TDN on Fascist violence in Turkey

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

Turkish Daily News,

May 14, 1998

  Ultranationalist attacks viewed with concern

  * Recent murders and attacks committed by ultranationalists in
 Malatya, Bolu and Istanbul create public anxiety
  _________________________________________________________________

 Galip Ridvanoglu

Ankara - Ultranationalists have begun to occupy a primary place on
Turkey's agenda due to a recent series of murders and attacks,
reminiscent of pre-1980 events. The Ulku Ocaklari Association
(Ultranationalist Youth Organization) was also known as the youth
branch of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) before 1980. At that time
many members were arrested and sentenced to various penalties due to
the crimes they committed.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) recently brought the issue of the
current attacks to Parliament. CHP's Deputy Chairman Sinan Yerlikaya,
in a letter to Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, requested the closure of
the Ulku Ocaklari. Yerlikaya stated, "We are expecting you to find out
those responsible for the recent fascist attacks." The Freedom and
Solidarity Party (ODP) and the Socialist Power Party (SIP) also
requested that the Ulku Ocaklari be closed. ODP administrators claim
that the police are backing the ultranationalists.

In recent years many university students have been injured due to
ultranationalist attacks. Student associations claim that the police
favor the ultranationalists by treating them leniently.

Umit Cihan Tahro, a university student, was killed earlier this year
by ultranationalists in Malatya because he did not fast during
Ramazan.

On the first of May, a demonstrator escaping from the police entered
the ultranationalist MHP Okmeydani branch building in Istanbul and was
beaten by party members who allegedly tried to throw him out of the
third floor window.

Two students passing in front of the Bolu Ulku Ocaklari Association
building on May 3 were attacked by a group of ultranationalists, some
of whom are reported to be members of the association. One of the
students, Kenan Mak, died.

According to allegations, the latest attack happened on May 5. Bilal
Vural, a worker living in Istanbul, was killed by ultranationalists in
the Seyrantepe district. His family and acquaintances claimed that
Vural was brought several times to the Ulku Ocaklari building where
ultranationalists forced him to become a member. They also claimed
that Vural was threatened and beaten by ultranationalists, adding that
he was killed because he was a People's Democracy Party (HADEP)
member.

  Reactions to Murders

ODP Chairman Ufuk Aras stated that Ulku Ocaklari associations have
become centers for assassination plots where attackers are sheltered.

The Teachers' Union declared that the events were not simple street
fights but rather were planned attacks. The union members, calling on
officials to take urgent action, said in a statement, "Those
responsible for these attacks committed them in the streets as they
were not able to do so on university campuses. We want them to take
their dirty hands off our universities and our students." Many
civilian associations also condemned the attacks.

Meanwhile, CHP Icel Deputy Fikri Saglar brought a question to
Parliament to be answered by the prime minister. Saglar, pointing out
the distinction between Ataturk nationalism and racist nationalism,
mentioned that racist nationalism was accepted as a threat to domestic
peace. Saglar expressed that the continuation of the attacks, despite
this fact, inevitably brought up in people's minds the possibility
that these attacks are supported or favored by some groups within the
state. Saglar asked Yilmaz whether an investigation into these events
had already started and whether he had made any attempt to ban the
Ulku Ocaklari Association and similar ultranationalist organizations.

CHP Ankara Deputy Yilmaz Ates claimed that the murder of Kenan Mak in
Bolu was not a random act of violence. Ates brought a question to the
Interior Ministry in Parliament concerning their plans to clarify the
events. Justice Minister Oltan Sungurlu, responding to the question on
behalf of the interior minister, evaluated the Kenan Mak murder as a
fight among university students. Sungurlu stated that the police were
following the events very closely and argued that there had been no
mysterious murders during the time the present coalition government
had been in power.

Meanwhile Ulku Ocaklari Association Chairman Atilla Kaya, in a press
meeting on Friday at the association's headquarters, claimed that they
had no connections with the group who murdered Kenan Mak. Kaya,
however, did not deny that the group was sympathetic to their
association. Kaya argued that some people wanted to defame the
association by accusing them of being responsible for the latest
violent attacks which have heightened public tension.

With regards to the demonstrator who tried to escape from the police
in Istanbul, taking shelter in an MHP building where he was beaten by
MHP members, Kaya claimed that the members present actually wanted to
save him from committing suicide. Kaya added that if he was in their
place, he would have washed the demonstrator's face, made him sit and
served him tea.

As a result of the murders claimed to have been committed by Ulku
Ocaklari members, which is known to be affiliated with the MHP, MHP
administrators defended themselves. They stated that they had no
connection with the murders.

MHP Deputy Chairman Sebahattin Cakmakoglu, in a comment on a private
television channel, stated the possibility that the murder committed
in Bolu was a conspiracy. Cakmakoglu said that the MHP never shelters
those who willingly take part in such violent actions. Cakmakoglu said
that even if some people could have engaged in violence as a result of
their momentary hotheadedness, the MHP intended to keep their youths
away from such events.

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
For justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan!
Website: http://www.ozgurluk.org  
mailto:ozgurluk at xs4all.nl / mailinglists: petidomo at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl
List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl