"Good morning! On which mountain did Kurds die?" - this is how the President of the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), Ahmet Abakay, addressed the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) in reference to the council's statement on the Israeli attack on the aid ships for Gaza on 31 May. RTÜK had condemned the "interference against the freedom to obtain information and the media's freedom to publish news and opinions".
In their announcement, RTÜK had said, "Israel did not only unlawfully murder innocent people but also committed media terrorism". Abakay condemned the Israeli attack and commented RTÜK's statement, "This is unbelievable, how did that come to their mind?"
Abakay: We expect a statement within 24 hours
Abakay told bianet that for the first time ever he heard that kind of statement from RTÜK concerning national and international developments. "There are journalists in prison bereaved of their profession. The affects of the Anti-Terror Law are clearly visible. It is our right to expect RTÜK to make a statement on these issues within 24 hours".
"The right of the Turkish people to be informed is underfoot. This council remains silent on pressure imposed on Turkish media. Did freedom of the media and the people's right to be informed spring to their mind recently?"
„This is not a statement made by RTÜK but by the government using RTÜK for their purposes. RTÜK is indeed an institution of the government by law".
RTÜK statement
"The attack on the aid convoy on its way to Gaza in international waters and the death of innocent people as a result of the attack created deep grief and sorrow in Turkey and around the world. Isreal's media blackout, which hindered citizens and journalists' access to primary information, was just one aspect of the grave attack".
"The freedom of information in pluralistic democracies comprises the media's publication of news and opinions as well as access to information on relevant topics and receiving news. The right to access news is essential for the public both during times of crisis and when democratic rights and freedoms are restricted".
"Despite the importance that the modern world attaches to the right to access information and despite all the precautions in place to protect this right, Israel purposefully and systematically violated the individuals' right to access information and news to conceal its aggressive actions. The arrest of journalists impartially covering this incident is unacceptable". (EÖ/TK)
