for an improved Israeli military. Some also say that “highly sensitive” scientific cooperation as well as the export of Israeli military equipment to the Republic occurred. (See Washington Institute)

This 1958 bilateral military cooperation agreement, however, was short lived. In the course of the 1960s, Turkey pursued a rapprochement with both the Soviet Union and the Arab countries. (Ibid).

A protocol on Defense Cooperation was established in 1992 under the government of Süleyman Demirel, followed two years later by the signing of  the 1994 Security and Secrecy Agreement (SSA). Necmettin Erbakan succeeded  Tansu Çiller as Prime Minister in 1997 in  "an Islamic center-right coalition" with  Ciller's True Path Party.

In 1997, the Erbakan government was forced to resign as result of pressures exerted by the Military in what was described as "a post- modern coup d'État".

The US sponsored 1994 Security and Secrecy Agreement (SSA) implemented by the Çiller government, essentially set the stage for a firm and close relationship between Israel and Turkey in military and intelligence cooperation, joint military exercises, weapons production and training. The SSA is far-reaching in its implications. It also requires the exchange of military intelligence in what is described as the "guaranteed secrecy in the exchange and sharing of information".

From the outset in 1992, the Israeli-Turkish military alliance has consistently been directed against Syria.  A 1993 Memorandum of Understanding led to the creation of (Israeli-Turkish) "joint committees" to handle so-called regional threats. Under the terms of the Memorandum, Turkey and Israel agreed "to cooperate in gathering intelligence on Syria, Iran, and Iraq and to meet regularly to share assessments pertaining to terrorism and these countries' military capabilities."

Turkey agreed to allow IDF and Israeli security forces to gather electronic intelligence on Syria and Iran from Turkey. In exchange, Israel assisted in the equipping and training of Turkish forces in anti-terror warfare along the Syrian, Iraqi, and Iranian borders." (Ibid)

In 1997, Israel and Turkey launched  "A Strategic Dialogue" involving a bi-annual process of high level military consultations by the respective deputy chiefs of staff. (Milliyet,  Istanbul, in Turkish 14 July 2006).  

The 1994 SSA was followed in 1996 by a  Military Training and Cooperation Agreement (MTCA). Also in 1996, Turkey entered into a Military Industry Cooperation Agreement with Israel, which was in turn instrumental to the signing of  "a secret agreement" with Israel Military Industries to update its tank division, modernize its helicopter fleet and its F-4 and F-5 combat planes (Ibid). In turn, the two countries entered into negotiations with a view to establishing a Free Trade Agreement, which came into operation in 2000.

On the official agenda of recent Israeli-Turkish talks are joint defense projects, including the joint production of Arrow II Theater Missile Defense and Popeye II missiles. The latter, also known as the Have Lite, are advanced small missiles, designed for deployment on fighter planes.

More recently, the Eastern Mediterranean corridor, from the Red Sea, through Lebanon and Syria to the Syrian- Turkish border has, both from a strategic and economic standpoint, become an important factor in the evolving Israel-Turkey military alliance. It is intimately related to the proposed Ceyhan-Ashkelon oil pipeline project (to be implemented by Turkey and Israel), which would link the  Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan  pipeline to Israel's Ashkelon-Eilat pipeline. (Michel Chossudovsky, The War on Lebanon and the Battle for Oil, July 2006)

The war on Lebanon ultimately seeks to establish joint Israeli-Turkish military control over a coastal corridor extending from the Israeli-Lebanese border to the East Mediterranean border between Syria and Turkey. What this militarization of the coastal Lebanese-Syrian corridor would signify is the control of almost the entire Eastern Mediterranean coastline by Turkey and Israel under the terms of the Israeli-Turkish military alliance. (Ibid)

Water is also part of this strategic relationship. Under a 2004 agreement, Turkey was to sell some 50 million cubic meters of water per annum to Israel over a 20 year period. In recent developments, the agreement has been revised. The water would to be channeled to Israel via an Israeli-Turkish water pipeline. (Ibid)

The NATO-Israel Security Agreement

In April 2001,  Israel entered into "a security agreement" with NATO as part of  NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue:

"This security agreement provides the framework for the protection of classified information, as defined by all 19 member countries, and is signed by countries that wish to engage in cooperation with NATO."

In 2004, the decision was taken to "elevate" the 2001 Mediterranean Dialogue "to a genuine [military] partnership and to launch the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) with selected countries [including Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan. Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia] in the broader region of the Middle East." The mandate of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, is to:

"contribute to regional security and stability, by promoting greater practical cooperation, enhancing the Dialogue’s political dimension, assisting in defense reform, cooperation in the field of border security, achieving interoperability and contributing to the fight against terrorism, while complementing other international efforts." (NATO, emphasis added)

The Initiative "offers a 'menu' of bilateral activities" consisting of  "defense reform, defense budgeting, defense planning and civil-military relations; military-to-military cooperation to contribute to interoperability through participation in selected military exercises and related education and training activities,..."  ; cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including through intelligence-sharing; cooperation in the Alliance's work on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ...  (NATO, The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative)

In practical terms, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) neutralizes Israel's potential adversaries in the Arab World. It essentially grants a green light to Israel and its indefectible Turkish ally. It ensures that other member States (frontline Arab States) of the NATO sponsored ICI, will not intervene in a Middle East conflict instigated by Israel. This is the main purpose of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI): paralyze the Arab States at the diplomatic and military levels, to ensure that they will not act in any meaningful way against US-Israeli interests in the Middle East.

By late 2004, the "enhanced" Mediterranean Dialogue (Istanbul Cooperation Initiative), had evolved into a more cohesive military cooperation agreement. The member countries met in Brussels in November 2004. Senior Israeli IDF officers held discussions, under NATO auspices, with the top military brass of six members of the Mediterranean basin nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. The hidden agenda of this meeting was essentially to set the stage for a full-fledged NATO-Israel partnership, with the tacit consent of the frontline Arab States.

This partnership relationship was firmed up in bilateral NATO-Israel talks held in Tel Aviv in February 2005.

Joint NATO-Israel Military Exercises

In early 2005, the US, Israel and Turkey held military exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Syria, which were followed by NATO military exercises with Israel, which included several Arab countries.

These joint war games were then followed in February 2005, by NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's visit to Israel.  De Hoop Scheffer had talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Lt. General Moshe Ya’alon. (NATO Press Release, 24 February 2005).

The purpose of these meetings pertained to "possible ways of expanding current cooperation, particularly in the areas of military co-operation, the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

The ongoing relationship between NATO and Israel was confirmed in NATO's Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer's  February 2005 speech in Tel Aviv:

"...At NATO’s Istanbul Summit [June 2004], we agreed, in close consultation with Israel and other partners in this process, to try to move our relationship to another level – in short, to move from dialogue to partnership. We want to further intensify our political dialogue; to promote greater interoperability between our military forces; and to encourage greater cooperation on defense reform, as well as in the critical fight against terrorism.

Israel has stepped forward with a list of concrete proposals for enhancing our cooperation. These proposals cover many areas of common interest, such as the fight against terrorism or joint military exercises, where Israel’s expertise is very much valued. They underline your country’s desire for a strengthened relation, and we are looking forward to working with Israel in the framework of an individual action programme. (NATO website, 24 February 2005, click for complete transcript of speech) (emphasis added)

These military cooperation ties were viewed by the Israeli military as a means to "enhance Israel's deterrence capability regarding potential enemies threatening it, mainly Iran and Syria."

It is worth noting that in February 2005, coinciding with the NATO mission to Israel, the government of Ariel Sharon dismissed General Moshe Ya'alon as Chief of Staff and appointed Air Force General Dan Halutz. This was the first time in Israeli history that an Air Force General was appointed Chief of Staff (See Uri Avnery, February 2005).

The appointment of Major General Dan Halutz as IDF Chief of Staff  was considered in Israeli political circles as "the appointment of the right man at the right time." In retrospect, his appointment has a direct bearing on the planning of the air campaign directed against Lebanon, although at the time Maj General Halutz was slated to undertake the planning of possible aerial bombing raids on Iran, as part of a planned US-Israeli operation. These planned bombings on Iran would be coordinated by US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) in liaison with Israel, Turkey and NATO. (See Michel Chossudovsky, May 2005, February 2006, Jan 2006 ).

The Role of NATO in Relation to the War on Lebanon

NATO cannot under any circumstances play a "neutral stabilizing" role in Lebanon. NATO's involvement would be dictated by the precise terms of the "NATO-Israel partnership". A NATO "stabilization force", pursuant to a UN Security Council Resolution would side with Israel against Lebanon.

The NATO-Israel partnership establishes NATO's "responsibilities" in relation to its ally Israel: Israel is under attack and has "the legitimate right to defend itself".  The terms of the NATO-Israel agreement as defined in the February  2005 consultations in Tel Aviv, specifically point to "the fight against terrorism".

The 2005 Israel-NATO agreement is all the more important because it requires NATO, in the context of the Israeli led war on Lebanon, to support Israel. It also means that NATO would be involved in the triangular process of military consultations and planning, which link Tel Aviv to Washington and Ankara.

Meanwhile, the NATO-Israel partnership reached in 2005 was also viewed by the Israeli government as an opportunity to strengthen its military alliance with Turkey in relation to its main regional enemies (Syria and Iran) as well as boost the shattered image of Israel:

The more Israel's image is strengthened as a country facing enemies who attempt to attack it for no justified reason, the greater will be the possibility that aid will be extended to Israel by NATO. Furthermore, Iran and Syria will have to take into account the possibility that the increasing cooperation between Israel and NATO will strengthen Israel's links with Turkey, also a member of NATO. Given Turkey's impressive military potential and its geographic proximity to both Iran and Syria, Israel's operational options against them, if and when it sees the need, could gain considerable strength. "  (Jaffa Center for Strategic Studies,  http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/sa/v7n4p4Shalom.html )

New Pro-Israeli Turkish Chief of Staff

Another crucial and related development --which has a direct bearing on the current situation in Lebanon-- is the timely appointment by the Erdogan government of a new Chief of Staff. Ground Forces Commander General Yasar Buyukanit, who is slated to succeed Gen. Hilmi Ozkok in late August.

General Yasar Buyukanit is pro-Israeli. He is a US approved appointee, firmly committed to America's "War on Terrorism". His timely appointment at the outset of Israel's military campaign in Lebanon bears a direct relationship to the evolving Middle East war theater.

The appointment of General Buyukanit as Chief of Staff has been in the pipeline since December 2005, when he visited Washington for consultations with his US counterparts. At the Pentagon, General Buyukanit met the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace,  Army Commander General Francis Harvey Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman. 

General Yasar Buyukanit also had discussions at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Neo-conservative think tank with close ties to the Pentagon. AEI's military analyst Thomas Donnelly was responsible for outlining and drafting the 2000 Neo-conservative military blueprint entitled "Rebuilding America's Defenses" published by the Project of the New American century (PNAC).

The decision by the Turkish cabinet led by Prime Minister Erdogan, to appoint (with some reluctance) General Buyukanit as Chief of Staff, was ratified by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in early August at the height of a judicial procedure, indirectly implicating General  Buyukanit,  in the alleged organization of  state-sponsored death squads targeting Kurdish rebels in Turkey's southeastern region (The Independent, 21 April 2006).

Coinciding with General Buyukanit's appointment as Chief of Staff, Prime Minister Erdogan's government had already formulated the contours of Turkey's participation in "an international force for stability in Lebanon" in anticipation of a UN Security Council resolution, which was being prepared by France and the United States.

Under the helm of General Buyukanit, the Turkish military could come play a more active role in the Israeli sponsored conflict. This role would be based on the terms of the military alliance between Israel and Turkey as well as on Israel's partnership with NATO. 

If the Lebanon war were to escalate into a broader conflict involving Syria, Turkish ground troops could be deployed under the terms of the Israeli-Turkish military alliance. It is worth mentioning that prime ministers Recep Erdogan and Ariel Sharon in a 2005 meeting in Tel Aviv decided to set up a "Hotline for the exchange of intelligence" as part of their evolving military alliance. What this suggests is that Turkey is a potential partner in the ongoing war on Lebanon.  

"Triple Alliance": US, Israel, Turkey

Already during the Clinton Administration, a triangular military alliance between the US, Israel and Turkey had unfolded. This "triple alliance", which is dominated by the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, integrates and coordinates military command decisions between the three countries pertaining to the broader Middle East. It is based on the close military ties respectively of Israel and Turkey with the US, coupled with a strong bilateral military relationship between Tel Aviv and Ankara. Amply documented, Israel and Turkey are partners in the US planned aerial attacks on Iran, which have been in an advanced state of readiness since mid-2005. (See Michel Chossudovsky, May 2005)

In recent developments, on July 6, barely a week before the bombing of Lebanon, a  so-called "Shared Vision" document was signed by the US and Turkey, which essentially confirms the "Triple Alliance". Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the signing ceremony. 

The "Shared Vision" agreement describes the relationship between Turkey and the United States as: "characterized by strong bonds of friendship, alliance, mutual trust and unity of vision. We share the same set of values and ideals in our regional and global objectives: the promotion of peace, democracy, freedom and prosperity." more significantly, it implies Turkey's unbending support of the US "war on terrorism". 

In practice, the document requires the Ankara government to endorse Washington's foreign policy stance with regard to Israel's right to "self defense" . This commitment was ratified barely a week before the onslaught of the war on Lebanon. According to Zaman (Istanbul) (July 6, 2006), the "Shared Vision" document is aimed at ensuring that:

"Turkey remains aligned with the United States and the West in strategic and tactical terms, adding that Ankara in turn wants to be part of the political planning processes in the Middle East rather than a 'blind implementer' of policies determined by global players."

The document defines Turkey's strategic and military alignment in the broader Middle East-Central Asian region as defined in Washington's "Greater Middle East Initiative":

"[The Shared Vision agreement] will encourage democracy and stability in Iraq, the Black Sea, Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan [as well as support] "international efforts aimed at resolving the Middle East conflict; boosting peace and stability through democracy in the Greater Middle East Initiative; ensuring energy security; strengthening transatlantic relations; and enhancing understanding among religions and cultures.( Turkish Daily, 6 July 2006)

Escalation and Military Build-up

Israel is involved in a major military operation with the full deployment of its air force and ground forces. The target of the Israeli-led military operation is not Hizbollah but the destruction an entire country and the impoverishment of its population.

Israel is meeting fierce resistance not only from Hizbollah but from an armed civilian movement. The Israeli government has issued an order to mobilize as many as 40,000 additional reserve soldiers (Patrick Martin, July 2006)

In  contrast to the "shock and awe" March 2003 Blitzkrieg over Iraq, the Israelis have aimed systematically and almost exclusively civilian targets. Moreover, Lebanon is defenseless. It does not possess an air defense system and the Israelis know it. The number of declared targets is staggering, even when compared, for instance, to the 300 selected strategic targets identified in the 1991 Gulf war.

The civilian infrastructure has been destroyed: water, telecommunications, bridges, airports, gas stations, power plants, dairy factories, etc. Confirmed by the British press, in towns and villages across Lebanon, schools and hospitals have been targeted with meticulous accuracy. In an utterly twisted logic, the Israeli government has casually blamed Hizbollah for using the schools and hospitals as hideouts or launch pads to wage their terrorist activities. (ABC Australia, interview with Israeli Ambassador to Australia, Nati Tamir, 21 July 2006).

Israeli Stockpiling of  WMD

Recent developments in the war theater point towards escalation both within and beyond the borders of Lebanon. The Israeli government has confirmed that it is in for a "long war". Patterns of weapons stockpiling by Israel support the long war agenda.  To meet shortfalls in current stockpiles of WMD, Israel's IDF is to take delivery of an emergency shipment of precision guided bombs, including US made GBU-28 bunker buster bombs produced by Raytheon.

The proposed shipment is described by military observers as somewhat "unusual". Israel already has a large stockpile of precision guided weapons. In addition to its own stockpiles, the IDF took delivery in 2005 of some 5000 US made "smart air launched weapons" including some 500 "bunker-buster" bombs.

While the report suggests that "Israel still had a long list of targets in Lebanon to strike", the history of these deliveries of bunker buster bombs to Israel since 2004, suggests that they may be intended for use in the broader Middle Eastern region, including Syria and Iran.

The Broader Middle East War

The war in Lebanon is an integral part of the US Middle East war agenda. Over the last two years, US military documents and national security statements point quite explicitly  to Syria and Iran as potential targets of US military aggression. Escalation in relation to Syria is a strategic scenario, contemplated by US, Israeli and Turkish military planners.

In their  July Joint Press Conference at the White House, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony  Blair renewed, in no uncertain terms, their threats against Syria and Iran. These threats are now backed by concrete military plans:

"The message is very, very simple to them. It is that, you have a choice. Iran and Syria have a choice. And they may think that they can avoid this choice; in fact, they can't. And when things are set in train like what has happened in Lebanon over the past few weeks, it only, in my view, underscores the fact they have this choice. They can either come in and participate as proper and responsible members of the international community, or they will face the risk of increasing confrontation." (White House, 28 July 2006)

This and other statements point to escalation, where Lebanon is slated to be used as a casus belli, a "just cause" for war on Syria and possibly Iran, due to their alleged support of Hizbollah.

On the other hand, the Syrian government has intimated that if Israel launches an all out invasion of Lebanon beyond the southern region, it would have no choice but to intervene in the conflict:. 

"Syria issued a stark warning that an Israeli invasion of Lebanon would drag it into the spiraling Middle East conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire.

'If Israel makes a land entry into Lebanon, they can get to within 20 km of Damascus,' Information Minister Moshen Bilal told the Spanish newspaper ABC.

'What will we do? Stand by with our arms folded? Absolutely not. Without any doubt Syria will intervene in the conflict.'" (AFX, 26 July 2006)

Moreover any encroachment or movement of Israeli troops inside Syrian territory could trigger the entry of Syria into the conflict. Syrian troops and air force are currently deployed and are "in an advanced state of readiness".

If Syria were to be brought into the war, in all likelihood Turkey would intervene in accordance with the terms of the Israel-Turkey military alliance. NATO would send troops pursuant to its 2005 military partnership agreement with Israel.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration in close liaison with Britain is pushing for a UN Security Council Resolution on Iran's nuclear program, which could lead in the months ahead to punitive bombings directed against Iran.

In relation to Lebanon, Iran's president Ahmadinejad intimated at  the very outset of the bombing campaign that Iran would intervene if Syria is attacked:

Mr [Mahmud] Ahmadinezhad expressed grave concerns over the Zionist military's attacks on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. He described the aggressions as the sign of weakness on the part the illegitimate regime. He said despite what the Zionist officials may think, such actions cannot save the regime.

Commenting on the recent Israeli threats against Syria, the president said that the regime's ever increasing aggressive measures would be interpreted as an attack on the whole of the Islamic world, adding that it would meet with a strong response.(Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, in Persian, 14 July 2006)

As the Middle East war escalates, the Resistance movements in the various countries will move closer together. Already a solidarity movement in favor of Hizbollah has developed in Iraq. In Lebanon, sectarian boundaries are breaking down between Sunni and Shiite.  Muslims and Maronite Christians are joining hands to defend their Homeland.

The US and Israel will not be able to handle this resistance on the ground without destroying the entire country with aerial bombardments. If Syria is brought into the war and Turkey intervenes, the entire Middle East will flare up. Turkey has a formidable military arsenal (with 393,000 ground troops,  56,800 Air Force and 54,000 Navy personnel). Yet at the same time, there is a very strong anti-Israeli sentiment in Turkey to the extent that the Erdogan government may have to present Turkey's role to public opinion as part of a limited "peace-keeping" or humanitarian mandate under UN auspices.

The Anti-war Movement

The geopolitics behind the war on Lebanon must be addressed by the Antiwar movement. We are not dealing with a limited conflict between the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) and Hizbollah as conveyed by the Western media. The Lebanese war theater is part of a broader US military agenda, which encompasses a region extending  from the Eastern Mediterranean into the heartland of Central Asia. The war on Lebanon must be viewed as "a stage" in this broader "military road-map".

The structure of military alliances is crucial in understanding the evolution of the US sponsored Middle East war. The war on Lebanon is not strictly an Israeli military project, it is part of a coordinated military endeavor by Israel's main partners and allies including the US, Britain, Turkey, and the member states of the Atlantic Alliance.  

War Crimes

While Israel is indelibly responsible for "Crimes against Peace" as defined in Article 6a of the Nuremberg Charter: for  "the planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties", the same Article 6a  also extends to Israel's military partners and allies.

Israel is responsible for "War Crimes" under Article 6b of the Nuremberg Charter .through the "plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity;" (Art. 6b). It is responsible for "Crimes against Humanity" through the perpetration of acts of : "murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war..."  (Article 6c).

Those Western heads of State and heads of government who overtly support Israel's air raids and illegal occupation of Lebanon, are complicit in "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity." This pertains specifically to those Western political leaders who, at the outset of the war, turned down the "cease fire" proposal, which would have led to a halt to the Israeli aerial bombardments, largely directed against the civilian population.

The legitimacy of the main political and military actors and corporate sponsors  must be the target of a consistent anti-war movement which goes beyond the expression of anti-war sentiment and the holding of large public antiwar rallies. Under the Nuremberg Charter, Article 6,  Western leaders who support and/or pay lip service to Israel's war crimes are categorized as accomplices:

"Leaders, organizers, instigators and accomplices participating in the formulation or execution of a common plan or conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing crimes are responsible for all acts performed by any persons in execution of such plan."

The latter clause also applies to the permanent members of Security Council, who uphold Israel's right to "self defense". Article 7 of the Nuremberg Charter stipulates that "the official position of defendants, whether as Heads of State or responsible officials in Government Departments, shall not be considered as freeing them from responsibility or mitigating punishment."

There is a sense of urgency in reversing the tide of war.

Reversing the tide of war can not be limited to a critique of the US war agenda. What is at stake is the legitimacy of the political and military actors and the economic power structures, which from behind the scenes control the formulation, and direction of US foreign policy.

A war agenda is not disarmed through antiwar sentiment. One does not reverse the tide by asking President Bush or Prime Minister Olmert: "please abide by the Geneva Convention" and the Nuremberg Charter. Ultimately a consistent antiwar agenda requires unseating the war criminals in high office as a first step towards disarming the institutions and corporate structures of the New World Order.

To break the "war on terrorism" consensus, we must also break its propaganda apparatus, the pervasive structures of media disinformation, the fear and intimidation campaign, which galvanize public opinion into accepting the legitimacy of the Anglo-American military project.

This can only be effectively implemented by unseating the war criminals from the positions of authority which they quite legitimately occupy. It is this legitimacy of "war criminals" in high office in our respective countries, which has to be broken.

Sanctions against Israel

Sanctions against Israel must be adopted by member countries of the United Nations. And if they are not adopted or ratified by the relevant government or inter-governmental authorities, then the officials representing those authorities should be held responsible for "war crimes" under the Nuremberg Charter. If the national legislatures of UN member countries uphold governments which condone Israeli war crimes, then those members of parliament must also be unseated.

A UN Security Council resolution cannot override or erase the fact that Israel has violated international law and has committed extensive crimes. Moreover, the veto exercised by a permanent member which might temporarily uphold Israel's actions, including its illegal occupation of Lebanon, has no legitimacy and cannot override the UN Charter and the tenets of international law (Nuremberg Charter).

In other words, if  appropriate sanctions against Israel are not adopted by the UN Security Council, due the encroachment of one or more permanent members of the Security Council, the heads of State and heads of government of those permanent member countries of the Security Council (e.g. US, UK, France) should be considered, under the Nuremberg Charter, accomplices of Israeli "crimes against the peace", " war crimes" and "crimes against humanity". (Article 6).

Similarly, the adoption of a bogus "consensus" UN Security Council resolution brokered by the US, France and Britain, which protects the interests of Israel and/or upholds the illegal occupation, while calling for the disarmament of Hizbollah, does not alter the fact that Israel has committed those crimes. Moreover, it should be clear that if such a  resolution were to be adopted, those members who voted in favor of the resolution would, under Article 6 of the Nuremberg Charter, be considered accomplices of Israeli crimes. Ultimately what such as bogus resolution signifies is the "criminalization" of the United Nations Security Council.

But the more crucial and complex relationship to be addressed by the antiwar movement pertains to the powers operating behind the scenes: the Anglo-American oil giants, the so-called "defense contractors" which produce Weapons of Mass Destruction in the real sense of the word, the media conglomerates which fabricate the news and constitute an instrument of war propaganda, and the powerful financial institutions, whose interests are served in a profit driven war.

*Michel Chossudovsky is the author of the international best seller "The Globalization of Poverty " published in eleven languages. He is Professor of Economics at the University of Ottawa and Director of the Center for Research on Globalization, at   www.globalresearch.ca . He is also a contributor to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.  His most recent book is entitled: America’s "War on Terrorism", Global Research, 2005.  (www.globalresearch.ca, August 6, 2006)

TIHV Chairman: "UN's Primary Duty is to Defend Peace"

In wake of ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestine and Lebanon, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) Executive Board Chairman Yavuz Onen sent a letter to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday calling on the Security Council to adopt an urgent and effective resolution for the issue and to take all the measures required.

Onen's letter stressed that "the unfolding drama experienced in the Middle East for years plunges us into deeper despair" noting that Israel was using disproportionate force that involved hitting "civil targets, the main Lebanese infrastructures including medical establishments, productive facilities, all major roads and bridges, and irrigation plants."

In consequence, said Onen's letter "the right to live, right to shelter, and personal security ahead, the most fundamental human rights are being violated. A nation is being penalized altogether."

"We express our utmost concern that these attacks of Israel constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law according to the Geneva Convention and International Criminal Court and they also give rise to permanent and unavoidable problems in the region" it said.

The letter continued saying:

"The fundamental purpose of the United Nations, as set forth in the Charter of UN Article 1, are "to maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace". As the most important document of the UN, the 3rd article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights specifies also that "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person". And according to the Article 28, Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized".

Despite these articles, basis of existence of the UN might fall under suspicion due to the lack of any kind of social and international order which terminates the shame on humanity and the failure to take precautions to surpass the aggressiveness destroying peace.

As an institution making an effort to cease all human rights violations for years, we believe that "the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world", as in stated in the preamble of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Establishing a stable peace in the region and to preserve coming generations against the scourge of war are urgent demands of the whole world."

Onen's letter ended with the conclusive request for a resolution. "Dear Secretary General", it said, "in accordance with the promises of the UN, we call the Security Council to adopt an urgent and effective resolution for the issue and to take all the measures." (BIA News Center, August 9, 2006)

Turkish Intellectuals accuse  Bush, Blair and Olmert

In one of the most strongly worded condemnations of Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Palestine coming out of Turkey, seven of the country's leading intellectuals have united to issue a public declaration charging the leaders of Israel, the United States and Britain of "committing crimes against humanity".

Titled "We Accuse", the public indictment written by Perihan Magden, Ayse Gul Altinay, Latife Tekin, Zeynep Caglayan Gambetti, Yildirim Turker, Koray Caliskan and Taha Parla has been signed by more than 15,500 supporters in a few days.

The indictment is online at www.weaccuse.net both in Turkish and in English and is open for new signatures until August 15th.

Stating that the USA, Britain and Israel were responsible for "imperialist, colonialist and aggressive policies" the declaration said its leaders had collectively committed offences ranging from mass destruction warfare to premeditated massacre, the deliberate killing of children and civilians.

The below is the full text of the declaration:

WE ACCUSE

"G.W. Bush, T. Blair, and E. Olmert, the chief executives of the imperialist, colonialist, belligerent policies and actions of the US-British-Israeli coalition, of perpetrating the composite crimes of war of annihilation, occupation, and the premeditated mass murder of children and civilians in Palestine and Lebanon, following their atrocities in Afghanistan and Iraq and foreboding the same in Syria and Iran, sinking into utter barbarity in transgression of all universal norms of human morality.

THE FOLLOWING ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE:

"All government employees and agents, advisors, civil and military functionaries who partake in collective and individual responsibility in these states;

"the legislative and judicial branches that have not curbed the criminal activities of their governments as they violate basic human rights, most significantly the right to live, and as they trample international legal norms and commit crimes against humanity;

"universities, media, intellectuals, workers and citizens who do not restrain and sanction their governments through domestic democratic channels;

"United Nations and other national and international bodies that actively or passively support, aid and abet this illegality, crude force, and aggression -- all bear responsibility for the catastrophe that is taking place.

WE DEMAND:

"An immediate cessation of this horror,

"the due trial, in international tribunals, as well as in the courts of conscience and history, of, above all, Bush, Blair, and Olmert as perpetrators of crimes against humanity, of their respective government agents and supporters, of the chief executives and state personnel in all countries that have been accomplices to these crimes against humanity, and their removal from office by the lawful and democratic initiatives of their respective citizenry.

AND WE DECLARE:

"We stand at a critical juncture in human history.

"These aggressive, colonialist, exploitative, and militarist practices are negating the achievements of humanity, destroying the basic pillars of international law, and thus, threatening the present and the future of this planet.

