NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 343

Defiance Under Fire:Leyla Zana

Finally, the Turkish government has agreed to retry the tenacious Kurdish activist and AI prisoner of conscience. But after nine years in prison, her freedom is still in doubt.

23 September 2003 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

Rejecting Racism in School Books

Educators, jurists, human rights activists and parents, have started a campaign to fight against teaching history at schools in a way to incite enmity and with a racist approach.

22 September 2003

Anti-War Activists should Join Forces

Lawyer Ozkan said it was illegal for the government to keep its air space open to the U.S. forces in line with a secret decree. Turkey should not become an occupier, said actor Alabora. Actor Alkaya criticized the manner of anti-war activists.

22 September 2003 Burçin Belge

Scary Results of Income Survey

According to a survey by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, the gap between income groups in Turkey, has widened. While middle-class has turned to products sold in open containers, low-income groups prefer buying cheaper crumbled food.

11 September 2003

Stop Combat Preparations Urge Kurdish

Thirteen local Human Rights Assocaiton leaders pointed to the increasing number of human rights violations in eastern and southeastern Turkey. They called on the government and Ocalans KADEK organization to maintain peace in the country.

10 September 2003

Ocalan Proposes New Plan

Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned Kurdish guerrilla PKK/KADEK leader, urges the government exile himself and declare amnesty for the Kurdish fighters for arriving at a settlement for the Kurdish question.

Controversial Arrest of Rights Activist

Ms. Sevim Yetkiner, local Human Rights Association branch chair arrested under controversial circumstances. The activist is charged with supporting the guerrilla PKK for participating in a convicts funeral who died in prison.

Joint Statement by US-TR Fact Finding Team

The US side noted the Turkish concerns related to the kind of treatment its military personnel were subjected to during the unfortunate incident. The Turkish side noted the US expressions of concern about reported activities of Turkish personnel.

A Tougher Future for Emigrants

Situation for immigrants in Germany becomes even more difficult as the Federal Assembly ratifies The Immigration Draft Bill, which was previously returned by Constitutional Court. The Bill conditions citizenship with full adjustment to German conditions

Intellectuals Protest Arrest of Singer

Turkeys prominent intellectuals protest the arrest of folk singer Ferhat Tunc. The musician has fallen victim to baseless slanders, told artists, musicians and writers in a press conference.

Turks Are Uninformed of What The US Knows

Turkish media is focused on the broken national pride in the arrest of 11 Turkish Special Force troops in Qirquq. Yet real questions remain unanswered:What were these troops tasked with on foreign territories.

What Were Turkish Soldiers Doing in Iraq?

ODP vice chair Turkmen said: Turkish public remains uninformed of on the issue of what Turkish soldiers are doing in Suleymaniye. Turkmen stressed on the importance of political amnesty for solving the Kurdish problem.

Folk Singer Tunc Arrested

Human rights activist folk singer Ferhat Tunc is arrested under southeastern Dogubeyazit local court decision in the southwestern district of Milas prior to his performance.

Deep State VS. U.S. Intelligence

Why were the Turkish forces there, asked engineer Mater about the detentions in northern Iraq. The US acted before the Turkish forces, which wish to carry on with deep state habits, said writer Firat. Historian Akad said The US does not want Turkey.

9 July 2003 Burçin Belge

Reforms are Good But...

Reforms are good but we need to see the effects,said Kretschmer, the European Union Commissionsrepresentative to Turkey, who visited the waterpurification facility in Sanliurfa being built withfinancial support from the EU.

Implementing EU reforms?

Kurds Will Always Aspire for A State

Bruinessen says The Kurds have always had the idea of a Kurdish State. According to him Iraqi Kurds had no choice but to ask United States support. Bruinessen claims: KADEK wants to begin negotiations with Turkey via US.

24 June 2003 Hamza Aktan

Joint Declaration between ONED and YBH Youth

United Democrats and the Patriotic Unity Movement YBH respectively, have met in Nicosia on the 30th of May 2003 to discuss the current situation in Cyprus.

A Kurdish MP Leyla Zana in Prison

WiPC, International PEN campaigns on the imprisonment of the Kurdish politician Zana, whose case the WiPC has recently adopted, having established that she has writing credentials and that her imprisonment is in part a deliberate punishment for her exerc

Media- 2002 in Turkey From CPJ Report

The number of journalists imprisoned in Turkey has steadily dropped in recent years - 13 were in jail at years end, mostly for being affiliated with outlawed groups publications legal harassment of the media continued.

Repeal Criminal Defamation and Insult Laws

Helsinki Commission urges Countries to repeal Criminal Defamation & Insult Laws. Theyre actively used against those who criticize their governments in a number of other OSCE participating states including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Greece and Turkey.

Case Against Articles Against the Flow

Baskaya is being sued for his book Articles Against the Flow, on grounds of article 159/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

5 May 2003 İrfan Aktan

Turkeys Kurds Look to Ankara

Turkeys Kurds and particularly the Kurdish guerrillas, contrary to Ankaras nightmares have apparently distanced themselves from the emergent Kurdish administration in Northern Iraq instead of finding a there a role model for their future.

1 May 2003 Nadire Mater,Ertuğrul Kürkçü

Turkey Celebrates 1st of May

The traditional outdoor rally will take place in the Caglayan Square where trade union leaders will address participants from unions, left parties and youth and intellectuals. 50 thousand is expected to come together in İstanbul rally.

Local Radio Tried for Airing Kurdish Songs

Broadcast Editor of Adanas local Radyo Dunya Ozic is tried for airing a program in Kurdish, titled Kurdish Language and Literature. The final decision depends on a related State Council case.

A Historical Step in Cyprus

Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, has called the opening of the Green Line for citizens from both communities in Cyprus a step, of historic proportion, towards a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

Kurdish Journalist Released After Nine Years

Hasan Özgün, a reporter with the pro-Kurdish daily Özgür Gündem, was released on 21 April 2003 after more than nine years imprisonment. He now faces a further 12-year jail term forinsulting state institutions.

Court Trying the Womens Slang Dictionary

A Turkish court tried writer Bingolce and publisher Sokmen of the Womens Slang Dictionary, for writing and publishing an obscene book. Lawyer Arin presented the court with part of the 262,000-word slang dictionary and the Large Slang Dictionary.

Is Iraq our Enemy?

Law specialists question Turkish governments decision to provide logisitical support to the US forces fighting in Iraq. Is Iraq our enemy, asks Prof Dr. Uskul asks. Turkey will provide humanitarian aid to US soldiers, but how about to Iraqis?

Is a Kurdish State The End of The World?

How will the Turkish army prevent the establishment of a federal Kurdish state for which the word of US is sufficient? By attacking and destroying it just as it is being established? And if so, when and how will the Turkish army get out of such a mess?

18 April 2003 Baskın Oran

Women at Peace Point Every Evening

Since one week women stage silent sit-ins by Taksim Metro entrance against the occupation and bombing of Iraq. They will be there every evening. They expect to reclaim ever new Peace Points across the country.

Patriarch Moutafian: US War is Wrong

Gregorian Patriarch Moutafian remarks that they do not consider United States attack on Iraq as just. Visiting Iskenderun for Easter preparations all Iraqis and Americans who die in the war are innocent, says Moutafian