27 September 2001

1. "Turkish MPs move to scrap death penalty ahead of EU membership", Turkish lawmakers on Wednesday adopted an article abolishing the death penalty except in times of war and for terrorist crimes, in a preliminary vote on a reform package aimed at strengthening Turkey's bid to join the EU, Anatolia news agency reported.

2. "30 Kurds killed in clashes with Afghan-trained group in northern Iraq", islamist fighters linked to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have killed at least 30 members of a US-backed Iraqi Kurdish rebel group in clashes in northern Iraq, the group said Wednesday.

3. "IMF demands "flawless" performance from Turkey", the IMF on Wednesday said Turkey's economy would shrink by 4.3 percent this year and could rebound with 5.9 percent growth in 2002, but only if Ankara is "flawless" in implementing its economic agenda.

4. "Toll hits 36 in Turkish hunger strike againt jail reforms", the death toll in a months-long hunger strike over controversial reforms in Turkish jails climbed to 36 on Thursday as a woman protestor perished in Istanbul, sources close to the strikers told AFP.

5. "A war of belief and power", Osman Ocalan, member of PKK Council of Leaders, called attention that for the first time there is a debate on the struggle of those having belief and power. Ocalan also stated that in a prolonged war USA would lose.

6. "Strategic cooperation with the U.S.", Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the effects of the developments following the terrorist attack on the US.

1. - AFP - "Turkish MPs move to scrap death penalty ahead of EU membership":

ANKARA

Turkish lawmakers on Wednesday adopted an article abolishing the death penalty except in times of war and for terrorist crimes, in a preliminary vote on a reform package aimed at strengthening Turkey's bid to join the EU, Anatolia news agency reported.

In a similar vote late Tuesday, the deputies adopted a constitutional amendment, which could allow the country's Kurds to use their mother tongue in broadcasting and publication. The reforms are expected to be formally passed in early October when the parliament completes lengthy debate and voting procedures on the 37 constitutional amendments in the package. The article regarding the abolition of capital punishment reads that, "the death penalty cannot be imposed except in times of war, imminent threat of war and for terrorist crimes."

The provision had been designed to exclude Turkey's public enemy number one, Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, who was sentenced to death for treason and separatism in 1999. Heeding an appeal by the European Court of Human Rights, Ankara suspended Ocalan's execution until the court rules on his complaints against Turkey.

Nobody has been sent to the gallows in Turkey since 1984 under a de facto moratorium on executions. The article approved on Tuesday, which is expected to pave the way for Kurdish-language broadcasts, lifts a ban on using forbidden languages in the expression and dissemination of thought, but nonetheless introduces some restrictions. It stipulates that the right to use any language can be restricted in order to "protect national security, public order and safety, the fundamental principles of the Republic, and the indivisible unity of the state and nation."

Legally, Kurdish is banned in Turkey, but authorities have long tolerated a series of magazines and music cassettes in the language. The European Union, which granted Turkey candidate status in December 1999, has told the aspirant that it needs to improve its human rights record, including cultural rights for its Kurdish population, before accession talks. But Turkey resisted the reform for a long time, fearing that such a move would fan Kurdish separatism and lead to the break-up of the country. The 37-article reform package also makes it more difficult to ban political parties and adds more civilian members to the country's top policy-making body, the military-dominated National Security Council.

A series of provisions aim to expand freedom of thought and expression and boost the rights of trade unions. The government wants to have the reforms adopted before the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- wraps up an annual report on Turkey's progress towards EU membership in November.

2. - AFP - "30 Kurds killed in clashes with Afghan-trained group in northern Iraq":

ANKARA

Islamist fighters linked to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have killed at least 30 members of a US-backed Iraqi Kurdish rebel group in clashes in northern Iraq, the group said Wednesday. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said militants with Jund al-Islam (Warriors of Islam), based in Biyara near the Iranian border, attacked the village of Heli Hama on Sunday.

Between 30 and 40 PUK members were killed defending the village, Bahros Galali, PUK's representative in Turkey, told AFP. The report could not be independently verified. Galali said Jund al-Islam comprised 250 to 300 members who had been trained in Afghanistan. "They have contacts with Al-Qaeda," he said, referring to the Islamist network headed by Osama bin Laden, the Saudi exile who the United States says masterminded the September 11 terrorist attacks on US cities.

Jund al-Islam is a radical splinter group of the Islamic Party of Kurdistan, and hostile to both the PUK and another secular group, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Kurdish sources said. The KDP and PUK, which are both supported by Washington in their defiance of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, are rivals for control of northern Iraq, which has been Kurdish-held since the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War. Galali said the Jund al-Islami practices the same strict brand of Islam as the Taliban, including forbidding women to go to school.

Following the attacks, the PUK sent reinforcements to the northern Iraqi village on Monday, but they in turn were attacked en route by the Islamic Party of Kurdistan. He said the PUK had since regained control of the village and driven the Islamists back to Biyara.

