Media Organizations Criticize The Methods of the Ergenekon Operation

Eleven media profession organizations that make up of the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) and the G9 Platform announced their concern over the detention of the journalists in the prolonged Ergenekon investigation.

In its announcement, TSK said, “We respect the decisions of the independent judiciary. However, the latest developments bring up the question whether or not the independent judiciary has become a tool of the political struggles between the groups in the state.”

The G9 Platform, too, stated that “their colleagues would go and give their statements when asked by the prosecutor, but, considering some of these journalists’ stance against the government, the way these journalists are detained creates some concern.”

G9: The investigation can go on, but not with these methods

The G9 Platform demanded that the authorities should allow the detained journalist to meet with their lawyers and face the charges against them in a court of law immediately.

Showing their concern regarding the latest detentions, the G9 Platform said that they were not against the detentions, as this was the right of the prosecutors and the judges, but objected the early morning detentions and the methods that remind the procedures during the military coup times. They said they were afraid that they would have to take a side to counteract these measures and this will shake public’s trust in the media.

Following organizations make up the G9 Platform: TGS, Türkiye Gazeteciler Cemiyeti (TGC) Ankara Temsilciliği, Çağdaş Gazeteciler Derneği (ÇGD), Parlamento Muhabirleri Derneği (PMD), Foto Muhabirleri Derneği (FMD), Ekonomi Muhabirleri Derneği ( EMD), Diplomasi Muhabirleri Derneği (DMD), Profesyonel Haber Kameramanları Derneği (PHKD), Turizm ve Çevre Gazetecileri Derneği (TURÇEV), Avrupa Gazeteciler Birliği (AEJ) Türkiye Temsilciliği ve Basın Yayın ve İletişim Emekçileri Sendikası'nın (Haber-Sen).(EÖ/EZÖ/TB)