November 25, 2008
November 19, 2008
"Altan Tan: Kurds’ love affair with AK Party ending
November 15, 2008
If only there were more Greeks and Armenians...
... Turkey would be a better country to live. Maybe we wouldn't have to put up with some rulers whose only skill in life is to be born as a Turk...
Murdered journalist’s son condemns minister
ISTANBUL - Arat Dink and the defense minister both agree that the population exchanges involving thousands of Turks, Greeks and Armenians are what made the country what it is today. The disagreement is on the nature of the consequences."Gönül blunders in remark on history
ANKARA - With remarks in honor of Atatürk, the ruling AKP’s defense minister recalls the population exchanges between Greece and Turkey after World War I, attracting criticism for his nationalist language and the drift toward pro-state stances."
In the mean time,
Ara Kocunyan, chief editor of the Armenian daily newspaper Jamanak, poses for a photo at a printing house in Istanbul, in October. Jamanak, the oldest Armenian newspaper in operation in Turkey, celebrates this fall a hundred years of existence beaten by the undertow of an often tragic history.(AFP/File/Mustafa Ozer)
Continue reading "If only there were more Greeks and Armenians..." »
November 14, 2008
Remembering the military nation. Is that a myth?
The last veteran's death triggered high level commemorations.
A guard of honour carries the flag-draped coffin of War of Independence veteran, retired col. Mustafa Sekip Birgol, as Turkish leaders, army commanders and thusands of people attend a funeral ceremony in his honor at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008. Birgol, 105, was the last surviving Turkish soldier who fought in Turkey's 1919-22 War of Independence under the leadership of Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
November 10, 2008
Taraf daily under pressure
The latest pressure comes financially. After criticizing government, the paper is excluded from public ads - a traditional state weapon against small-scale press- and it seems that pro-government business also stops giving ads.
Pioneer newspaper hits headlines by breaking down barriers
A small but feisty newspaper with a skeleton staff and a backlog of unpaid wages is taking on the establishment and shaking up the compliant Turkish media.
Confrontational and not afraid to break taboos, Taraf faced down the military to expose the ultranationalist Ergenekon, or Deep State, group and 86 alleged members, including senior military officers, are now on trial accused of trying to engineer a coup.
Continue to read.
As Kemalist clergy excommunicates Can Dündar,
...he produces one of the most humane portrayals of Atatürk.
The film Mustafa demonstrates once again that Kemalist clergy (intellectuals, opinion leaders, cultural producers), cannot accept Mustafa Kemal as a human being. It is a suprahuman heroic entity. He has prophetic qualities. Any other portrayal is blasphemy. Can Dündar is a well-intentioned Kemalist but he could not escape being accused by these people and their militant disciples. I have watched the movie/documentary with a girl who started blurbing against the director before the movie and continued afterwards. This good work of biography has no meaning for her and others.
I would recommend the movie. It is too personal, it might ignore some of the social aspects of the early Republican years but it certainly gives clues to understand. Oh boy, those men and women around him in his later years are so familiar. He was surrounded by sycophants. He lost his closest friends and allies in political trials and he ended up surrounded with these people who would be the base of later cult of Kemalism. The cult was the reason of their existence and so they fed them. This still continues today.
Mustafa Kemal is a heavy smoker and drinker. He cannot sleep at nights, lonely and he cannot seem to have long term relations. So what? I would not lose my respect because of these but today's Kemalist clergy is socially conservative as much as Islamists are. So this portrayal hurts them....
Continue reading "As Kemalist clergy excommunicates Can Dündar," »
November 08, 2008
Another brick in the wall... Mr. Aksu replaces Mr. Fırat
In another upsetting news,powerful deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat resigns (or replaced by Abdülkadir Aksu).
Mr. Fırat was one of the top advisors who has been building AKP's Kurdish policy. He is said to be disappointed with the latest AKP moves and resigned although the official reason is "personal health issues".
The replacement is symbolic: the new deputy Abdülkadir Aksu has a notarious record in political life. As I had noted here, he was the minister of Interior Affairs when Hrant Dink was assassinated! And guess what:
He happened to be in the same post in four different governments and he happened to be the Police Chief in 1977-78 in Kahraman Maraş when the Maraş massacre happened. During his ministries, Muammer Aksoy, Çetin Emeç, Bahriye Üçok, Turan Dursun, Hiram Abbas, Necip Hablemitoğlu were assassinated....
