31 March 2005

1. "Turkey postpones key penal code reform but vows commitment to EU", Turkey on Thursday postponed the application of a penal code crucial to its aspirations to join the European Union just one day before it was due to take effect.

2. "Turkey's promises New Feature", since the European Union finally agreed to start talks with Turkey about eventual membership, there have been disturbing signs that the Turkish government is flagging in its commitments to freedom of expression and human rights. Both are central to Turkey winning full EU membership, and those who want to support that goal in Europe and the United States should lean on the Turkish government to keep its promises.

3. "Erdogan signals early elections", Prime minister calls on local party offices to get ready for 'anything, anytime'.

4. "Questions Over Ocalan Insult Turkish People", the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal has commented that calls from domestic and foreign circles to re-try Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan would cause more pain for 70 million people.

5. "Swiss FM to Turkey: Confront Your Past", in response to Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey's comments that Turkey should confront its past over the so-called Armenian genocide, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that, "Turkey is sure of its past."

6. "Syrian president quashes security court jail terms after Kurds freed", President Bashar al-Assad has quashed jail sentences imposed by the state security court on two students who walked free on Thursday, one day after the Syrian leader pardoned 300 detained Kurds, a human rights lawyer said.

1. - AFP - "Turkey postpones key penal code reform but vows commitment to EU":

ANKARA / 31 March 2005

Turkey on Thursday postponed the application of a penal code crucial to its aspirations to join the European Union just one day before it was due to take effect.

However Ankara assured Brussels that the move is purely technical and does not signify a deviation from the democratic reform it is expected to make before it joins the bloc.

The government rushed through parliament a bill postponing the introduction of the code by two months to June 1, bowing to criticism that the bulky legislation contains technical flaws that would create serious judicial problems on the ground.

The code, adopted six months ago amid much fanfare and praise, was a key condition that Ankara fulfilled to win a date for accession talks with the European Union at a summit in Brussels in December.

Critics said the government failed to sufficiently consult civic organizations and other interest groups as it steamrolled the legislation through parliament, anxious to meet a December 17 deadline imposed by the EU.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sought to assure Brussels that the postponement was forced by technical considerations and did not mean that Turkey's reform drive is slackening months before the country starts membership talks scheduled for October 3.

"It is out of the question for us to back down on our promises," Gul told reporters. "The reform process continues. There is no slowing down."

Although the new penal code was welcomed for introducing a more liberal criminal justice system, experts raised concerns that it contains flaws that may create practical problems.

The Turkish media also campaigned to halt the code coming into effect, saying it contains severe restrictions on freedom of the press and jail sentences for journalists.

Lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party said government agencies were concerned that loopholes in the code could hamper the struggle against smuggling and financial crimes.

The law, which overhauls Turkey's 78-year-old penal code borrowed from fascist Italy, won praise in particular for increasing penalties against human rights abusers and torturers and improving the rights of women and children.

"If this law had not been adopted, we would not have got the October 3 date" to begin accession talks with the EU, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told NTV television.

Gul said the two-month postponement would enable the government to better consider the views and demands of civic groups.

"This will make us stronger in the EU process," he said.

A Turkish diplomat said Gul would call EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to explain the reasons behind the postponement.

The harshest objections to the code came from media groups, which argued that it gives prosecutors and judges leeway for arbitrary decisions and re-introduces jail terms for journalists, although such penalties were purged from the press law in another reform last year.

2. - International Herald Tribune - "Turkey's promises New Feature":

31 March 2005

Since the European Union finally agreed to start talks with Turkey about eventual membership, there have been disturbing signs that the Turkish government is flagging in its commitments to freedom of expression and human rights. Both are central to Turkey winning full EU membership, and those who want to support that goal in Europe and the United States should lean on the Turkish government to keep its promises.

After he was elected in 2002, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the right things about democracy and human rights. He showed courage in enacting measures opposed by Turkey's powerful military. That led to Turkey getting its long-desired date - Oct. 3 this year - to begin talks on EU membership.

Given its atrocious record in the 1980s and 1990s, when torture of detainees was systematic, Turkey has made notable progress toward respecting the rights of its citizens. On Friday, changes to Turkey's penal code come into effect, including tougher measures against rape and torture. But the vicious beatings by police officers breaking up an International Women's Day demonstration in Istanbul earlier this month showed that the culture of violent repression lingers. And Erdogan has cast doubt on his commitment to freedom of speech by pursuing political satirists in the courts.

