16. August 2000

1. "Hundreds hurt in Turkish clashes", Police used water cannon to disperse the crowd.

2. "Hunger strike toll in Turkey reaches nine", a long-standing hunger strike by Turkish prison inmates protesting controversial jail reforms claimed two more victims bringing the toll to nine, a Turkish human rights group announced Thursday.

3. "Clashes at Turkish crisis rally", Turkish police have used batons, water cannons and tear gas as violence broke out at a huge demonstration over the country's financial crisis.

4. "Turkey's Military announces Arms Delays", Turkey's military, under Western pressure to cut Ankara's defense budget, said dozens of weapons procurement programs would be shelved.

5. "Barzani to visit Ankara soon", Leader of KDP Massoud Barzani is expected to visit Ankara at the end of April amid the increasing American pressure to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

6. "Fehmi Koru: 'Journalist who cannot do without his job'"


1. - BBC - "Hundreds hurt in Turkish clashes":

Police used water cannon to disperse the crowd

About 200 people were injured and over 100 were arrested as Turkish police clashed with anti-government demonstrators in cities across the country on Wednesday.

More than 70,000 people demonstrated in the capital Ankara, demanding the resignation of the government following layoffs, massive increases in the price of goods such as sugar and fuel, and rising interest rates.

The demonstrators - mainly shopkeepers and traders - are protesting against the government's handling of the country's ongoing economic crisis, particularly its acceptance of an austere International Monetary Fund recovery programme.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made it clear he would not resign, saying that the search for a new government would not be in the country's interest at present.
Police injured

The injured included over 130 police officers, according to the state Anatolia news agency.
In the most violent scenes since the crisis began two months ago, protesters threw stones and bricks at police, tore up paving stones and smashed shop windows.

Police used water cannon, teargas and batons to try to disperse them.

Eventually they succeeded in forcing the protesters out of a large square in central Ankara.
Unions have called for more protests on Saturday, but the governor of Ankara, Yahya Gur, announced after the demonstrations on Wednesday that he was banning such actions for a month.

Prime minister defiant

Mr Ecevit has said he will not bow to calls for him to resign.

"If they are shouting resign, they also have to provide an alternative. I am not glued to my chair," he said.

"I do not believe that the search for a new government would help the country, therefore I am staying at my post."

But the editor-in-chief of the Turkish Daily News warned that the government had to do something to placate the populace.

"The government has to offer some kind of urgent and radical relief if it wants to prolong its death", the editor, Ilnur Cevik, said.

Turkey is negotiating with the IMF for a recovery package, and seeking $10bn-$12bn in foreign loans.

The IMF has indicated it will make available some $6.25bn in aid that had already been pledged.

Other protests

In other protests on Wednesday, at least 40,000 people took to the street in the port of Izmir and 20,000 people marched against the government in the city of Konya.

Meanwhile the Turkish armed forces have announced that they are postponing 32 modernisation projects in the light of the economic crisis.


In a statement in Ankara, the armed forces - the second-biggest in Nato - said the projects would be put off in the short and long term.

No specifics of the delay were announced.


2. - AFP - "Hunger strike toll in Turkey reaches nine":

ANKARA

A long-standing hunger strike by Turkish prison inmates protesting controversial jail reforms claimed two more victims bringing the toll to nine, a Turkish human rights group announced Thursday.

Two alledged members of extreme left-wing organisations, Celal Alpay, 28, and Abdullah Bozdag, 26, imprisoned in the western town of Izmir died early Thursday, the Human Rights Association (IHD) president Husnu Ondul told AFP.
Alpay and Bozdag succumbed in the university hospital of Izmir after 195 days on hunger strike. Last October, hundreds of other inmates began a fast in protest at the introduction of new jails with three-person cells replacing dormitories housing up to 60 inmates.

The prisoners, backed by a number of civic groups, say that the new set-up will leave them more exposed to ill treatment and lead to further social alienation.

The IHD says between 300 and 400 inmates are on a hunger strike with some 120 of them hospitalized and a dozen in critical condition.

Since the strike began, some participants have interrupted the protest at certain times and then restarted it, while others joined several weeks after the action began.