HürriyetUnexpected leave of deputy leader shakes Turkey's ruling AKP
Hürriyet, Turkey - 33 minutes ago
The unexpected resignation of the powerful deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) could cause a change in the cabinet as
Continue reading "Another brick in the wall... Mr. Aksu replaces Mr. Fırat" »
Obama Presidency: A New Era In Turkish-American Relations?
November 06, 2008
For a few more municipalities...
PM Erdoğan gone crazy. His latest statements are unbelievable. He has explicitly supported citizens' use of weapons against protesters. He is riding on the nationalistic discourse even MHP does not use any more: Love or Leave... We will see what this will lead to. I am afraid that AKP now alienates most of Kurds. Mr. Erdoğan believes he has already secured more pious, traditional Kurds but he seems to ignore that religious Kurds are not like religious Turks. Every Kurd I know that does not support PKK still have a nationalistic consciousness. They voted for AKP because they thought this party was the only one that could embrace them. Now it seems this may not be the case. AKP might witness a big time disappointment in the region...
Prime Minister along with some other ministers...
In the mean time, militaristic propaganda knows no boundaries in major Turkish TV channels. Those respected anchormen/journalists like Uğur Dündar and Mehmet Ali Birand have spent considerable amount of prime time coverage from commando education centers this week! Just watch the prime time news, you will see what I mean. This week most of the members of Turkish government got briefed at the commando center!
No, the Prime Minister would not have said such a thing
Mehmet Ali BirandPM accuses intellectuals of cultural erosion, forgets about Üzmez
The prime minister yesterday accused the country's intellectuals for the erosion of the concept of family in society, but remained tight-lipped on the much-criticized sexual harassmentOktay Eksi: Quo vadis Turkey?
Where are we heading towards? We need to confess that we feel a sense of fear when we look at the prime minister's recent remarks and attitudes that support our previous concerns which have been raised in this column on related issue."
November 01, 2008
"New equation on the ‘Kurdish Issue’....
New equation on the ‘Kurdish Issue’ by MÜMTAZ’ER TÜRKÖNE
The Kurdish issue -- the country’s biggest problem -- is now entering a very different stage. Both sides of the issue have come to the fore. On one side is the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Democratic Society Party (DTP).Continue reading ""New equation on the ‘Kurdish Issue’...." »
October 30, 2008
"AKP’s Paternalism And Hierarchy, Not Conservatism, Is The Problem
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) is accompanied by top military officials as he attends an official ceremony to mark the 85th anniversary of Republic Day at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of secular Turkey, in Ankara October 29, 2008. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY)
AKP’s Paternalism And Hierarchy, Not Conservatism, Is The Problem
Turkey needs an urban, secular and liberal political movement that can successfully utilize the inherent potential of society to complete the modernization process while addressing the Kurdish and secularist-anti-secularist clash, according to Dutch historian and Turkey expert Erik Jan Zürcher.
Continue reading ""AKP’s Paternalism And Hierarchy, Not Conservatism, Is The Problem" »
October 28, 2008
"Turkish army defends response to PKK attack
These white dots in this intelligence photo is a source of controversy. The army officials claim that these are villagers and Taraf daily claims these are PKK guerillas. I just wonder since when villagers in Turkey are able to walk in such an orderly manner. Even our educated citizens cannot organize themselves and I am glad to see that our peasants in that photo are such a self-disciplined folk on their way to work...
Turkish army defends response to PKK attack
In an investigation of the incident, no flaws were found in the Turkish military's response to the bloody Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, attack on a military post in early October,Continue reading ""Turkish army defends response to PKK attack" »
October 26, 2008
"I’m scared Ergenekon will turn out like Şemdinli
Ergenekon trial will continue tomorrow. Not much expected from tomorrow's session. There is a round up on Ergenekon trial here. Then there is another set of round up on Constitutional Court's decisions that were released last week. Finally another set of round up on DTP leader's last week statements and Kurdish issue in general...
I’m scared Ergenekon will turn out like Şemdinli
The Ergenekon trial began last week. There is an expectation that some circles will try to sabotage the trial and dilute the facts. Propounding the views of those who oppose the trial prosecutors is also being seen as part of this plan.
Continue reading ""I’m scared Ergenekon will turn out like Şemdinli" »
October 24, 2008
2nd day in the Ergenekon trial
October 21, 2008
"AFP: Turkish trial against 86 alleged plotters opens chaotically
It has been three months and they could not even prepare a room to start a proper trial. Like the indictment itself, the court process starts in mess...
