Dogfight in Turkey III: TDN Domnestic news

[english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl]

13 September,1997, Copyright © Turkish Daily News
  

  _________________________________________________________________
  
 Military: Government and armed forces should work cooperatively against
  fundamentalism

  * Turkey will never be allowed to turn into another Iran or Algeria.
 In association with the public and civilian bodies in Turkey, the
 Turkish Armed Forces will try to do its best to prevent any
 attempts at changing the secular regime
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
 By Metehan Demir / Turkish Daily News
 
Ankara - The Turkish Military, the government and the civilian
authorities must work in harmony and cooperate in an effort to
maintain the democratic and secular Turkish Republic against the
fundamentalist threat which is still alive and strong, despite the
resignation of the previous Islamist-led government, high level
military sources declared.

Turkish Daily News probed current allegations that there is
disagreement between the military and the government over the
government's policies on anti-fundamentalist measures.

The TDN confirmed that the military's sensitivity on the
fundamentalist threat is still at a high point but there is no
large-scale crisis between the military and the government on this
issue as was reported.

  Government is briefed by military
  
Military sources state that the current government headed by Mesut
Yilmaz is briefed and advised periodically by the military on the
radical Islamist threat in reports prepared by the West Working Group.
However, this doesn't mean that the there is dissatisfaction on the
part of the military over the government's policies related to their
anti-radical Islamist measures because the military -- as one of the
most sensitive bodies in Turkey to the radical Islamist threat -- is
merely performing its duty under the Constitution when taking
necessary measures against such threats in the country. This role
should not be misunderstood, sources said.

"Yes, during the previous government's term, we harshly criticized
former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and his former coalition
partner Tansu Ciller over some of their popular policies which granted
concessions in the face of the fundamentalist threat. We slammed them
many times at numerous meetings for dragging their feet in taking
measures against the growing fundamentalist threat but we do not have
the same complaint with the new government," said a senior general.

He pointed out that briefing the current government by reminding them
of the radical Islamist threat and of the necessity for taking
countermeasures, and slamming the former government over its poor
policies are two completely different matters. He added that these
should not be mixed and that briefing should not be regarded as the
military slamming the current government.

  West Working Group will continue
  
There is no reason to create unrest between the government and the
military as they are very pleased with the new government but of
course, the West Working Group is still functioning because, despite
the change of government, the threat of fundamentalism still persists
in Turkey," said senior military sources.

The powerful Turkish military is also waiting for further measures
including, the full implementation of the 18 anti-radical Islamist
points recommended by the military-dominated National Security Council
on Feb. 28, according to the military sources.

The senior generals add that nobody should stop action against
fundamentalism. Until the roots are demolished the threat will remain,
everybody should guard the secular regime.

  Neither Iran nor Algeria
  
The resignation of the former government which dragged its feet in
taking anti-fundamentalist measures was a victory for the armed forces
but further steps -- including keeping the country aware of the
continuing threat -- should be taken.

The Turkish Republic will never be allowed to turn into another Iran
or Algeria. Along with public and civilian bodies in Turkey, the
Turkish Armed Forces will try to do its best to prevent all attempts
at changing the secular regime.

They say that the state was seriously damaged during the period of the
previous Islamist Welfare Party (RP)-led coalition government. The
anti-establishment fundamentalist elements have been rapidly organized
in a systematic manner within the state and in the country, adding
that those which are like an iceberg, mostly unseen, should be cleared
as soon as possible.

  Message to Yilmaz
  
Reminding of Yilmaz's earlier statements that governing the country is
the government's task. Since there cannot be two governments at the
same time, the fight against religious fanaticism will also be
conducted by them, the senior general said that the West Working Group
will continue to work because the spirit of the threat is circling in
the country. He added that they should closely monitor and recommend
to the government the necessary measures to be taken, adding that they
will be done in cooperation.

West Working Group is a body specially established by the General
Staff last February after the remarkable National Security Council
(MGK) meeting to closely monitor the recently growing radical Islamist
activities aimed at changing the secular regime in the country. The
group is being headed by the chief of the General Staff Operation
Bureau (J3). Its planning team consists of generals. The intelligence
department chiefs of land, navy, ground forces and the operation
bureau chief of the gendarmerie forces as well as two major generals
of the General Staff are the key figures -- which determine the agenda
-- of the West Working Group.

The remarkable Feb. 28 MGK meeting lasted nine hours as the top
generals harshly criticized former Prime Minister Islamist Prime
Minister Necmettin Erbakan and his coalition partner Tansu Ciller over
dragging their feet against fundamentalist threat.

