Halkın Günlüğü Newspaper Banned for 1 Month
The publication of the Halkın Günlüğü newspaper ('Agenda of the People') was suspended for one month. The ban was enforced on 10 September, the day the 18th issue of the paper dated 10-20 September was going to be published. All copies were seized and the distribution of the latest issue is to be stopped.
The decision given by the Istanbul Public Prosecution is based on news and statements printed in the paper pertaining to the clandestine Maoist Communist Party (MKP) and the People Liberation Army (HKO). The prosecution decreed for the publication ban on the grounds of alleged "propaganda for an illegal armed terrorist organization".
The decision refers to news item from page 2 and 3. It is said, "The articles entitled 'The people bring the good news of victory over war by persistence', 'The work of a revolutionary mass' and 'The flag of fight was flown by their hands' were investigated. News was made out of the death of militants of the Maoist Communist Party terror organization and its armed wing, the People Liberation Army, who died in armed conflicts. It was understood that the articles contained propaganda for a terrorist organization; members of terror organizations were praised and statements of the before mentioned terror organization were published. Therefore, [the prosecution] decided for the full seizure of the newspaper and a one-month publication ban according to Article 25/2 of the Press Law and Articles 6/2 and 7/2 of Law No.3713 [Anti-Terror Law]".
The Halkın Günlüğu newspaper announced, "The articles and news subject to the ban of our newspaper are dealing with a political development and reflect a social phenomenon. We as the Halkın Günlüğü newspaper will always continue to make our contribution from where we are and to fulfil our duty and responsibility of the struggle for a classless society and of raising our voice against attacks". (IC/VK)