AFP: Turkish trial against 86 alleged plotters opens chaotically
Continue reading ""AFP: Turkish trial against 86 alleged plotters opens chaotically" »
October 20, 2008
Ergenekon trial starts!
|
I have been hearing in the news that the Prison is being prepared for this big trial for a month now. As a consequence of special Turkish planning mentality, the trial stopped short after it started because the room was not nig enough!
The judge adjourned for half an hour after he stated that was the biggest room they could find.
The list of accused.
Ergenekon trial becomes one of the 7 big trials in Turkish judiciary history:
MSP DAVASI: Necmettin Erbakan’ın Genel Başkanlığı’nı yaptığı ve 1981 yılında kapatılan Milli Selamet Partisi ile ilgili davada ise 1985 yılında sonuçlanırken tüm sanıklar beraat etti.
DEV SOL DAVASI: Dev-Sol davasında yargılanan sanık sayısında ise rekora ulaşıldı. Bin 243 kişinin yargılandığı dava henüz kesin olarak sonuçlanmadı.
YASSIADA DAVALARI: 1950-1960 döneminde Başbakanlık yapan Demokrat Parti Genel Başkanı Adnan Menderes’in idam edilmesi ile sonuçlandı. Yassıada’da yapılan yargılama sonrasında Menderes’le birlikte Menderes ve Dışişleri Bakanı Fatin Rüştü Zorlu ile Maliye Bakanı Hasan Polatkan da idam edildi.
12 EYLÜL DAVALARI: 12 Eylül 1980 tarihinden sonra da çok sanıklı davalar ardarda geldi. Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi davası ile ilgili olarak o dönemde genel başkanlık görevini yürüten Alpaslan Türkeş’le birlikte 392 kişi yargılandı. Yargılama yıllarca devam etti.
DİSK DAVASI: Barış Davası’nda aydınlar, DİSK Davası’nda da yüzlerce sendikacı hakkında dava açıldı. Aylarca süren bu davalarda da sanıkların çoğu beraat ederken, bazı sanıklar hakkındakı suçlamalar zaman aşımına uğradı.
DENİZ GEZMİŞ DAVASI: Deniz Gezmiş ve arkadaşları Ankara 1 Numaralı Sıkıyönetim Mahkemesi’nde yargılandılar. Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan ve Hüseyin İnan’ın cezaları 6 Mayıs 1972 tarihinde infaz edildi.
Under normal conditions it will take 10 days to finish reading the Indictment...
Kemal Alemdaroğlu. One of the accuseds. A big time provocateur. As a former rector of Istanbul University, he is personally responsible for spreading the headscarf ban and inciting the last decade's row on headscarf. He may escape from arrest in the end but i would not mind if he did rot in prison...
Ergenekon trial begins in Turkey 20/10 07:44 CET euronews
Ergenekon case: Trial of the century starts today Today's Zaman
Turkey puts 86 on trial over planned coup Times Online
Independent - Aljazeera.net
October 17, 2008
Turkish Establishment attacks Taraf altogether.
PM Erdoğan actively supported Gen. Başbuğ yesterday and today. Mr. Erdoğan was very offended by today's Taraf headline: "His Pasha's Prime Minister". He is probably just too happy to be seen as an ally of the army now. Establishment journalists today worked hard to attack Taraf.
To the chief of staff
Where do you get the courage to speak so recklessly, so impolitely and so threateningly? Do you even hear what you are saying?Who are you trying to scare? Do you really believe you can scare us? Let me tell you something in a friendly manner, general, please stop making such threats, such gestures full of hatred and anger. These do not scare us. Don't you understand that some people will do anything to make their country a happy and free one? Please try to understand this and abandon these efforts to frighten us.
Continue reading "Turkish Establishment attacks Taraf altogether." »
October 14, 2008
the Minister apologizes!
Minister of Justice apologizes because of the death of Engin Ceber. He said investigation continues in Metris Prison and 19 officials temporarily suspended....
Pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) deputies Emine Ayna (front L) and Ibrahim Binici (front R) hold Azadiya Welat newspapers, which is published in Turkey in Kurdish language, during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara October 14, 2008, as they are flanked by their colleagues (back). DTP deputies on Tuesday protested against a Turkish court's decision to ban the publication of the Azadiya Welat newspaper for a month.
REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY)Heavy criticism over torture allegations
Torture and mistreatment by the state have again come to the fore after the death of a leftist activist, allegedly due to injuries from a beating by police and prison guards. Opposition deputies criticizedOctober 11, 2008
"Counterterrorism perspective in transformation
Counterterrorism perspective in transformation by MÜMTAZ’ER TÜRKÖNE
Turkey has been accustomed to living with terror. This habit goes back many years.
Continue reading ""Counterterrorism perspective in transformation" »
October 09, 2008
"Will the commander resign?
Will the commander resign?
After the attack on the Aktütün military outpost on Oct. 3, killing 17 soldiers, something new has happened; for the first time people are openly starting to question the General Staff.October 05, 2008
"The verdict on the DTP is in the wind, but...
Ethnic rift and my retirement
Although I was not surprised to hear that there was an ethnic clash in Altınova between Turks and Kurds, this news hurt me like a knife to the heart.The verdict on the DTP is in the wind, but...
The Constitutional Court is about to submit its verdict on the closure case against the Democratic Society Party, or DTP.Fulya Atacan: “In Turkey the military say the State should not use religion, but they did it first
Black, long, curly hair and an open smile that often turns ironic. I meet Fulya Atacan on a hot summer day, at the beginning of August, in the Cihangir branch of the famous Kaktüs Café. The music is quite loud, and her voice is not, but my dictaphone luckily succeeds in recording it without too much back noise."Continue reading ""The verdict on the DTP is in the wind, but..." »
October 04, 2008
"Austrian vote sends shockwaves through Brussels: Should Turkey worry?
Austrian vote sends shockwaves through Brussels: Should Turkey worry?
More than once I had the pleasure of meeting with former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer when we were both representing European youth movements in the mid to late '80s.Smooth transition to optimism on EU bid
Discriminatory, conservative, exploiter: These were the initial connotations of "Europe" for a group of university students that recently gathered in Turkey's holiday resort in the Mediterranean --Continue reading ""Austrian vote sends shockwaves through Brussels: Should Turkey worry?" »
October 01, 2008
Sağlar: ‘If Susurluk had been solved, we would not be facing Ergenekon’
‘If Susurluk had been solved, we would not be facing Ergenekon’
Former Culture and Tourism Minister Fikri Sağlar, one of the most active members of the parliamentary commission set up to investigate a 1996 car accident that led to the discovery of links between the state and criminal elements, has said if a journal kept by former Naval Commander retired Adm.The ‘YouTube effect’ in Turkish politics by EMRE USLU & ÖNDER AYTAÇ
It’s no secret that widely used technological innovations fundamentally change people’s political behaviors. The Internet is one of the technological innovations that dramatically changed the behaviors of politicians, constituencies and political parties. Continue reading "Sağlar: ‘If Susurluk had been solved, we would not be facing Ergenekon’" »
September 27, 2008
" The high cost of anti-democratic fantasies
Macroeconomic indicators, released one after another, show that Turkey's economic growth has slowed and that there has been a sharp decline in inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Turkey.
Turkish singer Bulent Ersoy arrives at a court house in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. Ersoy, a popular transsexual Turkish singer, has showed up for the second hearing of her trial on charges of trying to turn the public against obligatory military service. Ersoy could face more than two years in prison for saying during a live television show that if she had children, she would not want them to join the army to fight Kurdish rebels. Military service is obligatory for men over the age of 20 in Turkey, and it is a crime to speak against it. Banners in Kurdish in the background read that:
'Long live the diva' (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
Kılıçdaroğlu and Fırat remain unsatisfied
The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, deputy leader defended himself against claims made by the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, parliamentary group deputy leader
allegations.
What happens when the military defines the concepts? by LÜTFÜ ÖZŞAHİN
Relations between the military and politics in Turkey have once again become the focal point of discussion following the recent press conferences held by the General Staff, additional arrests in connection with the Ergenekon case, a visit paid by the military to retired generals held in prison and the discharge of retired Gen. Şener Eruygur, who is also a prime suspect in the Ergenekon case.