In a bid to break the protest, paramilitary troops raided 20 jails across Turkey last December. The four-day crackdown resulted in the death of two soldiers and some 30 prisoners, many of whom died by setting themselves on fire. But the hunger strikes continued in jails across Turkey.
Turkish authorities have categorically ruled out a return to the dormitory system. They maintain that the packed dormitories were the main reason behind lax security in the crowded jails, where inmates have often been able to smuggle in weapons and to use them in frequent riots and hostage-taking incidents.


3. - Reuters - "Clashes at Turkish crisis rally":

ANKARA


Turkish police have used batons, water cannons and tear gas as violence broke out at a huge demonstration over the country's financial crisis.

A group of protesters broke away from the 50,000 demonstrators gathered in Ankara's Tandogan Square and threw stones and sticks at police before attempting to storm the parliament.

A number of people were injured in the demonstrations, the biggest and most turbulent since Ecevit's public disagreement with his president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, in February sparked the financial crisis.

The Turkish lira collapsed, falling by 45 percent against the dollar, and an $11 billion International Monetary Fund reform plan had to be abandoned after the currency was floated.
The government is currently renegotiating a package, and new economic chief Kemel Dervis is expected to announce a new economic programme at the end of the week.

The government announced plans to ease the burden on small traders on Monday, including an extension of the period in which to apply for phased payments of unpaid taxes and to keep interest rates on loans from the state-run Halkbank at pre-crisis levels.

Turkey's military said on Wednesday it had postponed 32 modernisation projects worth $19.5 billion to try to ease the financial crisis, NTV television said.


The spending plans of the military, NATO's second largest, include purchasing 1,000 tanks and 145 attack helicopters.

The protests are being led by tradesman and small business owners angry at soaring prices, rising unemployment and the collapse of businesses in Turkey. Trade unions have called for further demonstrations on Saturday.

Ecevit refused to quit on Wednesday, repeating his claim that it would lead to financial uncertainty and would be damaging for the economy.

"I do not see that upheaval and a search for a new government is of any help for Turkey and that is why I am staying in office," he told a meeting of his deputies in parliament.

He also warned the demonstrators that such public acts of dissent might damage Turkey's attempts to earn much-needed hard currency by attracting foreign tourists.

Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said last weekend that radicals and Islamists had taken advantage of the unrest by stoking the demonstrations.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Ankara and other cities on Saturday, with more than 50 people taken into custody as officials used armoured cars equipped with water cannons to disperse the crowds.


4. - Middle East Newsline - "Turkey's Military announces Arms Delays":

ANKARA

Turkey's military, under Western pressure to cut Ankara's defense budget, said dozens of weapons procurement programs would be shelved.

A statement by the Turkish chief of staff said the military would delay 32 projects to modernize the military. The cost of these projects amount to $19.5 billion.

The military did not list the projects that would be delayed. But they are believed to include projects to coproduce a main battle tank as well as an attack helicopter.

The Turkish statement cited Ankara's fiscal crisis for the military decision. The Turkish lira has dropped by about 40 percent, which has struck hard Turkey's defense procurement plans from Western contractors.

The statement said the delay would affect short-term, medium-term and long-term projects. But the military said Turkey's defense would not be fundamentally affected.


5. - Turkish Daily News - "Barzani to visit Ankara soon":

Leader of KDP Massoud Barzani is expected to visit Ankara at the end of April amid the increasing American pressure to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

ANKARA

The leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Massoud Barzani is expected to visit Ankara at the end of april to have high-level talks with Turkish authorities in a bid to evaluate the latest developments in the region. Barzani's visit comes at a time when the two warring Kurdish factions namely KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have started to mend the fences.
Barzani's visit is also important as the new U.S. administration has tightened its grip on Iraq in a bid to end the Saddam regime. Bush administration has made it clear that they would empower the Iraqi National Congress to fight more effectively against Saddam and asked its allies to support its new policy to which Turkey has responded cautiously. Washington has also voiced its concern over the border trade between Turkey and Iraq. KDP controls the border trade and profits most from the trade.

While Barzani is expected to visit Ankara soon, a series of meetings have been taking place between KDP and PUK, sources say. Stressing that restrictions for transportation between Suleymaniye and Irbil, two cities controlled by PUK and KDP respectively, have been lifted, sources say two sides have also agreed on allowing those who left either Suleymaniye or Irbil because of armed clashes to return their homes. Referring to the killing of Irbil governor recently, sources say the perpetrators were radical muslim terrorists backed by Iran and they were returned to KDP after being caught by PUK forces.

