NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 331

Serious Measures Needed Against Pollution

Discovery of hundreds of barrels containing dangerous solid waste in Tuzla boosts concerns. CMO Istanbul branch says its heedlessness for those who dont know what to do with solid waste insist on nuclear terminals. An environmental policy is needed.

12 April 2006 Emine Özcan

Charges Dropped Against 4 of 5 Columnists

The Committee to Protect Journalists in a public statement welcomes a Turkish court ruling on Tuesday to drop charges against four prominent newspaper columnists but deplores the decision to continue with the trial of a fifth, Murat Belge.

Oran And Kaboglu Trial To Continue

Despite a plea by BIHDK former chairman Professor Kaboglu for the case against him and Professor Oran to end today and here, the court has adjourned until 10 May to hear witnesses. Who from now on would write a report for you reacts Prof. Oran.

11 April 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

PM Erdogan: No End To Southeast Operations

Erdogan criticises Diyarbakir Mayor Baydemir for asking an end to operations in the Southeast and delivers heavy criticism to CHP leader Baykal who accused him on the Kurdish issue.

11 April 2006 Murat Güreş

Silent Protest From Womens Organisations

Kirk Oruk Womens Cooperative, Feminists of Ankara and Womens Solidarity Foundation hold silent protest in front of Human Rights Monument saying the mentality that shoots the Kurdish people is making everyone expressionless. The concept of violence is d

11 April 2006 Ayşe Durukan

Ozkok: Incidents Dont represent Diyarbakir

Chief of General Staff Ozkok inspects Southeast troops, meets Diyarbakir Governor Ala. Ozkok says developments in Diyarbakir not representative of the whole city and blames provocative elements.

Undeclared coup in Southeast Say Activists

According to the IHD Diyarbakir Report, 563 people were placed under custody in the city between 28 March and 3 April and all of them, including children, were tortured and subjected to inhuman treatment. Mistreatment continued on the streets too.

10 April 2006 Tolga Korkut

Greens in EP Condemn Violence in Turkey

Green leaders in the EP Joost Lagendijk and Cem Özdemir condemned recent violence in Turkeys southeast where in a week long disturbances 13 people including 6 children lost their lives. The incidents followed the funeral ceremonies of 6 PKK guerrillas.

Gays Forced to Pretend As Heterosexuals

Lambdaistanbul compiled a survey result it conducted last year among 393 homosexuals and bisexuals in a book called, Were Neither Wrong, Nor Alone! Most of the participants revealed they are faced with social violence and hide their sexual oriantation.

3 April 2006 Emine Özcan

Three Die in Istanbul, Two in Kiziltepe

Three people died in Istanbul in an attack on a municipality bus, while two died in Kiziltepe after police fired guns. Clashes broke out in Taksim after police prevented demonstrators from making a press statement.

Not Many New Approaches for Armenian Issue

New Approaches in Turkish Armenian Relations conferance will continue for 3 days witnessed the reproduction of nationalist reflexes and unscientific propositions: There is not more noble a nation in the world than the Turks.

17 March 2006 Talin Suciyan

Independece Basic for Women Liberation

Akkoc from KA-MER and VAKAD head Ozgokce, who spoke of the problems of the Kurdish women at the conference on Turkeys Kurdish Question, said there is need for the formation of independent womens policies for the solution of the problem.

17 March 2006 Gökçe Susam

Free Expression Falls Victim to EU Opponents

Using loosely worded laws that criminalize the denigration of the Turkish state, conservative secular nationalists - referred to by some as the state within the state - are challenging writings and public comments on issues they dislike.

Civil Society Should Handle Kurdish Question

The meeting on Kurdish Problem in Turkey brought together academics, journalists, NGOs representatives and politicians, who reject violence as a solution to the problem. Only 12 of the 58 speakers were women.

16 March 2006 Kemal Özmen,Gökçe Susam

Childrens Migration Is Always Forced!

Migration is always forced when children are concerned, because children dont have a say. Children undergo an unbelievable post-migration trauma. says psychologist Zubeyit Gun, in the Turkeys Kurdish Question Conference.

16 March 2006 Kemal Özmen

Kurdish Radio-TV Broadcasts Start

Broadcasts in languages other than Turkish will begin after a signature ceremony to be held soon. Television and radio watchdog RTUK has granted permission to Diyarbakirs Gun TV and Soz TV and Sanliurfas Media FM to broadcast programs in Kurdish.

