NGOs Divide on 301 Reform Proposal

DİSK and TTB withdrew from the joint NGO group that met to formulate a draft reform proposal on the infamous article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. Advocating for removal of the article, they criticized the existing proposal as conservative and futile.

İstanbul

The joint proceedings by several NGO's for a draft reform proposal on the infamous article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code ended by a conflict between the participating organizations.

Following Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink 's assassination on January 19, the discussion on the controversial article that penalizes "insulting Turkishness" has awakened.

Together with tens of journalists and writers who were tried, Dink himself was condemned on one incident in relation to the article, which had brought him to public attention and turned him to a target by nationalists in the country.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan had declared that the government would consider a change on the article based on a proposal by the NGO's.

"Same as before"

Following his declaration several organizations met for a draft proposal but The Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DİSK) and Turkish Physicians' Association (TTB) withdrew from the joint group criticizing the final draft text that arose from the discussions.

"This draft is no different than the existing article" said DİSK chair Süleyman Çelebi.

"A deduction in the foreseen penalties wouldn't lead to a change on the terrible consequences that this article can cause. Hrant Dink would have been lynched anyway during the trials, even if he didn't get convicted".

"We want the complete removal of the article", he added.

TTB chair Gencay Gursoy agrees and says that this process is made up to create an excuse for the government to end the controversy with minimal reform to the article.

Consensus

On the other hand, other 9 NGO representatives reached a consensus on the draft reform as they meet yesterday.

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Economic Development Foundation (İKV), The Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ), The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), Uniçon of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture (TZOB), Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), Confederation of Employee Unions (Memur-Sen), Broadcasters' Association and Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) agreed to go forward with a draft that foresees the removal of ambiguous definitions and a deduction on penalties in the article.

They will declare the draft on Wednesday, February 8.(EÜ)