Ergenekon at work. From Dolapdere and Tokat to Muş. DTP Closed (3)

I only pray civil authority will crash civil war mongerers…
Two killed at pro-Kurdish protest today. A shop owner machine-gunned protesters…
https://i0.wp.com/www.haberciniz.biz/images/news/bana-sik-dediler-ben-de-siktim-112099.jpg?w=900
This asshole who targeted Kurdish protesters with his gun, told under arrest that he was paid to do that… any surprise?
And did anyone realize that mainstream newspaper Hürriyet, which I quote extensively, stated in yesterday’s edition under this photo: “Citizens pulled out weapons against protesting DTP members”. This is the newspaper who is bulshitting daily about freedom of press..
Sine-i millete
Those DTP MPs who are not banned yet joined the others and decided to resign today.
PM Erdoğan claimed that recent Tokat massacre by PKK is part of a larger conspiracy against Turkey Democratic Initiative.  I agree him totally.
https://i0.wp.com/imggaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/LiveImages%5CFoto%20Haber%5CDTP%27nin%20kapat%C4%B1lmas%C4%B1n%C4%B1%20Taksim%27de%20b%C3%B6yle%20protesto%20ettiler%5CD15143218.jpg?resize=416%2C277
A group of intellectuals and artists protested the closure of DTP in Taksim today by lying down on Istiklal Street for 5 minutes.

Read more

Here Comes the Pain- Part II. Former military chiefs are questioned Today

Oh God, even an ordinary sergeant feels and acts like a God in the barracks and now I wonder what these Chiefs feel. Falling from heaven? While Western accomplices like Gareth Jenkins (a great critique of Mr. Jenkins’ report –Between Fact And Fantasy:- that questions the Ergenekon Trial can be found here in Turkish) works hard to spread pro-Ergenekon viewpoints abroad, judiciary process continues and today we reach another top point:

Oramiral Özden ÖrnekOrgeneral Aytaç YalmanOrgeneral İbrahim Fırtına

Questioning of former military chiefs in Ergenekon trial begins

Hurriyet Daily News
The accusation said no hard evidence has been found to directly link the top commanders to the Ergenekon gang, but the coup journals show that the

Turkey braces for commander’s testimony in plot probe (AlertNet)

Source: Reuters By Thomas Grove ISTANBUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Three retired military commanders were expected to testify this weekend at an in-camera investigation into a plot to overthrow Turkey’s Islamist-inspired

there is too much pain for the Ergenekon gang. Arbitrarily I named part I here:) A huge roundup follows:

Read more

Only 9 Years of Imprisonment for Lieutenant Killing 4 Soldiers…

9 Years Imprisonment for Lieutenant Killing 4 Soldiers

from Bianet :: English
The Military Court sentenced Lieutenant Tümer to 9 years and 2 months imprisonment on the grounds of “causing death by deliberate negligence”. Tümer is being held responsible for the deaths of soldiers Yaman, Öztürk, Altın and Bulut’un because he had pulled the pin from a hand grenade and handed it to one of them….
bio of dersim’s seyyit rıza below…

Part II in pro-Ergenekon lobby at work in NYT…

NYT continues to embark on a shameful mission. Probably due to tensions between Turkey and Israel, NYT began to hit at Turkey’s probably the grandest trial for further democratization. Yesterday Mr. Bilefsky’s NYT article re-apperead on the Ergenekon trial: In Turkey, Trial Casts Wide Net of Mistrust

The article is built on already notarious sources who aims at destroying the trial from the outset (including Süheyl Batum, a law professor from Bahçeşehir U)

Israel no longer trusts Turkey, Erdogan says | Reuters

Read more

NYT article relies on pro-Ergenekon lobby?

A new article in NYT by Mr. Bilefsky quotes extensively from sources critical of the Ergenekon trial. I have once noted the evidence question last year and I still believe it is a valid concern. However, there is a concentrated attempt to slow down or disorient the process and these people are certainly not doing out of innocent democratic aims. As the article underlines the issue is too complicated but it is not a fiction. It is real despite all problems, anybody in town knows that the deep state operated in this country and Ergenekon trial is here to reveal some of the facts. But of course it cannot be an easy process to do that and by putting “clouds” on the Trial itself, some Western Media production helpsthe anti-trial lobby…

Subversion Trial Puts Cloud Over Turkey

from NYT > Turkey by By DAN BILEFSKY
Prosecutors allege that an underground organization has committed dozens of terrorist acts and sought to topple Turkey?s Islamic-inspired government.

Plot colonel put behind bars over action plan
Today’s Zaman
Dozens of Ergenekon members, including businessmen, members of the military and journalists, are currently incarcerated while standing trial.