"We refuse to submit to this brutal force and be accomplices to its crimes.

"We refuse to give in to the (il)logic of blood-fed economies and lethal war machines.

"We declare that we will continue to struggle for a different world."

Turkey to purchase 30 F-16 planes from US- report

Turkey is planning to buy 30 new F-16 warplanes from the United States, according to the US military affairs magazine Defense News.

Defense News reports that Turkish officials are currently negotiating the purchase of the planes from the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and adds that a deal is expected to be finalised during the coming months.

Turkey is reported to be interested in buying 30 F-16s of the most up-to-date version called the 'F-16 Block 52+', in a deal which may be worth as much as 1.5 billion US dollars.

Last year Greece decided to buy 30 of the same type planes which are due to be delivered by 2009. (Cihan News Agency, August 1, 2006)

Relations régionales / Regional Relations

Des Arméniens du Liban manifestent contre la participation turque à la Finul

Plusieurs centaines d'Arméniens ont manifesté jeudi devant l'immeuble des Nations unies à Beyrouth pour protester contre une participation de la Turquie à une Finul renforcée au sud du Liban.

Une délégation des manifestants a remis une lettre adressée au secrétaire général de l'Onu Kofi Annan, lui demandant de "tenir compte de la voix des Arméniens, qui représentent une force active au Liban" pour empêcher la participation de soldats turcs à la Force intérimaire des Nations unies au Liban (Finul).

Le gouvernement turc a annoncé lundi son intention d'envoyer des troupes en renfort de la Finul, sans préciser le nombre de soldats devant être déployés.

"N'encouragez pas la conspiration", "Les atrocités turques au Liban ne qualifient pas la Turquie pour participer au maintien de la paix" comptaient parmi les slogans inscrits sur les banderoles brandies par des manifestants, faisant allusion aux heures noires de l'empire ottoman au Liban et aux massacres des Arméniens de 1915-1917.

Le Liban abrite la plus large communauté arménienne du monde arabe, descendant des survivants des massacres, et qui mène une campagne internationale pour la reconnaissance du génocide arménien.

La manifestation était organisée par le parti Tachnak, le plus important de la communauté arménienne du Liban, qui avait déjà annoncé dès la mi-août son "refus" d'une participation turque à une Finul renforcée.

Les organisateurs du rassemblement ont également distribué une "lettre ouverte" au gouvernement d'Ankara dans laquelle ils expliquent les raisons de leur refus de voir les soldats turcs venir au Liban.

"Le peuple arménien au Liban, et partout dans le monde, attend toujours une reconnaisance du génocide de 1915, perpétré par les autorités ottomanes, et des excuses de la part de la Turquie", affirme la lettre.

Cette lettre note également que "les pays participant à la force de maintien de la paix doivent être neutres, ce qui n'est pas le cas pour la Turquie qui a signé un accord de coopération sécuritaire et militaire avec Israël". (AFP, 31 août 2006)

Deux ressortissants turcs tués en Afghanistan, un troisième enlevé

Deux ressortissants turcs ont été tués dans deux incidents séparés et un troisième a été enlevé lundi en Afghanistan, a-t-on appris auprès de l'ambassade de Turquie à Kaboul.

Un contremaître turc d'une entreprise de construction a été tué et un gardien de sécurité enlevé lundi au cours d'une attaque à main armée sur la route qui relie Kandahar, la principale ville du sud de l'Afghanistan, à Herat à l'ouest, selon la mission diplomatique turque.

"Je peux confirmer qu'un employé turc a été tué dans une attaque armée", a déclaré un diplomate de l'ambassade, qui a requi l'anonymat, soulignant qu'il s'agissait de "terrorisme".

L'ambassade a ensuite indiqué qu'un garde de sécurité, également turc, avait été enlevé au cours de cette même attaque.

Depuis le début de l'année, quatre ressortissants turcs ont été tués sur la route partant de Kandahar vers l'ouest, une importante artère commerciale avec l'Iran voisin.

A la suite d'un autre incident, un ingénieur turc a été retrouvé mort à Kaboul par la police, ont indiqué cette dernière et l'ambassade. Il s'agit sans doute d'un acte "criminel", selon ces sources.

De nombreuses entreprises turques sont présentes en Afghanistan et ont été, comme d'autres compagnies étrangères, la cible d'attaques ou victimes d'enlèvements depuis la chute du régime des talibans fin 2001.

Les rebelles revendiquent parfois les enlèvements ou les assassinats de travailleurs étrangers. Ils ont exigé à plusieurs reprises des entreprises étrangères de quitter le pays sous peine de représailles et demandé aux Afghans de ne pas travailler pour elles. (AFP, 28 août 2006)

Zoom sur la presse turque : La Turquie face à la crise libanaise

Enverra ? N’enverra pas ? La question de l’envoi de troupes turques au Liban occupe largement le devant de la scène à Ankara. Juste avant son départ pour Damas, dernière étape de sa tournée proche-orientale, Abdullah Gül, le chef de la diplomatie turque, a déclaré que la décision serait annoncée très prochainement. Des officiels du ministère des Affaires étrangères ont indiqué pour leur part que la décision pourrait être arrêtée d’ici à la fin de cette semaine.

La Turquie a déjà exprimé son désir d’envoyer des soldats au sein de la force de maintien de la paix des Nations unies ; elle attend simplement de connaître les détails sur le déploiement et le mandat de cette force, avant de donner le feu vert à ses troupes.

Dans un entretien accordé au quotidien Sabah, Abdullah Gül estimait en fin de semaine dernière que l’envoi de troupes turques au Liban était une question de prestige. « Des pays comme l’Espagne, le Pakistan, l’Italie et la Malaisie ont déclaré qu’ils enverraient des troupes au Liban, a déclaré Abdullah Gül. Si nous restons en dehors de ce processus, en tant qu’héritier d’un Etat qui a gouverné cette région pendant des siècles et qui est le pays le plus fort et le plus stable du Moyen-Orient, notre prestige en prendrait un sérieux coup. Notre présence là-bas serait une bonne décision pour tout le monde. » Interrogé par le journaliste Fatih Altayli à son retour du Liban, le chef de la diplomatie turque avait toutefois opposé un refus catégorique à tout engagement de troupes turques dans des opérations de désarmement du Hezbollah.

Un refus qu’Abdullah Gül a réitéré, selon le Turkish Daily News, juste avant son départ pour Damas. Cette visite d’Abdullah Gül en Syrie était donc la dernière étape d’une tournée proche-orientale, qui a conduit le chef de la diplomatie turque successivement en Israël, dans les territoires palestiniens et au Liban.

Juste avant de décider si oui ou non elle va envoyer des troupes au Liban, la Turquie a abattu la carte syrienne, pour afficher un certain optimisme quant à l’avenir du processus de paix au Proche-Orient. A son retour de Damas, Abdullah Gül, résolument enthousiaste, a estimé au vu de ses entretiens avec les dirigeants syriens, selon le Turkish Daily News, qu’il existait à présent « une grande opportunité de réactiver le processus de paix dans la région ».

Cette déclaration du chef de la diplomatie turque a fait curieusement écho au refus catégorique exprimé lundi 22 août par Ehud Olmert, le Premier ministre israélien, de relancer les négociations de paix avec la Syrie, aussi longtemps que Damas « soutiendra le terrorisme ». Notons que les derniers pourparlers de paix israélo-syriens remontent à janvier 2000, et qu’ils concernaient le sort du plateau du Golan, dont Damas réclame à Tel-Aviv la restitution.

Tel-Aviv, justement, où la visite d’Abdullah Gül, dans le cadre de sa tournée au Proche-Orient, a donné l’occasion aux dirigeants turcs et israéliens d’évoquer la question de la participation de troupes turques au sein d’une force de maintien de la paix au Liban. « J’espère que la Turquie jouera un rôle important dans la force multinationale au Sud-Liban », a déclaré Ehud Olmert à la radio israélienne, selon Hürriyet, à l’issue de son entrevue avec Abdullah Gül. « La Turquie jouit de la confiance d’Israël et peut jouer un rôle stabilisateur dans la région », a-t-il ajouté.

De son côté, le chef de la diplomatie turque a demandé à Israël de cesser de recourir à un usage disproportionné de la force. Un Abdullah Gül qui a profité de son passage en Israël pour avoir une rencontre secrète avec les familles des soldats israéliens enlevés par le Hamas et le Hezbollah. Selon Hürriyet, les familles des trois soldats ont demandé à Abdullah Gül de vérifier si les captifs sont sains et saufs. Le chef de la diplomatie turque leur a promis qu’il ferait son maximum.

Avant même que la décision d’Ankara ne soit officiellement arrêtée, on attendait avec une certaine impatience la réunion lundi 21 août du Conseil national de sécurité de Turquie (le MGK), qui avait inscrit la question de l’envoi de troupes turques à son ordre du jour. Toutefois, dans son communiqué publié au terme de la réunion, le MGK allait s’abstenir de donner une indication précise sur ce que sera la décision d’Ankara. Il appelait plutôt à l’intensification des efforts diplomatiques pour la paix et la stabilité régionales, et soulignait l’importance d’un règlement négocié.

Dans la presse turque, les commentaires vont bon train sur cette question de l’envoi de troupes turques au Liban. Fehmi Koru, du quotidien progouvernemental Yeni Safak, note que le gouvernement a exprimé sa volonté d’intégrer la force multinationale. Dans un parallèle avec la crise irakienne, il note que de nombreux observateurs regrettent à présent le refus d’Ankara, le 1er mars 2003, d’envoyer des troupes en Irak aux côtés des Etats-Unis. « De nombreux partisans de cette décision sur l’Irak soulignent aujourd’hui, à propos du Liban, qu’il existe une résolution des Nations unies qui devrait renforcer notre volonté de participer à la force multinationale. Parmi ces gens, écrit Fehmi Koru, l’on trouve plusieurs membres du gouvernement qui avaient joué un rôle déterminant dans la décision de ne pas aider les Etats-Unis au moment de l’invasion de l’Irak. »

« Vouloir contribuer à une force internationale déployée au Liban peut se comprendre du point de vue du gouvernement, qui mène une politique étrangère multidimensionnelle. Cependant, avant d’arrêter la décision finale, certains problèmes devront être abordés », souligne Fehmi Koru. Lequel doute que la résolution onusienne ne fasse pas mention du désarmement du Hezbollah, contrairement à la volonté d’Ankara, qui souhaite éviter toute confrontation militaire avec l’organisation libanaise.

Dans Cumhuriyet, Ali Sirmen fait un autre parallèle – bien plus lointain celui-là – avec les dernières années de l’Empire ottoman. Pour le journaliste de Cumhuriyet, les propos d’Abdullah Gül sur le prestige dont jouirait la Turquie en envoyant des troupes au Liban font penser à la Première Guerre mondiale, lorsque l’Empire ottoman « fut entraîné dans le conflit aux côtés de l’Allemagne pour regagner une partie de son prestige », avec le « résultat catastrophique » que l’on sait.

Qu’arrivera-t-il si des soldats turcs sont enrôlés au sein de la Force des Nations unies pour le Liban ? Comment réagira le peuple libanais ? Deux questions que pose Ertughrul Özkök dans Hürriyet. Pour le chroniqueur turc, la réponse la plus significative à cette double interrogation est venue durant le dîner organisé par le Premier ministre libanais Fouad Siniora, à Beyrouth, à l’occasion de la visite du chef de la diplomatie turque Abdullah Gül.

A ce dîner, précise le journaliste de Hürriyet, le chef du gouvernement libanais avait convié les ministres des Affaires étrangères de Turquie, de France, du Pakistan et de Malaisie, ainsi que neuf ministres de son cabinet. Au centre des entretiens : la force de maintien de la paix à envoyer au Liban. Fouad Siniora a souligné à cette occasion que la présence de soldats turcs au sein de cette force était une nécessité. Et lorsque Abdullah Gül a demandé à Fouad Siniora comment le peuple libanais réagirait à la présence de soldats turcs sur son sol, le chef du gouvernement libanais a fait la réponse suivante, selon Hürriyet : « Même le ministre arménien de notre cabinet veut la venue des soldats turcs ! ». Une réponse qui a causé la surprise du ministre français des Affaires étrangères, Philippe Douste-Blazy, toujours selon Ertughrul Özkök.

Lequel poursuit : « Mais avant que l’effet de surprise ne soit passé, Siniora a sorti un autre coup de son chapeau, en appelant le ministre arménien de son cabinet à la table où était assis Abdullah Gül. Prenant le ministre arménien par le bras, Siniora lui demanda : “ Vous voulez également la venue des soldats turcs, non ? ”. Et le ministre arménien répondit par l’affirmative. Bien entendu, cela surprit les représentants turcs présents dans le salon, et particulièrement dans la mesure où le matin même, le parti arménien dachnak avait publié une déclaration dans laquelle il se disait opposé à l’arrivée de soldats turcs au sein d’une éventuelle force de maintien de la paix. »

« Il est clair que le ministre arménien et le Parti Dachnak étaient en désaccord, affirme le chroniqueur de Hürriyet. Il est impossible de savoir si le ministre arménien a fait une réponse dictée par la politesse, ou s’il s’est exprimé en toute honnêteté. Simplement, il est intéressant de noter, a ajouté Ertughrul Özkök, qu’Abdullah Gül a déclaré aux journalistes qui ont entendu cet échange de vues que les autorités d’Ankara “ ne prennent pas au sérieux ” les informations selon lesquelles le lobby arménien des Etats-Unis tenterait d’empêcher la venue de soldats turcs au Liban. »

Les éditorialistes et chroniqueurs de la presse turque s’attardent bien entendu longuement sur cette nouvelle guerre du Liban, et en particulier sur l’attitude d’Israël. Dans Milliyet, Taha Akyol se demande qui est sorti vainqueur, d’Israël ou du Hezbollah, d’un mois de confrontation militaire. Pour Taha Akyol, « Israël n’a pu totalement atteindre ses objectifs militaires, pendant que le Hezbollah a montré de façon convaincante qu’il n’avait aucunement l’intention de céder ». Et si aucune des deux parties n’a gagné la guerre, il n’en demeure pas moins, pour Taha Akyol, que le Hezbollah « a acquis un avantage ».

Akyol fustige « les régimes conservateurs sunnites du Golfe et de Jordanie, qui se sont davantage préoccupés depuis l’intervention militaire américaine en Irak, en 2003, de la croissance d’un arc chiite que du conflit israélo-palestinien ». Pour le chroniqueur de Milliyet, critiquer la politique militariste de l’Etat d’Israël ne relève pas de l’antisémitisme. « Le fait que les Juifs aient été persécutés ne donne pas le droit à Israël d’être cruel aujourd’hui », écrit Taha Akyol.

Hakan Albayrak va plus loin dans le quotidien conservateur Milli Gazete, proche de l’ancien leader islamiste Necmettin Erbakan, interdit d’activité politique pour propagande islamiste. Evoquant une possible coopération militaire entre la Turquie et le Hezbollah, le journaliste écrit à propos du cabinet Erdogan que « le même gouvernement qui permet à des pilotes israéliens de s’entraîner dans l’espace aérien turc tente de se donner bonne conscience en envoyant de l’aide humanitaire au Liban ». Selon Hakan Albayrak, « le gouvernement – au sein duquel de nombreux députés de l’AKP étaient membres du groupe d’amitié Turquie-Israël au Parlement turc – devrait avoir honte’ d’avoir joué un rôle indirect dans les récentes atrocités commises par Israël au Liban ». Notant que ces mêmes députés ont quitté le groupe d’amitié après l’attaque israélienne sur Cana, durant laquelle de nombreux enfants ont été massacrés, le journaliste invite les membres de l’AKP à former un groupe d’inimitié à l’égard d’Israël. Selon lui, les membres de l’AKP devraient tenter d’user de leur influence auprès du Premier ministre et du ministre des Affaires étrangères afin que ceux-ci se dressent contre Israël. Pour Hakan Albayrak, le gouvernement turc « devrait renforcer ses relations avec les combattants de la liberté de Palestine et du Liban, ainsi qu’avec l’Iran, l’Algérie, le Venezuela et la Syrie ».

Toujours dans la mouvance islamiste, le journal Vakit tente de mettre à jour l’ambiguïté – pour ne pas dire la duplicité – de la politique turque entre Israël d’un côté et les Palestiniens de l’autre. Dans un article intitulé “Ils nous ont trompés”, Vakit rapporte qu’un groupe de diplomates turcs a pris part récemment, à Tel-Aviv, à une “nuit de solidarité” avec Israël. Selon le journal, le porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, Namik Tan, a admis que les diplomates turcs qui ont assisté à l’événement ont été abusés, croyant que l’argent récolté serait utilisé au profit d’étudiants juifs de Turquie. On ne s’étonnera guère, du coup, de voir le même journal Vakit fustiger, dans un autre papier titré “Scandale diplomatique”, certains officiels du ministère des Affaires étrangères, critiqués « pour avoir assisté à Tel-Aviv à une “nuit de solidarité” avec les soldats israéliens, pendant qu’en Turquie on collecte activement des fonds pour les Palestiniens. »

Tout autre son de cloche, en revanche, dans un papier du Turkish Daily News signé Cüneyt Ülsever. Lequel déplore qu’une grande partie des journalistes et intellectuels de Turquie n’appréhendent la guerre du Liban que du seul point de vue de l’alliance entre Washington et Tel-Aviv. Pour le chroniqueur, « les intellectuels turcs analysent correctement pour la plupart la politique impérialiste des Etats-Unis et d’Israël, mais ils ne font pas de même avec la partie adverse. (…) Résultat : on pourrait croire qu’une partie attaque l’autre sans véritable raison. L’une des deux parties apparaît totalement innocente, pendant que l’autre prend le visage de l’agresseur ».

Pour Cüneyt Ülsever, les intellectuels commettent deux erreurs. La première tient au fait que la nouvelle politique américaine au Moyen-Orient est analysée dans le détail, tandis que celle de l’Iran est ignorée. Le chroniqueur reproche aux intellectuels turcs de ne pas pouvoir se projeter sur les vingt années qui viennent. « Ils n’ont aucune idée de la manière dont la Turquie sera affectée lorsque l’axe Chine-Inde-Russie deviendra un bloc économique plus puissant que les Etats-Unis et l’Union européenne. Ils ne peuvent pas voir à quel point les efforts déployés par l’Iran pour devenir l’étoile montante de ce nouvel axe et redessiner le Moyen-Orient porteront atteinte aux intérêts de la Turquie. »

Deuxième erreur : le fait que certains dépeignent le Hezbollah comme un groupe non terroriste. Argument invoqué : le Hezbollah pratique le terrorisme pour atteindre des objectifs sans rapport avec le terrorisme. Cüneyt Ülsever y voit une confusion entre terrorisme et anarchie. « Dans l’histoire, écrit-il, seuls les anarchistes ont utilisé la violence, sans autre objectif que de renverser le système. Tous les groupes terroristes, comme l’Armée Républicaine Irlandaise (l’IRA), le Parti des Travailleurs du Kurdistan (le PKK), le Hamas, le Hezbollah, Al-Qaida et les Brigades Rouges, ont ou ont eu des cibles et des objectifs clairs. Pour eux, le terrorisme est ou était une tactique utilisée contre les nations dotées d’armées puissantes, car ils ne disposaient pas d’autre moyen de résistance. Ces groupes ont recouru ou recourent à la violence contre les civils et ont utilisé ou utilisent des gens innocents’ comme bouclier humain contre les militaires pour se défendre. Les Etats et les groupes qui se cachent derrière des civils dans leur lutte armée font du terrorisme. A cet égard, le Hezbollah est loin d’être innocent », conclut le chroniqueur turc.

Autant de sujets qui seront sans doute abordés, le 6 septembre prochain, par les dirigeants turcs et Kofi Annan. Le secrétaire général des Nations unies se rendra en effet en Turquie, à cette date, dans le cadre d’une tournée dans plusieurs pays de la région, pour discuter du déploiement de la force de paix au Liban. (Gamk Online, Varoujan Mardikian, 26 août 2006)

Turkish president opposed to country's troops in Lebanon

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday he is opposed to his country contributing troops to the enlarged UN force in Lebanon, television channels reported.

Sezer said he disagreed of the proposed rules of engagement for the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) force and that he preferred Turkey to make a humanitarian contribution, NTV and CNN-Turk reported.

Turkey has its own security problems in its fight against separatist Kurdish rebel group PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), making an overseas deployment untimely, the president said at a military ceremony in Ankara.

 "We do not have to protect the national interests of other countries. At a time when we have our own problems, it is not our duty to resolve the problems of other countries," said Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Turkish President, today.

General Yasar Buyukanit, who was appointed as Chief of General Staff, has handed over the missions of Land Forces Commander to General Ilker Basbug, in a ceremony on Friday.

Sezer talked with journalists after the military ceremony.

In reference to questions on Lebanon, Sezer stressed that "some circles want to portray that if Turkey does not send troops to Lebanon, it is a weak country. We are a strong country even if we do not send troops to Lebanon."

When reminded about the risks Turkish troops may face in Lebanon, Sezer pointed out that the duty of a peacekeeping force in Lebanon has not been clarified yet. "Turkey expressed a desire to contribute soldiers without a proper United Nations resolution," told Sezer.

In reference to rumors that the United States will appoint a new coordinator to deal with terrorist PKK, Sezer replied that "the concept is accurate. We must adjust the content of such an office." Sezer underlined that no country in the world is helping Turkey in its fight against PKK.

In response to a question on the possible invitation that may be extended to the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani from Turkey, Sezer expressed that he "thinks that the atmosphere of confidence has not been established yet. I do not find proper, invitations extended to Talabani to visit Turkey, on my behalf."

Meanwhile, General Buyukanit told reporters that the Turkish politicians have not made a decision on the possible deployment of Turkish troops in Lebanon. "We are discussing related topics in various governmental organs. Turkey's national interests are crucial," told Buyukanit.  (turkishpress.com, August 25, 2006)

La Turquie et son armée tiraillées entre le nord de l’Irak et le Liban

Ankara n'a toujours pas donné son feu vert à l'envoi de militaires turcs pour renflouer la Force intérimaire des Nations Uunies au Liban (Finul). Abdullah Gül, le ministre des affaires étrangères, a effectué ces derniers jours une tournée des capitales du Proche-Orient, se rendant à Beyrouth, Jérusalem et Damas pour évoquer la participation de son pays à la Finul et réserve sa réponse.

La Turquie qui pourrait fournir un millier d'hommes est extrêmement prudente, mais pourrait clarifier sa position la semaine prochaine lors de la visite que le secrétaire général de l'ONU, Kofi Annan, doit faire à Ankara. La guerre au Liban et les bombardements de Tsahal touchant les civils ont suscité un fort ressentiment anti-israélien et anti-américain au sein de l'opinion publique turque. Le gouvernement AKP, islamo-conservateur, se dit donc prêt à participer à une opération de maintien de la paix mais ne veut surtout pas se risquer à engager des hommes dans une mission de désarmement du Hezbollah. Mais même si toutes les conditions sont réunies, l'engagement de soldats suscite une forte polémique dans le pays.

«C'est une évidence, les troupes turques doivent stationner dans les monts Kandil (n.d.l.r.: en Irak) et pas dans le Sud du Liban», a ainsi martelé mardi Devlet Bahceli, le président du MHP, le parti d'extrême droite. Ces déclarations belliqueuses correspondent à l'opinion des nationalistes et d'une frange de l'armée, partisans d'une intervention militaire dans le Nord de l'Irak. Des combattants du PKK, organisation kurde qui s'opposa à l'armée turque au cours d'une guerre civile qui fit 37 000 morts dans les années 80-90, sont en effet retranchés dans les montagnes du Kurdistan irakien. De cette base arrière, ils s'infiltrent sur le territoire turc.

Les heurts avec l'armée dans le sud-est du pays, à majorité kurde, sont quasi quotidiens. Plus de 20 soldats ont trouvé la mort au cours d'embuscades ou attentats menés par les rebelles depuis début juillet. L'état-major turc a massé des milliers de soldats le long de la frontière avec l'Irak et a envoyé des tanks en renfort. Ces derniers jours, des positions du PKK, en Irak, auraient été pilonnées par l'artillerie turque, selon une agence de presse kurde.

Pour les experts, ces mouvements de troupes massifs visent plus à donner des gages à une opinion publique chauffée à blanc et à mettre la pression sur les Etats-Unis qu'à préparer une invasion de grande ampleur. Ankara réclame en vain que son allié américain agisse dans les montagnes irakiennes. En juillet, la tension entre les deux pays était à son comble. Le Premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a dénoncé le deux poids deux mesures de Washington dans la région, qui d'un côté laisse Israël agir en toute liberté au Liban et de l'autre interdit à la Turquie d'intervenir en Irak.

Plus récemment, le chef de la diplomatie Abdullah Gül a répété que la Turquie se chargerait toute seule d'éliminer les "terroristes" retranchés dans leurs repaires irakiens, si la coopération inter-Etat ne menait à aucun résultat tangible. Mais l'administration Bush n'a aucune envie que le Kurdistan irakien, unique territoire qui échappe au chaos généralisé dans le pays, soit déstabilisé, et encore moins de contrarier les Kurdes, ses plus fidèles partenaires en Irak. (24heures.ch,  Laure Marchand, 24 août 2006)

MGK discussed Turkey's contribution to a peacekeeping force in Lebanon

Turkey clarified its possible contribution to a peacekeeping force in Lebanon yesterday, putting particular emphasis on less risky areas, including logistics, military engineering and humanitarian assistance, diplomats told The New Anatolian.

Turkish military and government leaders discussed Turkey's possible contribution to the peacekeeping force in Lebanon in detail, at yesterday's meeting of the National Security Council (MGK).

In its brief written statement following the meeting, the MGK did not announce a decision on Turkey's contribution, but praised and expressed support for UN Security Council's Resolution 1701. The statement issued after the five-hour-long meeting underlined the importance of implementation of the elements of the resolution and stressed the need for "revival of diplomatic efforts in the Middle East" and encouraging the peace process. The MGK also pledged the continuation of humanitarian assistance to both Lebanon and Palestine.

The Turkish government earlier expressed willingness to send troops to the UN
peacekeeping force but then said it was waiting for details on the force's deployment and mandate before committing troops.

The particular concern for Ankara was the ambiguous elements of the UN mandate, such as lack of clarity in the guidelines of the peacekeeping mission on when and in which conditions to use force.

However, Turkish diplomats told TNA yesterday that following talks with the UN, global actors and parties involved in the conflict, the conditions were now more clear for Ankara. "Disarming Hezbollah is not a part of international force's mission. And Turkey also made it clear that if it contributes to this force, it will not be for such a goal," said a Turkish official. "What is mentioned in UN Resolution 1701 and the rules of engagement paper as 'use of force when necessary' refers to particular events that can be seen in all peacekeeping operations," the official added.

According to Foreign Ministry sources, Turkey has also clarified, to a large extent, its possible contribution to the peacekeeping force in Lebanon, putting particular emphasis on the areas of logistics, military engineering and humanitarian assistance.

For diplomats, the experiences of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and the Balkans shows its particular success in these fields, and Ankara is preparing a contribution to UN essentially within this framework. But Turkey still wants to wait for the outcome of talks in the UN, the commitment of other countries and also to get the views of regional countries.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will make a key visit to Damascus today, following his weekend visit to Israel, and will meet his Syrian counterpart Waleed Al Muallem and President Bashar Assad.

Gul is expected to underline that Turkey's possible contribution to the UN force in Lebanon will be for "peace" in the region and that Syria's "positive" use of its influence over Hezbollah is extremely important for that goal to be attained, which is in the interest of all.

Diplomats told TNA yesterday that Turkey is expected to make its final decision on sending troops to Lebanon before this weekend. According to diplomats, if there is a need, Gul may also visit Tehran in the coming days. (The New Anatolian, 22 August 2006)

Thousands Protested Against Troops to Lebanon

Several NGO's organized a rally to protest against the government's plans to send troops to Lebanon. Despite the hot weather, about ten thousand protesters marched yesterday in Kadikoy.

Groups of demonstrators shouted against the United States, Israeli and Turkish governments' policies in the Middle East, condemning them as imperialist and capitalist.

Yunus Ozturk of the organization committee said that Israel had violated the ceasefire on Saturday.

He remarked that "the US and the imperialist states in Europe don't care about the dead civilians in Lebanon; they're merely the representatives of global monopolies, trying to secure their interests in the region".

Ozturk assereted that the UN's apathy during the crises proved that it's no longer an independent, objective body.

He insisted that the UN peace keeping force to be deployed on the border between Israel and Lebanon is an occupying force and Turkey should not be involved in it.

"The Israeli offensive in Lebanon and Palestine are all part of the US' Great Middle East Project" said Mehmet Soganci of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB).

"Now is the time for another world where world's peoples can stand side by side against the global war of the global capital" he added.

Ismail Hakki Tombul of the Federation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) noted that this is one of the bloodiest periods in history.

He warned that Turkey would be dragged in to the mud by sending troops to Lebanon: "We don't want to be a part in this unjustifiable war".

