Administration Rejects Democratization
Coskun, Cinmen and Sofuoglu also criticized the fact that the Movie Evaluation and Inspection Commission permitted the staging of the movie, "Ararat," by the Armenian director Atom Egoyan, only with the condition that "some scenes are censored."
The jurist said that the European Union reforms approved by the Turkish parliament could only be implemented through the efforts of the non-governmental organizations and the people.
Coskun, the founder of the Europe Foundation, said that the democratization reforms in Turkey did not prove adequate for freedom and democracy in the country.
"If Turkey had acted in line with the international agreements and covenants, people would not be detained, the Ararat movie would not be censored," said lawyer Cinmen. "And there would have been no need for the EU reforms."
Lawyer Cem Murat Sofuoglu from the Turkey Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), said the administration was benefiting from the fact that the regulations of the EU reforms had not been prepared yet. He called on the Turkish people to stand up for their rights through "legal action."
Below are the comments of the jurists:
Coskun: NGOs should follow the trials
* Inquiries can be held, people can be detained and tried if there is a violation of laws.
But it is important whether laws are being violated during this process. I don't know whether laws were violated in the detention of the three people and the party heads. But I am against interrogating people because they expressed their opinions.
* The latest reforms do not provide for freedom and democracy. And there are problems in the implementation of even these inadequate reforms. The NGOs should follow closely the implementation of the EU reforms.
*For example, those who were detained for attending the Kurdish festival in Germany will be standing trial. The NGOs and legal organizations should follow the trials. They should watch whether the procedure is being carried out in line with laws, they should share the information with the people. Antidemocratic and oppressive approaches should be made public.
Cinmen: It was illegal in the past too
* The detention of the three people and the party heads was illegal even before the EU reforms. The incident is against the European Human Rights Agreement and the principles of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The elements international agreements signed by Turkey should have been implemented in Turkey's own laws.
* "Ararat" should not have been censored, and people should not have been detained because they attended a festival, before or after the EU reforms.
* But the administrative system in Turkey still cannot accept democratization. No matter how many EU reforms are approved, violations will take place unless those who implement the laws oversee democratic principles.
Sofuoglu: People should seek legal action
* The EU reforms are not being fully implemented yet. Police have not been able to accept the EU reforms. Moreover, the ordinances and circulars about these EU reforms have not been prepared yet. It is not clear how these reforms will be implemented.
* The people assume the biggest role to bring the EU reforms into life. They have to stand up for their rights through legal action.
* For example, there are about 25 pending circulars about the Work Law. There are no regulations yet about the "broadcasts in local languages and dialects." Shortcomings result from the lack of these circulars and regulations. The administration uses these shortcomings.
* Another example; Turkey has no laws banning the use of foreign names. However, many people leave the registration office without giving a name they desire to their children. The registration office's excuse is the fact that they have not received a circular from the Interior Ministry about the issue. In this case, people should seek legal action.
* The people should ask the registration office to put their rejection in writing, and then seek a trial. There is no reason for them to lose this case. (BB/EA/NM)