The reports prepared by the group on increasingfundamentalism in
Turkey are periodically being presented to the military top brass in
an effort to reveal the nationwide picture of political Islam. They
are also intended to enable the military to develop countermeasures.
The West Working Group is investigating many different spheres:
including various levels of government; local administration of
provinces and towns; the radical Islamists alleged efforts to
infiltrate the army; outlawed fundamentalist organizations such as
Hezbollah; pro-Islamist businessmen, who allegedly back the
fundamentalists; pro-Islamist media outlets; certain parties' youth
branches; implementation of the MGK decisions taken on Feb. 28,
pro-Islamist persons-controlled schools, and universities.

The DYP and RP circles have reacted strongly to the West Working
Group. The former interior minister Meral Aksener while trying to
defend her term in office accused the military's West Working Group of
being an illegal organization itself and of being involved in
preparations for a military coup.
  _________________________________________________________________
  
  Justice ministry prepares RTUK law amendment

  * Justice Minister Oltan Sungurlu says the ministry will open
 discussions on the proposal with representatives from all
 television and radio stations broadcasting countrywide at a
 meeting on Sept. 18 in Ankara
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara - The Ministry of Justice has prepared a new proposal to amend
the law regulating radio and television broadcasts, the Anatolia news
agency reported.

The proposal would alter the structure of the Supreme Board of Radio
and Television (RTUK), the watchdog organization monitoring radio and
television stations, which sanctions them if necessary. In addition,
RTUK members who have resigned will be banned from taking part in
active politics or being employed by a radio or television station for
five years from the day they resign.

Justice Minister Oltan Sungurlu said that the ministry will open the
proposal for discussion with representatives from all television and
radio stations broadcasting country-wide at a meeting on Sept. 18 in
Ankara.

Sungurlu said there were some issues emphasized by the ministry in the
proposal. One of them, he said, was on the punitive measures against
television channels which violate existing RTUK laws. The ministry
intends to fine these channels large sums of money, instead of
shutting down their broadcasts for a day or two, he said.

According to Sungurlu, the new proposal also bans radio and television
station owners from using their own stations to broadcast propaganda
for their own private motives. The amendments will also oblige the
RTUK to transfer the excess of its revenues to the treasury. The RTUK
raises revenues through collecting a certain percentage of advertising
profits from public and private radio and television stations.
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TOBB to face trial over opinion poll

  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara - The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB)
is preparing for a trial scheduled next week because of an opinion
poll it conducted among its own members during the former Islamist-led
administration, the Anatolia news agency reported. The suit was filed
by the Justice Ministry which, at that time, was controlled by the
Islamist Welfare Party.

TOBB Chairman Fuat Miras said the opinion poll asked the union members
whether or not they were pleased with the policies of the Welfarepath
government headed by then-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. "The poll
did not have any political purpose. In any case, the Constitution
allows us to involve ourselves in political affairs," he said. He also
criticized the former government for not resorting to the law to deal
with its problems.

"They should have sued us for our published opinion, in which we said
the Welfarepath government should step down. But instead, they are
suing us for this kind of opinion poll," Miras said. He added that he
believed the case will be concluded during the first session, which
will start on Sept. 16.

Atil Akkan, one of the managing board members of the TOBB, said the
poll was limited only to union members, and its results had not been
not publicized. He said there was a 90 percent participation in the
poll. Another board member, Saim Gursoy, said the poll was aimed at
helping political parties gain stability.
  _________________________________________________________________
  
 [LINK]DISK's tenth annual meeting begins

  * _Labor and Social Security Minister Cagan:_ If unions and workers
 still seek pre-1980 rights, it shows we have important problems.
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Istanbul - Nami Cagan, the Minister for Labor and Social Security,
said that if labor unions and workers in Turkey still felt a longing
for the labor union activity and conditions which existed before the
military coup of September 12, 1980, the situation indicated that the
country had important problems.

Cagan was speaking at the tenth annual meeting of the Turkish
Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions (DISK) which began three
days of deliberations at the Dedeman Hotel Friday.

Stressing that the government's goal was to raise living standards,
increase production and provide a just distribution, Cagan noted that
it was also aiming at realizing the government's debates on these
issues "in a democratic atmosphere and in a form in which every part
of society would be represented."

Turning to the unregistered economy, the Minister emphasized that this
sector would be taken inside the system and many people would be
covered by the umbrella of social security. He drew attention to the
difficulty of making the present social security system autonomous and
noted that work was under way to make the hospitals under this system
more productive and more democratic.

  Baykal speaks about inflation problems
  
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said Turkey had
been struggling with an inflation rate of 60-90 percent. Baykal
commmented that the reason for the high inflation rate was the lack of
political will in power.

