Three journalists of Agos newspaper, previously run by murdered journalist Hrant Dink, have a court hearing again this week. Hrant Dinks son Arat Dink, Serkis Seropyan and Aydin Engin will appear in court on 18 July.

A gold mine using cyanide in its extraction process has been poisoning thousands of people in the province of Usak since last year. A court has decreed that the mine be closed.

Academic Baskaya and politician Sarisozen agree that the nominally social democratic CHP and the nationalist MHP are increasingly similar in their political discourses. The CHP creates fear in order to ensure its hold on power.

Alevites, traditionally courted in pre-election campaigns and often ignored thereafter, have published a statement in which they express their disillusionment with political parties and their support of left parties and independent candidates.

The second quarterly BIA media report has been published, making for sobering reading. Journalists, newspapers, radio stations and television channels are still often obstructed when trying to make use of the right of freedom of expression.

The election campaigns and the accompanying rhetoric show that many parties are exploiting an increase in nationalism. CHP, traditionally referred to as centre-left and the nationalist MHP are displaying an unprecedented degree of rapprochement.

Independent candidates of the left Uras and Oran are criticizing the decision of the General Staff of founding professional military units to operate in the south-east of the country by 2009: This is result of defining Kurdish issue as a security problem.

In the divorce case of Fatma and Mehmet A., the Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled against the previous court decision, which acknowledged the contributions which a housewife and mother makes.

The Turkey Journalists Society is awarding its Press Freedom Prize for the 19th time this year. Representive for all victims of Article 301, the prize will be awarded to journalist Hrant Dink, publisher Ragip Zarakolu and lawyer Gülcin Cayligil.

Recent mud slinging between the ruling AKP and the nationalist MHP has widened into a national discourse on the possibility of reintroducing the death penalty. Öcalan has become part of the election campaign and people in favour of the death penalty.

In the light of the consistent failure to enter parliament as a party, Kurdish-interest party DTP -successor of HADEP and DEHAP- has decided to enter these elections with independent candidates. In Van there are 3 independent candidates supported by DTP.

Joint attorneys in the Dink murder case have demanded that four defendants who were released last week be rearrested. They argue that the case can only be investigated properly with these suspects.

The quarterly bianet report for April to June of this year reveals that journalists and reporters in Turkey still face harassment and legal consequences for informing the public. Four journalists are awaiting trial under Article 301.

The election campaign of the independent candidates supported by the pro-Kurdish DTP has been obstructed by police and gendarmerie. Particularly in the South-east, candidates have been prevented from putting up posters or opening election offices.

The upcoming elections can be felt all over Turkey. In Van, a Kurdish-majority province in the very east of Turkey, this is no different. In the past, the Kurdish vote has been wasted because pro-Kurdish parties couldnt pass the electoral threshold.

Every day, several parties are campaigning in Istanbuls main pedestrian precinct, Istiklal Street. ANAP has not joined these elections. Supporters of pro-Kurdish independent candidates have been stopped from setting up a campaign stall.

The Constitutional Court has rejected the appeals of president Sezer and the opposition CHP against a package changing presidential time in office, the election of the president and general elections. Thus, the package will be voted on in a referendum

The international human rights organisation AI has published a report on continuing torture, maltreatment and killings of civilians by law-enforcement officers. These crimes often go unpunished. AI has prepared a list of urgent steps that need to be taken

The announcement that the Radikal newspaper will cut 41 jobs has been greeted with shock by its employers. Radikal is owned by the Dogan Media Group, as are Posta and Fanatik newspapers, which have already faced job losses.

Particularly the ruling AKP and the nationalist MHP are using increasing nationalism and anger over the continuing deaths of soldiers in battles with the PKK to score points. The main parties are unanimous in their support for cross-border operations.