Rapporteur Oostlander points out that the political reforms can only be judged on the basis of the actual implementation in terms of day-to-day practice at all levels of the judicial and security system and of both the civilian and military administration

The General Staff announced that no one has been registered by the army and the issue has been distorted.

The trial hearing held before the Ankara State Security Court on 12 March 2004 of Leyla Zana and her three co-defendants ended once again in an adjournment and will reopen on 2 April.

The Contemporary Journalists Association CGD criticized Minister Tuzmen for tearing up a local newspaper. Tearing up a newspaper is as lawless as blowing up a newspaper building and silencing it, said the CGD. Minister Tuzmen apologized.

TIHV head Onen said the order by the Land Forces Commandership to the local civilian officials, demonstrated once again the threats against rights and freedoms in Turkey. He called on civilian initiatives to raise their voices for democratization and beco

Prof. Uskul said the Land Forces Commandership had no authority to send an order to the local civilian officials. The rights of citizens are being violated, said Uskul. The prime minister and government should do something about this.

Private Course of Kurdish Language and Dialects will open its doors on Saturday, even though the sides have not completely reached an agreement on the name of the course. Director Kurt said 300 people, half of whom were women, applied in one day.

The General Staff admitted that it had collected information about certain people and groups, saying however that, this will be corrected.

Human Rights Foundation Executive Board are facing a trial and could be removed from their posts. The case file was removed when the plaintiffs lawyer did not attend the hearing without excuse. The case will be dropped if not handled within three months.

Distributing a letter to the district governors, the Ground Forces Commandment ordered Collection of intelligence about those who are pro-US, pro-EU and are from the High society.

A group of activists from the Initiative Against the Crime of Thought, Foundation of Turkish Voluntary Organizations, Human Rights Association and the Mesopotamia Culture Center, are pursuing legal action against threats to the Agos newspaper.

Women, who gathered at the Abide-i Hurriyet Square on Womens Day on March 8, protested honor crimes, and sexual, physical, economic and emotional violence against women. They asked that the TCK be amended in line with their demands.

According to IHD, 40 women died as a result of honor crimes in 2003, while 37 died as a result of domestic violence. IHD said the capacities of police and judicial system should be broadened so that they can handle complaints and victims are protected.

An investigation has been ordered about the police officers from the Beyoglu police station who detained and beat up reporter Hilmi Hacaloglu of the private NTV television. Police has said that Hacaloglu was not detained, but just received as a guest.

Ozic of Radyo Dunya cant appeal the one-year prison sentence he got for criticizing the motion to send Turkish troops to Iraq and to accept foreign troops. The court wasnt able to send the verdict to the journalist since there was no money for stamps.

Mutlu and Coskun, the directors of the monthly Dersim magazine, are facing a trial for violating the declaration by publishing Kurdish articles. The court handling the trial is awaiting a decision on the issue by the Constitutional Court.

Muharrem Cengiz of Manner in the Culture and Arts World, magazine, was arrested at the Istanbul DGM where he went as a witness. He was sent to prison because of statements against him. His magazine and Group Yorum criticized the arrest.

Council of Europes Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly recommends closing the monitoring procedure for Turkey. Ankara has fulfilled its obligations, the recommendation says. But post-monitoring dialogue should continue on 12 issues.

Despite the governments claims that journalists are no more indicted for opinion crime, the court, for the fifth time, renewed the arrest warrant against Özgüden. Ten journalists are still in Turkish prisons.

Turkey has until the end of the year to show the European Union that it is meeting the European Unions expectations on human rights, said Rachel Denber, acting executive director of Human Rights Watchs Europe and Central Asia division.