NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 318

DTP: All NGOs Should Work For Lasting Peace

Pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party calls on all labor, employer organizations and NGOs to take bold and determined steps for the PKK cease-fire to be lasting. Says problem should be solved through internal dynamics and all weapons need to be silenced.

21 October 2006

Respond France by Promoting Freedoms

PENs Sayar gives out signals on freedom of expression after genocide vote in France saying retaliation should be by abolishing article 301. TGCs Erinc refutes France PMs statement. Prosecuted journalist Duzel wants to see what happens ın practice.

18 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Kids Face Police Questioning at Schools

Egitim-Sen reports incidents of primary school children in Adana being questioned by the police and gendarme for outstanding credit card debts of parents. Boga: We must immediately rid ourselves of this shame of turning schools into police stations

18 October 2006 Kemal Özmen

Radio Banned For 30 Days

RTUK closes down Istanbul-based radio station for airing a song of a famous folk singer and its programs on Kurdish issue and operations in prisons. Anadolunun Sesi closure enforced on Tuesday on alleged offences ranges back three years.

18 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

15 Thousand Protest Government on Streets

Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects Chambers (TMMOB) stages massive rally in capital Ankara protesting the government and calling for a free and democratic country. TMMOB Chairman Soganci says: We want a free country on the side of labour.

16 October 2006

Heavy Blow on Franco-Turkish Relations

Ankara feels deeply regrets over French Parliaments criminalization of the denial of Armenian Genocide: Heavy blow on relations. Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrank Dink believes Senate will reject bill as Turkey presses for freedom of expression.

16 October 2006

We Must Debate 1915 Ourselves

Genocide Denial Law will neither serve to resolve incidents in 1915 nor benefit Armenians in Turkey says minorities law expert attorney Cetin. Turkey should come to the level where it can solve its problems itself believes EU specialist Dr. Aktar.

16 October 2006 Tolga Korkut

Armenian Genocide Law Passed in France

French Parliament adopts controversial law criminalizing the denial of an Armenian Genocide. Assembly approved bill with 106 votes with members of governing UMP also voting in favor alongside socialists and opposition UDF.

12 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Pamuk Gets Nobel Literature Prize

Prominent Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk wins Nobel Literature Prize as the Swedish Academy announced today. In the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, Pamuk has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures it said.

12 October 2006

Four New 301 Cases Against Evrensel

Evrensel owner Belek and chief editor Bayar at court for news articles covering demands to unveil truth behind Semdinli incidents and reporting on education sector workers plight for rights. Trial monitored by intellectuals under heavy security .

12 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Exploiting Genocide to Cut Turkey from EU

Prof. Oran says France is using Armenians and the genocide question to exclude Turkey from the EU: Fear of globalization has spread everywhere. Economist Sonmez warns that this debate can put Tukey off the rail on the way to EU membership.

11 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

History Requires Conscience Not Law

Journalists Mahcupyan, Dink and Zarakolu blast French Genocide Bill as a product of repressive mentalities similar to the ones in Turkey: This bill is ethically illegal and Armenian history needs to be treated with conscience, not laws

11 October 2006

Article 301 Cases Against Writers Continue

Balbal protests obstacles in front of freedom of opinion and Penal Code article 301 at Justice Ministry gates after being sentenced to 10 months for his book Flowers of Blood From A Captive General on Ararat.

10 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Daily Milliyet Case Goes to Criminal Court

Three journalists charged for a news article join among newsmen to be tried at Specialized Criminal Courts established to replacement State Security Courts. Charges against the journalists are based on coverages of Kurdish speakers in London

Case Against Author Calislar Opens

Istanbul court starts to hear case against Calislars Latife Hanim and Hurriyet Editor Necdet Tatlican on charges of Insulting Ataturk. Both face 4.5 years imprisonment if found guilty. Defendants dont attend first trial.

Washingtons Preferences

The outcry of the Armed Forces in the person of Buyukanit should be read rather more as the declaration of will of the military on Turkeys prospective route in the framework of new global conditions than the armys thirst for power.

5 October 2006 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

Turkey: Postponing Democracy and Peace

Human Rights Foundation chair Onen, following the chief of staff Buyukanits statement talks about secularism, civilian-military relations, PKKs cease-fire declaration, the armys role, and Fascist expressions against human rights escalating .

