NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 319

Website Released After 18 Days

An Istanbul court lifts the ban on acces to the website antoloji.com, implemented with regard to alleged defamatory remarks, after 18 days. After YouTube and Eksisozluk, this is another case where courts rule to completely black out websites.

30 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Government Rebuffs Armys Challenge

Turkish government, although in a mild tone, turns down the armys warning for secularism, saying they are the governments subordinate. Analysts worried of impending stand-off between the army and government, hinging around the presidential elections.

Thousands Urge: Government, Sign Kyoto!

Activists present 168 000 signatures to the parliamentary comission on global warming, and urge the government sign the Treaty. Turkey contributes so much to global greenhouse emissoins and is one of the few countries who abstains ratification critics say

Activists Prosecuted, Not the Violators

The security forces killed a child trying to trap two pro-Kurdish guerillas last year. Rights activists prepared a report and denounced the incident. Public Prosecutors Office files a trial accusing activists of degrading the military.

AKP Nominates Gul for Presidency

PM Erdogan nominates current Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as his partys presidential candidate. Ruling AKP holding the majority of seats in the parliament, Gul is expected to be elected in coming days while critics say the system is anti-democratic.

Abondened Ammunition Kills a Child

An abandoned ammunition went of in the southeastern city of Şırnak, killing one child and injuring three others. The Ottawa Treaty, ratified by Turkey in 2003 obliges state parties to clear all abondened ammunition and protect civilians in risky regions.

Magazine Critical of the Army Closed

Weekly newsmagazine Nokta is closed with an unexpected decision by its owner following two consecutive articles critical of the Turkish army. Editor-in-chief Görmüş noted that amounting pressure from the General Staff led to this end.

24 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

BIA Journalism Seminar to Young Reporters

BIA organizes a rights journalism seminar for a dozen of voluntary young reporters for the Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos. Following the murder of its founder Hrant Dink, last January, all participants say this is a show of solidarity with Agos.

24 April 2007 Ayça Örer

Çalışlar Receives Womens Rights Award

Journalist İpek Çalışlar receives the first Duygu Asena Award by International PEN centre in Turkey for her intriguing biography of Latife Hanim, the partner of Ataturk, founder of modern teh Turkish Republic. The award will be given annually.

Rights Organizations Protest Court Ruling

Human rights organizations IHD, Mazlumder and KHRP protested the court decision in the landmark case where four police officers have been acquitted of killing a boy and his father in Mardin in 2004. They criticized the lack of a fair trial.

Students Condemned to 60 Years Imprisonment

An Ankara court condems 28 university students to a total of more than 60 years imprisonment following the demonstrations in 2005 against the Council of Higher Education, which is seen as a legacy of the military coup of 1980.

23 April 2007 Ayça Örer

Police Acquitted on Killing Father and Son

In the landmark case where four police officers were tried with intentionally killing a father and his son in Mardin, in 2004, the court acquits the suspects on grounds of self-defense. Saying the court failed to comply to evidence, family lawyers appeal.

19 April 2007 Tolga Korkut

Courts Continue Blocking Web Sites

An Istanbul court blocks access to the popular online comment sharing site Eksisozluk on grounds it contained defamatory remarks about an individual. The ban has been lifted following sites lawyers appeal but this court action seems to get common.

19 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Three People Killed in Christian Bookstore

Three people working in a Christian publishing house have been brutally murdered in south eastern city of Malatya. 10 suspects are under custody. Its believed to be religiously motivated. NGOs protested the incident, international reaction arises.

19 April 2007 Tolga Korkut

Greek Newspaper Left Its Staff Precarious

European Federation of Journalists protests the recent closure of Greek newspaper Ora gia Spor, without any notice to its staff. The press freedom organization urged for legal action to protect the rights of the media workers.

