NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 342

PEN-IPA: Draft Press Law Contradicts EU Norms

Deeply concerned about the excessive levels of fines that are recommended in the latest draft of Press Law No. 4757 International Publishers Association (IPA) and International PEN called Turkish Minister to delete the related articles.

22 December 2003

Columnist Prosecuted for Criticizing New Law

A court began trying columnist Ruhat Mengi of Vatan newspaper, for criticizing a draft law to decrease punishment for rape and honor crimes. She faces 120 billion TL (USD 85,000) in damages.Womens rights activists lend support for Mengi.

19 December 2003

Denktashs Legitimacy may be Questioned

Denktash may appoint the leader of a pro-status quo party to form the government. Lawmakers may be transferred from pro-peace parties. Prime ministry could be handed to Talat; and a three-party coalition could be formed. Can Denktash resign? Can the

19 December 2003 Mehmet Hasgüler

Cyprus: Turkeys Key to the EU

If the UBP wins, Cyprus will be pushed into a deeper problem. This would also complicate Turkeys EU bid. If the opposition wins, it seems rather difficult for CTP to form the government in Cyprus. Solution seems to depend more on Turkey and the EU...

12 December 2003 Füsun Özbilgen

Human Rights Record Still Bleak

According to findings byTurkeys Human Rights Association (IHD), in spite of thorough reforms the number of torture and inhuman treatment cases increased while violations of freedom of expression decreased. Human rights situation still bleak in Turkey.

8 December 2003

IPA Attend Publisher Zarakolus Trial

International publishers support turkish colleagues freedom to publish. Ragip Zarakolu is accused of incitement to hatred on the basis of class, religion or race. The 12 September regime under trial edited by Caglar was confiscated in May 2003.

2 December 2003

Beyoglu: The Heart of Istanbul, Even Turkey

Beyoglu is like a collection album of many voices; old and new, dim and loud; voices of people coming from various cultural, social and political stands. Voices of past and present; in harmony or conflict but always interactive.

1 December 2003 Ipek Ozgul

International Peace Against Terrorism

According to Sokmen, who is from the International Penal Court working group, the attacks could bring Turkey closer to the U.S., while hurting the democratization process and peace. Sokmen also drew attention to state-induced terror in Iraq, Palestine.

24 November 2003 Burçin Belge

Government, State, Islamic Violence!

The same way anti-Jewish Erbakan had to be the one to cooperate with Israel, the same way anti-Kurd Bahceli had to be the one to lift Ocalan's death, sentence, and the same way anti-Europe Ecevit had to be the one seeing Turkey become an EU candidate, the system is now leaving it up to Erdogan to clean up political Islam!

22 November 2003 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

Amnesty Condemns Bomb Attacks

The deliberate killing of civilians has no justification and violates fundamental principles of international law, Amnesty International stressed.

21 November 2003

K.D. is Dead

She could not be salvaged. She was buried today after a ceremony organized by the Womens Platform. She was only 15. Her brother A.D., who had punished her five days ago with a chopper knife, was only 16.

18 November 2003 Naşide Buluttekin

Peace Desk Wasnt Understood

Arpat from KATAGI, said the125 women, who now stand trial because they wanted to set up a Peace desk, could not successfully tell their cause. According to her the womens demonstration was willfully distorted and attributed to some parties and groups.

13 November 2003

Cyprus Issue Vital for Turkeys EU Membership

During a visit to the Chamber of Commerce, Kretschmer, European Commissions representative to Turkey, said: Cyprus will join the EU. Turkey should take this reality into account and determine its stance.

12 November 2003

Children at Buca were Beaten Up

Ersin, a member of the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Committee carried out an investigation at the Buca Prison and said that the childrens revolt had nothing to do with systematic torture. Torture is routine there, said lawyer Cilingir.

12 November 2003 Arzu Demir

KADEK Dissolves

The PKK changed its name to KADEK in April 2002 and vowed to pursue democratic means to resolve the conflict with Turkey, but still has forces based in northern Iraq.

11 November 2003

HRW: Rapid Reforms for EU Membership

HRW Director Roth: If Turkey can make the necessary changes by the end of this year and then show a full years track record of respect for human rights, there should be no further obstacles to EU membership negotiations in December 2004.