More than 30 groups, NGO's and political parties gave support to the demonstration. (BIA, Kemal OZMEN, August 21, 2006)

Neuf combattants kurdes arrêtés et trois autres blessés en Iran

Cinq combattants kurdes iraniens du Parti démocrate du Kurdistan d'Iran (PDKI) et quatre combattants du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) de Turquie ont été arrêtés, et trois autres blessés lors d'un affrontement, a rapporté lundi le quotidien Kayhan.

"Cinq membres du parti démocrate du Kurdistan, dissout, ont été arrêtés dans la région de Miandoab (Azerbaïdjan occidental)", a déclaré le colonel Hossein Rashidi, un des responsables des forces de l'ordre de l'Azerbaïdjan occidental, une province du nord-ouest de l'Iran.

Il a déclaré par ailleurs que "quatre membres du PKK, dont une femme, ont été arrêtés dans la région de Salmas (Azerbaïdjan occidental) et remis aux autorités judiciaires". Il a ajouté que "des armes et des documents ont été saisis".

Selon le même responsable, "trois membres du PKK ont été la cible des forces armées après la mort d'un policier et d'un membre des gardiens de la révolution par des mines posées dans la région".

Le colonel Rashidi n'a pas précisé quand ces différents incidents ont eu lieu.

La province du Kurdistan (ouest) est depuis un an le théâtre d'affrontements armés entre les soldats iraniens et des militants du Pejak, un groupe indépendantiste kurde iranien proche du PKK, qui s'infiltrent en Iran depuis le Kurdistan irakien et la Turquie. (AFP, 21 août 2006)

Palestinian protests against Turkish FM Gul for relations with Israel

A Palestinian protested against Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Sunday during his visit to Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem. Minister Gul, who has been paying a visit to Israel and Palestine on Sunday, paid a visit to Al Aqsa Mosque for noon prayers.

During visit, a Palestinian approached to Turkish Prime Minister Gul and protested against the Turkish relations with Israel. The protestor called on Turkish Foreign Minister to cut the diplomatic ties with Israel, saying that Holy Quran banned the relations with Jews. "We do not need relations with the Israelis."

The Palestinian said that Turks, which governed the region in the past, should take the control of the Jerusalem back from Israelis.

Gul's guards drove the protestor away from the scene.

Israeli Defense Minister asks for Turkish troop deployment in Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told reporters before his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul that Turkey should send its peacekeeping troops to the south of Lebanon.

Israeli and Turkish Ministers came together in Jerusalem on Monday. Israeli Defense Minister Peretz said that he would ask the Turkish Foreign Minister to send their troops to region. "The implementation of resolution number 1701 was very important."

As part of his talks in Israel, Foreign Minister Gul will come together with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipni Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Although Turkish government has inclination to send the troops to the region, Turkey has not yet taken any decision on the issue of Turkish troop deployment in the south of Lebanon. (Cihan News Agency, August 20, 2006)

La fédération arménienne contre la présence militaire turque au Liban

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne salue avec soulagement le cessez-le-feu qui a mis un terme aux bombardements israéliens et à la souffrance des populations au Liban ". Elle soutient également les efforts actuels de la Communauté Internationale visant à la normalisation de la situation régionale sous l’égide des Nations Unies.

Cependant, la Fédération Euro-Arménienne exprime son inquiétude la plus vive au sujet d’une possible participation de troupes turques en tant que « force de maintien de la paix » dans cette région sensible.

« Nous rappelons que la Turquie est l’ancienne puissance coloniale du Proche-Orient et qu’elle affiche toujours d’indéniables visées territoriales vis-à-vis des pays arabes. Les forfaits de la Turquie en terme de génocide, massacres et tortures et les souffrances qu’ils ont engendrés sont inscrits de manière indélébile dans la mémoire collective des Libanais. Par ailleurs, les exactions actuelles de la Turquie envers ses propres minorités, y compris sa minorité arabe, sont une réalité attestée de la région. » a déclaré Hilda Tchoboian, la présidente de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

« La présence de troupes turques au sein d’une force internationale serait une grave erreur aux conséquences désastreuses pour les opérations de maintien de la paix. La Turquie n’est pas un facteur de paix. Des forces turques ne feraient qu’aggraver la délicate situation actuelle au Sud Liban en mêlant à une conjoncture déjà complexe l’agenda et les objectifs propres de la Turquie. Après tant de souffrance, le peuple libanais mérite mieux » a ajouté Hilda Tchoboian.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne souligne également que des bataillons turcs seraient particulièrement inefficaces et inadaptés en raison du conflit fondamental entre d’une part leur responsabilité qui consisterait à maintenir la paix de manière crédible et responsable et d’autre part les intérêts nationaux supérieurs de la Turquie fondamentalement liés à son alliance militaire et stratégique avec Israël.

Elle invite en conséquence la Communauté Internationale à effectuer un choix plus approprié pour la constitution du corps de maintien de la paix de l’ONU. (contact@eafjd.org, 19 août 2006)

La Turquie a fouillé des avions iraniens se rendant en Syrie

La Turquie a récemment forcé deux avions cargo de la compagnie aérienne iranienne se rendant en Syrie à se poser dans le Sud-Est du pays pour rechercher d'éventuels équipements militaires, dont des roquettes, a déclaré jeudi le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères.

Le journal à gros tirage Hürriyet a rapporté que ces appareils avaient été invités à atterrir à l'aérodrome de Diyarbakir, respectivement le 27 juillet et le 8 août.

Aucune arme n'a été retrouvée, selon le journal.

Le porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères Namik Tan a confirmé lors d'un point de presse hebdomadaire que son pays avait bien procédé à une fouille de ces avions, mais a tenu à souligner que cela s'était réalisé "conformément aux règles du droit international".

"Il s'agit d'une activité de routine", a-t-il dit, ajoutant que l'incident n'avait provoqué aucune friction diplomatique avec l'Iran voisin.

Israël, un allié de la Turquie musulmane, mais laïque, dans la région, accuse régulièrement l'Iran et la Syrie de soutenir le Hezbollah au Liban et de lui fournir des armes.

Les Etats-Unis de leur côté ont multiplié ces dernières semaines les accusations quant au rôle de Damas et de Téhéran, leurs deux bêtes noires au Proche-Orient, dans les tensions actuelles. (AFP, 17 août 2006)

Les Arméniens du Liban contre une participation turque à la Finul

Le parti Tachnak, le plus populaire parmi la communauté arménienne du Liban, a annoncé mercredi son "refus" d'une participation turque à la force de l'Onu renforcée qui doit se déployer au Liban sud.

"La communauté arménienne du Liban s'oppose et refuse la présence de l'armée turque au Liban et exprime l'espoir que l'Etat libanais refuse également", écrit le Tachnak dans un communiqué.

Le texte énumère les "jalons noirs" de l'histoire turque, rappelle "le joug de l'empire ottoman subi par les Libanais de toutes confessions", son "occupation d'une partie" de l'île de Chypre et "le génocide arménien que l'Etat turc continue de refuser d'admettre avoir commis".

Le parti Tachnak juge que "l'accord de défense commun signé entre Ankara et Israël représente une menace pour le processus de paix" au Proche-Orient et invite la Turquie à "réviser ses calculs avant de considérer la participation à une force internationale de maintien de la paix".

"Nous considérons qu'un accord du Conseil de sécurité de l'Onu à une participation de forces turques à la force internationale au Liban sud blesse la mémoire collective du peuple arménien", conclut le texte.

La Turquie est un contributeur potentiel de la Finul renforcée et son ministre des Affaires étrangères Abdullah Gul était mercredi à Beyrouth pour discuter de la participation d'Ankara.

Les Arméniens qui ont trouvé refuge au Liban il y a 90 ans sont bien intégrés dans le pays et leur communauté, qui a droit à six sièges au Parlement libanais (sur 128 membres), ne compte plus que quelque 120.000 personnes, selon ses responsables politiques et religieux. (AFP, 16 août 2006)

Intellectuals' Call: "Don't Send Soldiers to Lebanon"

In an open letter titled "Peace at Home, Peace in The World" addressed to the President, Prime Minister, Head of Parliament and Foreign Minister, 29 leading intellectuals have objected to any plans for Turkey to send troops to Lebanon

The group made public their letter in a press conference held at Istanbul's Hill Hotel which coincided with a meeting held at the Turkish Prime Ministry where recent developments in the Middle East were discussed by senior state officials.

Other then representatives of trade and bar associations and unions, intellectuals Adalet Agaoglu, Nuray Mert, Turkan Saylan, Gencay Gursoy, Tayfun Mater, Ergin Cinmen, Suleyman Celebi, Mehmet Guleryuz, Prof. Dr. Erol Katircioglu, Kazim Kolcuoglu, Bulent Tuna, Prof. Dr. Tahsin Yesildere and Sevgi Goyce were among those attending the conference alongside supporting Turkish authors and artists.

The open letter was read out by Prof.Dr. Saylan who addressed the people of Israel and the United States saying, "all of the people who live in the region have the right to live in peace and freedom in their own countries. Stop the savagery and massacre created in the Middle East".

What is being requested from the government?

* Heal the wounds of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, increase and expediting humanitarian and medical aid.

* Stay away from aggressive forces and interventions that aim to drag Turkey into the swamp through requests to send soldiers to the region and similar appeals.

* Do not participate in the crime for whatever reason it may be, do not make our country or people an accomplice of this humanitarian crime.

Baydar: Turkey cannot be an accomplice to this crime

Of the signatories, author Oya Baydar said that in her opinion it was possible for the recent cease-fire in the region to survive for a while without being violated.

But, she added, "due to the position Israel has ended up in world public opinion, it will attempt for Hezbollah to be the side that violates the cease-fire. Whether Hezbollah falls into this ploy or accept the cease-fire that in whole is on the side of the USA and Israel is something we do not know for now".

Baydar believes the cease-fire was declared in order to calm the concerns of various countries, including Turkey, so that a peace corps could be sent to the region. "They are saying, 'here you go, here is the cease-fire' for you".

According to Baydar "if Turkey sends troops to the region, it will become a supporter of both the Bush gang that seeks world domination and the Israeli war apparatus that is a pawn of the USA. Furthermore, it will end up as a criminal accomplice".

"Because", she argues, "The true function of the Peace Corpse is to suppess Palestine and Lebanon, to assist the expansion of the borders and influence of Israel".

"Had the precondition of a cease-fire been Israel's withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders, recognition of the legitimate administrations elected to power in Palestine and Lebanon, then the conditions would have been different".

Gursoy: Turkey should not enter this swamp

Turkey's Bar Association Union (TBB) chairman Gencay Gursoy said, meanwhile, that there was no reason for Turkey to enter the war in the Middle East, a region he dubbed as "a swamp".

"Everything should be done for humanitarian aid, solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people, if required for the repair of the infrastructure and specifically in the field of health" he said. "But sending troops in these conditions is something we are definitely against".

Gursoy added that the limits of the cease-fire were still not clear and that there were very genuine concerns that despite the cease-fire, Israel would continue its attacks.

Agaoglu calls for humanitarian aid

Turkish writer Adalet Agaoglu said the issue at hand needed to be approached in multiple ways and that sending troops to the region could be disadvantageous to the country.

"I believe that the 'humanitarian' side of humanitarian aid should not be forgotten. One needs to look at the sociological and social dimensions of the issue. It does not make sense to act just to be heroes and say we are here".

Mater: Peace-activists should act

Mater believes that Israel and the USA are determined to drag Turkey into the affair and wanted 2 thousand out of a total of 15 thousand troops to come from this country.

"The Turkish people do not want to send soldiers" he said, adding that the agenda in Turkey should be the prevention of troop deployment to Lebanon.

"Let us not forget the 1 March decision not to send soldiers to Iraq. Our children did not return to their country in coffins. Now it is in the hands of peace activists to prevent coffins from coming back from Lebanon".

Those who undersigned the letter that condemns Israel were:

Adalet Agaoglu (novelist), Yusuf Alatas (Chair of Human Rights Association), Prof. Dr. Ulku Azrak, Oya Baydar (writer), Helsinki Citisentship Asemmbly's Prof. Dr. Murat Belge, Ibrahim Betil, Aydin Cingi (Social Democracy Foundation), lawyer Ergin Cinmen, Suleyman Celebi (Chair of the Confederation of the Revulationary Trade Union), Prof. Dr. Aysel Celikel (Istanbul University Law Faculty), Prof. Dr. Ayse Erzan (Istanbul Technical Faculty), Painter Mehmet Guleryuz, Prof. Dr. Gencay Gursoy (Chair of the Turkish Physicians Union), Prof. Dr. Erdal Inonu, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kaboglu, Ercan Karakas, Prof. Dr. Erol Katircioglu, Kâzim Kolcuoglu, Tayfun Mater, Doc.Dr. Nuray Mert, Prof. Dr. Turkel Minibas, Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran, Yavuz Onen, Prof. Dr. Turkan Saylan, Prof. Dr. Burhan Senatalar, Prof. Dr. Turgut Tarhanli, Ismail Hakki Tombul, Bulent Tuna, Prof. Dr. Tahsin Yesildere. (BIA, Emine OZCAN, August 14, 2006)

Ankara veut "plus de clarté" sur la force turque pour le Liban

La Turquie a affirmé lundi qu'elle attendrait l'adoption par l'Onu d'une résolution sur le déploiement prévu d'une force internationale d'interposition au Liban avant de décider de contribuer ou non d'y contribuer.

"Une nouvelle résolution devant être adoptée par le Conseil de sécurité de l'Onu doit apporter plus de clarté" sur les conditions du déploiement, indiquent les services du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan dans un communiqué.

"La Turquie envisagera ses possibles contributions à la recherche d'une solution permanente au problème (libanais) à la lumière de ces développements", ajoute le document.

M. Erdogan a déclaré le mois dernier que la Turquie, membre de l'Otan et un des rares alliés d'Israël au Proche-Orient, pourrait participer à une force internationale de stabilisation au Liban si un cessez-le-feu était instauré et si Israël et le Liban approuvaient son déploiement.

Beyrouth a annoncé dimanche que la Turquie avait accepté, aux côtés de l'Espagne, de l'Indonésie, de l'Italie, de la Malaisie et du Maroc, d'envoyer des troupes à condition que "toutes les parties libanaises concernées acceptent leur participation".

Le communiqué turc salue l'adoption de la résolution 1701 du Conseil de sécurité de l'Onu, en vertu de laquelle une cessation des hostilités entre Israël et le Hezbollah est entrée en vigueur lundi, comme "une étape importante pour mettre fin aux combats avant que la crise au Liban n'atteigne des proportions plus sérieuses et pour trouver une solution permanente au problème".

Le document a été diffusé au terme d'une rencontre entre M. Erdogan, le ministre des Affaires étrangères Abdullah Gül, le ministre de la Défense Vecdi Gönül, le chef d'état-major sortant Hilmi Özkök et son successeur Yasar Büyükanit, qui doit entrer en fonction la semaine prochaine.

L'éventuelle participation de militaires turcs à une force internationale au Liban doit être décidée par décret gouvernemental et approuvée par le Parlement.

Un groupe d'intellectuels a rapidemment appelé le gouvernement et le Parlement à ne pas envoyer de troupes, arguant de "l'insoutenable brutalité" dont Israël et les Etats-Unis se seraient rendus responsables au Liban et dans les territoires palestiniens.

La Turquie "doit se tenir à l'écart des puissances agressives, qui essaient de l'entraîner dans le bourbier créé au Proche-Orient", affirme la déclaration, signée par des militants des droits de l'Homme, des écrivains, des politiciens et des universitaires.

"N'engagez pas notre peuple dans un crime contre l'humanité, quelque soit le prétexte", poursuit le texte, qui appelle les autorités à renforcer leurs aides humanitaires aux Libanais et aux Palestiniens. (AFP, 14 août 2006 )

L'Iran demande à la Turquie d'intercéder auprès de l'Ouest

Le ministre iranien des Affaires étrangères Manouchehr Mottaki a demandé vendredi aux dirigeants turcs d'intercéder auprès des pays occidentaux pour parvenir au vote par l'Onu d'une résolution "équilibrée" sur le conflit au Proche-Orient, selon des sources diplomatiques.

"Ils (les Iraniens) veulent que nous pesions de tout notre poids (...) pour que la résolution soit basée sur un équilibre", a déclaré à la presse un diplomate turc de haut rang après une rencontre à Istanbul entre M. Mottaki, son homologue turc Abdullah Gül et le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Le diplomate faisait référence à un projet de résolution franco-américain sur le Liban qui devait être présenté vendredi soir au Conseil de sécurité de l'Onu.

"Ils souhaitent que nous prenions des initiatives, notamment auprès des pays occidentaux, pour que les décisions prises par l'Organisation de la conférence islamique (OCI) en Malaisie soient appliquées", a précisé cette source.
"C'est pour faire entendre leur voix qu'ils viennent en Turquie, le pays lié à l'Occident le plus à même de les écouter".

L'OCI a réclamé lors d'un sommet début août en Malaisie un cessez-le-feu "immédiat" au Liban et l'ouverture d'une enquête de l'ONU sur les "actes criminels" perpétrés, selon elle, par Israël.

Le diplomate a indiqué que la Turquie, pour sa part, "soutient le projet de résolution préparé par la France en dépit des changements importants opérés".

La Turquie est l'un des seuls alliés d'Israël dans la région - même si elle a critiqué avec virulence les récents raids israéliens - et a déjà proposé de jouer un rôle de médiateur entre les protagonistes.

L'Iran, pays à majorité chiite, est le premier soutien du mouvement chiite libanais Hezbollah, basé au Liban et contre lequel l'armée israélienne a lancé une offensive il y a un mois à la suite d'une attaque du Hezbollah en territoire israélien.

Israël et les Occidentaux accusent l'Iran de financer et d'armer le parti chiite. Téhéran a toujours démenti, assurant ne lui apporter qu'un soutien moral et politique.

Arrivé dans l'après-midi à Istanbul, M. Mottaki devait quitter la Turquie dans la soirée pour se rendre au Yémen, puis en Egypte.  (AFP, 11 août 2006)

Is Turkey Passively 'Bombing' Lebanon?

You might be able to put the parts together as I can't seem to. Without comment, as a Turkish born British journalist and advocate of human rights since I know myself, I now frequently find it difficult to understand where the truth ends and the coverup begins.

A senior member of the Turkish Parliament on August 9, Wednesday, submitted a written motion to the Grand National Assembly (TBMM) asking the government to explain whether it had allowed for a very recent shipment of 15 [International Transit Lorries] full of *US Air Force Explosives* from the most prominent American base in Southeast Turkey to Israel, to be used in its ongoing military campaign and bombing in Lebanon.

15 TIR's of a shipment marked "USAF" and "explosives" is nothing to be ignored in the midst of what's happening today. Where, report some mainstream Turkish newspapers, 10 year old Lebanese children are killed by Israeli troops as Israeli soldiers are queing up to have their sperm frozen for future generations.

One naturally assumes, giving the grace of doubt, that if the allegation in the motion in Ankara was even close to being true, it would more be a 'company contract transfer' between those who own, sell or lease and deploy those weapons in the region rather than anything that could ever be traced back to a genuine US-policy that could eventually be linked back to the G.W.
Bush administration.

15 Truck loads of weapons. Moved out of a US base in Turkey. Allegedly transferred to Israel. All US Air Force material. And all *Explosives*.

And only a day before an expected UN Security Council resolution that has already been delayed and watered down to the extent of being one of those elements in the current crisis responsible for over a thousand civilian deaths. Epecially where every day we are shown pictures of murdered children and women in the conflict, a majority of whom are Arabs and displaced refugees under attack.

When you look at the serious claim before the Turkish Parliament today, that the country's pro-Muslim yet supposedly secular ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) administration might have allowed for a shipment of weapons to be used to kill fellow Muslims in Lebanon, it's difficult to believe that things like this can actually happen and, if you are a natural sceptic, you expect such allegations, if untrue, come from the ranks of terror itself yet not a government.

The Hezbollah or Jerusalem. Not Ankara, for certain.

Yet, in this instance, the report that makes the original allegation comes not from the heart of a psychological propaganda war of the epicentres of terror groups but the mass circulation daily newspaper Hurriyet itself.

In summary... The main opposition Republic Peoples Party (CHP) Adana deputy Tacidar Seyhan has asked the parliament and government formally whether it is true that (according to reports reaching the public opinion) containers marked "USAF" and "Explosives" had recently been shipped from Turkey's southern ports using 15 gigantic lorries.

Whether these crates full of possible weapons of mass destruction [though at a lesser degree than their chemical or biological siblings held in more reliable Western stockades] were indeed 'just now' tansferred from the US-controlled Incirlik Air Base in the Southeast province of Adana to Tasucu in Mersin.

And, most significantly, whether they were sent from there in any form or content to Israel, where they would be used in the aerial bombardment of Lebanon and its civilians.

MP Seyhan asked whether the Turkish government had been informed of this transfer of weapons beforhand and if it had reached an agreement with Washington on this.

Wat he did for real was to raise the questions and voice of many Turks who questioned the original Hurriyet "expose" published on August 8 under the headline "Where have the explosives gone?"

This report said the 'shipment' had been made at 0500 local time that day, under the protection not only of US troops but also of Turkish counter-terrorism and Special Ops Forces.

Although the report cited Tasucu as the delivery point where they were supposed to be loaded into US ships, it did not appear to mention anything in its online version about MP Seyhan's reference to Israel.

It actally quoted a US official saying these weapons were being diposed of due to their "use by" dates expiring. An expiry date, as so many seamen around the world carrying or using flares, would find so coinsidential.

The question is now as simple as CHP Deputy Seyhan put it.

"Is it true that these containers were transferred to Tasucu under the escort of special operations police and gendarme? Is here a list with Turkish authorities on this transfer related to the weapons and explosives?

What is the nature of these weapons? Has the consent of Turkish authorities been sought on the issue of the weapons that have been sent to Israel? Has the Turkish government had any initiative to block or warn against this?

Have you conducted any negotiation that intends to support Israel's operation in Israel without telling the Turkish public opinion [or] is there any promise that has been given to the USA?"

In other words, is Turkey a part of the bombings of Lebanon and Palestinians and an accomplice to the ongoing massacre of children, women and civilians?

One motion, perhaps, Ankara should answer sooner than later. And make its position clear.  (BIA, Can GURAY, August 10, 2006)

La Turquie déroule le tapis rouge pour le roi d'Arabie saoudite

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan et le roi d'Arabie saoudite Abdallah ont appelé jeudi à Istanbul les investisseurs des deux pays à multiplier leurs partenariats et à developper les échanges bilatéraux.

"J'invite nos frères saoudiens à évaluer les opportunités s'offrant à eux en Turquie et à investir d'avantage dans notre pays", a déclaré M. Erdogan devant un parterre de quelque 300 hommes d'affaires turcs et saoudiens, avant de dresser l'inventaire des domaines d'excellence de la Turquie.

"Je souhaite également que nos frères saoudiens accroissent dans une grande mesure leurs partenariats avec les hommes d'affaires turcs pour des investissements en Arabie saoudite", a-t-il ajouté, soulignant l'intérêt des entreprises de construction turques pour "les méga-projets dans le Golfe".

Le gouvernement de M. Erdogan, issu de la mouvance islamiste, s'est lancé depuis son accession au pouvoir fin 2002 dans une politique de diversification des échanges de la Turquie -jusque là largement tournés vers l'Union européenne-, en développant notamment les liens avec les pays du Golfe.

Des firmes émiraties ont annoncé d'importants investissements en Turquie, l'Arabie saoudite restant jusque là en retrait de ces échanges.

Les exportations turques vers l'Arabie n'atteignaient que 960 millions de dollars en 2005, et ses importations en provenance de ce pays 1,89 milliard de dollars, selon les statistiques turques.

Arrivé mardi soir en Turquie avec une délégation de quelque 300 membres, dont de nombreux hommes d'affaires, Abdallah a lui aussi appelé au développement des coopérations entre "deux pays frères, qui partagent des désirs communs et ont les mêmes objectifs".

Le roi et le président turc Ahmet Necdet Sezer ont signé six accords de coopération économique, portant sur la santé, les transports et l'imposition.
 
Güllüoglu, célèbre fabricant de baklavas d'Istanbul, se tient prêt à lui faire déguster ses desserts. Les commerçants du Grand Bazar guettent sa venue, annoncée par une rumeur qui court d'échoppe en échoppe. L'arrivée, mardi en Turquie, du roi Abdallah d'Arabie saoudite pour une visite de trois jours a mis le pays en émoi. Il s'agit du premier voyage officiel d'un monarque saoudien depuis 40 ans. Et si Mohammed el-Huseyni, l'ambassadeur saoudien, écrit dans le quotidien conservateur Zaman que les liens entre les deux pays sont essentiellement « spirituels et fondés sur des croyances partagées », les Turcs espèrent aussi de cette visite des retombées sonnantes et trébuchantes. Elles consacreraient un peu plus la Turquie comme nouvelle destination pour les capitaux moyen-orientaux.
 
De fait, le dignitaire du Golfe et sa suite de soixante-dix hommes d'affaires ne sont pas venus les mains vides. Quelque 20 milliards d'euros pourraient être investis dans l'économie turque selon les différentes estimations. « Les privatisations les intéressent », confie Murat Yalçintas, le président de la chambre de commerce d'Istanbul. Les mises en vente de l'entreprise publique pétrochimique Petkim, des sucreries d'État ou de la société Halk Bank retiennent plus particulièrement leur attention. L'an dernier, le saoudien Oger Telecom (détenu par la famille libanaise Hariri) avait ouvert la voie en rachetant 55 % de l'opérateur Türk Telekom pour 5,6 milliards d'euros. Les médias rapportent que le roi Abdallah prévoit quant à lui d'investir dans des fermes biologiques dans le sud-est du pays et dans un vaste complexe associant des centres commerciaux, des restaurants, des salles de sport et un centre médical de luxe pour un montant de 6,5 milliards d'euros sur la rive asiatique du Bosphore.
 
La vague d'investissements venue d'autres monarchies du Golfe a précédé celle, plus récente, des Saoudiens. « Le refus d'Ankara d'ouvrir son espace aérien aux Américains au début de la guerre en Irak a été très bien accueilli au Moyen-Orient, la méfiance des pays arabes pour la Turquie, reliquat historique de l'Empire ottoman, a commencé à s'estomper », analyse Veyis Fertekligil, économiste à la banque Yapi Kredi.
 
Friand d'immobilier, Dubaï va ainsi investir 4 milliards d'euros, dont 420 millions rien que pour la construction des « Dubaï Towers », deux tours jumelles hélicoïdales et hautes de 300 mètres à Istanbul. L'assainissement de l'économie turque depuis son effondrement en 2001 et la stabilité politique de ce pays musulman dans une région minée par les conflits encouragent ces mouvements de capitaux vers la Turquie. Les États de la péninsule arabique cherchent des places sûres pour y faire fructifier leurs revenus pétroliers. La guerre au Liban les prive d'un refuge traditionnel et les spécialistes prévoient un redéploiement des fonds dans la région. « L'Égypte et la Jordanie seront probablement mieux placés mais la Turquie devrait également en profiter », estime de son côté Veyis Fertekligil. (AFP et Le Figaro, LAURE MARCHAND, 10 août 2006)

Turkey's plan B to be ready for a possible division of Iraq

Turkey should be prepared for a possible division of Iraq and develop a plan B, said a recent report published by a major Turkish think-tank. It urged the Turkish government about the need for a new approach towards the Iraqi Kurds and northern Iraq.The Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO), in a 33-page report on Iraq, criticized Ankara's current policy and gave recommendations on a new approach.

"The ideal choice for Turkey could well be a united Iraq with a strong central government consolidating its power in all parts of the country, including northern Iraq. But developments show the contrary," the report said. "In these conditions Turkey needs plan B."

Stressing that Turkey so far failed to adapt its Iraq policy to the rapidly changing conditions in Iraq and the region, the think-tank warned that without a policy change in the short term Ankara will face grave problems stemming from northern Iraq.

"An independent Iraqi Kurdistan is not necessarily a threat to Turkey. On the contrary, it could be a major advantage," the report claimed.

"The worst scenario for Turkey wouldn't be the division of Iraq but chaos and civil war in northern Iraq, the case now in the south. Should that happen Turkey would then border a region where there's civil war and the [terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party) PKK could also reap the benefits of that."

The think-tank proposed the Turkish government take new measures to stop alienating the Iraqi Kurds and win their confidence. It made the following 15 recommendations:

1) Turkey's wrong policies towards the region are alienating it from the Iraqi Kurds, creating permanent fear among them of Turkey and pushing them to seek support from other countries. Ankara needs to reverse this trend soon by taking confidence-building measures.

2) The Iraqi Kurds and Turkmens' interests don't necessarily contradict each other. It's in Turkey's interests to bring the Iraqi Kurds and Turkmens as close as possible. But in Turkey some political groups are deliberately trying to portray differences between the Turkmens and Kurds as being greater than they really are for domestic consumption. But in fact this not only undermines Turkey's interests in northern Iraq but also fuels a greater risk of polarization in Turkey between ethnic Kurds and others.