KDP has recently reached an understanding with PUK by which people from the PUK-controlled region would be able to go to Turkey and abroad by using KDP-controlled border gate.

Both KDP and PUK have close relations with Ankara and badly need Ankara's backing in the region. Ankara had occasionally told KDP and PUK that fighting against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists in Northern Iraq was essential for Turkey's support. Two parties seem to have heeded the call to get Turkey's support.


6. - Turkish Daily News - "Fehmi Koru: 'Journalist who cannot do without his job'":

'This is the portrait of a journalist who reads, reflects, 'lights a candle' to dispel the dark and will not be forgotten by the media'

'I think that those who say that 'There is need for Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code' are embarrassing Turkey'

'We are surrounded by prohibitions which restrict freedoms in a manner unprecedented in developed countries'

'People are sued either for either ethnic or religious discrimination. These articles are laid down in such an arbitrary manner that other courts then hand down different verdicts'

'Whenever freedoms are circumscribed in Turkey, we see dismissals starting with authors who are known to tell their views loud and clear'


ISTANBUL

Democracy at the age of technology when the production of knowledge and thought knows no limit... The freedom to share thought and other products with no limits... On the one hand, new discoveries that pave the path for the information age... On the other hand, ongoing limitations and bans... To continue the struggle for democracy... Or to account to court for the expression of thoughts...

Almost everyone regards the freedom of conscience, or rather of expression, as virtually the most important human rights issue in Turkey. The State Security Courts (DGM) in particular have become like a way of passage of people who express their thoughts. Scores of authors, academicians, human rights defenders, journalists, artists, unionists, publishers, jurists and politicians, in sum people who are not limited by the official ideology and share their thoughts with society, were tried and convicted for having expressed their thoughts.

Some of the people who express their thoughts are bearing out their sentences while others are waiting for their turns. Sometimes a word or a few sentences from a speech, at others a book, essay or play, are sufficient for the trial and punishment of individuals.

Fehmi Koru is one of these people. The Higher Board for Radio and Television (RTUK) filed charges against Koru for a speech about the Marmara earthquake of Aug. 17, 1999 made on Kanal 7 (Channel 7) on Oct. 12 of the same year, and he is now due to be tried at the Istanbul DGM. The indictment of public prosecutor Ahmet Ayvaz claims that Fehmi Koru supported in this televised commentary, first, the oration of Mehmet Kutlular at the Ankara Kocatepe mosque on the 39th anniversary of the death of Said-i Nursi, of whose Nur community he is an eminent member, and second, the brochure called "Divine Warning" which was distributed on the occasion.

Despite all obstacles

Fehmi Koru is a columnist who is carefully read in Turkey. He is a journalist with wide experience, who is in command of advanced technologies such as the Internet, conducts research in his field, and who is an intellectual. Be it in newspaper or television journalism, Koru's work represents a high quality, far removed from the show business in Turkey. His articles are read with interest in Turkey. His knowledge of international politics and of the Far and Middle East, in particular, is evident. It is known that not only his own articles but also those which he writes with the pen name Taha Kivanc are followed with utmost attention. He owes this wide readership is undoubtedly to his high professional credentials. He continues his courageous and fearless attitude in his articles despite the criticism.

He is a journalist who is not shy to write about the delicate issues in Turkey. Consequently, a number of unfortunate events befell him. One example was the "Comment of the Day" on Kanal 7. Furthermore, Koru was to narrate during that program how his conversation had been listened to earlier that evening. During dinner at a kebap restaurant in Ankara, someone had dropped an ear on his conversation with Virtue Party (FP) deputy Nazli Ilicak and journalist Emin Sirin, and the event had been conveyed to a friend of his. Koru heard about the event from his friend. But he was not allowed to narrate this "tapping" story to the television audience, who had to watch the television ads instead of Koru.

Journalism with a twist

Although he is known as one of the prominent names of the right-wing press, Koru has won readers from all sections of society with his objective journalism. Someone who does not want to suffer pressure on his intellectual work, he works at the daily Yeni Safak where his articles are not censured. But he regards the daily Hurriyet as the "newspaper of record" and reads it every day. He is strongly attached to his religion, and is known for his calmness and honesty. He fervently believes in the public's right to be informed. His "Behind the Scenes" articles, signed Taha Kivanc, in particular are very widely read.