The government also shows signs of failing to keep its pledge to help more than 300,000 Kurds who were expelled from their villages by security forces more than a decade ago. Most are scratching out marginalized, impoverished lives in urban slums and only a very small fraction have been able to return to their homes, far fewer than the government has claimed. One of the main reasons, Human Rights Watch reported this month, is the menace they face from paramilitary guards the government has installed in Kurdish villages, who have been attacking and in some cases killing returning refugees.

The government needs to call off these guards and do more to help returnees rebuild their shattered villages. Many former homes are now no more than piles of stones covered in brambles. Schools destroyed by government forces and separatist guerrillas have never been rebuilt. Services like roads, water supplies and sanitation systems need to be restored. All this costs money, but help would be available if Turkey committed itself to programs that met basic international standards.

Erdogan's government cannot afford to be seen as flagging in fulfilling its promises to meet EU standards in the way it treats its people. The European Union and the United States, which need a stable and democratic Turkey, can help by stepping up their scrutiny, as well as their support.

3. - The Anatolian Times - "Erdogan signals early elections":

Prime minister calls on local party offices to get ready for 'anything, anytime'

ANKARA / 31 March 2005

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday asked his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's local organizations to be ready for "anything, anytime." Interpreted as an "early election signal," Erdogan delivered this statement to some local administrators of his party at a meeting held in Parliament on Tuesday.

Following the address to his party's group in Parliament, Erdogan met AK Party local administrators from various parts of the country. Held in a special room of the AK Party group area, the meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Erdogan said that the AK Party was founded on three pillars, the first of which was its the local party offices. Erdogan then reportedly told his party members that local offices should be ready for anything, anytime, including calling up party ballot box observers. He underlined that the AK Party should be sold skillfully to the voters so as to boost its chances of success.

ARABASLIK: AK Party's Kucukali latest to resign

AK Party Istanbul Deputy Goksal Kucukali also resigned from his party on Tuesday, reducing the ruling party's seats in Parliament to 363.

The number of defections from the AK Party since mid-February thus rose to four. Former Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu resigned from both his Cabinet position and the AK Party on Feb. 15, the first minister to leave the government since it took power more than two years ago.

Following Mumcu's resignation, AK Party Malatya Deputy Suleyman Saribas and Hatay Deputy Mehmet Eraslan also left the party. Erslan then joined the opposition True Path Party (DYP).

Known for his close links to an Islamic order, for over a year Kucukali has been the subject of a probe of the party's disciplinary board.

A TV show accused Kucukali of witness tampering. It was this charge that spurred the investigation, which eventually called for his expulsion.

Kucukali yesterday told a press conference in Parliament that he had been proven innocent and announced his resignation from the party.

“I am sad to see the AK Party become a party which acts contrary to its principles and rejects universal principles of law, justice and development," he added. "It has become a party dominated by personal vendettas, hatred and ambition."

Below is the latest distribution of seats in Parliament following Kucukali's resignation: AK Party: 363, CHP: 170, DYP: 6, vacant: one, independent: nine.

4. - Zaman - "Questions Over Ocalan Insult Turkish People":

30 March 2005

Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal has commented that calls from domestic and foreign circles to re-try Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan would cause more pain for 70 million people.

Baykal made a speech at a party meeting in Ankara yesterday (March 29) saying that because of the desecration of the Turkish flag in Mersin in the south of Turkey, the entire country had hung out red flags everywhere as a reaction. Stressing that this spontaneous enthusiasm should not be misinterpreted, Baykal said: "Many media have tried to distort the incident with headlines on the revival of fascism or pointing out the sales of the book 'Mein Kampf'. Yet, the fact is that the people want to defend their flag. It is a public reaction to an accumulation of injustices against Turkey over a long time. No one needs to worry, it is impossible for Turkey to be fall under a totalitarian regime."

The CHP leader criticized those asking for a re-trial of 'Apo' (the nickname for Ocalan) saying that the government had given no response to these developments. "If the government remains silent, then crowds filling the squares must speak. People want a reaction from official authorities against these disrespectful acts, but the government stays silent," said Baykal. :

30 March 2005

Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal has commented that calls from domestic and foreign circles to re-try Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan would cause more pain for 70 million people.