Police Leaves Nokta News Magazine

Police raid at weekly Nokta ceases after four days. They searched all computers following articles critical of the army based on information leaked from headquarters. Editor-in-chief Görmüş reacted to the pressure, said they will continue as before.

Womens Film Festival Marks 10th Anniversary

Flying Broom International Womens Film Festival reveals this years program which brigns together films by women from around the world. Between May 10-20, the festival will once again provide a mix of activism and cinema for moviegoers in Ankara.

IPS in Turkish

Aiming at giving a voice to the voiceless and help create a better balance and flow of international news, Inter Press Service has begun a Turkish edition with the translation of selected articles covering issues around the world.

Huge Anti-Erdoğan Rally in Ankara

Thousands of poeople marched in the Turkish capital last Saturday to discourage conservative PM Erdoğan from running for presidency at the end of this month. PMs Islamist background fears most protesters that the country would lead to that direction.

Police Raids Magazine Critical of the Army

Around 50 police officers raided the offices of weekly Nokta following consecutive publications which revealed anti-democratic predispositions in the army, namely allegations of coup plans by ex-generals. Journalists associations protest the action.

Number of Women Increase in High Judiciary

First time in history, two most important bodies of the Turkish high judiciary host numerous women members. Eight out of 23 members to the Supreme Court of Appeals and five out of nine members to the State Council are women.

DİSK Invites ETUC to May Day Celebrations

Turkeys Confederation of Progressive Workers Trade Unions invited all European counterparts to join them in this years May Day celebrations in Istanbul to express international solidarity in defending union rights and freedoms in the country.

Two Journalists Complain of Threats From AKP

On two different accounts, two local journalists are complaining that ruling AKPs local administrators are pressuring and threatning them following their critical approach to the government.

12 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

17 Complaints of Torture in One Month

TİHV İzmir branch released a report covering March: Excessive use of force by security forces before and after the Newroz celebrations in the city. More than 80 people have been taken under custody and 12 complained from torture and maltreatment.

Army Chief Targets Everyone but the US

Turkish army chief Gen. Büyükanıt holds a press conference saying the armed forces are targeted with efforts to undermine its reputation and demanding political and legislative cover to better fight terrorism. Rights activist Önen evaluates...

Fear of Precarity Mistaken as Nationalism

Asst. Prof. Kentel says the recent perception of rising nationalism in Tukey is in fact the projection of a fear, resulting from the dissolution of the nation state and all promises related to it by the process of globalization.

10 April 2007 Tolga Korkut

Draft Legislation on Cyber Crimes Approved

A parliamentary commission approved a draft proposal which would regulate the crimes in cyberspace. The proposal foresees bans on websites which promote the division of the state or insult Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish Republic.

Journalists Suffer From Generals Coup Plans

Bakirköy Public Prosecutors Office launches an investigation into retired Gen. Örneks diaries which state a coup was planned by army high command in 2004 but not into the allegations, rather to weekly Nokta magazine which disclosed the diaries.

TGC Commemorates Fallen Journalists

Turkeys Journalists Associatrion commemorates 62 journalists who were killed for their thoughts and work since 1909. Most of those took place in the last 30 years. We call on the government to secure journalists right to life, TGC chair Erinç said.

9 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Same Case Two Courts Two Different Rulings

An Istanbul court condemns Cumhuriyet daily for quoting a main opposition party members criticism about PM Erdogan while another court acquitted Radikal daily on the same allegations. Erdogan urged damages for being insulted by those remarks.

9 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Media Watch Platform to be Founded

A media watch platform will be established in Turkey with the participation of experts, academics, journalists and NGOs. An initiative brought together participants last weekend. The platform will work on creating public awareness on media literacy.

9 April 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Kurdistan TV Correspondents Under Pressure

Based at the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in Northern Iraq, Kurdistan TVs Diyarbakır bureau chief Eren says they face discrimination and pressure from local officials. Were continuously surveilled by the police and receive anonymous threats.

4 April 2007 Ahmet Ün