Continue reading "" The high cost of anti-democratic fantasies" »
September 24, 2008
"Neo-Ottomanism and Kemalist foreign policy
Neo-Ottomanism and Kemalist foreign policy
Davutoğlu argues that Turkish foreign policy had been unbalanced, with an overemphasis on ties with Western Europe and the United States to the neglect of Turkey's interests with other countries, particularly in the Middle East. His vision displays familiar characteristics of "neo-Ottomanism," which builds on the approach of former President Turgut Özal. According to this view Turkey needs to rediscover its imperial legacy and seek a new national consensus where the multiple identities of Turkey can coexist. .........Continue reading ""Neo-Ottomanism and Kemalist foreign policy" »
September 23, 2008
Newsweek involved (again) in Turkish domestic politics....
After a series of hard defeats in the domestic front- in the last one, the new chief of staff seems to be taking easy for the moment and upsetting secularists for not immediately and directly acting against AKP- the dogmatically secularists are weaving their web abroad and working harder to discredit AKP in US and in Europe. Mr. Çağaptay is the embodiment of this situation- I have already criticized him several times- and now his ideas on the Erdoğan vs. Doğan Media Conglomeration are in Newsweek, a totally partisan piece. Mr. Çağaptay might be the most successful western-credited intellectual who managed to ignore any positive signs about AKP, which seems to have formed the most successful government and most powerful civilian rule since 1980 coup. Here is his piece at Newsweek:
Newsweek Turkey’s Media War The dispute is really a political matter—yet another attempt by Erdogan and the AKP to neuter a bastion of opposition. By Soner Cagaptay.......
Continue reading "Newsweek involved (again) in Turkish domestic politics...." »
September 22, 2008
"From'Lula' style to 'Chavez' model
although I do not agree with him totally, it has some relevance for sure:
From'Lula' style to 'Chavez' model
SOLİ ÖZEL:Six years ago Brazil held presidential elections as Turkey headed for general elections. Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party, deemed too radical, was the favorite candidate, and the Justice and Development Party, or AKP had a similar position in Turkey. International finance actors panicked. Lula tried to convince these actors that he would not make radical changes. AKP leaders, at the same time, were trying to convince international finance actors and the outside world that their party would stick to the market dogmatism and to the system..........
September 17, 2008
"New era signaled in army-media relations in Turkey
New era signaled in army-media relations in Turkey
Turkey's new army chief Gen. Ilker Basbug signaled Tuesday a new era has started regarding the relations between the military and the media.
Chief Of Staff Meets With A Select Group Of Media Organs
BİA - İstanbul,Turkey
Sedat Ergin, chief editor of the newspaper Milliyet, told that they had asked the chief of staff what their accreditation criteria regarding the newspapers
AND "New era signaled in army-media relations in Turkey...
Continue reading ""New era signaled in army-media relations in Turkey" »
September 14, 2008
"Memories of Sept. 12 coup still haunt Turkey
Erdal Eren, a high school kid, was one of the executeds...
Never without confronting Sept. 12
Sept. 12: Military coup, violence, torture, executions and lost generations.Memories of Sept. 12 coup still haunt Turkey
Yesterday was the 28th anniversary of a bloody military coup that took place on Sept. 12, 1980, the effects and vestiges of which still cast a dark cloud over Turkish politics.Continue reading ""Memories of Sept. 12 coup still haunt Turkey" »
September 11, 2008
Doğan Media Mogul vs. Tayyip Erdoğan; no one backs off
PM Erdoğan promised to open up new files by this weekend. As the deadline gets closer, no side seems to be backing off. Today Hürriyet's chief editor, Ertuğrul Özkök replied back/threatened angrily in NTV channel. Once again I have to underline: This is not a case of freedom of speech. Only this media mogul's own papers (and plus the staunchly Kemalist, Cumhuriyet) support their bosses at the moment...
