23 reporters and womens rights activists from Bolu and six provinces attended the BIA ²training seminar. They discussed responsible reporting and reporting on rights. Dr. Koker, Dr. Dursun, Dr. Tosun, Duran, Celikkan and Haksever made presentations.

It was the most recent of frequent explosions in Hakkari, an area heavily polluted by anti-personnel landmines and other unexploded ordinances during the conflict between PKK guerrillas and Turkish security forces. The bombs are deemed a serious problem.

Its estimated that at least 50 people, mostly women and children, have died or been wounded this year alone as a result of landmines and abandoned unexploded ordinances in Hakkari. Recently, two children and an adult were killed and three others wounded.

RTUK gives a 30-day closure to Hakkari FM because of Democratic People Partys chair Suvagcis words. In the program he condemned the closing of the party, those missing while under arrest and he wants a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.

TMMOB Chamber of City Planners handed out City Planning Media Awards. Bianet received an award for contributing to the city culture and urban consciousness, for bringing urban problems onto agenda and for providing scientific arguments.

Journalist Sirin, who was sentenced to 17.5 years for being a member of an illegal organization, and who has been in prison for 8.5 years, was released due to amendments to the Turkish Penal Code.

RSFs third annual worlwide press freedom index says East Asia and Middle East have worst press freedom recordsEU members among the first 40; Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia lag behind. The greatest press freedom is found in northern Europe.

RSF has drawn attention to the continuing problems for press freedom in Turkey on the eve of a visit to Paris by Turkish PrimeMinister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today.

Hurriyet reporter Karakurt, who was detained for interviewing Kurdish militant Karayilan on the Kandil Mountain, and writing about the lives of militants, was detained by the police and later released. TGC ve the Press Council condemned his detention.

A Datca court acquitted Kara as a result of the amendments to the Press Law. He, the former owner of daiy Datca News , was standing trial for not delivering the local official two copies of the dailies. He had been jailed for the same reason before.

Incesu, a caricaturist of daily Ulkede Ozgur Gundem said the international community would not understand why daily Evrensel was fined for a caricature. Kart from the daily Cumhuriyet drew a stick man to represent the prime minister in his caricature.

51 reporters of 11 eastern and southeastern provinces discussed responsible reporting and reporting on rights at the local media seminar by the BIA ² project. Prof. Dr. Koker, Dr. Dursun, Dr. Tosun, Duran, Madra, Haksever, Ondul made presentations.

Gun TV and Can TV were ordered off the air by RTUK for 30 days for broadcasting Kurdish songs and programs. RTUK is considering our application to broadcast in Kurdish, while at the same time, it is punishing us for Kurdish programs said Gur of Gun TV.

The improvements brought about by harmonization regulations to articles on dangerous provocation and insulting the state, have been kept in the new TCK. But the new law brings about new crimes for the media members including Internet reporters.

IHD workers Salman and Kizgin are being tried for insulting state officials because of their posts. The same people are trying Salman and Kizgin.

Editor-in-chief Ucar said 12 new cases have been brought against the daly Ulkede Ozgur Gundem after the DGMs were annulled. It is still a crime to publish announcements by a non-violent group, said Ucar. He argued there are 90 cases against the daily.

The RTUK sanctioned Ozgur Radio for referring in a press review to the front page of the daily Günlük Evrensel that said police in plain clothes had massacred members of DEHAP during a wedding in Adana.

BIA2 (Network for Monitoring and Covering Media Freedom and Independent Journalism) publishes second Quarterly Media Monitoring Report, which covers the period April-June 2004. Violations still persist.

IPA concerned about dangers threatening publishers in lead up to consideration of Turkeys membership in the EU

Human Rights Foundation is offering medical support to 63 people who were hurt during police intervention in the NATO and Bush protests. TIHV condemned police violence against those who were using their basic rights.