We learn from his own articles that he enjoys "small happinesses." Just like his joy over the publication of a Hurriyet article on March 8 Women's Day in the British daily The Guardian... He shares the joy of his colleagues and is saddened over their problems and the injustice they face. He has written objectively his appreciation for Zeynep Atikan, who was dismissed from the daily Hurriyet. His protection of dismissed journalists and questioning of the liquidation process in the press indicate that he is a brave journalist.

Taha Kivanc is actually Fehmi Koru's pseudonym. He shows the courage to use a pen name, which is a first in Turkish journalism. He does not care about popularity. Recently, Kivanc's articles have sometimes been more widely read than Koru's. People feel the need to tell Koru, "Please do not tell this to Taha Kivanc."

He uses his pen name when he conducts research on an issue, and writes on topics that are little known and according to some, are suspect. He believes that Kivanc projects on the future and makes predictions. He has written a book called "The Notebook of Taha Kivanc," where daily events from the world and Turkey are reflected from Kivanc's perspective.

This is the portrait of a journalist who reads, reflects, "lights a candle" to dispel the dark and will not be forgotten by the media... Even the thought that such a journalist may be sentenced for expressing his thoughts is saddening. Recently in Turkey, we have witnessed the acquittal of people who were tried for Article 312. We hope that writer-journalist Koru will be acquitted just like writer Mehmet Uzun and bishop of the Assyrian Ancient Virgin Mary Church Yusuf Akbulut.

The Turkish Daily News had the opportunity to interview Koru.

TDN: If I am not mistaken, this is the first time for you to be charged for offenses described in Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code. As a journalist, how would you describe this experience?

FEHMI KORU: Society and writers like us are actually not aware under which conditions and against whom this article may be utilized, because it has been used too much during the last five to six years and has come up mostly against politicians. Of course since I myself am now on trial, I reflect on the issue. I expressed my views against this article ever since it was promulgated. But since I am now personally impacted, I am also interested in the legal aspect. I see that it is really not a very intelligent attitude to have such an article in a country that claims to be democratic. This is why I think that those who say that "There is need for Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code" are embarrassing Turkey.

TDN: How do you evaluate the approach of the political parties to the freedom of conscience in Turkey?

KORU: There is not much of a struggle for democracy in Turkey. No one makes an effort even in areas that are most familiar. Political parties are also not sufficiently sensitive particularly with regard to articles that restrict the freedom of another person. I believe that there are not double but multiple standards in this area. The Virtue Party is most often impacted by this article. It is natural that it should be concerned with the future of Article 312, but the other parties are not making much of an effort, although the same article can be used against them or other parties in the future.

TDN: You mean the third paragraph of Article 312, don't you?

KORU: Yes. Almost all of the paragraphs of this article have been drafted so they can be used against any party. That is why I am of the opinion that the work of political parties to expand the range of freedoms will not be sufficient in a legal framework of which this article makes part. By the way, we are of course not only talking about this article. It is in fact said that there are a number of articles restricting the freedom of the press in Turkey. This is what research indicates. That is why it is hard to claim that the press is free in an environment where such laws and articles exist.

TDN: What is the level of personal freedoms and rights in the context of the freedom of conscience in Turkey? As a journalist, do you have any initiatives in this area?

KORU: In fact, the only thing I can do is to write about these issues. In addition, I demonstrated my solidarity in other cases. But I am of the opinion that it is very difficult to defend the freedom of the media in a country like Turkey, which has a number of restrictions on freedoms, and the freedom of conscience and expression in particular, in its books. People are brought to court either for ethnic or religious discrimination. These articles are laid down in such an arbitrary manner that other courts then hand down different verdicts.

TDN: People who are tried for the expression of their thoughts are just starting to unite in Turkey. What should be done, and what should civil society organizations in particular do?

KORU: First of all, it is certain that a lot of things are not done. Even among journalists, there are those who manage to discriminate. Look at the number of journalists in jail and others who are on trial for their thoughts. When the freedom of conscience comes up, some people seek to limit it to a kind of journalism that operates only within certain criteria.