A quick primer on Doğan vs Erdoğan
What is Lighthouse e.V? Lighthouse e.V. was a Germany-based charity foundation that operated between March, 2001 and April, 2007. Its director Mehmet Gürhan, his successor Mehmet Taşkan and
Continue reading "Doğan Media Mogul vs. Tayyip Erdoğan; no one backs off" »
"Yet Another Threat to The Turkish Republic: Postmodernism
Yet Another Threat to The Turkish Republic: Postmodernism
[Originally published in Turkish Daily News] Did you know that the Turkish military sees postmodernism as a “threat” that should be fought against? We all learned that about a week ago when the new Commander of Land Forces, Gen. Işık Koşaner, made a speech which summarized all the enemies that the Turkish Armed Forces despise. These included the usual groups: “Separatists,” religious orders, and “unpatriotic” circles. But the latter included a new cadre of treacherous citizens: “the post-modernists.” The high-brow general openly stated: “The propaganda network that consists of a postmodern clique of some media, academics, finance circles and NGOs are working in order to weaken and disintegrate national unity and national values.” He also added that these “postmodern” traitors are “manipulated by global powers.”Continue reading ""Yet Another Threat to The Turkish Republic: Postmodernism" »
September 08, 2008
Day 2 in the battle of AKP vs. DMG
I thought after yesterday's speech Mr. Erdoğan would not talk back immediately, and i spent the day out without recognizing today's speech until the evening. Well, Mr. Erdoğan gives "1 week" to correct the false news disseminated by Doğan group dailies. Mr. Doğan replied back in Kanal D to declare that his media will not be an obedient media in sum. I found Mr. Doğan a little bit scared. But only a little bit. He has a giant media empire, his journalists occupy many Press institutions, his daughter is the head of powerful businessman association, TUSIAD. Although he said last night "all state institutions belong to AKP, they can finish us easily, we know that things do not work like that. A leftist TV channel, Hayat TV was closed nearly all summer and no body could help that but DMG is not a small marginal media group and dynamics of politics is much more complicated. Never politically correct Mr. Erdoğan waited for more than 2 years to attack back, and only after the Constitutional Court case, he felt more secure to start the battle.
Mr. Erdoğan claimed that Mr. Doğan visited him and requested some privileges for the Hilton Hotel site located in near the super valuable Taksim square. (In tonight's interview at Kanal D, Aydın Doğan said "of course, we always have requests from the government, we do lots of business and we have needs to discuss] When he was rejected, DMG dailies began to attack. DMG is known to request some sort of airwave rights for CNN Turk. That is also refused. After tens of TV channels, anti-trust laws do not allow him for more airwave but Mr. Doğan wants more basically. Anyway, we will see new files to be opened in the next few days. In the mean time, in today's papers Abdullah Gül's visit to Armeania and the "battle" news competed in headlines. DMG's flagship Hürriyet replied back. Milliyet also. [circulation report of dailies are given in the end]
DMG's newly acquired furiously anti-AKP Vatan columnists charged their weapons like the ones above:
Mr. Erdoğan claimed that Mr. Doğan visited him and requested some privileges for the Hilton Hotel site located in near the super valuable Taksim square. (In tonight's interview at Kanal D, Aydın Doğan said "of course, we always have requests from the government, we do lots of business and we have needs to discuss] When he was rejected, DMG dailies began to attack. DMG is known to request some sort of airwave rights for CNN Turk. That is also refused. After tens of TV channels, anti-trust laws do not allow him for more airwave but Mr. Doğan wants more basically. Anyway, we will see new files to be opened in the next few days. In the mean time, in today's papers Abdullah Gül's visit to Armeania and the "battle" news competed in headlines. DMG's flagship Hürriyet replied back. Milliyet also. [circulation report of dailies are given in the end]
DMG's newly acquired furiously anti-AKP Vatan columnists charged their weapons like the ones above:
September 06, 2008
Now open warfare between AKP and Doğan Media Group (DMG)!
After a corruption case whose details given below, DMG papers and CHP started a new wave of attack against AKP and its leadership. As usual Milliyet leads the accusations. As far as I remember PM Tayyip Erdoğan uttered the name of "Aydın Doğan" for the first time and he accused him of not having moral standards etc. So far Mr. Erdoğan was using an abstract term, 'media' to attack. Now he narrowed down that to DMG. Doğan Media Group has been explicitly targeting for a few years and now AKP seems to have decided to fight back.
DMG has been continously criticised in media criticism circles and in Communication schools. The group papers are unbelievably bold against whom they believe to be targets. This might be AKP, or Kurds/DTP or another media group or EU leaders.Their newsmaking sometimes reaches the boundaries of libeling. But they know they will remain impuned. There is virtually not a single institution that can have power over this group. Because Press Council and many other similar institutions are already occupied by DMG's senior journalists.
But of course, starting with tomorrow, PM's latest words will be interpreted as a political intervention to Media. This abstraction will not help for the ordinary people. Criticisers will be satisfied with this cliche interpretation but this will not change the fact that journalists are one of least trusted groups in society. As long as there are not any substantive occupational ombudsman like institutions, the press cannot be assumed to be innocent.
<