3) Ankara needs to do immediate work for greater economic integration between Turkey and northern Iraq. This would give Turkey more leverage in possible future scenarios in Iraq -- a united or divided one.

4) It's not in Turkey's interests to let other countries increase their domination in this region. But today countries like the U.S., Israel, Britain, Russia and Iran and many others are undertaking extensive intelligence work in the region and trying to influence the Iraqi Kurdish regional government. Added to which, in a large part of the region neither the central Iraqi government nor the Kurdish regional government have effective control. Turkey, meanwhile, has got very behind in increasing its influence in the region.

5) Northern Iraq has become an important element which could influence the domestic balances in Turkish politics. If Turkey doesn't draw up new policies towards the region, the region's impact on Turkey will be more dramatic.

6) Turkey should stop a small security-oriented group from dominating the development and implementation of policies on the Turkmens and Kurds. Such policies have to date failed to unite the Iraqi Turkmens and instead caused further divisions among them.

7) Some Turkish groups and units sent to northern Iraq have abused their financial and political power for their individual interests or ideological goals. It has become clear that northern Iraq is consistently and increasingly becoming a more prominent factor in new crime gangs in Turkey. The weapons and money transfers involved all recent political criminal activities in Turkey, from the Atabeyler gang to the shooting of a Council of State judge, were all from northern Iraq.

8) Some groups in Turkey are carrying out secret talks with foreign intelligence officials in northern Iraq in their personal interests or to achieve their ideological goals.

9) Turkey should introduce new mechanisms and channels to its new approach towards the Iraqi Kurds. These should include improving bilateral contacts, increasing trade volume, offering scholarships to Iraqi Kurdish students and starting TV broadcasting in Kurdish and Arabic.

10) Turkey's new policy towards the Iraqi Kurds should focus on two points. First of all, Turkey has to show the Iraqi Kurds that it isn't hostile towards them and that, on the contrary, it will defend them. Secondly, Ankara has to show its determination to combat the PKK. But Turkey is currently giving counter messages. The majority of Iraqi Kurds seem to perceive Turkey as their main obstacle and, on the other hand, believe Ankara is not strong or courageous enough to combat the PKK.

11) Iraqi Kurds, in the long term, can contribute to Turkey's efforts to combating separatist terrorism but for that there needs to be official authority, the political will and security forces ready to combat terrorism. If central government cannot do so, it should be done by the regional government. Turkey should not miss the larger picture by focusing too much on and limiting itself to the issue of Iraq's territorial integrity.

12) Since Turkey is unwilling to train Iraqi Kurdish militias (peshmerga), this is being done by the U.S. and Israel. But Turkey's military and police are the most experienced in the field and are currently training hundreds of foreign students.

13) Turkey should prioritize avoiding terrorism and civil war spreading to northern Iraq. It should also try to contribute to stopping conflict among the Shiites and Sunnis. The civil war in Iraq is pushing Iraqi Kurds to be more independent of regional countries and more dependent more on foreign powers like the U.S., Israel and Britain.

14) Turkey should make itself and the southeast more attractive to the Iraqi Kurds. Ankara should draw up a plan on that.

15) The Iraqi Kurds shouldn't be perceived as limited to two main groups under Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Kurdistan region President Massoud Barzani. Ankara should develop its relations with other Iraqi Kurdish groups as well and support plurality. Ankara also needs to find ways to talk with the Iraqi Kurd public and not limit communication to just with its leaders.  (The New Anatolian, 8 August 2006)

Le roi Abdallah d'Arabie entame une visite en Turquie

Le roi Abdallah d'Arabie saoudite est arrivé mardi à Ankara pour une visite officielle de trois jours en Turquie, la première d'un roi Saoudien, axée notamment sur le renforcement des relations commerciales.

Le roi Abdallah doit s'entretenir mardi à Ankara avec le chef de l'Etat turc Ahmet Necdet Sezer et signer avec lui plusieurs accords bilatéraux dont un accord de coopération militaire et un pour la prévention de la double imposition.

Les discussions doivent également porter aussi sur le conflit au Liban et des questions d'ordre régional.

Il recevra également le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Une importante délégation d'hommes d'affaires saoudiens accompagne le roi Abdallah lors de son voyage en Turquie pays laïque qui entretient d'étroites relations avec Israël.

Le souverain saoudien se rendra mercredi à Istanbul, coeur économique du pays, pour des entretiens avec les milieux d'affaires et visiter les sites tourististiques de l'ancienne Byzance et de la capitale ottomane. Il quittera vendredi la première métropole turque.

Pas moins de 600 chambres ont été réservées dans les grands hôtels d'Ankara et d'Istanbul pour le roi et sa suite, selon la presse.

La Turquie espère attirer des fonds saoudiens notamment dans des projets immobiliers et miniers. (AFP, 8 août 2006)

Marée noire au large du Liban: la Turquie menacée mais pas inquiète

Les risques d'une pollution des côtes méditerranéennes turques par une une nappe de pétrole provenant du Liban sont réduites mais les autorités d'Ankara sont en état d'alerte contre un tel danger environnemental, a-t-on appris mardi de sources concordantes.

Le centre des situations d'urgence constitué au sein du bureau du Premier ministre, interrogé par l'AFP, a estimé "assez réduits" les risques d'une pollution des plages turques.

"Nous croyons que la pollution ne devrait pas toucher la Turquie, mais nous prenons quand même des précautions", a assuré un responsable.

Des vols de reconnaissance sont effectués régulièrement par l'aviation turque et la marine est à pied d'oeuvre et installera si nécessaire des barrières flottantes, a-t-on précisé.

L'aviation israélienne avait pilonné à la mi-juillet un réservoir de mazout au sud de Beyrouth, provoquant le déversement dans la mer de près de 15.000 tonnes de fioul.

Le mazout avait atteint les côtes de Syrie et les écologistes ainsi que les autorités libanaises avaient estimé que la Méditerranée était menacée par la plus grande catastrophe écologique de son histoire, la pollution risquant d'atteindre tous les pays de la Méditerranée orientale.

L'organisation de protection de l'environnement Greenpeace s'est montrée beaucoup plus inquiète que les autorités, indiquant que les courants maritimes et les vents du Sud pouvaient entraîner la marée noire vers Chypre et la Turquie.

"Il y a toujours une possibilité que le pétrole atteigne les côtes turques", a expliqué par téléphone Basma Badran, de la branche libanaise de Greenpeace qui est actuellement à Istanbul.

Elle a estimé jusqu'à 35.000 tonnes la quantité de mazout déversée dans la mer, ajoutant que son organisation oeuvrait à un plan d'action environnemental contre la marée noire. (AFP, 8 août 2006)

Les députés turcs désertent le groupe d'amitié turco-israélien

La majorité des députés turcs ont démissionné du groupe parlementaire d'amitié turco-israélien pour protester contre les offensives menées par Israël dans les territoires palestiniens et au Liban, ont indiqué lundi des sources au parlement.

215 des 263 membres du groupe l'ont quitté depuis le mois de juin, d'abord pour protester contre les opérations israéliennes contre les Palestiniens et ensuite contre l'offensive de l'armée israélienne au Liban, a-t-on précisé de mêmes sources.

Sur les 215 démissionnaires, 124 sont membres du Parti de la Justice et du développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste) du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et leur geste est avant tout symbolique, a-t-on souligné de même source.

Le groupe continue cependant de travailler car elle compte encore 48 membres, dont six dirigeants.

La Turquie, pays musulman et laïque, est l'allié principal d'Israël dans la région depuis que les deux pays ont signé un accord de coopération militaire en 1996.

A l'instar de la communauté internationale, la Turquie a condamné l'offensive israélienne au Liban et un usage "disproportionné et aveugle" de la force militaire. (AFP, 7 août 2006)

Israeli flag burned as hundreds protest against Israeli agression

A protest was held against Israel and its attacks on Lebanon in Istanbul following Friday prayers at Fatih Mosque. The Israeli flag was burned during the protest.

Over 400 people gathered in the courtyard of Fatih Mosque and held a symbolic funeral ceremony for the civilians killed in Lebanon by Israeli attacks. The protestors waved Palestinian flags and distributed pictures of the people who have been killed in Lebanon.

"Down with USA and Israel, Murderer Israel, Collaborator AKP," were the chants heard during the protest. The protestors also chanted slogans in favor of Hamas.

The protestors said that the USA and Israel were trying to change the borders in the Middle East.

The protestors burned Israeli flags as police maintained a heavy security presence around the mosque. (Cihan News Agency, August 4, 2006)

Un député turc réclame qu'Israël soit jugé pour crimes contre l'humanité

Israël devrait être jugé par un tribunal pénal international pour ses offensives meurtrières contre le Liban, a affirmé jeudi le président de la commission des droits de l'Homme du Parlement turc.

"Les tribunaux pour les crimes de guerre devraient entrer en action pour punir le terrorisme d'Etat d'Israël et ses crimes contre l'humanité", a déclaré Mehmet Elkatmis aux journalistes. "Sinon, il ne semble pas qu'Israël va arrêter".

"Il (Israël) n'accepte aucun accord international ou valeur humaine, il poursuit avec furie ses attaques", a poursuivi l'élu, s'exprimant au terme d'une réunion d'urgence de sa commission consacrée à la situation au Liban.

Qualifiant l'offensive israélienne de "brutale", M. Elkatmis a ajouté: "Il me semble qu'Israël fait payer des gens innocents pour le génocide commis par Hitler".

Il a reproché aux grandes puissances et à l'Onu leur incapacité à empêcher les violences.

"Si Israël est blâmable pour les violences, ceux qui restent silencieux et fournissent un soutien indirect sont aussi à blâmer", a-t-il estimé.

La Turquie, pays musulman non arabe et laïc, est l'allié principal d'Israël dans la région depuis que les deux pays ont signé un accord de coopération militaire en 1996.

Mais les relations entre les deux pays se sont refroidies depuis que le gouvernement turc issu de la mouvance islamiste s'est mis à critiquer les actions de l'Etat hébreu dans la région.

Quelque 70 députés turcs ont démissionné de la commission parlementaire d'amitié turco-israélienne depuis juin en protestation contre les raids israéliens, selon des sources parlementaires. Le groupe d'amitié turco-israélien, un des plus populaires de l'Assemblée turque, comptait parmi ses membres pas moins de 263 des 550 élus. (AFP, 3 août 2006)

Le coeur des peuples de Turquie bat pour le Liban et la Palestine

Le communiqué de presse du Front pour les droits et les libertés (HÖC)

Suite à la capture légitime par les résistants du Hezbollah, de deux soldats israéliens qui circulaient illégalement sur le territoire libanais pour parachever les préparatifs d'une agression décidée par l'état-major sioniste depuis plusieurs mois, le 12 juillet 2006, Israël a lancé son assaut sur le Liban, mettant très vite le pays à feu et à sang.

Dans le même temps, Israël a prétexté la capture d'un lieutenant de son armée par la résistance palestinienne pour accélérer son plan d'extermination du peuple palestinien, en imposant un embargo absolu, en détruisant toutes ses voies de communications, ses plantations, ses infrastructures électriques, sanitaires et administratives mais aussi en massacrant la population.

A ce jour, on dénombre près de 700 victimes libanaises et près de 200 Palestiniens tués des suites des bombardements israéliens. Rien que ce matin, on dénombre plus de 50 morts dans un abri du village de Kana au Sud-Liban, dont 22 enfants. Dans cette attaque digne de la barbarie nazie, des mamans sont mortes avec leurs bébés dans leur bras …

Pendant ce temps, du G-8 au Parlement européen et des Nations Unies à la Ligue arabe, les chancelleries du « monde civilisé », observent béatement la lente agonie des peuples arabes et écoutent avec consentement les discours monstrueux de l'administration américaine.

Pas plus tard que le 21 juillet dernier, Condoleezza Rice déclarait lors d'une conférence de presse au département d'Etat américain que la destruction du Liban correspond aux « contractions de la naissance d'un nouveau Moyen-Orient ».

On ne peut être plus explicite quant aux intentions expansionnistes et hégémoniques des Etats-Unis dans la région. Rien d'étonnant d'ailleurs qu'aucune décision de cessez-le-feu n'ait été prise à la conférence de Rome. Cette rencontre n'avait d'ailleurs servi qu'à renforcer la position américano sioniste d'appeler les peuples de la région à la capitulation.

Mais tandis que les Etats-Unis apportent un soutien inconditionnel à l'Etat sioniste avec l'arrogance historique qu'on leur connaît, le gouvernement turc représenté par « l'islamiste » Recep Tayyip Erdogan n'est pas mois complice de ce fameux « projet du Grand Moyen-Orient » si cher à Bush, Rice et consorts. En véritable missionnaire à la solde des puissances coloniales, Erdogan vient de renouveler son intention d'envoyer des troupes d'interposition dans la zone frontalière du sud-Liban destinées à consolider le projet américano-sioniste dans la région.

L'Etat turc : allié invétéré d'Israël

Si de temps en temps, l'administration Erdogan s'indigne des crimes sionistes contre ses « frères musulmans » et envoie des convois humanitaires vers la Palestine, c'est avant tout pour calmer la population turque résolument solidaire des peuples du Moyen-Orient.

Car au Parlement turc, 99 députés de l'AKP font partie du groupe d'amitié avec Israël et pas moins de 105 députés du Parti républicain du peuple de tendance « social-démocrate » entretiennent le même rapport privilégié avec leurs confrères sionistes !

Par ailleurs, à Ankara comme à Tel-Aviv, on ne cesse de déclarer que les relations bilatérales entre les deux pays n'ont jamais été aussi optimales.

L'armée israélienne s'entraîne en Turquie et modernise les tanks turcs

Les terres de Palestine étant trop étroites, c'est dans la vaste plaine de Konya en Anatolie centrale que l'aviation israélienne procède à des exercices de vols de basse altitude, descendant parfois à moins de 150 m. du sol et mettant la population locale en danger.

Ces entraînements se produisent très régulièrement. Par ailleurs, Israël et la Turquie ont signé un accord de coopération militaire en 1996. Depuis lors, la firme d'Etat Israel Military Industries (IMI) a modernisé pour Ankara près de 200 tanks M-60 et des dizaines d'avions de chasse. Depuis la signature de cet accord, les ventes d'armes israéliennes à la Turquie ont atteint plus de deux milliards et demi d'euros.

Les firmes turques consolident l'occupation sioniste

Les chiffres officiels indiquent sans équivoque la croissance de la coopération entre la Turquie et Israël.

D'après Uriel Lynn, président de la Fédérations des Chambres de Commerce Israéliennes (FCCI) « Entre 2002 et 2005, les relations commerciales entre Israël et la Turquie ont cru de 79% à $2,1 milliards en 2005 ». L'an dernier, les exportations israéliennes en Turquie ont progressé de 13% pour atteindre $919 millions et les importations bondissaient de 22% à $1,2 milliards. Toujours d'après Lynn, 152 entreprises sionistes seraient présentes en Turquie. (Source : Israel Valley, 26 mai 2006)

D'autre part, les firmes turques prolifèrent et prospèrent en Israël sur les cadavres des enfants palestiniens. Par exemple, la firme de construction « Yilmazlar Insaat » concentre à elle seule 10% des chantiers de construction en Israël, ce qui fait d'elle la troisième plus grande société dans le secteur. Les chemins de fer reliant Tel-Aviv à Jérusalem sont eux aussi rénovés par des firmes turques.

Autre indicateur révélateur, le nombre de touristes israéliens venant se dorer sur les plages turques: ils seraient chaque année plus de 300.000...

L'Etat turc admire le terrorisme sioniste

Il n'est pas rare d'entendre les politiciens turcs flatter Israël dans leur lutte contre le soi-disant terrorisme. Le vice-premier ministre et ministre de la justice Cemil Ciçek qui continue à dissimuler les tortures que les détenus politiques turcs et kurdes subissent dans les fameuses prisons de type F, vient de se déclarer séduit par les pratiques militaires israéliennes qu'il considère comme appropriées contre le mouvement nationaliste kurde. Le 18 juillet dernier, Ciçek a même déclaré : « Nous agirons comme Israël » (Source : Hürriyet, 18 juillet 2006)

Tout en faisant froid dans le dos, ce discours vindicatif visant toutes les forces progressistes turques et kurdes, en dit long sur les « intentions démocratiques » du gouvernement AKP qui se dit pourtant si préoccupé de rejoindre l'Union européenne.

Les forces populaires de Turquie honorent les martyrs du Liban et de la Palestine

En Turquie, dès sa naissance dans la fin des années 1960, le mouvement révolutionnaire THKP-C a pris fait et cause pour la cause arabe et palestinienne. Aujourd'hui, c'est le mouvement social dans son ensemble qui perpétue cette tradition de soutien à la résistance des peuples du Moyen-Orient.

Et pour ne donner quelques exemples : le 21 juillet dernier, l'ordre turc des médecins, les associations professionnelles des dentistes, des pharmaciens, des vétérinaires ainsi que les sections stambouliotes du syndicats des travailleurs de la santé (SES) se sont rassemblés devant l'hôpital de Haydarpasa pour condamner la barbarie sioniste.

Le 23 juillet, le Parti du travail (EMEP) et l'association islamiste progressiste Özgür-Der ont réuni 1500 personnes dans un meeting organisé dans le quartier de Kadiköy à Istanbul.

Le 25 juillet dernier, 2500 ouvriers du syndicat Türk-Is ont protesté contre les massacres au Proche-Orient en déposant une gerbe noire devant l'ambassade d'Israël en signe de protestation et ont lancé des œufs sur l'édifice. Le lendemain, la confédération révolutionnaire des syndicats ouvriers (DISK) a organisé un sit-in de deux jours à Ankara.

De même, dans tout le pays, les membres de notre Front pour les droits et les libertés (HÖC), sont descendus massivement dans la rue pour condamner l'agression américano sioniste et pour saluer la résistance palestinienne et libanaise.

Comme en Turquie, ici aussi, haussons la bannière de la solidarité et de la résistance internationales pour que vivent le Liban et la Palestine. (hoc@post.com, 1er août 2006)

Le chef de l'OCI accuse Israël de recourir au "terrorisme d'Etat"

Le secrétaire général de l'Organisation de la conférence islamique (OCI), le turc Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, a qualifié mardi les raids israélien dans le territoires palestiniens et au Liban de "terrorisme d'Etat" et appelé les pays musulmans à se mobiliser d'avantage.

"Ces offensives, qui ont fait des centaines de morts, détruit les infrastructures du Liban et de la Palestine et violé tous les principes du droit international (...) correspondent à la définition des crimes de guerre", a déclaré lors d'une conférence de presse M. Ihsanoglu, cité par l'agence de presse Anatolie.

"Ce qui a lieu a atteint la dimension du terrorisme d'Etat. Il s'agit d'un crime évident contre l'humanité et d'un crime de guerre", a-t-il ajouté.

Commentant la convocation pour jeudi en Malaisie d'une réunion extraordinaire du comité exécutif de l'OCI consacrée à la crise au Proche-Orient, M. Ihsanoglu a indiqué que l'organisation n'avait pas le pouvoir d'imposer des sanctions à Israël.

Il a cependant appelé les 57 membres de l'OCI a s'impliquer d'avantage pour résoudre la crise.

"J'espère qu'une position plus claire sera présentée sur cette question et que les pays islamiques envisageront un ensemble de mesures et de politiques plus efficaces aux Nations unies", a-t-il affirmé.

M. Ihsanoglu a également déploré ce qu'il a appelé "le silence du monde entier" sur le massacre de dizaines d'enfants lors d'un raid israélien dimanche sur le village libanais de Cana et l'incapacité de l'Onu à le condamner de manière explicite. (AFP, 1 août 2006)

Des députés turcs claquent la porte du groupe d'amitié turco-israélien

Vingt-cinq députés turcs ont démissionné depuis juin du groupe parlementaire d'amitié turco-israélien pour protester contre les offensives menées par Israël dans les territoires palestiniens et au Liban, ont affirmé mardi des sources parlementaires.

Dix-sept d'entre eux sont membres du Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste) du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan, qui a multiplié les critiques contre les campagnes militaires israéliennes, selon ces sources.

Les autres démissionnaires appartiennent au Parti républicain du peuple (CHP, social-démocrate) et au Parti de la mère patrie (Anavatan, centre-droit).

Plusieurs parlementaires ont, selon ces sources, été assaillis de messages téléphoniques et de courriels les encourageant à quitter le groupe d'amitié turco-israélien, un des plus populaires de l'Assemblée turque puisqu'il comptait parmi ses membres pas moins de 263 des 550 élus.

La Turquie a accusé à plusieurs reprises Israël de faire un usage  disproportionné de la force depuis l'intervention en juin de troupes israéliennes dans les territoires palestiniens.

La Turquie, pays musulman non arabe et laïc, est l'allié principal d'Israël dans la région depuis que les deux pays ont signé un accord de coopération militaire en 1996.

Mais les relations entre les deux pays se sont refroidies depuis que le gouvernement turc issu de la mouvance islamiste s'est mis à critiquer les actions de l'Etat hébreu dans la région. (AFP, 1 août 2006)

Chypre et la Grèce / Cyprus and Greece


Immigration / Migration

Fermeture des associations kurdes sous la pression en Allemagne

Le peuple kurde est un peuple toujours privé de sa liberté. Malgré sa population qui compte plus de 35 millions et son histoire ancienne, ce peuple est toujours privé de ses droits culturels, politiques et humanitaires. La répression pratiquée contre ce peuple ne connaît pas les limites étatiques. Les Kurdes vivant en Turquie, en Iran, et en Syrie subissent les mêmes répressions étatiques. Ceci, malgré des progrès démocratiques dans le monde entier et, surtout en Europe.

Depuis le 3 octobre 2005, la Turquie est devenue une vraie partie de l’Union Européenne. Cette dernière institution ne peut échapper aux problèmes existants en Turquie, et au sein desquels la question kurde occupe une grande place. Le rôle que l’Union Européenne doit jouer dans cette question est donc très important. Les Kurdes attendent un effort remarquable de la part des institutions européennes. Avec cette ouverture des négociations entre la Turquie et l’Union, la solution de la question kurde devrait être une priorité pour les autorités européennes. A partir du mois de septembre de cette année, les institutions comme le Parlement Européen et la Commission Européenne devront s’occuper de cette affaire. Sinon, avec la multiplication des affrontements entre les forces armées turques et la guérilla kurde, la guerre s’aggravera de plus en plus au Kurdistan et même en Turquie. C’est un véritable risque.

Dans un tel processus malheureusement, certains pays européens pratiquent une politique plus sévère contre les Kurdes et leurs institutions. La politique du gouvernement allemand qui est pratiquée contre les associations culturelles des Kurdes en est un exemple. Au lieu de fournir des efforts pour trouver une solution à la question kurde, le gouvernement de Madame Merckel est en train de collaborer avec le gouvernement turc. Bien sûr, les Kurdes ne sont pas contre les relations économiques entre les états, mais ces relations ne doivent pas influencer l’aggravation de la répression contre les droits des peuples.

L’actuelle politique allemande rend un service politique et diplomatique à l’état turc. Nous savons bien que, depuis les années 1980, la même politique de répression est appliquée par les autorités allemandes contre les Kurdes vivant dans ce pays. Cette politique est toujours en vigueur aujourd’hui. Les responsables politiques kurdes, qui sont réfugiés en Allemagne, sont arrêtés et emprisonnés injustement de façon régulière. Les associations kurdes dans ce pays, dont le but est tout à fait culturel, sont perquisitionnées, leurs dirigeants et membres sont empêchés de faire leurs activités. Plusieurs dirigeants de ces associations ont été arrêtés et condamnés. Bien sûr, nous devons dire qu’une telle attitude ne respecte pas les standards démocratiques européens.

Pour protester contre cette attitude de l’état allemand, les dirigeants de la Fédérations des Associations Kurdes dans ce pays ont déclaré que leurs 65 associations sont désormais fermées et que leurs activités sont suspendues. La raison qui a poussé cette Fédération à fermer les portes de ses associations est due à la pratique de la politique répressive du gouvernement de Mme Merckel. Nous ne savons pas jusqu’à quand les portes de ces associations resteront fermées. Mais, ce qui est certaine, c’est que la politique allemande est fortement condamnée par les Kurdes.

Il faut rappeler que les Kurdes vivant en Allemagne sont les plus anciens exilés du Kurdistan. Les associations culturelles kurdes dans ce pays sont les plus anciennes des institutions kurdes en Europe. Le rôle de ces associations a occupé une place importante dans le domaine des activités culturelles et intellectuelles parmi la communauté kurde dans ce continent. C’est pourquoi les dirigeants de ces associations attendent un soutien de la part des milieux démocratiques allemands et aussi européens. Une solidarité doit s’organiser autour de cet acte de protestation des Kurdes.

En ce moment où l’Union Européenne est en train de pousser la Turquie vers un processus démocratique, ce comportement du gouvernement allemand n’est pas compréhensible. Il faut savoir que la fermeture des institutions kurdes ne sert pas les intérêts européens. Par contre, ceci créera des problèmes autant pour la Turquie que pour les pays européens. Car les associations et d’autres institutions kurdes en Europe ont toujours joué un rôle positif dans le processus de la lutte de liberté du peuple kurde. C’est pourquoi, au lieu d’empêcher ces institutions de fonctionner, il faut que l’Union Européenne les soutienne pour qu’elles pratiquent leurs activités.

Bien que les pays européens développent leur soutien aux associations et aux institutions civiles, cette politique n’est pas appliquée pour les Kurdes. Les droits qui sont reconnus aux être humains, ne sont hélas, pas applicables pour les Kurdes. Cette attitude hypocrite des certains pays européens ne doit pas être acceptée par les milieux démocratiques en Europe.

Malgré tout, nous, intellectuels kurdes, avons l’espoir en la solidarité entre les peuples et les milieux démocratiques. (Ahmet DERE, kurdishinfo.com, 24 août 2006)

Des « immigrés » nationalistes sur des listes démocratiques

par Alexandre Vick
Membre de la rédaction du journal antifasciste « Résistances »

Face à la montée électorale de l'extrême droite, les partis politiques traditionnels - dits « démocratiques » - tentent d'imposer un cordon sanitaire. Isoler et marginaliser le Vlaams Blok/Belang et le Front national est l'objectif de ce « cordon ». En Flandre, l'isolement politique du VB est de plus en plus poreux. Au Parlement fédéral, des projets de loi de ce parti d'extrême droite reçoivent le soutien de parlementaires de formations démocratiques. Plusieurs bourgmestres chrétiens-démocrates et libéraux flamands annoncent déjà, avant les élections communales du 8 octobre prochain, qu'il se pourrait fort bien qu'ils s'allient au VB pour gérer ensemble leur commune. Du côté néerlandophone, le cordon sanitaire est en train de se lézarder un peu partout.

Dans les partis politiques francophones, la « fibre antifasciste » reste de mise. « Non à l'extrême droite », scandent-ils dans les manifestations organisées par des fronts antifascistes. Le cordon sanitaire est strictement appliqué dans les parlements pour court-circuiter les propositions nauséabondes des députés VBistes et frontistes. Le conseil d'administration de la télévision et de la radio publiques (RTBF), composé des quatre principaux partis politiques (PS, MR, CDH et Ecolo), interdit le passage sur antenne de l'extrême droite. Seulement voilà : il y a extrême droite et extrême droite, nationalistes et nationalistes !

Force est aujourd'hui de constater que le cordon sanitaire cible uniquement l'extrême droite belge. Mais ceux qui se revendiquent d'un corpus dogmatique rétrograde, xénophobe, ultranationaliste et inégalitariste ne sont pas toujours des « fachos » ou des racistes belges (de souche).

Au sein des communautés issues de l'immigration, il s'est toujours trouvé des militants d'extrême droite, nationalistes et/ou racistes. Le Mouvement social italien (MSI, parti fasciste fondé après la Deuxième Guerre mondiale) avait une réelle implantation, certes minime par rapport au Parti communiste, chez les Italiens de Belgique. Des immigrés économiques espagnols vouaient pour leur part un culte à la personnalité du dictateur Franco. Aujourd'hui, des candidats d'origine marocaine, pourtant engagés dans le combat pour la libération de la Palestine sous occupation israélienne, sont connus pour leur lobbying favorable aux thèses annexionnistes du Sahara occidental... sous occupation marocaine. Les mêmes exploitent un discours antialgérien, puisqu'Alger soutient le Front Polisario, le mouvement de libération du peuple sahraoui. Le racisme entre Turcs et Kurdes, Turcs et Arméniens, Marocains et Algériens, Arabes marocains et Berbères marocains, Congolais et Rwandais, immigrés et Belges... est par ailleurs toujours une réalité.

Un discours politico-religieux aux accents nationalistes (en référence à la Nation arabe) est régulièrement tenu dans des mosquées par des imams radicaux. La cible de leurs prêches : la société matérialiste (moderne, laïque, pluraliste...), l'homosexualité, la liberté individuelle, les droits égaux pour les femmes, l'intégration, les « fausses religions » (judaïsme, catholicisme...), etc.