10 March 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Prosecutor Sarikaya: Even if President Comes!

The Van Prosecutor Sarikaya, who has risen to the center of the public eye with his list of allegations launches against Turkish General Buyukanit of the Grand Forces, has said that even if President Sezer comes to see me, I wont meet with him.

3 Killed, 14 Injured in Van Blast

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway with police suspecting a possible suicide attack. Police have implemented intensive security measures in the city. The attack has not yet been claimed by any organization.

Semdinli Hearing Starts on May 4

The first hearing of the Semdinli case will be held on May 4. The Justice Ministry has launched an investigation on Prosecutor Sarikaya. The General Staff said that they could decide for the prosecution of any general, They havent received any warnings.

Reporters Accused of Making Fire-Bombs

Two reporters of the pro-Kurdish DIHA face lifetime imprisonment after alleged detection of firebombs in their car on the way back fro covering a mass demonstration in south province of Mersin. The court has declared the files secret.

1 March 2006 Ifex,Rsf

Academics Case at Justice Ministers Door

An Ankara court decides to ask Justice Ministrys consent to try Professors Oran and Kaboglu who are charged with violating Article 301 by their minority report on minorities. The two face five year in prison for inciting racial hatred.

20 February 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

FIDH Express Concern For Academics on Trial

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisations in Turkey expressed deep concern for Turkish academics Oran and Kaboglu who are charged under Article 301 for a minority report they prepared for the Turkish Prime Ministry

14 February 2006

Writer Hrant Dink Acquitted

Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian language magazine Agos -who was among eight writers, journalists and publishers accused of insult and interference in the judiciary was acquitted. International PEN is still concerned.

10 February 2006

New Charges Against Agos Newspaper

A new lawsuit has been opened against Journalists Hrant Dink and Aydin Engin, and Agos writers Serkis Seropyan and Arat Dink, charging them with influencing judicial opinion in articles written about the cancellation of the Armenian Conference.

3 February 2006

Campaign Against Article 301 Gathers Thousand

Nearly 4,000 people, including writer Coşkun Ak and others tried under freedom of expression laws, have added their signatures to the campaign that a group of intellectuals started last month to remove articles 301 and 305 from the Penal Code.

3 February 2006

Name of Domestic Violence: Husband Beating

Prof. Dr. Kocacik, head of the General Sociology in the Cumhuriyet University, said 46.5 percent of women are faced with violence. Beating, threat, and cursing are most frequent forms of domestic violence.

20 January 2006

Child Centers Against Sexual Exploitation

Applications centers will be set up in 10 provinces with the aim of ending the silence on sexual exploitation and to provide support for victimized children. A Child Sexual Exploitation hotline will also be available.

26 December 2005

Censorships New Trend Influencing Judgment

Journalists Sucu, Selcuk, Yildiz, and Tasci from Cumhuriyet are standing trial for reports on the Kiziltepe incident. 5 writers will stand trial in 2006 for criticizing the suspension of the Armenian Conference.

24 December 2005 Erol Önderoğlu

If Religion Is The Cement The Structure Falls

Suciyan argues that it is high time that Turkey cleanse the constitution of all ethnic descriptions and concepts of minority and majority, and adopt the guidelines of democratic, constitutional citizenship. Yet the PM still seeks a solution in Islam.

19 December 2005 Talin Suciyan

Pamuks Trial Adjourned Amid Nationalist Boos

The Sisli District Court judge adjourned the trial of Turkish novelist Pamuk until February 7, 2006. Nationalist groups accusing Pamuk with treason booed the novelist and threw eggs on him and supporters during their entry into and exit from the court.

16 December 2005

Writers Lament States Assault on Free Speech

They dont put people in prison any more. But they bring all these cases to terrorise us and produce self-censorship. Look at the Pamuk case. The message is, if they can put Orhan Pamuk on trial, I should steer clear of this stuff says Mater of BIA

16 December 2005 Ian Traynor

Reporter Duru Remains in Jail After 4 Months

Journalist Birol Duru of the pro-Kurdish news agency DIHA remains in jail since his arrest four months ago. He was arrested in the village of Dinarbey in southeastern Turkey in August, and charged with possessing a videotape of the Kurdish guerrilla PKK.

14 December 2005