Baykal warned that the policies of borrowing and price increases would
cause serious problems for Turkey, and said "as political parties and
unions, we must express our reaction against this situation with a
louder voice."

The opening was also attended by Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP)
Chairman Ufuk Uras, Turk-Is Chairman Bayram Meral, Hak-Is Chairman
Salim Uslu, Employers' Union (TISK) Chairman Refik Baydur, Motherland
Party Istanbul District Chairman Erdal Aksoy, CHP Istanbul District
Chairman Mehmet Ali Ozpolat and a number of parliamentarians.

DISK Chairman Ridvan Budak is up for reelection. Other possible
candidates include Nakliyat-Is Chairman Ali Riza Kucukosmanagaoglu,
Sine-Sen Chairman Yusuf Cetin and Genel Is Union's Organizing Office
Chairman Erol Ekici.

Among the guests are the Secretary General of the European Trade
Unions Confederation Emillo Gabaldio, representatives of the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and labor union
members from a number of European countries.

DISK was founded in 1967. It was closed in 1971 and in 1980 following
military coups and reopened in 1992.
  _________________________________________________________________
  
[LINK]President honors veterans and martyrs' relatives

Turkish Daily News

Ankara - President Suleyman Demirel gave medals of honor to the
families of 17 security personnel killed, and to seven veterans. The
president, who also presented one civilian with a medal for high
service to the state, said: "If somebody has to die for something,
then it should be the country. Nations who have understood that with
their hearts and minds will survive forever," reported the Anatolia
news agency.

Participating in the ceremony in the presidential palace alongside the
families and veterans were Acting Parliament Speaker Hasan Korkmazcan,
Supreme Court Head Judge Mehmet Uygun, State Council Chairman Firuzan
Ikinciogullari, Interior Minister Murat Basesgioglu, Supreme Court
Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas, Ankara Governor Erdogan Sahinoglum and
Security Department General Director Necati Bilican.

President Demirel said that martyrdom is to meet God at heaven's door.
"How happy must be these people. A person's most important possession
is life and when they die for their country, they become saints," he
expressed.

After the medals were presented and before the reception, the
president told the families: "Our martyrs leave you a great heritage.
They are heroes who will be a source of pride for you for your whole
life. They are our nation's honour."
  _________________________________________________________________
  
 'Mole case' hearing continues

  * Another defendant, Mehmet Tomruk told the judge that he did not
 understand which documents were stolen from the Naval Forces
 headquarters
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara - The Naval Forces Military Court on Friday continued hearing
the case concerning alleged spying by police to obtain secret military
documents.

Six people have been charged in the "mole affair," including the
acting chief of the intelligence branch of the Security Department,
Bulent Orakoglu. Others on trial include Kadir Sarmusak, the person
who allegedly stole the secret documents from Navy headquarters;
Mehmet Tomruk, a bureau chief in the intelligence branch of the
Security Department; and Ugur Kocaefe, a policeman who worked in the
same department. The other two military personnel being tried are a
colonel and an enlisted officer who are accused of neglecting their
duties at Navy Headquarters under Article 230 of Turkish law.

The court heard the testimony of the remaining defendants after
Sarmusak and Orakoglu. Tomruk told the judge that he did not
understand which documents were stolen from the Naval Forces
headquarters. Tomruk who headed a police office responsible for
monitoring Islamic reactionary activities, minorities,
ultranationalists and sectarian movements denied the accusations that
Sarmusak had brought him confidential documents.

Tomruk had a little argument with Maj. Mesut Kursun, the judge of the
trial, over the reliability of his confession. "I plead not guilty. I
never ordered Sarmusak to bring me documents from the Naval Forces
Headquarters. I have never seen such documents either," he said. He
added that his meetings with Sarmusak took place only for official
reasons.

Ugur Kocaefe, who spoke after Tomruk, said he went to the Naval Forces
Headquarters only once to repair an electronic device, and was awarded
by naval commanders for that. He was accused of having been handed
over the secret documents allegedly stolen by Sarmusak.

The "mole scandal" broke after press reports in July revealed that
Orakoglu had allegedly obtained military documents with the help of
Sarmusak, who was doing his military service in the intelligence
section of Naval Forces Headquarters in Ankara.

The military prosecutors demanded a 12-year prison term for Sarmusak
and Orakoglu and an eight-year prison term for the two police
officers. Sarumsak and Orakoglu are being detained in a military jail
in Ankara. The prosecutor is expected to demand a one-year prison term
for the two military personnel.
  _________________________________________________________________
  

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
The Struggle for justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan
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