Une étude universitaire conduite par le Centre d'études en sciences politiques de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Cevipol) démontre que lors des élections régionales de juin 2004, parmi les électeurs bruxellois du Vlaams Blok/Belang, il se trouvait 4,5 % de musulmans. Au sein de la communauté juive, la fraction sioniste ouvertement d'extrême droite s'active de plus en plus elle aussi. Dans des manifestations publiques, des propos racistes ou islamophobes circulent.

Une convergence se fait jour entre des publicistes d'opuscules d'extrême droite et des intellectuels juifs d'ultradroite. Ensemble, ils développent stratégiquement la même rengaine propagandiste basée sur la « théorie du complot », ici en l'occurrence une pseudo-alliance généralisée entre l'extrême gauche, l'extrême droite antisémite et les islamistes terroristes ! Grâce à la culture de ce spectre inventé, à Anvers, des Juifs votent dorénavant pour le VB, parti pourtant fondé par des néonazis et des antisémites !

Cette réalité - qui vient d'être résumée ici en quelques lignes - est un sujet tabou, « politiquement incorrect » dans notre société toujours basée sur une dynamique manichéenne. Si le racisme et le fascisme des uns sont dénoncés, mis hors la loi, et leurs partisans placés sur des piloris modernisés, le racisme, le négationnisme, le nationalisme et le fascisme des autres sont, eux, tolérés et acceptés par des partis politiques se proclamant pourtant toujours « démocrates ». Pour des raisons électorales, ils ferment les yeux et ont placé sur leurs listes pour les élections communales des candidats d'origine étrangère qui ont bien plus de points communs avec ceux du VB ou du FN qu'avec les candidats socialistes, libéraux et démocrates-humanistes qu'ils côtoient désormais.

En effet, plusieurs candidats « communautaristes », avec des parcours politiques similaires à nos « fachos » locaux, sont présents sur des listes électorales communales du PS, du MR, du FDF et du CDH. Le journaliste d'investigation belgo-turc Mehmet Koksal et le chercheur Pierre-Yves Lambert, animateurs notamment du site internet « Suffrage universel », dénoncent depuis bien longtemps cet état de fait. Aujourd'hui, à la veille des élections, de nouveaux lièvres sont levés. En juin dernier, Mehmet Koksal dénonçait la présence d'un candidat turc sur la liste électorale conduite par la ministre fédérale de la Justice, Laurette Onkelinx, à Schaerbeek. Ce candidat fut le président de l'Association culturelle turque dans cette commune bruxelloise. Cette association rassemble en Belgique les sympathisants du Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi (MHP, en français : Parti d'action nationaliste). Le MHP est la principale formation d'extrême droite en Turquie.
Les Loups gris, organisation paramilitaire responsable d'actions terroristes et de tueries de groupes ethniques refusant la « turquisation », fait partie intégrante de la mouvance du MHP. En Belgique, l'implantation des Loups gris et du MHP au coeur de la population turque a de solides points d'appuis.

Un autre candidat « socialiste » de Schaerbeek, Jean-Pierre Van Gorp (ex-disciple de feu le bourgmestre xénophobe Roger Nols), semble avoir joué les bons offices pour séduire l'électorat turc d'extrême droite de la Cité des ânes en faveur du PS. Même s'il s'en défend aujourd'hui et évoque sa méconnaissance de la nature politique de ses amis... Ces derniers, à la biographie proche de celles de candidats figurant sur les listes du FN ou du VB, ne sont pas seuls dans ce cas. D'autres candidats du « même type » se retrouvent dans diverses communes sur des listes PS, MR, FDF ou CDH. Avec à chaque fois, pour ces partis, l'objectif opportuniste de s'attirer les voix de leurs compatriotes. Cette attitude est scandaleuse, mais reste, hélas, de la « realpolitik » pour ceux qui persistent pourtant à scander « Non à l'extrême droite ». Nous l'aurons compris, il y a extrême droite et extrême droite.
Le Soir, 26 août 2006,

La visite des candidats PS au siège des Loups Gris à Bruxelles

L'ex-échevin nolsiste, ex-président du FDF local et actuel candidat PS à Schaerbeek Jean-Pierre Van Gorp pique une vive colère sur son blog contre "ces pseudo-journalistes du net" qui osent rappeler le passé peu démocratique (c'est un euphémisme) de cet échevin sans attribution sans évoquer ses excuses publiques à répétition afin de justifier son parcours politique.

Voici maintenant que notre homme, qui se voit déjà comme le futur bourgmestre ff de la Cité des ânes, n'hésite pas un seul instant à rendre une visite officielle début juillet 2006 au représentant du MHP en Belgique (Parti d'Action Nationaliste : extrême droite turque) Zeki Yarol -Président de l'asbl "Fédération turque de Belgique". Jean-Pierre Van Gorp était accompagné pour l'occasion de son colistier loup gris Murat Denizli et de trois autres camarades socialistes, ces militants de gauche posant tout fièrement sous le portrait du leader historique de l'extrême droite turque Alparslan Türkes. Un chouette cliché de campagne 2006 !

Mais attention, pas de condamnation hâtive, Jean-Pierre peut toujours représenter des excuses publiques à tout moment... même après le 8 octobre 2006. Quoique, des doubles excuses équivaudraient peut-être à un retour vers ses premiers amours, non ?

En tout cas, l'homme fort de Laurette devra trouver cette fois autre chose que "je ne comprends pas la langue turque" puisqu'il se permet de corriger (à juste titre) les publireportages à la gloire de Sait Köse dans la presse turque.

Comme l'écrit le grand bloggeur Jean-Pierre Van Gorp, "l'électeur bien informé, lui ne sera pas dupe" et dommage pour Jean-Pierre Van Gorp mais l'extrême droite ne s'arrête pas aux frontières de la grande Belgique. (allochtone.blogspot.com, mehmet, 24 août 2006)

Campagne contre la menace d'expulsion pour deux réfugiés kurdes

La Fédération des Droits Démocratiques en Suisse (Section Genève) vient de diffuser le communiqué suivant contre la menace d'expulsion pour le réfugié kurde Karaca en Allemagne:

Apres 82 jours de grève de la faim, Monsieur Yusuf Karaca est menacé de mort a l’hôpital de la prison de Kassel. Réfugié kurde reconnu, il est menacé d’expulsion vers la Turquie.

Il a été emprisonné le 3 mai 2006. Le 23 mai 2006, le Haut Tribunal de Francfort a scandaleusement confirmé son expulsion. Dès ce 25 mai 2006, Yusuf Karaca a entamé une grève de la faim pour protester contre son arrestation et son extradition.
 
Monsieur Karaca a été arrêté en 1993 par les autorités turques pour ses activités politiques et incarcéré 10 ans durant. Le 10 décembre 1996, le Tribunal de sécurité d’Etat d’Izmir l’a condamné à une peine de prison à perpétuité. Malgré la fin de l’état d’exception et la dissolution de ce tribunal, les sentences ont été maintenues.
 
Suite à une grève de faim de 500 jours, il a bénéficié d’une liberté conditionnelle en 2002. Yusuf Karaca est parvenu à s’échapper d’hôpital et à se réfugier en Allemagne. En 2005, le Ministère de l’Intérieur a reconnu son statut de réfugié politique.

Il prenait part à un cours d’intégration linguistique quand il a été arrêté. La Turquie a en effet formulé une demande d’extradition pour l’avoir sous son contrôle.
 
Le Ministre Fédéral de la Justice, le Ministère de la Justice de l’Etat de Hesse violent ouvertement le statut de réfugié de Monsieur Karaca. Les Juges fédéraux Gürtler, Pohl et Enderes-Krunze savaient parfaitement que Yusuf Karaca ne pouvait pas être renvoyé, compte-tenu de son statut de  réfugié politique. Le Ministre de la Justice chypriote et le Ministre d’Etat de Hesse, Monsieur Banzer, ont été saisis, afin que ce soient annulées la sentence et la demande d’extradition.

Les juges de Francfort, qui font fi de ces éléments juridiques élémentaires devraient reprendre les livres de Droit et étudier le chapitre § 60 de la loi sur l’asile allemande !
 
Nous appelons chacune et chacun à la solidarité. Monsieur Karaca risque la mort en cas d’extradition. Son état physique et psychologique est critique, ses proches et amis sont inquiets. La Turquie est un Etat reconnu pour la pratique systématique de la torture. Or, nous vous rappelons que l’article 3 alinéa 1 de la Convention de 1951 (et son complément de 1967) contre la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants – dont l’application est universelle - stipule qu’ “ aucun Etat partie n’expulsera, ne refoulera, ni n’extradera une personne vers un autre Etat où il y a des motifs sérieux de croire qu’elle risque d’être soumise à la torture”.
 
Par conséquent, nous vous demandons instamment d’intervenir auprès des autorités compétentes, en Allemagne et ailleurs, afin d’empêcher l’extradition de Monsieur Karaca vers un pays où l’attendent la prison et vraisemblablement la torture.
 
En vous remerciant par avance pour votre compréhension et pour l’attention que vous porterez à ce courrier, nous vous prions d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, nos salutations distinguées. (assmp72@bluewin.ch, 20 août 2006)

Manifestation de solidarité pour un jeune réfugiée kurde en Suisse

De la déception et de la colère, les sentiments de la cinquantaine de manifestants qui se sont réunis cet après-midi à Moutier pour apporter leur soutien à Erdogan. Ce jeune Kurde est menacé d'expulsion du territoire helvétique.

La Turquie le poursuit pour des raisons politiques. Erdogan est menacé de torture, voire de mort s'il retourne dans son pays. Il a déjà été transféré dans plusieurs prisons suisses en attente de son renvoi. Il était dans les geôles de Moutier depuis le mois dernier.

Et puis coup de théâtre : l'homme a été discrètement déplacé hier à Frauenfeld. Le collectif de soutien s'est donc séparé. Une partie est allée manifester en Thurgovie. L'autre, composée de militants de gauche, de membres du Groupe Bélier et de particuliers, est restée en Prévôté. (Radio Jura Bernois, 19 août 2006)

Trois responsables présumés du PKK mise en examen en Allemagne

Une Turque d'origine kurde, considérée comme une responsable du PKK en Allemagne, a été mise en examen, a annoncé mercredi le parquet fédéral allemand.

Sabine A. alias Gülay A., âgée de 35 ans, est poursuivie pour appartenance à une organisation terroriste en Allemagne ainsi que pour des incendies criminels qui remontent à dix ans.

Responsable du PKK pour le secteur de Westphalie (ouest de l'Allemagne) de juillet 1995 à juin 1996, la prévenue utilisait dans ses fonctions le nom d'emprunt "Beritan".

Elle est soupçonnée d'avoir fondé en 1993 une association terroriste dont les membres ont commis des actes de violence jusqu'en août 1996, en particulier des incendies criminels contre des équipements turcs et allemands.

La justice allemande lui reproche d'avoir commandité sept incendies criminels à l'aide de cocktails molotov sur ordre de la centrale européenne du PKK à Dortmund (ouest de l'Allemagne) en mars 1996.

Les incendies, qui n'ont fait aucun blessé mais d'importants dégâts matériels visaient des banques, des agences de voyage, un bureau de poste et un poste de police de la ville.

Sabine A. se trouve en détention provisoire depuis son arrestation le 3 avril 2006.

Ces derniers jours, deux autres responsables présumés du PKK en Allemagne ont été arrêtés. 

Lundi, un Kurde, considéré comme un responsable du PKK en Allemagne, a été arrêté à Duisbourg (ouest), a annoncé mardi le parquet fédéral allemand.

Riza E., âgé de 37 ans, est soupçonné d'avoir été responsable du PKK pour un secteur comprenant une partie de la Rhénanie du Nord-Westphalie (ouest de l'Allemagne) entre août 2004 et mars 2006.

Le 8 août, un autre Turc d'origine kurde, âgé de 50 ans, considéré comme un responsable du PKK pour le secteur au sud de l'Allemagne, s'étendant de la Sarre à la Bavière, a été arrêté à la gare de Mannheim (ouest). (AFP, 15-16 août 2006 )

L'opération négationniste des candidats turcs au sein du MR

M. Pierre-Yves Lambert, directeur de Suffrage-Universel, vient d'adresser la lettre suivante à Mme Christine Defraigne, Sénatrice MR, concernant l'opération négationniste lancée par les candidats d'origine turque au sein du MR:

Madame la Sénatrice,
 
Votre collègue de parti, l'échevin Sait Köse (MR Schaerbeek), se vante un peu partout (en turc) que c'est grâce à son intervention que les deux billets reproduits ci-dessous ont été retirés par vous de votre site, afin de ne plus heurter la "sensibilité" des électeurs turcs. Je n'écris pas "d'origine turque" puisqu'ils sont avant tout turcs de nationalité, uni- ou binationaux.
 
Par ailleurs, vous n'êtes certainement pas sans ignorer (cf. le JT RTBF du 10 août dernier) qu'une nouvelle polémique a éclaté, cette fois à Saint-Josse, sur la présence d'une candidate militante négationnisme en deuxième position sur une liste MR (cf. http://stjosnews.blogspot.com/2006/07/une-militante-ngationniste-turque.html , http://stjosnews.blogspot.com/2006/08/echanges-de-courriels-propos-de-derya.html et http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/08/derya-bulduk-fdf-coince-dans-son.html  <http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/08/derya-bulduk-fdf-coince-dans-son.html>  ), les négationnistes Sait Köse (cf. http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2005/12/le-double-discours-de-sait-kse-fdf-mr.html et http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/06/sait-kse-mr-rcompens-pour-son-lobbying.html ), Mustafa Öztürk (cf. http://users.skynet.be/suffrage-universel/be/ozturk.htm ) et d'autres figurant de toute façon à nouveau sur la liste MR à Schaerbeek.
 
Dans Le Soir du 11 juin 2006, le Président Didier Reynders avait déclaré ceci:
"Il faut reconnaître que nous avons tous, dans nos formations politiques respectives, des personnes qui posent problème par leur attitude à l'égard des Arméniens. Pour ma part, je saisis le Conseil d'arbitrage du MR. Je ne peux pas imaginer que des militants ou des mandataires tiennent des propos ou diffusent des écrits qui soient clairement négationnistes. Et je n'ai pas besoin du droit pénal, en tant que président, pour faire le ménage."
 
Manifestement, non seulement le "ménage" n'a pas été fait, mais en plus il y a eu recul de votre part.
 
J'espère que vous me démentirez, mais je crains que vous n'ayez du mal à me convaincre des motifs hautement conformes à l'éthique de ces candidatures MR et des raisons purement techniques de la disparition de vos billets de votre site.
 
Veuillez agréer, Madame la Sénatrice, l'expression de mes sentiments les meilleurs.
 
Pierre-Yves Lambert
http://www.suffrage-universel.be/ <http://www.suffrage-universel.be>
http://tractotheque.blogspot.com/

La position d'un autre sénateur MR sur la campagne négationniste

Quelle tristesse de devoir constater que le négationnisme du génocide arménien n'est toujours pas sanctionné dans notre pays alors que cette attitude sert de tremplin électoral à certains candidats désireux de s'attirer les votes de la communauté d'origine turque! C'est précisément pour ne pas en arriver à cette situation inacceptable que j'avais introduit, in tempore non suspecto, c'est à dire en mai 2005, des amendements au projet de loi modifiant les articles 259bis, 314bis, 504quater, 550bis et 550ter du Code pénal et la loi du 23 mars 1995 tendant à réprimer la négation, la minimisation, la justification ou l'approbation du génocide commis par le régime national-socialiste allemand pendant la seconde guerre mondiale.

Il s'agissait d'étendre le champ d'application de cette loi au génocide arménien. Il restait alors un an et demi avant les élections communales, et l'adoption de mes amendements aurait pu se faire dans la sérénité, si la ministre de la justice , membre d'un parti, le PS, qui avait pris l'excellente initiative au Sénat de reconnaître en 1998 le génocide arménien, n'avait freiné des quatre fers.

Mme Onkelinx avait déjà anticipé sa candidature à Schaerbeek et ne voulait pas, foin des grands principes, se mettre à dos la communauté d'origine turque de cette commune; et comme la meilleure défense dit-on c'est l'attaque, la vaillante Laurette n'avait pas manqué au passage lors des discussions en commission de m'accuser d'"électoralisme". C'est bien connu: la communauté d'origine arménienne compte quelque 7 000 personnes, alors que les Belges d'origine turque ne sont jamais qu'un petit 150 000!

Bref, quoiqu'il en soit et avec le soutien de la direction tant du FDF que du MR dans son ensemble, j'ai poursuivi ce combat et avec ma collègue Christine Defraigne, j'ai déposé une proposition de loi visant à sanctionner le négationnisme des trois génocides dont la négation et la minimisation menacent la paix civile en Belgique, selon la juste expresssion du MRAX, le Mouvement contre le racisme, l'antisémitisme et la xénophobie. Il s'agit bien évidemment de la shoah, du génocide arménien et du génocide au Rwanda.

Bien sûr, comme je m'y attendais, j'ai reçu des lettres de menaces, courageusement annonymes, de même que des centaines de lettres à l'identique de membres de la communauté d'origine turque hostiles à ma position; sans compter un certain nombre de courriels délirants, dont certains dénonçaient le génocide des Turcs par les Arméniens (sic). Bref, les pressions n'ont pas manqué, mais ceux qui me connaissent savent que je vais jusqu'au bout de mes convictions.

Ce qui me consterne aujourd'hui, ce sont les propos de celles et ceux qui, jusque dans ma propre formation politique, tiennent ou tiendraient des propos négationnistes qu'ils utilisent comme argument électoral. Aussi je sais gré à Eric Libert, le secrétaire général du FDF d'avoir dit on ne peut plus clairement sur les ondes de la RTBF que si, après vérification, il apparaissait que tel ou telcandidat se réclamant du FDF s'était commis à des propos négationnistes, ce ou cette candidate n'aurait pas sa place sur les listes électorales.

J'espère évidemment qu'un langage aussi ferme et clair sera tenu par toutes les composantes du MR. La cohérence de notre combat le réclame.

François Roelants du Vivier
Sénateur, député bruxellois
Président de la commission des relations extérieures et de la défense du Sénat
Président de la Conférence interparlementaire européenne de l'Espace, 2006
(http://www.roelantsduvivier.be, 12 août 2006)
_____________________________

Bravo Monsieur Roelants du Vivier, et n'hésitez pas à faire appel à des turcophones non négationnistes (Mehmet Koksal, Pierre Vanrie, Dogan Özgüden, Nurinisa Balci... aucun membre du MR) pour traduire des interviews où vos collègues de parti Sait Köse (FDF Schaerbeek) et Derya Bulduk (FDF Saint-Josse), sans parler de vos collègues de fédération comme Mustafa Öztürk (MR-LB Schaerbeek) tiennent des propos ouvertement négationnistes, voire en appellent à lutter contre la "chasse aux sorcières" qui poursuivrait les courageux politiciens négationnistes, un peu comme le "maccartysme" dont se plaint le PS de Saint-Josse quand on évoque ouvertement ses turpitudes domiciliaires et pyramidales !
Cordialement,

Pierre-Yves Lambert
(www.suffrage-universel.be , 12 août 2006)

La réponse de Mme Defraigne à M. Lambert

Monsieur Lambert,

J'ai bien reçu votre mail qui m'a été forwardé. Permettez-moi de réagir à l'inadmissible procès d'intention qui m'est fait.

Premièrement, vous constaterez que mon site internet a été repensé et refondu de fond en comble il y a maintenant 3 mois et qu'il ne présente plus dans sa forme actuelle la rubrique « billets d'humeur ».

Deuxièmement, les billets d'humeur de mon ancien site étaient présentés en fonction de l'actualité et changés régulièrement.

Bien que je n'aie pas à me justifier, je vous invite à consulter l'inventaire des mes travaux parlementaires où vous verrez que la proposition de loi relative au négationnisme figure bel et bien en bonne place.

Je ne peux accepter le procès d'intention infondé que vous me faites, particulièrement après m'être « mouillée » comme je l'ai fait (je passe sur le tombereau de lettres et de mails de menaces et d'injures que j'ai reçu, mais ceci n'est qu'un détail).

J'espère que cette réaction impulsive ne relève que d'un mouvement d'humeur et que ce n'est que par le fruit d'une erreur d'aiguillage que vous me visez.

Je clos l'incident et vous adresse, Monsieur Lambert, mes salutations distinguées.

Christine Defraigne
(Aurélie Mignon, Attachée de presse du Groupe MR du Sénat, <mignon@mr.polgroups.senate.be, 16 août 2006)

Réponse de M. Lambert à la réponse de Mme Defraigne

Madame la Sénatrice Defraigne,
 
Je prends bonne note de vos explications quant à votre site, je suis entièrement rassuré sur ce plan par vos explications. Vous démentez donc les assertions largement médiatisées au sein de la communauté turque bruxelloise à ce sujet.
 
Voici en effet l'extrait traduit d'une émission radio en turc dont je tiens l'enregistrement à votre disposition:
"Sait Köse milite durement au sein de son propre parti contre le prétendu génocide arménien. Par exemple, suite aux pressions de Sait Köse, la sénatrice Christine Defraigne <http://www.christinedefraigne.be/> (MR) a retiré de son site internet toutes les références à la question arménienne." (cf. http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/06/sait-kse-mr-rcompens-pour-son-lobbying.html  <http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/06/sait-kse-mr-rcompens-pour-son-lobbying.html>  ).
 
Je constate par contre que vous vous abstenez de répondre à ma question sur l'incohérence de votre parti qui, via votre action - et celle de François Roelants du Vivier - au Sénat et dans les déclarations de Didier Reynders au Soir et sur RTL-TVI, affirme haut et fort lutter contre les propagateurs du négationnisme, et dans le même temps tolère en son sein, pour des raisons purement électoralistes, les plus virulents parmi les élus propagateurs, à savoir
Mustafa Öztürk, conseiller communal MR à Schaerbeek et candidat sur la Liste du Bourgmestre (MR), auteur en 2005 d'un "ouvrage" négationniste, "Le pouvoir du lobbie", où il accuse en fait les Arméniens de génocide contre les Turcs (cf. http://www.minorites.org/article.php?IDA=7984 )
Derya Bulduk, 2ème de la liste MR à Saint-Josse, animatrice d'une association de fait uniquement consacrée à la propagande négationniste, y compris au niveau international puisqu'elle a envoyé une missive à Nicolas Sarkozy lui demandant de revenir sur la reconnaissance du génocide arménien par la France et de ne pas pénaliser les négationnistes (cf. e.a. http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/08/derya-bulduk-fdf-coince-dans-son.html  <http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2006/08/derya-bulduk-fdf-coince-dans-son.html>  )
Sait Köse, échevin MR à Schaerbeek, candidat sur la Liste du Bourgmestre (MR), qui a organisé en mai 2005 une réunion d'élus et de candidats d'origine turque à Saint-Josse en vue de la création d'une plateforme "au-dessus des partis" afin de "ne pas rester muet face au prétendu génocide arménien" (cf. http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2005/12/le-double-discours-de-sait-kse-fdf-mr.html  <http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2005/12/le-double-discours-de-sait-kse-fdf-mr.html>  )
Vous avez indubitablement fait preuve de courage, mais votre action et celle de vos collègues de parti au Sénat, à la Chambre ou au Parlement de la Communauté française ne sont pas en cohérence avec l'attitude de votre parti à Schaerbeek et à Saint-Josse.
 
Ma question était donc claire dès le départ: vous plaidez pour une pénalisation qui aurait pour conséquence de transformer certains élus de votre propre parti en auteurs de délits négationnistes.
 
Ne conviendrait-il pas dès lors d'en tirer les conclusions logiques et d'exiger fermement que "le ménage" soit fait, comme l'annonçait d'ailleurs le Président Reynders il y a plus d'un an ?
 
Veuillez agréer, Madame la Sénatrice, l'expression de mes sentiments distingués.
 
Pierre-Yves LAMBERT
(pylambert@gmail.com, 16 août 2006)

Candidats négationnistes sur les listes des partis belges

Derya Bulduk du FDF, 2e candidate sur la liste MR à Saint-Josse, vient de se faire coincer dans son double discours négationniste. Cette jeune femme, prétendumment "licenciée en droit", a d'abord lancé sa campagne politique en accordant un entretien, publié en turc par un site nationaliste le 5 juillet dernier, où elle tient un discours très communautariste et foncièrement négationniste à l'égard du génocide arménien.

Derya Bulduk, présidente de l'association de fait (3 personnes) Mémoires Libres, ne faisait ainsi que suivre son engagement mono-thématique et sa lutte obsessionnelle contre la reconnaissance du génocide arménien. Sa première action politique, avant l'annonce de sa candidature au FDF, avait d'ailleurs été d'organiser une manifestation de protestation à ce sujet le 17 mai 2006 devant le consulat français à Bruxelles. Sa deuxième action sur ce terrain a été d'interpeller Nicolas Sarkozy, le ministre français de l'Intérieur, pour l'inviter à revoir la position française en matière de négationnisme. Sarkozy a répondu à l'intéressée, ce qui constituait déjà une victoire pour la militante FDF.

Un mois plus tard, elle apportait ensuite un cinglant démenti... sur une terrasse de café sans vouloir émettre le moindre démenti public. Elle pensait ainsi faire d'une pierre deux coups : nier en turc le génocide arménien auprès de l'électorat turcophone et nier en français d'avoir tenu de tels propos en accusant les journalistes turcs de malhonnêteté. Elle a sans doute oublié que certaines personnes, comme elle, comprennent les deux langues et n'hésiteront pas relever la contradiction. Une fois ses propos traduits, Derya décide de ne plus répondre aux questions des journalistes à tel point que même le journaliste Jonathan Crickx de la RTBF n'a pas eu accès (JT du 10/08/2006) à la 2e candidate FDF de la liste MR. Il a donc dû se rabattre sur Mahir Pala, responsable de la publication à l'origine de l'interview, qui a évidemment confirmé les propos négationnistes tenus par la candidate Derya Bulduk.

De son côté, le secrétaire général du FDF, Eric Libert, menace à présent la candidate d'exclusion en cas de propos avérés. Un peu comme Didier Reynders d'ailleurs qui avait déclaré au Soir (11-06-2005) : "Je ne peux pas imaginer que des militants ou des mandataires tiennent des propos ou diffusent des écrits qui soient clairement négationnistes. Et je n'ai pas besoin du droit pénal, en tant que président, pour faire le ménage." Et puis, plus rien...

Trop facile pour se dérober face à l'éditorialiste radio Philippe Carlot de Vivacité qui rappelle à ce sujet que "la polémique a surgi en région bruxelloise suite à la nomination d'Emir Kir (PS) au poste de secrétaire d'Etat du gouvernement bruxellois. Avant d'occuper cette fonction, Emir Kir avait pris part à des manifestations et tenus des propos contestant la réalité du génocide. Par conviction ou par calcul politique pour embarasser le Parti socialiste, quelques élus MR ont titillé le secrétaire d'Etat d'origine turque sur la question et mis en évidence au passage le grand écart de certains mandataires socialistes volant au secours d'Emir Kir après avoir voté, il y a quelques années, une motion du Sénat reconnaissant le génocide arménien. Mais le boomerang leur revient en pleine figure. Sur les listes MR aussi figurent des candidats d'origine turque ouvertement négationnistes. C'est le cas notamment à Saint-Josse et à Schaerbeek. D'où la réaction indignée de l'ancien bourgmestre libéral d'Ixelles et député bruxellois Yves de Jonghe d'Ardoye. Pour lui, ces personnes n'ont pas leurs places sur les listes MR. Encore un problème, dont les réformateurs se seraient bien passés." (allochtone.blogspot.com, 10 août 2006)

Un Turc mis en examen pour appartenance au DHKP-C

Un haut responsable présumé de l'organisation de gauche DHKP-C (Parti-Front de libération du peuple révolutionnaire), a été mis en examen lundi par la procureure fédérale allemande, Monika Harms, pour "appartenance à une organisation terroriste".

Ce Turc de 35 ans est soupçonné d'avoir été un responsable du DHKP-C entre janvier 1997 et octobre 1998 et d'avoir participé durant cette période à la planification en Allemagne d'incendies criminels et d'homicides.

Il est également soupçonné d'avoir dirigé à Cologne (ouest) "le centre d'information des peuples libres" (OHK), selon le parquet. Le OHK est la centrale d'organisation et de logistique du DHKP-C.

Le DHKP-C est inscrit depuis 2002 sur la liste des organisations terroristes de l'Union européenne.

Arrêté en mars aux Pays-Bas, le prévenu avait été extradé en juin vers l'Allemagne, où il a été placé en détention provisoire. (AFP, 14 août 2006 )

Petition against the UK Ban on KONGRA-GEL

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign & Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) has launched against the UK ban on KONGRA-GEL. The below is the petition opened to public signature by the organization:

Britain has banned KONGRA-GEL as an organisation that “glorifies terrorism”. The move was announced on 17 July by Home Secretary John Reid under the new law outlawing the “glorification of terrorism”. It marks a further escalation of attempts to criminalize and silence the Kurds. Anyone expressing support for the group or simply wearing clothes implying support will be committing an offence.