4 October 2006 Tolga Korkut

Tension Leads to Restricting Freedoms

MAZLUMDER Chairman says statements made by Turkeys Chief of Staff and President reflect a mentality of increasing polarization in the society, showing targets and discriminating: Tension between institutions is serving to repress demands for freedom.

IHD: Cease-Fire is Historical Opportunity

Human Rights Association says PKK cease-fire is a historic opportunity for solving the Kurdish problem through democratic means: Care should be taken against provocations; PKK should give democratic methods a chance; society should participate in debate.

Silencing Guns Important New Opportunity

Prof. Dr. Dedeoglu says Ankara does not have the luxury to wait for silencing of guns to address the Kurdish problem. Solution based on discriminating between the Kurdish population and PKK, hearing demands and addressing them within the political system.

2 October 2006 Tolga Korkut

ECHR Taking Up Baskaya Case

The European Court is to sit October 3 to evaluate the application of Turkish writer Fikret Baskaya who was sentenced to prison on charges of separatism for an article in the, Ozgur Bakis newspaper. Author charges his freedom of expression and right to

2 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey Social Forum Convenes

Social Forum of Turkey convenes in Istanbul over the weekend bringing together the countrys opposition groups from anti-war movements to NGOs, unions to trade chambers. In more than 40 meetings held , the highlighted message was: End USA Imperialism.

2 October 2006 Ayça Örer

Two More Cases Under Article 301

Public prosecutors charges Mersin 78ers Association Chairman Ethem Dincer and Ozgur Der member Bahadir Kurbanoglu of Istanbul under controversial Penal Code article 301. Dincer goes on trial October 3 and Kurbanoglu appears before court on December 15.

2 October 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

PKK Declares Cease-Fire

PKK has declared a unilateral cease-fire but has warned its continuation depends on Turkey not mounting any operation to annihilate the organization. PM Erdogan says cease-fire a term used between states and that organizations need to lay down arms.

British Satirist Denied Residence

After 10 days in custody British visual satirist Dickinson is to be deported from Turkey without any charge. Having spent 20 years in Turkey the artist is no longer welcome as a resident after mocking PM Erdogan in a collage as US President Bushs pet dog

29 September 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Ocalan Calls PKK Declare Unilateral Ceasefire

Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdish guerrilla PKK positively responds to growing national and international pressure for making a call to his militants for unilateral ceasefire. His call is expected to open the way for a peaceful solution.

29 September 2006

Mayor Acquitted as DEHAP Faces New Court

Diyarbakir Mayor Baydemir acquitted on charges of allocating ambulance for funeral of PKK member while a separate court rules lack of jurisdiction in case against 12 DEHAP executives and sends file to Court of First Instance.

28 September 2006

Group Acts Against Militarist Ads

Turkeys Peace Initiative has applied to the Advertisement Self-Regulatory Board asking for a new campaign launched under the Wanted brand name with references to long range and pellet effect be banned. Group says it is wrong to use militarist expr

27 September 2006

Soldiers Stage Garbage Protest Against Mayor

Commando Brigade soldiers have staged a protest of the city municipality carrying a banner calling for it to conduct duty and not separatism. Mayor Tekce said display was provocative and a continuation of the events since Semdinli bookstore bombing.

26 September 2006

Radio Searched in MLKP Probe

An operation launched against the outlawed leftist MLKP organization two weeks ago continued this week with police teams enforcing search warrants on Ozgur Radyo, EKD, Atilim newspaper, BEKSAV, Limter-Is, Tekstil-Sen and many others.

22 September 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Express Acquittal for Writer Shafak

Turkeys internationally acclaimed writer Elif Shafak got acquitted on the first hearing today from charges of insulting Turkishness in her last novel. Numerous intellectuals and activists supported Shafak and once again deemed the article 301.

21 September 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Jailed British Artist Moved to Police Custody

Following Sept. 12 arrest for a collage poster depicting Erdogan as Bushs dog, British artist Dickinson was transferred to a police station where he has been held under custody. He says he doesnt know why he is there as rights groups raise concern.

19 September 2006 Erol Önderoğlu