3. - Reuters - "IMF demands "flawless" performance from Turkey":

WASHINGTON

The IMF on Wednesday said Turkey's economy would shrink by 4.3 percent this year and could rebound with 5.9 percent growth in 2002, but only if Ankara is "flawless" in implementing its economic agenda.

The International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook publication, which takes the pulse of economies around the world, also forecast massive Turkish inflation this year of 51.9 percent before moderating to 32.7 percent in 2002.Turkey won a $15.7 billion IMF-backed rescue program earlier this year when it suffered from a massive banking crisis. The crisis forced it to float its lira currency in February, slashing more than 50 percent off its value.

Before the crisis, Turkey enjoyed 7.5 percent growth last year but inflation was a whopping 54.9 percent. The IMF's WEO said Ankara's "performance has been mixed" under its economic program. The report noted that output growth has declined rapidly, but there were signs that business confidence may be leveling off and exports and tourism are expected to pick up sharply due to the fall in the lira. It said there had been significant restructuring in the banking sector, inflation has shown signs of moderating and, after some policy slippages, implementation of agreed-upon reforms has "significantly improved." But problems remain.

"While domestic interest rates have declined somewhat, they remain well above programmed levels, reflecting continued market perceptions of high risk, as well as external factors including contagion effects from the crisis in Argentina," the report said, noting that high interest rates were putting economic recovery at risk.

"Given the still very difficult economic situation and the need to further strengthen external confidence, flawless implementation of the program, together with full and undivided political support, remains essential," it added.

The IMF's forecasts were prepared before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, which have roiled global financial markets and caused many economists to lower economic growth estimates across the board. Asked what impact those attacks would have on Turkey, IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff said it was too soon to tell.

"In common with other developing countries in emerging markets, there is some stress, especially from the flight to quality that we are seeing in the bond market," Rogoff said at a news briefing to discuss the WEO. "But I think it's a bit early to assess the longer-term implications. We'll really need to adopt a wait and see attitude," he added. The report comes as Ankara is wrangling with the IMF over key inflation targets for 2002 ahead of meetings between Turkish and fund officials in Washington in the coming days. This is a figure that must be set before Turkey moves to an inflation-targeting regime, a planned central pillar for future fiscal and monetary policy.

Turkey's pact with the IMF, agreed to in May, foresaw economic growth of 5 percent in 2002 and inflation of 20 percent. Turkish officials say privately that those targets may no longer be within reach, as inflation is rising more than expected and growth has yet to pick up as predicted. Analysts say the IMF wants guarantees that Turkey will meet its inflation pledges and accountability if it does not, as the Ankara government's record hardly breeds confidence. Turkey is due to present a letter of intent to the IMF in the first half of October to secure the next $3 billion of much-needed IMF cash.

4. - AFP - "Toll hits 36 in Turkish hunger strike againt jail reforms":

ISTANBUL

The death toll in a months-long hunger strike over controversial reforms in Turkish jails climbed to 36 on Thursday as a woman protestor perished in Istanbul, sources close to the strikers told AFP.

Zeynep Arikan, a 33-year-old former prisoner, died in a house in Kucukarmutlu district, where far-left activists have been fasting in solidarity with hunger-striking inmates, said an activist taking care of the strikers in the house.

Turkey's leading rights group, the Human Rights Association, confirmed the death. The hunger strike, which began last October, is against new jails, where cells holding a maximum of three people replaced large dormitories for up to 60 inmates.

Prisoners and human rights activists say confinement in the smaller units will alienate inmates from each other and leave them more vulnerable to maltreatment. The death toll of the strike includes both prisoners and associates fasting in solidarity outside prisons. Last week, a far-left prisoner, who was part of the strike, died in an Istanbul hospital from burns after setting himself on fire to protest a police crackdown on a funeral procession for a hunger strike victim several days earlier.

The Ankara government has categorically refused to return to the dormitory system, arguing that the packed compounds were the main factor behind frequent riots and hostage-taking incidents in its unruly jails. On September 10, a suicide bomber blew himself up in downtown Istanbul, killing himself, two policemen, an Australian tourist and injuring about 20 people, in a protest against the new jails.

The main architect of the hunger strike, the far-left underground People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), claimed responsibility for the attack.

5. - Kurdish Observer - "A war of belief and power":

Osman Ocalan, member of PKK Council of Leaders, called attention that for the first time there is a debate on the struggle of those having belief and power. Ocalan also stated that in a prolonged war USA would lose.

Osman Ocalan, member of PKK Council of Leaders, participated in a special program moderated by Resad Akgun on MEDYA TV with Middle Eastern and European politicians and journalists as guests, and talked about the attacks in USA and developments.

Ocalan stated in the beginning that the attacks shook all status quo. Stressing that a possible war is so dangerous to damage all gains of humanity, Ocalan pointed out that USA and its allied countries wanted put their all powers into use.

Osman Ocalan emphasized that radical Islamic circles would wage the war with their beliefs, calling attention to the debate on a prolonged war of those having belief and power. The Kurdish leader expressed that radical Islam has developed by Afghanistan and Usame Bin Ladin, adding that Afghan people and Talibans dedicated to Bin Ladin. Ocalan added, "Ladin is a statement of a big power and a power having the capacity to grow."