The Home Office wrongly claims that KONGRA-GEL and the now defunct KADEK are simply two alternative names for the already outlawed PKK. The UK action follows similar moves taken earlier this year by both the European Union and the US. Thus whether living inside or outside Turkey Kurds are now facing “anti-terror” laws used to deter, suppress and criminalise political activities. They also face more intense repression and attacks by the Turkish army and maintain their legitimate right of self-defence as enshrined in UN resolutions and Universal Law.

The ban ignores KONGRA-GEL’s aims and activities since it was founded on 15 November 2003. KONGR-GEL’s main objective is the attainment of “peace, democracy, freedom, equality and justice for a solution to the Kurdish Question” and the promotion of a “democratic and ecological society” through peaceful and political struggle. It has widespread support among the Kurdish people both within Turkey and internationally for these aims.

There is thus simply no justification for imposing this ban. It can only lead to further criminalization of and injustice towards the Kurds. The ban must be lifted.

For information: Peace in Kurdistan Campaign & Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) www.campacc.org.uk tel 020 7586 5892 or 020 7272 4131  Please return the signed petition by 15 August by e-mail or by post to 44, Ainger Road, London NW3 3AT. The petition will be sent to Home Secretary John Reid, with a copy to Prime Minister Tony Blair

TIHV's Recent Human Rights Reports in Brief

August 31, 2006

Semdinli Incident... Hamide Korkmaz, wife of Mehmet Zahir Korkmaz who died during the bombing of Umut Bookstore in Semdinli district of Hakkari on 9 November 2005, Metin Korkmaz, who wounded during the explosion, and Seferi Yilmaz, owner of bookstore, opened a compensation case against Interior Ministry. They wanted YTL 440 thousand compensation. The case will commence at Van Administration Court. (Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attacks... Ebru Tokluca was wounded when a bomb exploded in a trash can on 30 August in Mersin. The explosion also caused material damage. The name of the third person who died when a bomb exploded on 28 August in front of Municipality Trades Centre in Antalya was announced as Ilter Avsar. (Cumhuriyet-Anadolu’nun Sesi)

Circular by Interior Ministry... Interior Ministry released a circular and ordered the erase of search warrant records against persons against whom a court decision was not taken. The circular was prepared in accordance with the legal procedures concerning personal freedom on the grounds that some persons were successively detained since the records were not renewed. (Milliyet)

Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... One private was wounded during the attack on 30 August against the houses of security forces in Van. HPG militant Kenan Çam died during the clash on 28 August nearby Çukruca district of Hakkari. (Cumhuriyet)

August 29, 2006

Stop Warning... Halil Bulut was killed by police officers when they opened fire against a car in Balikesir on 27 August on the grounds that they did not obey stop warning. According to the news gathered police stopped Halil Bulut and he was drunk. While the police officers were dealing with the documents he tried to escape. Policed officers followed and opened fire against the vehicle on the road between Bigadiç and Balikesir. According to the official announcement Halil Bulut was shot at his chest. His friend Hasan Bican who was with him in the vehicle said that he asked him to stop but he replied that officers couldn’t open fire. (Radikal)

Stop Warning... Non-commissioned Haydar Ovasin surrendered to Yesil Yazi Gendarmerie Station in connection with the wounding of Okay Aydın and Veysel Sakat on 26 August nearby Ovacik district of Tunceli. Ovasin was arrested on 27 August. Veysel Sakat previously announced that the person who opened fire introduced himself as police officer. (Özgür Gündem)

Child Beaten by Police... Lyceum student girl I.U. (16), who was detained for smoking cigarettes with her 2 male friends on the night of 26 August in Büyükçekmece (Istanbul), announced that she was beaten: “When I was sitting and smoking with my friends in our neighbourhood at about 11pm a police officer came and slapped me for sitting with boys. When my friends went to call my family he called officers from the station and detained me.” When the officers arrived he alleged that the girl attacked him and threatened the people to detain. I.U. was kept in detention for one hour and released: “My friends Kerem and Can were with me. We went to a shop to buy cigarettes and started to smoke next to our house. The officer with the first name Mesut said something from his house. Since we were doing nothing we thought he was talking to someone else. Afterwards he came and asked what we were doing. When we said we were doing nothing he slapped me. I pushed him back. Kerem also reacted and he slapped him too. When they ran I was alone with him. He took my arm and I could not escape. He was cursing and calling me whore. He was certainly drunk. He was accusing us with lots of things. He was alleging that we were smoking hash. He called officers from Children Department. When the officers came he alleged that I cursed and slapped him. He was still cursing me while I was getting into the car. Although I wanted to talk to my parents they did not listen. When I was coming back home a female officer wanted me not to tell what happened to my parents.” Her father Ülkü U. announced that they were not given a medical report in the hospital on the ground s that they had to be transferred by the police. He added that they did not try to receive a report on the grounds that they thought demanding help from police against police it would be meaningless. (Cumhuriyet-Milliyet)

Torture in Istanbul... Sympathisers of Socialists Democracy Party Akin Varli, Inan Aydogan, Necati Çimen and Kurtulus Sürmeli who were detained on the night of 21 August in Fatih district of Istanbul while writing slogans on the walls in favour of the party were reportedly tortured in Sehremini Police Station. Hürriyet Sener, Chair for HRA Istanbul branch, announced in front of the station on 25 August that the juveniles were subjected to physical and psychological torture in detention. She stressed that the detainees were stripped naked and beaten. (HRFT)

Ethic Discrimination in THY... Turkish Airlines (THY) accepted all the applications of 29 hostesses, but rejected the application of Armenian S.A. According to the news appeared on daily Cumhuriyet S.A. was working for a private airlines and applied to THY. She passed the foreign language exam but failed oral examination. According to the news S.A. was asked about the meaning of her name, whether she knew any other language than English. When she said she knew Armenian embers of the commission reportedly laughed her. Her religion written on her ID was also a matter of discussion during the examination. She was not accepted to THY on the allegations that she had problems with her eyes. (Cumhuriyet)

Mayor on Trial... A court case was launched against Emin Sari, Vice-mayor of Semdinli, on the allegations that he joined a programme on ROJ TV on the phone. The indictment wants Sari to be sentenced according to the Artcile 301 TPC. The case will commence at Semdinli Penal Court of First Instance. After the hearing of the case of non-commissioned officer Tanju Cavus in connection with Semdinli Incident on 20 January Emin Sari joined a programme by phone. When he was talking about the case the line was cut. (Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attacks... A bomb exploded on 28 August at about 4.40pm in front of Municipality Trades Centre in Antalya. The explosion caused material damage. Imran Arik, retired police officer Bakil Aykurt, and unknown person died. 87 persons including 14 tourists were wounded. 3 bombs exploded on 27 August in Marmaris district of Mugla. One bomb exploded in a minibus and 2 bombs were wounded in thrash cans. 21 persons including 10 English tourists were wounded during the explosions. The names of the wounded persons are Alex Becford, Master Louis, Suzanne Becford, Janet Hughes, Kevin Smith, Jenifer Smith, Master Adam Pond, Katherin Urry, Mart Stringer, Dorothy Huger, Seval Gözüaçik, Özgür Ates, Sebahat, Erdinç Firat, Rüzgar Kivilcim Firat, Yunus Inan, Ayten Dili, Ali Saridüz and Caner Çelik. 2 of those persons were not identified. Sam day another bomb exploded in front of Bagcilar Governorate and Bagcialr Security Directorate Traffic branch in Istanbul. Fuat Kizilkaya, Rahman Can, Sabriye Can, Enes Can (9), Demet Özdemir and Cumaali Ekici were wounded. Fuat Kizilkaya reportedluy lost his right eye. Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed the attacks in Antalya, Marmaris and Istanbul. (Hürriyet, ANF)
(08/157) Incident in Istanbul... A conflict broke out between a group of persons including the members of Socialist Platform of Oppressed (ESP) and police officers when masked officers were raiding shops for searches and asking for ID cards on the street on the evening of 21 August at about 9pm in Mahmut Sevket quarter in Okmeydani (Istanbul). Police allegedly dispersed the crowd by throwing tear gas. Didem Gözal, who was watching the conflict in her apartment, was wounded whhen a tear gas bomb hit her head. (Anadolu’nun Sesi)

Detentions and Arrests... Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association Executive Ali Riza Telek who was detained in Istanbul on 25 August was released on 27 August. He was reportedly detained in connection with the incidents in Gazi quarter of Istanbul in 1995. (Atilim)

August 28, 2006

Bomb Attacks in the Southeast… The investigations launched by the Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir and Public Prosecutor of General Staff against the retired Lieutenant General Altay Tokat, who announced that “he had ordered bomb attacks against the houses of new public servants and judges in the region to warn them and to make them to do their job properly”, are going on. Tokat testified before the Public Prosecutor of General Staff on 25 August. Altay Tokat reportedly said the followings: “The bombings I had ordered had educational aims. Press distorted my statements. It is unacceptable that I had ordered bomb attacks against the houses of new public servants and judges in the region to warn them.” Public Prosecutor of General Staff carries out the investigation with the charges of  “making announcements about military actions and proceedings although he does not have authority (Article 95 of Military Criminal Code)”  (25-26 August, Radikal)

Semdinli Incident… On 24 August Van Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued to hear the case against the PKK confessor Veysel Ates launched in connection with the incidents occurred in Semdinli district of Hakkari on 2005. Presiding judge Ilhan Kaya announced that the court rejected demand of Yurdakan Yildiz, lawyer of Ates, who wanted the judge to be withdrawn from the case. Upo this announcement, Yurdakan Yildiz repeated his demand. Mehmet Ekinci, acting as sub-plaintiff, repeated his demand for the judge Ferhat Erbas to be withdrawn from the case. Lawyer Metin Iriz, also acting as sub-plaintiff, wanted Veysel Ates to be asked whether he wanted to benefit from Repentance Law in reply to the information about the organization he was involved in. Upon this, Veysel Ates said: “PKK supporters cannot defend me in such a way. I condemn these people”. The hearing was adjouırned to 14 September.  (25 August, Özgür Gündem)

“Stop” Warning… Okay Aydin and Veysel Sakat were wounded by police nearby Ovacik district of Tunceli. Reportedly, Okay Aydin was shot at his belly and arm; Veysel Saka was shot at his arm. Sakat told that they had gone to the place of incident when they learned that their friends had been beaten, the same persons had opened fire against them: “He showed his bullet when we were about to get out of the car, saying that he was a police officer. But I did not see his ID. He opened fire when we got out of the car. They were two persons but one of them had gun. According to the news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, eyewitnesses reportedly told that the persons who opened fire had gone to Yesil Yazi Gendarmerie Station. (27 August, Özgür Gündem)

Cezaevlerinde Baskılar… Abdurrahman Tasdelen, incarcerated in Adana Military Prison, was reportedly tortured. Tasdelen’s sister Filiz Azbay announced that Tasdelen’s body was stapled. Filia Azbay told the followings: “A soldier was stationed during my visit, they were frequently intervening our conversation. Meanwhile, my brother found an opportunity to unbutton his shirt. There were staples on his chest. He said there were 37 staples on his body, which were done by the prison guards. Afterwards, the soldiers approached and prevented our talk. My brother told that eight more soldiers were tortured in that way.” Isa Idigul, father of the arrested soldier Hakan Idigul, told that he wanted to see his son upon that incident but he was taken to a room where there were a lieutenant colonel and a major. The lieutenant colonel said him the followings, as Idigül put: “ Here is the army, everybody should do his own duty. They have rowdy behaviours, they break windows, tear the beds. They oppose us so we punished them.” Isa Idigul put the followings: “I scolded him saying that they did not punish but tortured them. The major intervened and denied the torture. He threatened me: ‘Do not behave in this way. It would be bad for your son.” We wanted to talk to the Military Public Prosecutor to get information about our sons but they did not answer us. We wanted to give a petition to the Public Prosecutor in Adana but he did not accept it on the grounds that it is not within the field off his duty.” Resim Boyraz’s mother Mukaddes Boyraz told that he was not let to see his son. Arrested soldier Murat Polat had died due to torture in July 2005 in the same prison. (26 August, Özgür Gündem)

Persons Beaten by Police… Talip Kalip, whose house was raided by special forces teams on 25 August in Patnos district of Agri, made an official complaint on the allegation that he was beaten. Talip Kalin, who was detained during the raid and released before being testified by public prosecutor stated that “they hit his head with the butt of gun and threatened his children during the search”. (27 August, Özgür Gündem

Demonstrators on Trial, Torture Investigation… A court case was launched against 39 persons in connection with the incidents in Siirt broke out in September 2005 after the ban of the demonstration organized by DEHAP and prisoners’ relatives associations’ federation TUHAD-FED in Gemlik (Bursa) to protest in the condition of Abdullah Öcalan. The indictment wants the defendants to sentenced for “shouting slogans in favour of illegal organization”, “staging unauthorized demonstration” and “damaging public property”. The case will be held at Siirt Penal Court of First Instance. On the other hand, the investigation launched against police officers upon the complaint of defendants including Eyyüphan Alksu, chairman of DTP for central district, and Halil Adigüzel, deputy chairman of DTP in Siirt, was resulted in a decision of not to prosecute. Demonstrator Abdullah Aydan had been killed during the incidents in Siirt. Siirt Heavy Penal Court had acquitted the non-commissioned officer G.Y. who had been on trail in connection with the incident. (26 August, Özgür Gündem)

1 September World Peace Day… A case was launched against 34 DTP members who participated the press announcement action staged in connection with the World Peace Day on 1 September 2005. The indictment want the defendants including Haci Üzen, Chairman of DTP in Silopi, to be sentenced for “aiding illegal organization” (Article 314 TPC) and “making propaganda in favour of illegal organization” (Article 220 TPC). The case will commence at Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 4. (27 August, Özgür Gündem)

Demonstrators on Trial… On 24 August Nusaybin Penal Court of First Instance continued to hear the case against nine persons launched in connection with the incidents occurred when the funerals of HPG militants Xalit Sex Ali and Esref Kahraman (Fevzi Hesko) who died during the clash on 23 February nearby Belen village in Dargeçit district of Mardin were being taken to Syria. Cengiz Dogan (Editor-in-chief of the newspaper Mavi Kent) and Nezir Özbey were released at the hearing. Medine Çetin, Süleyman Tekin, Hizni Agirman, Ilyas Irmak and Fehmi Uzun, Murat Bal and Sehmuz Ökmen are prosecuted in the case. (25 August, Özgür Gündem)

Arrested and Prosecuted Demonstrators… A case was launched against 5 members of People's Houses Students Collective, who were detained when they wanted to stage an action in front of Presidential Palace in Ankara on 21 August to protest in Israel and sending troops to Lebanon, for violation Law on Meetings and Demonstrations (Law No 2911). Ersin Koca, Ali Uludag, Ilker Ekiz, Taner Tas, Ilhan Sarikis, Mehmet Ali Firat and Orhan Demir, who were detained during the demonstrations staged in various districts of Istanbul staged to protest Israel, were arrested on 22 August. Hasan Ila, chairman of DTP in Memenen district, Ilhan Güçlü, executive of DTP in Asarlik town, Ömer sucu, Ercan Karasu, Ismail Soysal, Abdullah Yolcu, Harbi Üstte, Hüseyin Kandan, who were detained on 23 August in connection with the demonstration staged for the anniversary of the PKK’s start to the armed actions (15 August 1984), were arrested on 25 August on the allegations of “praising crime and criminals” and “making propaganda of illegal organization”. Talip Çakir was released. (25-26 August, Halkin Sesi-Özgür Gündem-Radikal)

Detentions and Arrests… Turgut Koçak, former chairman of Socialist Workers Party of Turkey (TSIP), was arrested on 24 August in Düzce. TSIP made the following announcement: “Our honorary chairman Turgut Koçak was detained in Düzce during his journey to Marmara and Thrace regions where he went to conduct organizing activities, and after a while he was arrested.”  Ali Riza Telek, executive of Pir Sultan Abdal Association, was detained in Istanbul on 25 August. (24-27 August, Evrensel-Sesonline)

Villager Kidnapped… Villager Ali Bozkurt was allegedly kidnapped by HPG militants on 25 August nearby Genç district of Bingöl. (26 August, Zaman)

Bomb Attacks… Four persons were wounded during bomb attacks organized to two different places in Adana on 25 August. The first bomb that was put at the entrance of Ahmet Özel Türkay Business Center on Özler street in Küçüksaat quarter exploded around 18.30. The second one exploded after five minutes later on the same street at the first floor of Özden Business Center where there were the premises of HRA Adana branch, ÖDP (Freedom and Solidarity Party) and CHP. Ali Sahin, Hakan Küçükkömürcü, Serkan Sevgi and Süleyman Gülmez were wounded during the explosions. (26 August, Milliyet)

Suspious Death… Siddik Alptekin (Siddik Altemin) died on the night of 24 August in “Sehi” region on Bitlis Diyarbakir road. According to the official announcement, a clash broke out between soldiers and HPG militants around 21.00 in the region and Siddik Alptekin was killed accidentally when he was gathering wood in the region. On the other hand, in a news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem it was alleged that a clash was not broke out in nthe region. According to the news, Alptekin’s brother Ali Alptekin said that soldiers, who raided the forest upon the denunciation of the village guards of “Hewêz” village, opened fire against Siddik Alptekin and another person with him.  (26 August, Özgür Gündem-Radikal)

Güneydoğu’da Çatışma ve Saldırılar… Ther names of the HPG militants who were killed during the clash broke out on 21 August nearby Imranli district of Sivas were reportedly Selman Tunç and Izzettin Yazici. (26 August, Özgür Gündem)

August 24, 2006

Torture in Mersin... Muhammet Ali Köse, who was detained on 12 August in Gülnar district of Mersin was beaten in his office, in a deserted place he was taken and in the police station. The incident developed as follows according to the news gathered: “H.Ç., I.S. and two other unknown police officers who are all on charge at Central Police Station came to the buffet that Köse runs on 12 August and asked Köse’s brother Mustafa Kemal Köse. Police officers got angry with Köse when he said “I do not know. You are the police, go and find him”, and beat him in his buffet. Köse who was beaten before the eyes of Fikret Deniz, Tevfik Yilmaz and retired non-commissioned officer Hasan Gündogdu, was put in the police car after being handcuffed. In addition, windows of his buffet were broken. Köse was taken to the mountain road going to Yassibag village instead of the police station. He was beaten there too and threatened to death by I.S. Meanwhile, 15 friends of Köse, who saw while he was being beaten, went to the police station and asked Köse. While police officers in the station were trying to calm down the friends Irfan Göktas who went to custody during the turmoil saw Köse strippednaked and beaten. Köse was released for not to rise up the tension, and afterwards taken to hospital by his friends. There were reportedly traces of beatings on Köse’s face, back, chest and head. His left little finger was broken.  Köse made an official complaint against the police officers. (Radikal)

Pressures in Prisons... A press conference was organised in HRA Ankara branch on 23 August in connection with pressures in Sincan F-type Prison against female prisoners. HRA Ankara branch Chairman Halil Ibrahim Özdemir, Lawyer Akça Oflaz and Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Ankara branch Chairman Lawyer Sait Kiran attended the conference and announced that the pressures started during the transfer of female prisoners from Ankara Closed Prison to Sincan F-type Prison. Sit Kiran stressed that prison administration rejected their demand for a meeting for weeks. According to the announcement a poster was forcibly tried to be put in the cell of 3 female prisoners on 15 August. When the prisoners rejected all the photos on the walls were tore into peaces. Prisoner Nilüfer Sahin was forcibly taken out of the cell by dragging on the ground and she was subjected to ill-treatment. Traces of ill treatment were also seen by Lawyer Akça Oflaz and lawyer Filiz Kalayci. Kiran also said that prisoner Figen Çagri was beaten for rejecting body search. The anuses and vaginas of the female prisoners were also forcibly search, the prisoners who rejected taking the shoes off for search were banned from open visits, uses of hot water, books and letters. The prisoners also prevented from making official complaint. Nationalist folk songs were also played in the prisons. Sait Kiran stressed that the problems were rising from the incompetent administration and transfers to the prison before being ready for prisoners. Aysae Yazar, mother of writer Nesrin Yazar incarcerated in Adana Kürkçüler E-type Prison, was stamped on her arm during visit. The stamp says “Motherland Over Everything” and “Seen”. Yazar applied to HRA Adana branch and said that every visitor was stamped. She added that 2 visitors who tried to erase the stamps were kept for hours for visit. She also said that she could not see her daughter although she waited for a long time. (Özgür Gündem)

Semdinli Incident... Public Prosecutor in Van launched a court case against Seferi Yilmaz whose bookshop was bombed on 9 November 2005 in Semdinli district of Hakkari on charges of “being member of an illegal organisation”. The indictment wants Yilmaz to be sentenced according to the Article 314/2 TPC and the sentence to be increased according to the Article 5 of Law to Fight Terrorism. The case would commence at Van Heavy Penal Court on 18 September. Yilmaz was arrested on 20 June. (Radikal)

Student Attacked... A student was attacked by a group of rightists on 22 August in front of Physical Education Sports School in Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University. The student was heavily beaten on the allegations that he was a member of PKK. School Director Assoc. Prof. Yavuz Selim Agaoglu was also assaulted when he was trying to stop attackers. (Özgür Gündem)

Demonstration Prevented... The police intervened the shop owners who closed their shops and staged a demonstration on 22 August in Gazi quarter of Gaziosmanpasa district in Istanbul to protest in Israel. A quarrel broke out between the demonstrators and police officers, some 20 persons were detained. (Milliyet)

Village Bombed... Military Prosecutor in 2nd Tactical Air Forces Commandership gave the decision of none-prosecution in connection with the investigation concerning the bombing of Kuskonar and Koçagili villages of Sirnak that caused death of 36 persons on 26 March 1994. According to the decision the planes and helicopters, which bombed village, were not identified and Turkish Air Forces did not conduct any operations in the region on the day of the incident. The persons who lost their relatives during the incident filed an official complaint for punishment of the responsible persons and to benefit from the Law on Compensation of Damages Caused by Terror and Anti-Terror Struggle. The file, that was not put under proceedings by Diyarbakir SSC on the allegations that “the villages were bombed by the PKK” and “the assailants were not found”, was handled again. Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir completed the investigation on the file and decided that “there was no evidence that proves PKK bombed the villages”, “the bombs were thrown from a plane or helicopter”. Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir wanted the Public Prosecutor in Sirnak to conduct an efficient investigation as soon as possible in order to avoid Turkey from problems in the future according to the articles 2 and 13 of the ECoHR. (Radikal)

August 22, 2006

Stop Warning... On 21 August, gendarmerie soldiers opened fire against 15 persons who were trying to enter Turkey illegally from Syria in Altinözü district of Hatay. Syrian Salih Heç died during the incident. According to the official announcement the group did not obey stop warning and opened fire against the soldiers. Salih Heç allegedly died during the clash. (Yeni Safak)

Susurluk Case... On 21 August, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 continued to hear the case according to the new TPC against special team members, drug smugglers and soldiers (Security Director Hüseyin Karadag, far rightist Abdullah Çatli and Gonca Us had died in the accident) launched after the traffic accident occurred on 3 November 1996 in Susurluk district of Balikesir. In his summing-up the case Public Prosecutor stressed that the defendants had been sentenced to the highest penalty in the confirmed trial and there were no articles in the new TPC in favour of the defendants. Drug smuggler Yasar Öz, defendant of the “Bahçelievler Massacre” Haluk Kirci, Ibrahim Sahin, special team members EnverUlu, Ayhan Çarkin, Ayhan Akça, Mustafa Altunok, Ercan Ersoy, Ziya Bandırmalioglu, Sedat Bucak’s driver Abdükgani Kizilkaya, Korkut Eken, Ali Fevzi Bir and Sami Hostan are prosecuted in the case. Defendants Oguz Yorulmaz had been killed in Bursa in 2005. Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 2 continues to hear the retrial of former DYP MP Sedat Edip Bucak. (Radikal)

Demonstrators Detained... 5 members of People's Houses Students Collective were detained when they wanted to stage an action in front of Presidential Palace in Ankara on 21 August to protest in Israel and sending troops to Lebanon. (Milliyet)

Detentions and Arrests... Fatma Temel, who was detained on 18 August in Istanbul on the allegations of "being member of PKK", was arrested on 21 August. (Zaman)

Bomb Attack... A bomb exploded on 21 August on a road in Örnekköy quarter in Karsiyaka district of Izmir while a military vehicle was passing by. The civilians Zekeriya Ustabasi and Behice Kiliç were slightly wounded during the explosion. (Cumhuriyet)

Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... HPG announced that the natural gas pipeline between Turkey and Iran was sabotaged by HPG on 19 August. Two HPG militants died during the clash on 21 August nearby Imrali district of Sivas. (Özgür Gündem)

August 21, 2006

Clash and Attacks in the Southeast… President of General Staff Hilmi Özkök and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül gave permission for an investigation to be launched against Retired Lieutenant General Altay Tokat who announced that he had ordered bomb attacks against the houses of new public servants and judges in the region to warn them and to make them to do their job properly. Military public prosecutor reportedly launched the investigation with the charges of “insulting and mocking commanders”, “making announcements about military actions and proceedings although he does not have authority” and “inciting people to bomb”. (19 August, Milliyet)

Semdinli Incident… A fire started on 14 August in the field of Seferi Yilmaz, whose bookshop was bombed on 9 November 2005 in Semdinli district of Hakkari. Yilmaz’s brother Seyfettin Yilmaz alleged that the 30.000 square meter field was set to fire by village guards and soldiers by throwing fire and illuminating bullets. Seyfettin Yilmaz put that the field was fired last year in the same way. (18 August, Özgür Gündem)

Women Killed… Zeycan Çelik (38) was killed by police in Tarlabasi quarter of Beyoglu district in Istanbul. According to the news gathered, while police trying to catch two Somalian citizens who allegedly sold drugs around 22.30 on 17 August they opened fire. Zeycan Çelik who was sitting in the balcony of her friend’s house was shot while she was trying to take her friend Naciye Demir’s daughter Bircan Demir inside the house.   Çelik who was shot at her chest died at hospital. According to the official announcement, Somalian citizen Idris Saloma and his friend allegedly opened fire against the police, the gun used during the incident found in the street, the persons who shot Zeycan Çelik would be fixed after the ballistics investigation. On the other hand, Naciye Demir asserted that police officers opened fire randomly and there were no clash. Naci Demir put that the journalists were not allowed to enter the street although they had been allowed during the former operations. (19 August, Milliyet)

Torture in Detention… Seven members of the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed (ESP), who were detained, hung placards to the premises of the AKP in Kadiköy and Bakirköy districts of Istanbul on 14 August in order to protest Israil, were reportedly tortured. ESP representative Figen Yüksekdag announced the followings during the press conference organised in the HRA Istanbul branch on 19 August: “Police brutally attacked our friends. Our friends were beaten and dragged on the ground while they were being detained. They were beaten and tortured in detention. Iskender Kordu deteriorated due to torture. The physician reportedly said the police that Kordu got worse and the police should register him as if Kordu was recently detained. Upon this, police arranged a fake document allegedly certifying that Kordu was recently detained.” Iskender Kordu and Habib Akkaya told that police kicked them after lying down and beat them although they were handcuffed. Kordu and Akkaya, who told that they were beaten while they were got out of the AKP building, in police vehicle and in police station, told that they would make an official complaint against police officers. (19 August, Atilim)

Pressure in Prisons... Erol Zavar (former editor-in-chief of the journal Odak), incarcerated in Sincan F-type Prison, was reportedly beaten in prison. Erol Zavar’z wife Elif Zavar told the followings: “My husband had an operation due to bladder cancer on 2 August and was taken back to prison on 7 August. When I went to visit him on 16 August I learned that he was subjected to violence. I saw bruises on his arms and several parts of his body. My husband was beaten and dragged on the ground for 150 meters when he discussed with the officials for being searched while going in the prison. My husband suffers from cancer and he has aches. He just had an operation. Although he said that he just had an operation they insulted him for using the operation as an excuse. He demanded a report after the incident but the doctor of the prison did not give on the allegations that it was not necessary. When he objected they arranged a report but not showed what was written. Although my husband has been beaten many times since now he has either not been given any report or given fake reports. We have made official complaint many times but the Public prosecutor has always decided not to prosecute.” (19 August, Özgür Gündem)

Killed Juvenile… The guns of the police officers who were on duty on the night of 12 August in Adana were seized by the Adana Public Prosecutor in connection with the killing of Public Prosecutor in Adana in connection with the killing of Fevzi Abik (15) during a demonstration in Gülbahçesi quarter of Seyhan district in Adana. Meanwhile, in the announcement made by the Security Directorate it was accepted that police opened fire. “ Police opened fire into air but the bullets hit the juveniles accidentally” said in the announcement. It was alleged in the announcement that police were fired too. (18-19 August, Evrensel-Sabah)