4 November 2003

Cliches Against Turkeys EU Membership

Economic weakness and burden, the Islamic country, the weight of the military, geographical and historical arguments, cultural difference and difficult integration, the end of Europe, the extra weight in EU institutions, keep the wind blowing...

4 November 2003 Cengiz Aktar

Journalist Jailed for Second Time

journalist Kara, who was incarcerated yesterday in Urla prison to begin serving a one-year prison sentence passed in June by Turkeys highest appeal court for allegedly threatening Mert Ciller, a son of former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller.

28 October 2003

US&UK War Crimes Wil Be Tried

The idea of bringing the US&UK war crimes to international justice gains international support. An international group of jurists, scholars and intellectuals meet in Istanbul to prepare the ground for an International Tribunal.

28 October 2003

Mothers: We Dont Want Our Sons to Go to Iraq

We did not give birth to our children for you to get them killed, said the mothers of soldiers. The families of soldiers who made a press statement, called on the lawmakers: You approved the motion, send your children to Iraq first.

17 October 2003 Arzu Demir

Attack on Turkish Embassy is Sign of Risk

Journalist Mahalli said the attack on the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was the first sign of the risks that Turkey will be taking by sending troops to Iraq. According to him, who says, Turkey is being deceived, occupying forces should withdraw from Iraq

15 October 2003 Burçin Belge

Authorization Conflict in Rape Trial

A Turkish court began trying the 405 soldiers who are charged with raping S.E. who was detained three times in 1993 and 1994. The court did not accept the authorization documents that lawyers Keskin and Karakas got from German officials.

13 October 2003

405 Soldiers Charged with Rape and Torture

S.E. who was detained 3 times 10 years ago, says she was tortured and raped under detention. She made her first complaint 5 years after the incident. The trial started five years after her complaint. The first hearing of the trial will be held on today.

10 October 2003

Ocalan: US Attack on PKK-KADEK, Unlikely

In their Iraqi mountain hideaway Turkeys most wanted men stay loyal to the cause Michael Howard visits the Kurds high altitude refuge as they become a thorn in the side of the Americans

8 October 2003 Michael Howard

Troop Question for Women Lawmakers

Women from EMEP sent signatures to the women lawmakers to protest against sending troops to Iraq. Will you vote for sending troops? Will you send your children to Iraq? asked the EMEP women.

The Electoral Board Is to Blame, Say Kurds

The missing documents, which led to contorversy is the mistake of the Electoral Board, said Pro-Kurdish DEHAP local official Tanriverdi. The courts decision would mean canceling the Nov. 3 elections and the parliament would be disbanded.

1 October 2003 Mihriban Amanoğlu

Winter Spirit: After Edward Said

Because of his interest in books and music, he had relations with many precious minds of the world. This is where he got his strength. And I believe it is our mission to keep Edward Saids memory alive, for he made this world a better place to live in

1 October 2003 Müge Sökmen

1980 Military Coup Book is Under Trial

The publication of The September 12th regime in the dock book has been considered as a crime . Accused of having criticized that regime, the director of the Belge Publishing House, Zarakolu, risks a prison sentence of up to three years.

30 September 2003

The Solution is Early Election

DEHAP deputy chair Kutlay, SDP official Kocali and ODP official Kurkcugil, said the appeals courts decision about DEHAP was political. They suggested amending the elections law and going to early elections for the democratic solution of the problem.

30 September 2003 Burçin Belge

Mesrob II isnt French, a Turkish Citizen

Lawyer Cetin criticized Primer for saying, Some school books in France and Armenia contain expressions that would offend Turks, after the Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II asked him to remove certain parts from school books that would offend Armenians.

29 September 2003 Burçin Belge

Administration Rejects Democratization

EU reforms arent enough for democratization. People should stand up for their rights through legal action, said jurists Coskun, Cinmen and Sofuoglu, as they talked about the detentions in connection with the Kurdish Culture Festival.

26 September 2003 Burçin Belge

State Council will Ask for the Secret Decree

The 10th Circuit of the State Council has decided to ask the prime ministry whether there indeed is a secret decree from the cabinet of ministers, and to ask for a copy if there is.

23 September 2003