Baykal made a speech at a party meeting in Ankara yesterday (March 29) saying that because of the desecration of the Turkish flag in Mersin in the south of Turkey, the entire country had hung out red flags everywhere as a reaction. Stressing that this spontaneous enthusiasm should not be misinterpreted, Baykal said: "Many media have tried to distort the incident with headlines on the revival of fascism or pointing out the sales of the book 'Mein Kampf'. Yet, the fact is that the people want to defend their flag. It is a public reaction to an accumulation of injustices against Turkey over a long time. No one needs to worry, it is impossible for Turkey to be fall under a totalitarian regime."

The CHP leader criticized those asking for a re-trial of 'Apo' (the nickname for Ocalan) saying that the government had given no response to these developments. "If the government remains silent, then crowds filling the squares must speak. People want a reaction from official authorities against these disrespectful acts, but the government stays silent," said Baykal.

5. - Zaman - "Swiss FM to Turkey: Confront Your Past":

30 Mart 2005 / by Suleyman Kurt

In response to Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey's comments that Turkey should confront its past over the so-called Armenian genocide, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that, "Turkey is sure of its past."

Gul disclosed on Tuesday that the invitation to examine the Ottoman archives is also open to France and Switzerland. Minister Gul asked Rey not to allow the Armenian Diaspora to ruin the relations between the two countries in a meeting in Ankara. The National Assembly of the Swiss parliament had decided to recognize the Armenian genocide two years ago, and following this, Rey's visit to Ankara had been postponed. The Swiss Minister is also reported to have excluded the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) from a list of terrorist organizations.

Meanwhile, 90 members of the US Congress have called on US President George W. Bush to recognize the allegations of Armenian genocide on April 24th, which is considered by Armenians as the anniversary of the alleged genocide.

6. - AFP - "Syrian president quashes security court jail terms after Kurds freed":

DAMASCUS / 31 March 2005

President Bashar al-Assad has quashed jail sentences imposed by the state security court on two students who walked free on Thursday, one day after the Syrian leader pardoned 300 detained Kurds, a human rights lawyer said.

"President Bashar al-Assad refused to approve the verdict issued by the state security court against students Mohammed Bashir Arab and Muhannad Debes, who were released today," Anwar Bunni told AFP.

The lawyer praised the releases but called for the "cancellation of all verdicts issued by the state security court which is an emergency tribunal, as well as the release of all political prisoners", including six opposition members still held after being arrested in September 2001.

Human rights groups estimate that between 1,500 and 2,000 political detainees are held in jails in Syria.

Damascus, under strong international pressure over its long political and military domination of neighbouring Lebanon, has also frequently been criticised by international bodies for its human rights record.

Its involvement in Lebanon, from which it has started to withdraw its troops and intelligence agents, has put Damascus under the spotlight at the United Nations and brought a barrage of criticism, notably from the United States.

The freed two students, of medicine and civil engineering, were arrested last April in a cafe near Damascus University following a demonstration in the northern town of Aleppo.

The sit-in was to protest at an official decree ending the automatic right of engineering graduates to a job in the public sector.

On Wednesday, Assad granted a presidential pardon and ordered all 312 Kurds arrested during deadly clashes at Qamichli in March 2004 to be freed, said the official news agency Sana.

Those clashes pitted Kurdish protestors against Syrian security forces and Arab tribes in Qamichli and Aleppo, in which the Kurds said 40 people died and the Syrian authorities gave a death toll of 25.

"This pardon is based on reinforcing national cohesion... and the protection and security of our society and its stability," the agency said.

Syria is home to some 1.5 million Kurds, around nine percent of the population. They are fighting to have their language, culture and political rights recognised.

Bunni also urged the authorities to "take steps to resolve the question of the Kurds whose nationality has been withdrawn."

The Human Rights Association of Syria on Thursday praised the authorities for freeing the Kurds and called on them to "free all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, some of whom have been in prison for more than 20 years."

On Thursday, another rights group, the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights, described as a positive step Assad's release of the Kurds and called for "a general amnesty for politicial detainees and prisoners of conscience... to consolidate national unity."

The organisation, set up in September in September 2004 and headed by Abdel Karim Rihawi, has not received official recognition.

Human rights groups have repeatedly called for the release of detainees, the scrapping of the security court and the abrogation of the emergency law passed in 1963.

Last month, the human rights association said the authorities had freed 55 political detainees, while last December 112 political detainees, most of them members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, were freed under a presidential amnesty.