Killed Juvenile… Batman Public Prosecutor asked the HRA to send the evidences concerning the killing of Fatih Tekin (3) during a demonstration on 30 March in Batman. Nejat Tastan, Secretary General of the HRA, announced that they wrote a letter to Batman Public Prosecutor about Fatih Tekin whose family did not give permission for autopsy, and Batman Public Prosecutor asked them to send the evidences upon their letter. Tastan told the followings: “Headquarter of the HRA is in Ankara. The incident occurred in Batman. A public prosecutor is obliged to find out who and with which gun killed a little child. He has to investigate this.” Nejat Tastan put that it had been alleged after the killing of Fatih Tekin that the public prosecutors had not had an autopsy done, and the security forces had influenced the family for not have an autopsy to be done. Tastan added that they could not verify those allegations. (18 August, Özgür Gündem)

Torture Investigation… Silopi Public Prosecutor reportedly answered the letter wirten by the HRA about Aslan Kaya, executive of HADEP (closed) Youth Wings who had been tortured in November 2001 in Silopi district of Sirnak. In the letter, Public Prosecutor demanded the address of Kaya and the evidences of torture from the HRA. On 15 2001 a group of HADEP members and executives had been detained in Silopi when they had gone to visit the relatives of Serdar Tanis and Ebubekir Deniz (disappeared in detention on 25 February 2001). (18 August, Özgür Gündem)

Demonstrators on Trial… On 18 August Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 6 started to hear the case against seven persons launched in connection with the Newroz celebrations in Cizre district of Sirnak. Aydin Budak who testified before the court asserted that the police officers noted the speeches incorrectly because of their broken camera. The court decided to assess whether to release the remanded defendant Ali Gün on 14 September. Defendants who are prosecuted without remand are Cizre Mayor Aydin Budak, Fecriye Benek, Ibrahim Erkul, Pinar Akman, Mesut Demir, Z.G., and the only remanded defendant is Ali Gün, chairman of the DTP in Cizre district. (19 August, Özgür Gündem)

Demonstrators on Trial… On 18 August Adana Penal Court of First Instance No 7 started to hear the case against Hasan Iraz, Hüseyin Iraz, Ercan Kutlug, Ferhat Kutlug, Ibrahim Güner, Abdülkerim Tufan and Güney Kursun, who participated the funeral ceremony of Veysi Kaya (23), who burned himself on 9 February in order to protest the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan. Remanded defendants Hasan Iraz, Hüseyin Iraz, Abdulkerim Tufan and Ibrahim Güner were released at the hearing. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “making propaganda in favour of illegal organization” and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”. It had been alleged that Veysi Kaya had burned during the fire started while he was filling his car with gasoline. Veysi (19 August, Özgür Gündem)

Incident in Istanbul… Police officers Salih Özübey and Orhan Aslandag were wounded during the armed attack conducted to a police car on the night of 19 August in Kemalpasa quarter of Bagcilar district in Istanbul. Özübey is reportedly under vital risk. One of the assailants was reportedly caught. (19-20 August, Bugün-Hürriyet)

Persons Kidnapped… Abdullah Demir and Hanefi Aydin, who were kidnapped by HPG militants on 16 August nearby Selvi town of Genç district in Bingöl, were relased on 17 August nearby Gözertepe village. (19 August, Sabah)

Refugees Died… Two Afganian citizens died and two persons got lost when a boat carrying refugees sank while going to Farmakosi Island of Greece from Didim district of Aydin on 19 August. 18 persons were saved. (20 August, Hürriyet)

Juvenile Burned Himself… Mahmut Dalmis (16) who burned himself in Yenibosna quarter of Bahçelievler district (Istanbul) on 19 August died at hospital. Dalmis reportedly shouted the slogan “Biji Seraok Apo (Long Live President Apo)” while burning himself. (20 August, Özgür Gündem)

Detentions and Arrests… Police who reportedly raided and set up a station inside a house detained C. Isik (16) and his brother F. Isik (15). The juveniles were released after a while but their father Yusuf Isik was detained afterwards. Yusuf Isik wife Dilber Isik stated that they did not know the reason of the raid, and police threatened them and their children with gun. (17 August, DIHA)

August 18, 2006

Pressure in Prisons… Mehmet Çelik who visited his brother Abdullah Çelik in Tekirdag on 16 August announced that they were attacked by the guards. Çelik told that they were insulted and attached on the allegation that they spoke in Kurdish during the visit: “My brother was attacked inside too. I do not know what happened after they closed the door.” Eylem Irgas, Zeynep Özkul and Deniz Tepeli, incarcerated in Erzurum E-type Prison, went on 5 days’ hunger strike in order to protest the female prisoners’ being subjected to ill-treatment and violence during their transfer to Sincan Closed Prison for Women. Administration of Erzurum E-type Prison reportedly seized the letters of the prisoners, sentenced them not to use common spaces and communicate with outside for two months. (Atilim-Özgür Gündem)

“Stop” Warning… The investigation launched against the non-commissioned officers Tolgahan Orhon, Mustafa Tayfun Demir, Abidin Topaloglu, Ertugrul Çinkir and Cengiz Sevimli in connection with the killing of Hüseyin Aslan on 18 May nearby Kuzluca village of Pülümür district (Tunceli) resulted in not to prosecute on the allegation that “soldiers opened fire to defense themselves”. Public prosecutor in Pülümür stated in the decision that “it is not usual to be found at the place of incident” and alleged that “Arslan was making reconnaissance spying for the HPG militants”. Arslan’s son Özgün Arslan stated that 600 cartridge cases were found at the place of incident but they were not recorded in minute. Arslan told: “My father suspected that a bear came the place of bees and wanted to check surrounding. He had slippers and pajamas on him.” Arslan’s daughter Öznur Arslan put that the military authorities who attended the funeral ceremony of his father offered 16 thousand YTL for “forgetting the incident and not to launch a case”. (Özgür Gündem)

Demonstrators Detained... Chairman of the TKP Ugur Ozdemir and TKP member Özgür Demiröz, who took shelter in the police station in order to escape from the group who wanted to lynch them during the demonstration on 31 July in Ordu staged by hazelnut producers, were arrested on the allegation of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.  (Cumhuriyet)

Detentions and Arrests… Seven persons including Erkan Tekin, DTP executive in Tunceli Cenrtal District, who were detained on 15 August in Tunceli were released on 17 August. D.B., who was detained in Batman on the allegation of “aiding HPG militants” was arrested on 17 August. Lokman Yildiz, Necmi Maç, M. Sefik Öztekin and Kenal Özden, worker of the journal Genç Bakis, who were detained for participating the demonstration staged in Konak district of Izmir on 16 August for the anniversary of PKK’s start to armed actions (15 August 1984) were arrested on 17 August. (Anadolunun Sesi-Hürriyet-Özgür Gündem)

Mine Explosion… Culi Aytulun (70) who stepped on mine nearby Gürümlü town of Silopi district (Sirnak) died. (Sabah)

Clash and Attacks in the Southeast…The name of the HPG militant who died on 7 April during the clash broke out on the road between Yesiloba, Isikveren and Kütüklü villages in Besiri district is reportedly Selman Balyeci. (ANF)

August 17, 2006

Juvenile Killed, Demonstrators Detained… Fevzi Abik (15), who was shot by police during the demonstration staged for the anniversary of the PKK’s start to the armed actions (15 August 1984) on the night of 12 August in Gülbahçesi quarter of Seyhan district (Adana), died at the hospital on 16 August. Other wounded juvenile Cumali Saglam is reportedly in good health condition. Meanwhile, Ethem Açikalin, Secretary of the HRA Adana branch, was detained after the press announcement action staged on 16 August to protest the above incident. Açikalin was released two hours later. (Atilim-Milliyet)

Demonstrators Detained… Building of AKP in Kadiköy district of Istanbul was occupied on 14 August by three persons who protested Israil. Neriman Sasmaz, Aslçay Karatepe, Habip (surname not known), members of the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed who hung placard on the wall of the building, were detained under assaults. (Gerçek Gündem)

Demonstrators Detained… TAYAD members Özkan Kayikçi and Yilmaz Viraner were detained while they were putting up posters concerning the problems in prisons in Mersin on 14 August. The TAYAD members were released after two hours and sentenced to a fine of 3.600 YTL. Police intervene the press announcement action staged by the members of Rights and Freedom Front (HÖC) in order to protest the detention of TAYAD members on 15 August. HÖC members Özkan Kayikçi, Gina Özçelik, Cihan Güler, Yilmaz Viraner and Cevahir Biber were detained under beatings. (Halkin Sesi)

Persons Kidnapped… Abdullah Demir, manager of the company that constructs road nearby Selvi town of Genç district (Bingöl), and bulldozer operator Hanefi Aydin were kidnapped by the HPG militants on 16 August. (Aksam)

DEHAP Member Arrested… Devis Bulus, chairman of the dissolved party DEHAP in Besiri district (Batman), was arrested on 16 August. (Özgür Gündem)

Confessor Detained… PKK confessor Hayrettin Toka, who was mentioned in the “Susurluk report” prepared by the former chairman of Prime Ministry Inspection Council Kutlu Savas and who had allegedly been involved in many killings by unknown assailants, was reportedly caught in Karamürsel district of Kocaeli in July. Toka, who has been searched for 10 years, was reportedly released after being testified by Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 3. (Hürriyet)

August 16, 2006

Pressure in Prisons… Female prisoners who were transferred to Sincan Closed Prison for Women after the closure of Ankara Central Closed Prison are reportedly “ill-treated and subjected to pressure”. Chairman of the HRA Ankara branch Halil Ibrahim Özdemir stated during the press conference on 15 August at the premise of HRA Ankara branch that “degrading treatments continue since the beginning of the transfer”. Gökçe Uzun, a relative of the convict Nülifer Şahin, put that degrading treatments that the prisoners subjected during the transfer such as “anus and vagina search” continues, the visits are prevented and the demand to negotiate with the prison administration has been rejected. Uzun announced that Sahin was sentenced to five days’ cell imprisonment, she was not taken to hospital although she was sick and was not let to go to hearing. Uzun also added that hot water has not been given for 22 days, prisoners are prevented to buy drinking water, they are forced to put off their shoes during the visits, and they are searched before the hearings by putting off their clothes by force. Adile Demir, relative of the prisoner Figen Çagri, told that the properties of Çagri that she took when going to cell were not given back after her five days’ sentence finished. Demir added that the visits are postponed all the time. Sibel Can, relative of the prisoner Necal Çomak, announced that they could not get information about Çomak because the letters are not delivered. (Özgür Gündem)

Woman Beaten by Police… Çigdem Nalbantoglu, chief of the quarter Gümüssuyu in Itanbul, announced that she was beaten, insulted and threatened by police on 8 August. She told she was also insulted and threatened at Taksim Police Station where she went to make official complaint against police officers, and in addition, she was sentenced to a fine of YTL 50 on the allegations of “insulting and resisting police”.  Nalbantoglu told the followings: “I was going to the bar Neva with my friend Ibrahim Yalçin. Two female police officers stopped us and asked our IDs. First our conservation was polite. When I asked the reason of checking IDs she said: ‘Our new security director is revolted by prostitutes, queer and transsexuals. We will clean here from those.’ When I heard her expression I said: ‘It is not good to speak in this way. Besides, you are a woman.’ The female police officers I.T. and M.A.  pushed me and told the other officers to take me and make an investigation about me. When I objected, two male police officers attacked on and insulted me. They punched my head and chest, kicked my legs. My friend wanted to prevent them but could not stop them.” Nalbantoglu said that the swearwords and punches increased when she wanted to the police station: “I went to the police station again but I was threatened at the police station too. They said: ‘You will see the meaning of being testified . A person can be beaten or killed by accident here’.  I was taken to hospital by force to take an alcohol report. I was handcuffed before putting me in the car. My lawyer friend who came upon my call could not stop them.” Nalbantoglu put that she was sentenced to a fine of 50 YTL for “resisting and insulting police”, and she appealed to the HRFT in connection with the incident. (Birgün)

Person Beaten by Police…It was reported that Abdullah Günes (32) who suffers from poor mental health was beaten by police on the night of 14 august on the allegation that “he goes to DTP frequently”. According to the news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, eyewitness Mehmet Kaya told the followings: “I looked from the window when I heard shouting outside. I saw that police officers were beating Abdullah and shouting: ‘Why do you go to the DTP. Why do not you go to the MHP’. They left him after beating for a long time. Afterwards we took Abdullah to his home. Many parts of his body were bruised and swollen. His nose was bleeding.” (Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attack… A bomb exploded under a street light nearby Sultanahmet Mosque and Hagia Sophia Mosque on 15 August. There were no casualties in the explosion. “Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK)” undertook the bomb attack in Istanbul Sultanahmet Square on 14 August. (Radikal-Özgür Gündem)

Detentions and Arrests… O.S., L.K. and K.H. were detained in Yüksekova district of Hakkari on the allegations that “they had bomb in their car”. Mehmet Ataman, Faki Cin and Kerim Ulas were detained in connection with the killing of the non-commissioned officer Levent Çevik on 6 August in Beytüssebap district of Sirnak. These persons were released on 15 August and a court case was reportedly launched against them for “aiding illegal organization”. 12 persons who were detained on the night of 13 august during the raid conducted to “Anatolian Fundamental Rights and Freedom” in Ümraniye district of Istanbul were released on 15 August. (Evrensel-Milliyet)

Clash and Attacks in the Southeast… Privates Kadir Özdemir and Yakup Pak were killed during the clash broke out on the night of 14 August on Küpeli mountain nearby Sirnak. (Radikal)

August 15, 2006

Juveniles Wounded by Police, Demonstrators Detained… Police used force to disperse the demonstration staged for the anniversary of the PKK’s start to the armed actions (15 August 1984) on the night of 12 August in Gülbahçe quarter of Seyhan district (Adana). Juveniles F.A. (15) and C.S. were shot by police during the incident. Reportedly, F.A. who was shot at his head is under vital risk. According to the news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, “F.A. and C.S. did not attend the demonstration but they were shot while they were whot while they were returning home from internet café”. According to the news, the eyewitnesses alleged that police opened fire without warning. F.A. was shot from a short distance and then crushed by police car. Public prosecutor who made investigation at the place of the incident allegedly did not take testimonies of the eyewitnesses. An eyewitness who does not want to announce her/his name told the followings: “The incident took place around 4 meters away from me. First I heard two gunshots. Afterwards I saw four civilian dressed police officers chasing two juveniles. While the juveniles passing in front of us a police officer who was two meters away from the juveniles aimed the juvenile running behind and shot him. When the juvenile fell down police warned them to “stop” and caught the other juvenile. And then they passed on the juvenile lying down by their car having the license plate 01 GJ 524. Afterwrds they gathered around the juvenile and told me to bring them water. I was in panic and started to shout: “they killed the juvenile”. They said: ‘Do not worry. He is not dead, only fainted’. I sprinkled water on the juveniles face and held him on my arms. Meanwhile I recognized that his ears and mouth were bleeding. After a while the police officers put the juvenile in their car and went away. Police and the public prosecutor who made investigation at the place of incident did not take my testimony although I was an eyewitness.”  Another eyewitness told the followings: “A police officers came close to me. I reacted that they killed the juvenile. He said: ‘When he opened fire against us we shot him’. They are telling lie, the juveniles did not have guns.” Police intervened the groups who staged demonstrations on 13 August in Gazi and Ümraniye quarters of Istanbul. A police panzer was set to fire during the clash in Gazi quarter. Nine persons were reportedly detained in Ümraniye. (Özgür Gündem-Star)

“Stop” Warning… Villager Bisar Ayhan was wounded when the soldiers shot him on 13 August nearby Azikli village of Baskale district (Van). According to a news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, a group of villagers who were smuggling diesel oil from Iran were stopped by the soldiers around 05.00 in the morning. Reportedly, all the villagers escaped while Ayhan surrendered. Ayhan was reportedly shot after a while. Ayhan’s relatives announced that 40 horses used for oil smuggling were killed. (Özgür Gündem)

Mass Grave… Forensic Institute completed DNA investigation on the bones of the 28 PKK militants found in a mass grave found nearby Bitlis in 2004. It was stated in hte conclusion report that the DNA investigation was conducted on the six of the samples while an investigation could not be made on the damaged samples. The investigation fixed that the 49 pieces of bones were belonged to 11 persons. (Özgür Gündem)

DTP Members and Executives on Trial… On 14 August Adana Heavy Penal Court No 6 continued to hear the case against 232 persons launched in connection with a press announcement action staged on 16 February in connection with the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s being brought to Turkey in front of the DTP premise in Adana. Remanded defendant Bülent Kizilkaya was released at the hearing. (Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attack… Vahide Sengül (45), Vacide Ince (56) and Buse Ince (8) were wounded when the bomb put in the bushes behind a bench exploded in Sultanahmet square in Istanbul on 4 August. (Radikal)

Clash and Attacks in the Southeast… According to the announcement made by the HPG, four soldiers were allegedly killed during the attack conducted to the gendarmerie station in “Kaskorke” region nearby Gürpinar dşistrict of Van on 12 August. Non-commissioned officer Hayati Güçlü, Commander of Karacaören Gendarmerie Station in Imranli district of Sivas, was wounded on 13 August during a mine explosion. (Özgür Gündem)

August 14, 2006

Pressure in Prisons… Iranian citizen Ali Emirhani, incarcerated in Van F-type Prison, has reportedly been prevented to go to hospital for treatment. His relatives announced that Emirhani, who was wounded in an explosion occurred in 2004 in Van, was given permission to go to hospital on 10 August but Emirhani was taken out of the prison vehicle suddenly while going to hospital. Emirhani was allegedly not taken to hospitals for security reasons. Bazi Bor, Chairman of DTP in Central District of Van who was released from Van F-type Prison on 10 August after four months, gave information about the prison: “Prisoners are seen as enemies. They are given at least three months cell sentence even a note writing ‘hello’ is found on them. They sentence the prisoners before the analysis of the contents of the notes. They sentence whomever they want by accusing of writing the note. All the prisoners have cell sentences at the moment. Female prisoners who come to visit us are stripped naked. We are allowed to see each other only for 15 minutes although it is one hour officially. The convicts are not taken to hospital. They are not given medicine. Non of the prisoners can benefit from social activities although they should be 5 hours officially.” Bor also stated that the prisoners are not allowed to read the daily Ülkede Özgür Gündem and food they buy from the canteen are not changed when they are spoiled. (13 August, Özgür Gündem)

Investigation Against Police… Public prosecutor in Cizre (Sirnak) concluded the investigation launched against the police officers who beat Idris Yagarcik and his brother Bahattin Yagarcik in a decision of not to prosecute. Yagarcik brothers who had been beaten on 25 July during raid conducted to the internet café they run had made an official complaint against the police officer. (13 August, Özgür Gündem)

Decision to Publishing… Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 12 decided to lift the one month publishing stop imposed on the journal Özgür Halk. The decision to stop publishing had been taken by the same court on the allegations of “making propaganda of the PKK” and “praising the PKK members committing crimes” under the Law on Fight Against Terrorism. The decision to lift the ban on publishing was reportedly taken upon the case launched by the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Constitution Court with the demand of cancellation of the articles of the Law on Fight Against Terrorism about the crimes committed by means of press. (13 August, Özgür Gündem)

Leaflet Confiscated… Diyarbakir Peace Penal Court No 2 ordered the confiscation of the leaflet prepared by DTP Youth Wings that was titled “Do You Know” and about the Israil’s attack on Lebanon and the clashes in the Southeast. (12 August, Özgür Gündem)

Demonstrators on Trial… A court case was launched against 25 persons in connection with the demonstration staged on 17 January in order to protest the Abdullah Öcalan’s conditions in prison. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “praising crime and criminal act (Article 215 TPC)”, and “violating the Law on Meeting and Demonstration”. The case will start on 22 November at Sirnak Penal Court of First Instance No 6. The names of the defendants are as follows: “Izzet Belge (Chairman of the DTP in Sirnak), Emin Irmez (Chairman of the DTP in the Central District of Sirnak), Haci Uzun (Chairman of the DTP in Silopi district), Salahattin Uras (Chairman of the DTP in Kasrik town), Mehmet Çakar, Halil Irmez, Akide Idin, Saniye Kutlu, Mehdi Katar, Sabriye Burumtekin, Tahir Kutlu, Abdülrahman Gerez, Zahide Irmez, Songül Akar, Adem Özcan, M. Selim Basan, Abdurrezzak Katar, Sermin Güler, Evin Irmez, Taybet Bilgi, Sekvan Aytu, Salih Külter, Murat Güler, Ahmet Kültür and Ömer Irmez. (12 August, Özgür Gündem)

Armed Attack in Highest Administrative Court… On 11 August Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 11 started to hear the case against Alparslan Arslan and 8 other persons launched in connection with the armed attacks conducted three times to the premise of daily Cumhuriyet in Istanbul and 2nd Chamber of the Court of Cassation on 17 May. Arlan who was testified at the hearing undertook the attacks. Arslan wanted to go to Friday pray when he heard the azan outside while he was making his defense. However, presiding judge Orhan Karadeniz did not give permission and Arslan started a discussion about religion with Karadeniz. Immediately after he sat down Arslan attempted to escape by jumping on the gates in frontof him but he was caught by the gendarmeries. Afterwards, the hearing was stopped for a while. Arslan repeated the attempt to escape during the azan prayed in the midafternoon. Other defendants denied almost all the allegations against them and put that they had accepted the allegations under pressure. Arslan was sent to hospital for fixing whether his mental health is good or not, uponthe public prosecutor’s and his father’s demand. The hearing was adjourned to 21 September. The indictment wants Alparslan Aslan to be sentenced four times to heavy life imprisonment for “establishing and directing armed organization in order to overthrow the constitutional order, intentional killing of member of the Highest Court of Administration and bombing the newspaper Cumhuriyet” while it wants Lawyer Süleyman Esen and Salih Kurter to be sentenced three times to heavy imprisonment for “establishing organization in order to change the constitutional order”. In addition, the indictment wants Osman Yildirim, Ismail Sagir, Tekin Irsi, Erhan Timur to be sentenced to heavy life imprisonment for “being members of an armed organization established to overthrow the constitutional order, organizing bomb attack to Cumhuriyet” while Ayhan Parlak is wanted to be sentenced for “supplying financial support to armed organization” and Metin Sükre is wanted to be sentenced for “aiding illegal organization”. (12 August, Radikal)

Attack in Trabzon… On 11 August Trabzon Heavy Penal Court No 11 continued to hear the case against Oguzhan Akdin (16) launched in connection with the killing of Andrea Santaro (61), the priest of the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Trabzon on 5 February. The hearing was adjourned to 7 September for announcing the decision. (12 August, Hürriyet)

Detentions and Arrests… R.Y., E.K. and V.T. were detained in Alanya district of Antalya on the allegations of “being members of the PKK and organizing a bomb attack in Kusadasi ditrict of Aydin on 30 April 2005”. Chief police officer Yasar Aykaç had died during the explosion while four police officers were wounded. Ali Pasa Sanli, Chairman of the Eskisehir branch of the trade union Egitim-Sen who was arrested on 8 August, was released on 11 August after he testified before Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 11. (13-14 August, Milliyet-Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attack… An attack was organized with a remote control bomb to a vehicle carrying special team members in Tunceli on 13 August. Police officers Abdulgafur Erkan and Recep Tokur died, Metin Bolat was wounded during the attack. (14 August, Milliyet)
(08/074) Bomb Attack…Ali Ekenici (Algerian) was seriously wounded, Nevzat Bayindir, Ilyas Kahraman, Ibrahim Belge, Muhammed Muhsin (Algerian) were slightly wounded when the bomb put in a dustbin nearby an internet café where mostly the tourists go in Kumakapi quarter of Istanbul on 13 August. (14 August, Yeni Safak)

Bomb Attack in Manavgat… Ihsan Sabri Keskin, Secretary General of the trade union for workers in agriculture sector Tarim-Is who was wounded during the explosion on 25 July in Manavgat district of Antalya was died on 12 August at hospital. (13 August, Özgür Gündem)

Clash and Attacks in the Southeast… Private Mehmet Erol was kidnapped by HPG militants on 6 August nearby Urfa. However, HPG announced that Mehmet Erol allegedly surrendered to the militants. In the announcement, oil wells between Batman and Kozluk were reportedly sabotaged on 9 August, and two soldiers were allegedly killed nearby Lice district of Diyarbakir on 10 August. (12 August, Özgür Gündem)

August 11, 2006

Person Beaten by Police… A taxi driver was beaten by a police officer in Antalya on the night of 6 August. According to the news gathered, a pickup truck and a taxi pumped against each other on 100. Yil Boulevard at 03.30 in the morning. Upon this a fight broke out between the taxi driver and the persons in the truck. Police teams who were passing by intervened fight. Police officers used pepper gas when the truck driver and his friends started to quarrel with them. One of the police officers who was also effected from the pepper gas cursed at and beat the taxi driver. The police officer who did not see he was being recorded by the journalists hit the other police officers too. (Hürriyet)

Ill Tretment… H. Yavuz (16) who was detained on 1 August in Adana on the allegation that he had the Kurdish movie “Beritan” on him announced that he was ill treated in detention: “Police officers in the security directorate were continuously saying: ‘Take to the mountains. Go to the Northern Iraq where you have your own state. Why do you occupy our country! You are occupier. Take to the mountains, good-bye’. After a while they took me to the juvenile department. Department Director waited me standing two hours in his room and insulted me.” H.Y. was released by the public prosecutor. (Özgür Gündem)

Investigation against Police Officers… The investigation launched in connection with the beating of Hacer Tasarsu, former executive of the DTP in Adana, by police resulted in not to prosecute. The decision was reportedly given on the grounds that the “Law on Meeting and Demonstration authorizes the police to use force”.  Hacer Tasarsu, who had been heavily beaten by police during the press announcement action staged on 16 February in connection with the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s being brought to Turkey, had made an official complaint against the police. Hacer Tasarsu whose head was cracked during the incident said the followings: “I wanted to make a complaint on 17 February. Public prosecutor in Adana said that he could not take my testimony on the grounds that ‘I seemed very unhealthy’. He said he would take my testimony after I was treated at the hospital and got well. He did not take my testimony but he registered my complaint.” Ethem Açikalin, secretary of the HRA Adana branch, stated that police used too much violence during the incident and beat everybody participated the protest action: “Particularly Hacer Tasarsu was subjected to heavy beatings. She took a report from Forensic Institute certifying that crack on her head and traces of beatings on her body.” (Özgür Gündem)

Mayor on Trial… On 6 August Van Heavy Penal Court No 4 started to hear the case against Metin Tekçe launched in connection with his testimony taken by GNAT Investigation Commission for Semdinli Incidents. The hearing was adjourned to a later date. Tekçe had said that “the PKK was not a terrorist organization” while he was being heard by the Commission. The indictment wants Tekçe to be sentenced for “aiding illegal organization”. (Hürriyet)

Demonstrators Detained… Aydin D., C.O., M.E. and Rasim Ç. were detained on 6 August on the allegation that “they caused trouble” during the demonstration staged by hazelnut producers on 31 July in Ordu. They were arrested on the same day but C.O. and M.E. were released on 8 August upon the objection of their lawyers. (Cumhuriyet)

Demonstrators on Trial… On 8 August Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 continued to hear the case against Mazhar Ergül, Mustafa Demir, Yener Barik, Ismail Dogan, Murat Ilhan and Metin Yildiz who were arrested on 15 January in Ankara for attending a demonstration staged for the anniversary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s being brought to Turkey. Lawyer Murat Vargün announced that the hearing was adjourned to 12 September. (Özgür Gündem)

Incident in Istanbul… An armed attack was conducted to a group of Kurdish juveniles on 8 August in Sanayi quarter of Kagithane district in Istanbul. Taner Ögmen (13), Erdal Ögmen (19) and another juvenile were wounded during the incident. Erdal Ögmen was reportedly wounded seriously. According to the news gathered, a fight broke out between the Kurdish juveniles and a group rightist persons in an internet café in the quarter few days ago. Another fight broke out between Erdal Ögmen, Taner Ögmen and rightists in the same café on the night of 8 August. A person opened fire against Ögmen brothers during the fight. Eyewitness Yasar Oguz told the followings: “Most of us are from Hakkari in the neighborhood. They started the fight against the people from Hakkari. We went to talk to them in order to ask to stop fighting. While each group were apologizing each other one of them opened a fire against us. Three of our friends were wounded. These persons are supported by police. The one who opened fire is the brother of president of the Idealist Union in Kagithane.” Erdal Ögmen’s brother Enver Ögmen stated: “I do not think that police would initiate a proceeding for the attackers. Because they are always arm in arm.” (Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attacks in the Southeast… Public prosecutor in Sirnak reportedly launched investigation against Retired Lieutenant General Altay Tokat, who announced that that he had ordered bomb attacks against the houses of new public servants and judges in the region to warn them and to make them to do their job properly. It will reportedly be investigated whether such incidents had occurred in Sirnak while Tokat had been on charge. (Yeni Safak)