But I am of the opinion that everyone who was tried for his/her thoughts is a victim of the restrictions on the freedom of conscience. And I do not deem the work to end their problems and victimization sufficient. The press has a lot to do. They are the first to be impacted. A restricted plane... Nothing or very little is done to expand it. On the other hand, concern with the freedom of conscience ranks very low in the priorities of the media because of its structural problems. In that respect, we are going through an unfortunate period.

TDN: Why is the press not free in Turkey?

KORU: A statement like "It is not free enough" may sound biased coming from me. But such are the facts. We all know that we face a mechanism of self-censure resulting from the structural dysfunctions of the press when we work, try to reach some news and write our articles. Either there is censure at the administrative level [of the newspaper], or we may be tried because of a narrow interpretation of the law.

TDN: Based on your experience and observations, can you tell us if there is a mechanism in Turkey that determines who will write?

KORU: The newspaper administration is in fact very important. But this is not the sole factor in the restriction of journalists and writers. At the same time, we are writing on a highly circumscribed plane. We are surrounded by prohibitions which restrict freedoms in a manner unprecedented in developed countries. Amidst all this, the members of the press are really performing a very arduous duty in Turkey.

TDN: What do you think are the primary causes of the dismissal of journalists in Turkey?

KORU: As it is, the media is organized according to the boss. That is why their decisions closely impact the media. The boss perhaps does not make money from the press or television journalism. But his position opens other ways of making money for him. When these avenues disappear or journalism is no longer lucrative, he forgets that journalism is about informing the public. And he seeks measures to forestall harm. The most obvious point is the collective dismissals of late. They can no longer benefit from the power of politics. This is not a political context where they can draw advantages from being a media boss. This is why we see collective dismissals starting with reporters who have the most difficult jobs, and authors who are known for their liberal ideas and for expressing their views loudly and clearly whenever freedoms are circumscribed. This is the process in big newspapers that sell a lot. Our most liberal authors are now unemployed. Our young colleagues in big newspapers who could have been very useful in the future are no longer working. We know that over three thousand and perhaps as many as four thousand journalists are unemployed. This is really very sad.

TDN: Journalism is nearly a full-time job. Are you able to spare some time for yourself?

KORU: Of course there is time that I use for myself, that is to read and seek to understand the events in Turkey and the world. But I think a large part of the day is spent on writing, on collecting information for tomorrow's article. Even the time I spend reading and watching television can be regarded as work for future articles. That is why the conception that journalism is a full-day affair is reflected in my private life as well.

What do jurists say about Article 312?

[HH] We talked with jurists Turgut Kazan and Ergin Cinmen about Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code and asked them how the problems resulting from the enforcement of this article should be discussed in Turkey, and what kind of action should be taken. Kazan and Cinmen pointed out that similar articles exist all over the world. But they noted that the implementation and interpretation of this article in Turkey differed from the criteria laid down by the European Human Rights Court.

Former Istanbul bar chairman Turgut Kazan: 'You have to let people express their thoughts, whether you like it or not, whether you are angry and not'
"Turkey has a serious problem with regard to Article 312. This problem results from the inability of Turkish courts to think in parallel with their international counterparts. Turkey accepted a European system and became part of it. It said that it was part of this system and signed certain conventions. But its own system does not take heed of the basic court decisions in Europe. People are not aware of this even if it is made very explicit. That is the root of the problem, I think.

"In fact articles like 312 exist all over the world with minor differences. They are necessary to prevent the propagation of religious and racial enmity. If these factors are not present in thought, the Turkish court should notice it. But how will it?

"How does the European Human Rights Courts interpret the freedom of expression? Turkish courts will first read and learn this, and then will they pass decisions in line with those of the European court. The main threat for a democratic regime is to praise a violent event and to propagate racial or religious enmity. Such propaganda would do major damage on democracy. I am basically saying that you can punish people in this framework. I don't know Mr. Koru's speech and I don't think that he will do something like this. You have to let people express their thoughts, whether you like it or not, whether you are angry and not. As long as the limits are respected...

"Article 312 can be interpreted in different ways. My impression is that things are done to please the world, while the Turkish legal system should have accustomed itself to interpreting the law in this way on its own volition. Similar verdicts should have been passed for all citizens of the Turkish Republic, and not just because foreigners are interested. This would be correct, this is what we deserve."