Ladin will get strong

Mentioning that in case that the war is waged and prolonged Usame Bin Ladin will get strong, Ocalan stressed that as a consequence of this there will be big sufferings. Ocalan continued to say that all values of Middle Eastern peoples will be destroyed and the only way is peace and democracy.

USA will suffer loss

Reminding that at the 20. century Britain tried to dominate Afghanistan and Asia, Ocalan said that at the end of the century Soviet Union attempted to rule it. Ocalan emphasized that the war in Afghanistan has affected the defeat of really existing socialism, attracting attention that now USA and its allies wanted begin the 21. century with Afghanistan. He continued to say that this alone shows that they have not taken lesson from the history, adding "If the war drags on, the biggest damage will be in USA."

Turkey tries to get benefit from the war

The Kurdish leader said that he considered the possible war between NATO and radical Islam and pointed out that both sides of the war would not want oppose the other powers and grow the other front. Saying that in this case they would not stand facing the Kurdish people, Ocalan called attention that Turkey were trying to get benefit from the critical situation. Ocalan continued to say the following: "The Turkish Republic tries to fish in muddy waters. It tries to sabotage the struggle of the Kurdish people for freedom and democracy. Turkey will be left alone. It can not get support from the world powers. It will pay heavy costs of its attacks."

The conspiracy affected Middle East negatively

Osman Ocalan touched on the development in Middle East. Stating that USA has claimed that it will solve the problems with the new world order, Ocalan pointed out that in fact it was successful. The Kurdish leader stated that the problems of Islamic peoples are not solved, adding that USA had the biggest role in the international conspiracy against the Kurdish people and this fact affected Middle East negatively.

Ocalan stressed that those whose hopes are frustrated would harm both themselves and the world, reminding that after their leaders are taken captive 5 thousand PKK guerrilla do not want give right to live to a world which denies themselves right to live. Ocalan continued to say the following: "If people have no choice they rebel. Hopeless people make the biggest rebels. We have witnessed the Palestinian revolution. There was a civil war, there were massacres. Palestinian guerrillas were left without hope and strength. And they begin intifada. Likewise Aghan people are hungry and poor. They have even right to live. Those having no right to live do not fear to sacrifice themselves."

Intifada and Serhildan

Underscoring the importance of a solidarity between Kurdish and Palestinian peoples, Ocalan asked for an alliance between them in order to solve their problems. He added "There is intifada in Palestine and serhildan (popular uprising) in Kurdistan. Such an alliance brings solution. We have got strength from the Palestinian revolution, we have learnt the guerrilla war and intifada from them. Such an alliance is necessary especially at such an extraordinary period."

There are problems in South Kurdistan

Stating that the Kurdish people is always to lead toward peace, Ocalan pointed out the existence of some problems in South (Iraqi) Kurdistan. He stated that the Kurdish organizations should form a unity on the basis of their national interests. Ocalan called attention to a radical organization called Jund Al Islam in South Kurdistan, adding "Radical Islam exists in South Kurdistan too, in case of a war there will be other organizations in other regions. Even if we do not form a unity for national peace, it is time to develop policies appropriate to the interests of the people.

6. - Milliyet - "Strategic cooperation with the U.S.":

Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the effects of the developments following the terrorist attack on the US. A summary of his column is as follows:

"How will the developments following the terrorist attack on the US, affect Turkey? This question was debated for days. At first, it was believed that this would create an atmosphere in favor of Turkey.

A reason for this assesment was Turkey's geostrategic location and that its importance would further increase by the new formation. A second reason was Turkey's experience in tackling terrorism for years and that the West has only recently understood the threat posed by terrorism. However, following these optimistic evaluations, recently people have begun todiscuss the new responsibilities and problems these new developments will confer on Turkey.

Particularly certain circles are recalling the Gulf crisis and saying that the flow of the events may lead Turkey into situations she doesn't want and she may have to adopt policies she does not believe in. Official circles state that Turkey is standing by the US in the fight against terrorism but will refrain from embarking on an adventure while trying to benefit from positive dynamics. To answer this question we have to analyze the issues Turkey is faced with one by one.

For example the Turkish-US relations; both Turkish and the US diplomats and analysts say that the relations can turn into a real strategic cooperation. The stance adopted by Ankara has displayed the place and importance of Turkey. Turkish officials believe that Ankara should support the US on the issue of terrorism. In cautious and measured steps Turkey can benefit from this climate. Certainly it is hard to determine what the US may ask or expect from Turkey in time. However, the analysts in the US issued the signal that
the Bush Administration is aware of Turkish sensitivity and will not request anything Turkey cannot deliver.

Therefore both in Ankara and Washington it is believed that Turkish-American relations will grow stronger and no serious hitches will come up during the war against terrorism. If this happens, a favorable atmosphere towards Turkey will reign in the US and the Bush Administration will decide to support a 'strong, stable and modern Turkey model' more actively."