Clash and attacks in the Southeast… The HPG militant who was killed on 8 August during the clash in Cengellidag region nearby Divrigi district of Sivas was reportedly Selahattin Çetin. (Özgür Gündem)

August 10, 2006

Bomb Attack in the Southeast… Public prosecutor in Ankara decided not to be responsible for the investigation launched against Retired Lieutenant General Altay Tokat, who had been on charge between 1995 and 1998 in the Region Under the State of Emergency and announced that he had ordered bomb attacks against the houses of new public servants and judges in the region to warn them and to make them to do their job properly. Public prosecutor took this decision on the grounds that the place of the incident was the Region under State of Emergency, and sent the file to the Chief Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir. HRA Chairman Yusuf Alatas and Mazlum-Der Chairman Ayhan Bilgen had made an official complaint against Tokat. (Milliyet-Yeni Safak)

Torture in Detention, Demonstration Prevented… The tents pitched by the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed (ESP) on 6 August at Taksim Gezi Park and Kadiköy quay in Istanbul in order to “support Palestinian and Lebanese people” were forcibly thrown away by the police. Police dispersed the ESP members by using pepper gas and beating. 19 persons in Taksim and 15 persons in Kadiköy were detained. Names of some of the detainees are as follows: Çetin Poyraz (editor-in-chief of the ESP Bulletin), Ersin Sedefoglu, Zehra Aydemir, Hüseyin Günes, Derya Çitakbas, Firat Çaglar, Herdem Sara, Günaydin Akar, Cüneyt Çolak, Mustafa Tekin, Koray Türk, Yücel Tekin, Celal Koyun, Erkan Çelikcan, Gülistan Sahin, Fatma Özbey, Iskender Kordo, Güzel Ozan, Ahmet Baris, Mustafa Alkan, Kiymet Yildiz, Okan Özçelik, Gökhan Sofuoglu, Enes Özayranci, Özcan Bilekli, Mustafa Baran, Onur Binbir, Cem Dinç and Özgür Keles. On 7 August police intervened the ESP members who wanted read a press announcement and pitch tent at the same places. Six persons were reportedly detained in Taksim. Figen Yüksekdag, the spokesperson of the ESP members who organized a press conference at HRA Istanbul branch on 8 August, announced that the detainees were tortured. Ersin Sedefoglu announced that they were heavily beaten while they were being detained. Çetin Poyraz told that the police took aim at particular persons: “They hit my head on the ground, ran over my head, kicked my face while I was handcuffed”. Poyraz, who has wounds on his shoulders, back, legs and feet, stated that his brow and lip were stitched. Poyraz put that the reports prepared by the forensic institute were not given to them although they demanded them from the public prosecutor. Poyraz also added that they would file official complaint against the police officers. Iskender Kordo said that the police officers wanted to suffocate him and threatened to death. (Atilim)

Complaint Against Soldiers… Ramazan Çakar, Çigdem Artuç, Adile Artuç, Malike Artuç, and Hezer Artuç who went to Senoba town fron Balveren village of Sirnak to have a picnic made an official complaint against the soldiers on the allegations that they were ill-treated when they were stopped at Milli Gendarmerie Station for ID check. Ramazan Çakar told that they were allowed to go on after the ID check and bodysearch but when they were stopped once again when they were returning in the evening they reacted and started to quarrel the non-commissioned officer Beyhan. Ramazan Çakar put that the non-commissioned officer insulted them and seized their properties: “He said there was a state of emergency. I said him that I would make an official complaint against him. Upon this he said that nobody could interfere him even a public prosecutor. In addition he insulted us.”  (Özgür Gündem)

DTP Members on Trial… On 8 August Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 4 started to hear the case against Mayor Faik Dursun and four DTP executives launched after the raids conducted to the DTP premise and many houses in Beytüssebap district on 3 May. Defendant Abdurrahman Bayhan announced at the hearing that her daughter Gülistan Bayhan who allegedly wrote the letter on that the raids were grounded died in 1996.  Lawyer Mücahit Dursun said that there is no possibility in that region for a person to leave such a letter without informing who was s/he. Dursun who put that Gülistan Bayhan had been killed in a clash in 1996 stated that there were many controversies in the file. Remanded defendants Bapir Kaya, Abdurrahman Bayhan and Hayrettin Bayhan were released at the hearing. (Özgür Gündem)

Incident in Prison… On 2 August Memen Penal Court of First Instance continued to hear the case against 10 prisoners in Menemen Prison launched in connection eith the incidents happened in March. Hüseyin Kandam, Vural Yildirim, Mehmet Kubay, Gökhan Gülaçti, Galip Kiliç and Kadir Isiyok were released at the hearing. The hearing was adjourned to 17 October. The prisoners in the 3rd ward of the prison had started a rebellion and a fire on the allegation that the wards’ being very crowded. (Gerçek Gündem)

Detention and Arrests… M.A. and B.A. who were detained in Kiziltepe district of Mardin on the allegations of “being members of the PKK and organizing a bomb attack to a bank branch on 9 February” were arrested on 6 August. Ali Pasa Sanli, Chairman of the Eskisehir branch of the trade union Egitim-Sen, was arrested on 8 August for “being a member of TIKKO in the past”. Izzettin Poyraz was detained in Konak distict of Izmir for “for sending text messages including propaganda of the PKK by his mobile phone”. HPG militants Ishak Ölgün and Abdülkerim Isik surrendered in Özalp and Gürpinar districts of Van. DTP member Güven Öztürk was arrested in Batman on 9 August for “carrying the photo of Abdullah Öcalan on him”. (Atilim-Hürriyet)

Incident in Uludere… An unidentified person died on the night of 6 August during the explosion on the way to Balli Gendarmerie Border Commandership nearby Uludere district of Sirnak. According to the official announcement, allegedly, a HPG militant died when the bomb he was trying to establish o the road exploded. (Hürriyet)

Soldier Killed… Non-commissioned Levent Çevik was killed by two persons who came to his house on the night of 6 August in Beytüssebap district of Sirnak. Çevik was reportedly on charge at Gendarmerie Intelligence Service (JIT). HPG claimed the attack. According to the announcement made by the HPG, a raid was conducted to Çevik’s house in order to capture him alive but his was killed when he attempted to use his gun. Tahsin Dursun, Ferit Durmus, Eshat Durmus, Necmettin Ataman and Faruk Yüzer were detained during the houseraids in the district after the incident. These persons were released after a while. (Cumhuriyet)

Clashes and Attacks in the Southeast… A HPG militant was reportedly killed during the clash broke out on 8 August in Cebbellidag region nearby Divrigi district of Sivas. According to the announcement made by the HPG, four soldiers were allegedly killed during the clash broke out on 8 August nearby Dinarbey village of Yedisu district in Bingöl. It was also alleged that a soldier was killed on the same day during the clash broke out Lice district of Diyarbakir, and two soldiers were killed, two soldiers were wounded during the clash on 7 August nearby Ennehir village of Hani district in Diyarbakir. According to the announcement, HPG militant Ender Baki was reportedly killed in the clash broke out on 6 August nearby Uludere district of Sirnak. (ANF-Milliyet)

August 8, 2006

Incident in Hakkari… A physician, a chief police officer and a police officer on charge at Hakkari Special Operation Branch beat and opened fire against the juveniles who warned them not to make noise while they were drinking in a car on the night of 4 August in Daggöl quarter of Hakkari. Physician Künkür reportedly opened fire behind the juveniles Deniz Kayacan (son of DTP executive Naif Kayacan), Özgür Elmas and Ömer Keskin while they were running away. Kayacan was shot at his leg. Police officers whose names were not announced and Künkür were detained. Hakkari Security Director Cavit Cevik announced that the police officers were suspended from duty and Künkür who is in detention would be sent to public prosecutor on 7 August. According to the news appeared on the daily Özgür Gündem, Alper Künkür and three civilian dressed police officers stopped the car driven by Deniz Kayacan at around 22.30 at the entrance of the city in front of public clinic and the five persons in the car were taken out. Afterwards Künkür reportedly shouted at the juveniles and said: “I am a relative of Mehmet Agar. We will not let the Kurds to live. You will all die one by one” and opened fire with the police officers against Deniz Kayacan. According to the news, Künkür and the police officers were allegedly not detained but “disappeared” after the incident. Naif Kayacan stated that he had been followed by a civilian dressed police officers by three persons for a week and their aim was to kill him: “My house and my son’s house was searched by the police after the incident. My son and his four friends are still being interrogated at the Security Directorate. Security Directorate tries to show that the physician Alper Künkür does not have a relation with the incident. Most probably, police officers and the physician who saw the license plate stopped the car thinking that I was in the car. And they opened fire against the persons in the car when they saw I was not there in order to menace the Hakkari people. Meanwhile my son was wounded. I have been followed for a long time. I guessed something would happen. I was the aim but they came across with my son and his friends by chance. I am happy that they are alive. We will definitely make a complaint against the police officers and the physician”. (Özgür Gündem-Radikal)

Complaint Against Police Officers… An official complaint was made against the police officers who detained the persons on the allegation of staging action to protest the denial of the demand for the retrial of Addullah Öcalan during the festivity organized by DTP in Konak district in Kadifekale quarter of Izmir on 27 July. In the complaint petition DTP executive Mazlum Tekdag told that “police insulted the persons at the festivity and used violence against him when he attempted to intervene them”: “They did not permit me to call my lawyers and the party executives. They seized my mobile phones. I was taken to the police car under beatings. They continued insults and violence in the car.” Lawyer Mizgin Irgat announced that there is no decision of judge in connection with the detention of 14 persons. (Özgür Gündem)

Demonstration Prevented… Gökhan Biçer, Özlem Teke, Hasan Deniz, Murat Kolca, Yeter Aykal, Hasan Ihsan Eryakut, who were detained during the press announcement action staged on 1 August by the group who called themselves “Diyarbakir Democratic Youth Groups” in order to protest the harming of the corpses of the HPG militants”, were arrested on 4 August. On the other hand, Miyaser Akin, Mehmet Çakirca and Vasfi Erdem were released. (Özgür Gündem)

Unionist on Trial… Public prosecutor in Ankara launched a court case against Ercan Bayhan, executive of Batman branch of Egitim-Sen, in connection with the slogan in Kurdish “Biji Biratiye Gelan” he shouted during the demonstration “Democratic Turkey, Budget for People” organized on 17 January 2005 in Ankara. The case launched on the allegation of “making propaganda of illegal organization” will start at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 on 18 August. (Özgür Gündem)

Armed Attack to the Highest Court of Administration… Ahmet Dogan, lawyer of alparslan Arslan who conducted an armed attack to the 2nd Chamber of the Court of Cassation on 17 May, appealed to the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Council on the allegations that “his client’s right to live was violated and his personal security was not guaranteed”. Dogan who had also appealed to Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 11 before hinted in the petition that “Arslan was given harmful medicine” and demanded a blood analysis of Arslan to be made in order to investigate the drug. (Radikal)

Bomb Attacks in Istanbul… On 4 August Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued to hear the case against 73 persons launched in connection with the bomb attacks in Istanbul on 15-20 November 2003. Louai Sakka, an alleged executive of Al-Quaide, was testified at the hearing. Sakka who stood up while he was testifying and said: “I did not stand up in order to show you respect. I took the prophets as models. I stand up in order to overcome the obstacles put against me.” Sakka told that he came to Turkey for an action against the Israili ships coming to Antalya: “A fire started in my house due to a failure of electric switches. Police learned that I aimed at conducting an action against Israili sheeps.” Sakka allaged that he had no connection with the attacks in Istanbul and he was against the killing of civilians. Afterwards Sakka was taken out of the courtroom when he quarreled with the presiding judge. (Milliyet)

Bomb Attacks… A bomb exploded in the ATM machine of Oyakbank branch at Besocak square in Adana at 13.00 on 4 August. Another explosion occurred ten minutes later where the police teams who came for investigation parked their vehicles. Police chiefs Ahmet Yener Uysal, Murat Durmaz, police officers bOkan Biçer, Ertan Ayhan, Süleyman Olcay, Tufan Erkayiran, Ismet Örtlek, Burhan Cahit, student police officers Mustafa Karakoç, Gökhan Gülücü, bank officials Mekmet Nuri Seyitoglu, municipality police officer Cengiz Dizoglu, persons who were passing by Fahriye Ertürk, Murat Demir, Yuısuf Yaldiz and Yasemin Yaldiz were wounded. The attack was claimed by “Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK)”. The bomb exploded in front of the CHP premise in Diyarbakir on 5 August caused material loss.  (Hürriyet-Radikal)

Detentions and Arrests… H.A. was detained in Mersin’de on the allegations of “being member of the PKK”. (Hürriyet-Özgür Gündem)

HPG Executive Killed… Ramazan Topbas, a leading executive of the HPG (armed wing of the PKK) was killed on 1 August on Kandil Mountain in Northern Iraq. The person who killed Topbas is allegedly a member of Patriotic Democratic Party (PWD) that was established by Osman Öcalan after he left the PKK. According to the announcement made by the PKK, the assailant was captured and still being interrogated on Kandil Mountain. (Milliyet)

Clash and Attacks in the Southeast… Non-commisioned officers Mürsel Can, privates Hüseyin Özdemir and Özkan Vural died, eight soldiers were wounded in the attack conducted to military vehicles on 6 August nearby Yesilbük town of Siran district in Gümüshane. On 4 August bomb attack was conducted to a freight train in Bismil district of Diyarbakir. Four of the railway cars fell over. (Star)

August 7, 2006

Semdinli Incident… On 3 August Van Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued to hear the case against the PKK confessor Veysel Ates launched in connection with the incidents in Semdinli in 2005. Lawyer Metin Idiz, acting as sub-plaintiff, wanted the judge Ferhat Erbas who demanded the defendants to be released on the allegation that he lost his impartiality. Ferhat Erbas who said that Idiz did not submit the demand within the legal time limit withdrew from the case pointing at the news appeared on papers. The hearing was adjourned to 24 August. On 19 August non-commissioned officers Ali Kaya and Özcan Ildeniz had been sentenced to 39 years 10 months’ and 25 days’ imprisonment each while the file of Veysel Ates had been separated on the grounds that he had not had a lawyer. (4 August, Radikal)

Complaint Against Police Officers… Members of the trade unions Egitim-Sen and SES who were detained on 30 July during the raid conducted to Urfa Culture and Art Center filed an official complaint against the police on 5 August. Egitim-Sen announced that “police officers committed the crimes of ill-treatment, misconduct of duty, depriving people of their freedom, preventing the freedom of belief, thought and opinion, and insult”. (6 August, Cumhuriyet)

Case Against the Executives of Human Rights Advisory Council… Public prosecutor in Ankara launched a case at the Court of Cassation for the cancellation of the acquittal of Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kaboglu, former Chairman of Human Rights Advisory Council (IHDK), and Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran. In the appeal letter signed by Hüseyin Boyrazoglu, Chief Public Prosecutor in Ankara, it was criticized that the drop of the case according to the Article 159 TPC was based on the answer of the Ministry of Justice that said “the investigation was not subjected to the permission of the Ministry”. The appeal against the acquittal decision given under the Article 312 TPC was based on following reasons: “The defendants attempted to impose their personal thoughts to the society by using the Council established under the Prime Ministry as a cover. In the report, they tried to enlarge the definition of the minority put in the Lausanne Treaty in order to make it include nation and ethnicity like in Sevr Treaty (Article 347). They even divide the non-Moslims into all different religions. If you enlarge the definition of minority based on the concept of human rights you would face the groups that call themselves as minority. How far a country can tolerate this situation. Such an approach would divide many ethnic and religious groups living in the same region and speaking the same language into separate groups demanding self-determination. It is not possible to accept as freedom of thought to transform of the basic lines of a country to an utopian understanding of human rights. The notion of the fragmented structure that is wanted to establish in countries those have weak economic and rapidly changing social structure has always led to the division of those countries. Being from Turkey cannot be an identity.  Such an identity would also bring discrimination. Broadening the notion of minority, to bring the national unity under debate would led division based on ethnic origin and religion, and would cause the clash of groups who see themselves different with the existing structure.” (4 August, Radikal)

DTP Executive on Trial… Public prosecutor in Ardahan launched a case against Mahmut Alinak, chairman of the DTP in Kars in connection with the speech alinak made during the opening of the DTP in Kars on 20 January. Alinak had reportedly said that “the Semdinli incident was conducted by the members of counter guerilla republic”. The indictment wants Alinak to be sentenced according to the Article 301 TPC. The hearing will start soon at Ardahan Penal Court of First Instance.  (4 August, Zaman)

Law on Fight Against Terrorism… President Ahmet Necdet Sezer launched a case at the Highest court of Administration with the demand of the cancellation of the articles 5 and 6 of the law that has amended the Law on Fight Against Terrorism. In the appeal, Sezer emphasized that the penalising owners and editors of the media organisations in connection with a crime that is committed by another persons does not get along well with the principle of “individuality of responsibility of the sentence”.  Sezer reminded that the daily fines given to owners and editors of the media organisations as sentences according to the TPC may reach high amounts, and this heavy sanction is an obstacle against freedom of thought and expression.” In connection with the Article 6 that makes the suspension of publications including propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organisation possible for 15 to 30 days by the decision of a judge, and that gives prosecutors the right to suspend publications for 24 hours in urgent cases Sezer put that the sanctions on the publications that are limited by the Constitution cannot be increased by the laws. (5 August, Cumhuriyet)

August 3, 2006

Death Fast... 10 members of the union for retired workers Emekli-Sen conducted one day hunger strike to support Lawyer Behiç Asçi from Office of People’s Law who started death fast on 5 April to protest in the F-type prisons and isolation in the prisons. (Özgür Gündem)

Demonstration Prevented... The police intervened the press announcement organised by “Diyarbakir Democratic Youth Components” on 1 August in Diyarbakir to protest in the damages of the bodies of HPG militants. A quarrel broke out when the police wanted the ID information of Gökhan Biçer who read the announcement. The police dispersed the crowd by beating and detained many demonstrators. DIHA correspondent Rojda Kizgin was assaulted by the police during incident. (Özgür Gündem)

Bomb Attack... Bombs were thrown on 30 July against Gaziantep branch of Koç Bank and AKP premises in Sahinbey district. The attacks were undertaken by “Marxist Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)”. (Atilim)

Bomb Explosion... Two children were wounded when a gas bomb they found exploded on 1 August on Istasyon Avenue in Diyarbakir. (Özgür Gündem)

Detentions and Arrests... F.Y. and Y.E. were detained on 1 August in a forest between Mugla and Denizli on the allegations that they were members of PKK and were planning the assassination of the leader of 12 September coup. C. Yapici (14) and T. Yapici (16) were detained on 1 August in Tunceli. Ahmet Ersözlü (62), who was detained for saying “infidel Atatürk” on 1 August in Kayseri during the demonstration organised by “Solidarity with People of Palestine Group”, was arrested on 2 August on charges of violating Law to Protect Atatürk by “insulting Atatürk” (Hürriyet-Özgür Gündem-Vatan)

Clashes and Attacks in Southeast... Private Emin Bülbül who was wounded when a steam cauldron exploded on 29 July in the kitchen of Hacibekir Barracks in Van died on 2August in the hospital. A bomb attack was organised on 1 August against the railway in Iliç district of Erzincan. A wagon was damaged during the explosion. (Hürriyet)

August 2, 2006

Torture in Adana... Fahri Eray Palaz who was detained on 26 July in Adana was reportedly tortured in Rüstü Bayram police station. Palaz announced his experience as follows: “On the night of 26 July I left the house of a friend of mine. When I was walking to the bus stop a police vehicle showed up and they asked my ID. Since I did not have my ID I gave them my citizen ID number. They told me they would take me to the police station although I was not searched. They handcuffed me. When I asked them why I was handcuffed 5 or 6 officers started to insult. When I entered the station all the officers were cursing and insulting me. They started to beat me and I fainted. Upon this they hosed me pressurised water. They took me to the Public Prosecutor on the allegations of “resisting security forces”, but I was released there.” Palaz made an official complaint against the police officers and applied to HRA Adana branch. (Özgür Gündem)

Person Beaten by Police... Ayhan Çevik was reportedly beaten on 28 July in Cumhuriyet police station in Van. Çevik applied to HRA Van branch and said followings: “I went with my uncle Cemil Gülen to the police station to see his son in detention. My uncle started to talk in Kurdish with his son. An officer warned them not to speak in Kurdish. I told him that my uncle does not know Turkish. And another officer started to hit and beat me. My shirt was torn. I was thrown out of the station by 3 officers.” (Özgür Gündem)

Allegation of Killing by Unidentified Assailant... Abdulgafur Öktem (32), living in Tekkeköy (Xirabe Nêriya) village in Idil district of Sirnak and suffering from epilepsy, was killed on 28 June. He allegedly died for stepping on a mine after living the house with 4 persons for hunting. His body was reportedly taken to Sirnak Gendarmerie HQ. M.E.I., N.K., A.Y. and A.I. who allegedly took him from his house for hunting were reportedly PKK confessors. The confessor A.Y. was interrogated by Public Prosecutor in Sirnak and he allegedly said that Öktem went under a tree to sleep and after a while they heard the explosion. His father Mehmet Ata Öktem announced that they were given a coffin of few kilograms and they were not certain whether there was a body in it. He added that personal belongings of his son were given to them by confessor A.I and were not damaged despite the alleged explosion. He stressed that Idil Governor and military officials visited his house and wanted him forget the incident: “I wanted to see the place of incident and asked Sirnak Commandership to take me there. But they did not allow me. I do not believe that the flesh in the coffin is the body of my son. I think someone killed my son. Maybe he was used during an operation.” Öktem reortedly applied to HRA Diyarbakir branch.. (Özgür Gündem)

Munzur Festival... Malatya correspondent of the paper Isçi-Köylü Erdinç Özbay, members of Socialist Platform of Oppressed (ESP) Sitki Güngör, Dilek Tatas, Abdullah Özgenç and Yasar Koç who were detained on 26 July for putting up a poster of Ibrahim Kaypakkaya, founder of TIKKO, during the Munzur Culture and Nature Festival in Tunceli were arrested on 30 July. Dilek Tatas was released on 1 August upon objection of her lawyer. (Atilim-TİHV)

Cultural Centre Raided... Police raided the convention organised by “Free Citizens Movemnet” in the Urfa Culture and Art Centre on 30 July. 132 persons were detained and the lawyers who were called by the attendants were not allowed to enter the centre. There were reportedly 20 municipality assembly members from DTP, 8 DTP district chairmen, 20 KESK executives and members among the detainees. 103 of the detainees were released same day. (Özgür Gündem)

Demonstration Prevented... Police forcibly dispersed a group of demonstrators who staged an action on 31 July to protest in Israel in Beyoglu (Istanbul). Police used tear gas and beat the demonstrators. Many demonstrators were detained and rightists also attacked the demonstrator with sticks. (Cumhuriyet)

Demonstrator Detained... 20 thousand persons closed the road between Ordu and Samsun for 6 hours after the meeting on 31 July organised by hazelnut farmers in Ordu. While the officials were trying to convince the demonstrators to stop the action a quarrel broke out between police officers and demonstrators. 5 persons were wounded; the vehicle of Turkish Radio Television Corporation (TRT) was stoned. Police intervened by using tear gas and firing into air. One officer and some 50 persons were wounded. 38 persons were detained. (Star)

Detentions and Arrests... Osman Aydogdu and his relative Zafer Yalçın were arrested on 31 July on charges of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”. They were detained during the funeral of Osman Ayodgsu’s brother Sirac Aydogdu on 28 July in Batman for putting a pennant with the colours red, green and yellow. Sirac Aydogdu was a HPG militant and died on 23 July in Pülümür district by accident. (Özgür Gündem)

Circular by Ministry of Justice... Minister of Justice Cemil Çiçek issued a circular for prosecutors in accordance with the report of a committee including EU officials and free jurists. Cemil Çiçek wanted public prosecutor not to participate the meeting of judges for final decision. (Radikal)

August 1, 2006

Bomb Attacks in Southeast... General Staff started an investigation against Retired Lieutenant General Altay Tokat, who had been on charge between 1995 and 1998 in the Region Under the State of Emergency and announced that he had ordered bomb attacks against the houses of new public servants and judges in the region to warn them and to make them to do their job properly. And Vice President of Diyarbakir Bar Association Tahir Elçi made and official complaint: “Suspect (Altay Tokat) confessed the illegal activities. Similar activities had been also experienced nearby places. The case and files of killings, bombings and similar activities are in Prosecution Office at Diyarbakir Military Court. All the incidents occurred during the Commandership of the suspect have to be investigated and judicial procedures have to be started.” Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir reportedly started an investigation. HRA Chairman Yusuf Alatas and Mazlum-Der Chairman Ayhan Bilgen made an official complaint on 31 July with the Public Prosecutor in Ankara on the allegations of “forming an armed gang to commit crime”, “threatening to spread terror”, “affecting the judiciary” “praising crime and criminal”, “inciting people hatred and enmity”, and “misconduct of duty”. A group of lawyers who call themselves as “Lawyers Initiative of Patriots Front”, made an official complaint with the Public Prosecutor in Istanbul. (Radikal)

Pressures in Prisons... Prisoner Ismail Özdemir, incarcerated in Tekirdag F-type Prison, was allegedly beaten in the room of Prison Director. His father Osman Özdemir announced in HRA Istanbul branch on 28 July that the guardians attacked his son on 18 July while they were going to infirmary because he stepped on the foot of a guardian. He said that he was taken to director’s room and beaten there. According to the announcement Ismail Özdemir was sentenced to 10 days’ cell imprisonment when he said he would make an official complaint. (Özgür Gündem)

Demonstrators Detained... The police intervened a demonstration staged in Kadifekale quarter of Izmir on 27 July to protest in the rejection of the demand for retrial of Abdullah Öcalan. 50 persons were detained during the intervention. 36 of them were released after a while and 11 persons were released on 29 July. Mehmet Siddik Süer, Abdulhalim Gölek and Rıdvan Akdogan were arrested. The investigation started in connection with the attack in Bozüyük district of Bilecek against persons who attended the meeting in September 2005 organised for Abdullah Öcalan in Gemlik district of Bursa was concluded with the decision of non-prosecution on the grounds of “lack of evidence”. (Özgür Gündem-Hürriyet)

DEHAP Members on Trial... On 28 July, Tunceli Penal Court of First Instance started to hear the case against 11 persons who participated the celebration organized on 4 April 2005 at the DEHAP premise in Tunceli in connection with the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan. The hearing was adjourned to 15 September for the completion of the deficient documents. The indictment wants Tunceli Mayor Songül Erol Abdil, Aygül Bidav, Nuray Atmaca, Mehmet Güray, Kemal Seçkin, Engin Çakar, Murat Polat, Zarife Taçyildiz, Songül Atas, Erkan Tekin and Zülfü Yildirim to be sentenced for “praising crime and criminals”. (Evrensel)

Attacks... A bomb exploded on 28 July in front of Çankaya branch of Oyakbank in Izmir. Bank workers Pinar Yakar, Hüseyin Öztürk, civilians Huriye Daglar and Müge Akalan were wounded. The attack was undertaken by “Kurdistan Freedom Falcons”. A hand grenade was thrown to Harman Türkü Bar on the night of 28 July in Kadiköy district of Istanbul allegedly because the bar was open on a religious day. A bomb exploded on 30 July in front of AKP premises in Sahinbey district of Antep and the explosion caused material damage. (Hürriyet-Radikal)

Mine Explosion... Elif Senlik (14) died when she stepped on a mine on 30 July nearby Ferdi town in Genç district of Bingöl. Ahmet Senlik, Bayram Dursun (13) and Besile Dursun (12) were wounded during the explosion. (Özgür Gündem)

Clashes and Attacks in southeast... The names of the HPG militants who died during the clashes started on 21 July and continued for 4 days nearby Baskale district of Van were announced as Sedat Ayhan, Yilmaz Kösker, Muhammed Hüseyin (from Northern Iraq) and M. Ali Ünvercan. Major Adil Karagöz, Commander of Bingöl Gendarmerie Battalion, who died on 27 July when he stepped on a mine nearby Genç district of Bingöl, was buried on 28 July in Osmaniye. A crowded group stoned DTP premises during the funeral. Deger Tanriverdi died when he stepped on a mine on 29 July nearby Kulp district of Diyarbakir. A steam cauldron exploded on 29 July in the kitchen of Hacibekir Barracks in Van. The privates Fatih Sahin, Ercan Çukurçayir, Ali Basar and Hasan Taskin died during the explosion. According to the official announcement cauldron exploded due to stream overpressure, but on the other hand HPG alleged that an attack was organised against the barracks. Police officers Murat Yildiz, Murat Çalik, Erdal Temur, Hüseyin Uçar, Mehmet Çavus Uyanir, Süleyman Varol, and janitor Turgut Turhan were wounded during the attack against police houses in Dogubeyazit district of Agri on the night of 31 July. (ANF-Radikal-Sabah)

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