Cuntaya ?hayır? çıktı, imamlar sürgün edildi
A small scale campaign continues: Adding “Brave” to the name of Bingöl city. People of Bingöl was brave enough to reject the military enforced constitution referendum after the 1980 coup d’etat. In fact, it was only city…

 

 

Members of Genç Siviller (Young Civilians) and the Ankara-based Bingöl Culture and Solidarity Association (BİNDAV) protested the anti-democratic 1982 Constitution, a byproduct of the 1980 coup, in front of the welcome sign to the city of Bingöl on Saturday…

Read more

Turkish opposition is a major obstacle for further democratization

Yesterday, main opposition MEPs made a scene in the Parliament, of course supported by MHP second biggest opposition party which led to scuffles while debates on the Kurdish Initiative continued. It is unfortunate that these two opposition parties can and may actually stop the process….

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) ...

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs hold banners during a debate at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara November 10, 2009. Turkey’s parliament is set to discuss on Tuesday reforms designed to boost the rights of the country’s Kurdish minority and end a 25-year separatist conflict — moves seen boosting its European Union membership ambitions. Banners are all about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey from 1923 and founder of the modern secular state, who died on November 10, 1938 when he was 57.REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Read more

A list of "politically suspicious" websites in Turkey

Several dailies and websites quoted this list yesterday. I am not sure if this document really belongs (can be verified  like some previous documents) to some military officials and thus leaked.  I use it as a collection of politically oriented websites from a diverse set of positions…

VIA

Read more

"The people of the republic, the army of the republic!

Honestly speaking, I have a date this evening which is more exciting than any news. But as a self-discipline man, I neglect my blog and and readers and here will offer you another roundup on Turkish politics, with a particular interest in anniversary celebrations and Ergenekon case… There are also some links to good articles… Talk to you soon:)
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chief of ...

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug (L) are accompanied by military officials as they attend an official ceremony to mark the 86th anniversary of Republic Day at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of secular Turkey, in Ankara October 29, 2009. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Read more

The Republic is 86

Instead of self-congratulations here how we stand at our human rights record:

Turkey’s dirty stories on display – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Turkey

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
October 26, 2009

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion; however, constitutional provisions regarding the integrity and existence of the secular state restrict these rights.
The Government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the reporting period. The Government continued to impose limitations on Islamic and other religious groups and significant restrictions on Islamic religious expression in government offices and state-run institutions, including universities, for the stated reason of preserving the “secular state.” Authorities continued their broad ban on wearing Islamic religious headscarves in government offices as well as public schools. The Government also continued to oppose “Islamic extremism.” Religious minorities said they were effectively blocked from careers in state institutions because of their faith. Minority religious groups also faced difficulties in worshipping, registering with the Government, and training their followers. Although religious speech and persuasion is legal, some Muslims, Christians, and Baha’is faced some restrictions and occasional harassment for alleged proselytizing.

Read more

This is the logic of General Staff: Not denying coup allegations but accusing document leaks…

taraf
This time Taraf is not alone. Many dailies cover the news on the first page and not too military friendly this time....

Either resign or apologize by EKREM DUMANLI

The most heated debate in recent years has most undoubtedly been on the ?Plan to Finish the AKP [Justice and Development Party, AK Party] and Fethullah Gülen,? about which many newspapers had run and continue to run front page stories.

Read more

Social fabric roundup

trilemma: rotten, soldier, objector

çürüğüm-askerim-reddediyorum

A documentary from Turkey examining how gays and the Turkish military view each other in a complex and changing society in which military service is considered a rite of passage for every man. The Turkish army regards gays as sick or diseased and issue medical exemption reports to gays known as ?rotten? reports. Gays have to decide whether to try to get such a report, do their military service, or become conscientious objectors.

LINKS to DOWNLOAD HERE.

Read more

Human chain for Ceylan, this evening in Taksim

I have an evening lecture, I will probably not be there but let me announce the event for Ceylan. Another shame for the Turkish authorities. In the mean time, not much progress in the Hrant Dink assassination trial, censorship issues and a note on infamous Diyarbakır Prison. Erkan’s Field Diary offers a roundup on the darker side.

An asymmetrical war against the military

by ADEM YAVUZ ARSLAN
We have heard this so many times in the past, but we heard it once more this past Friday at the weekly press conference held at the military?s General Staff headquarters: ?There is an asymmetrical war being waged against the military.?

Read more

TURKEY 2009 PROGRESS REPORT

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

TURKEY 2009 PROGRESS REPORT

accompanying the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2009-2010

And another roundup on Turkey’s foreign policy issues and its place in Europe:

Read more

Turkey and human rights – Some progress and many setbacks

I am still optimistic, still, really. But there are not all good news here.
In the mean time: a first case. a policeman arrested because of assault to a young citizen:

Police Officer Arrested After Attacking Student

Efkan Bolaç, lawyer of the severely beaten student Güney Tuna, stated that 8 police officers were involved in the assault on her client: “Tuna was not
PM Erdoğan’s speech at his party convention was discursively promising:

This Star daily headline underlines the fact that PM Erdoğan named political outsiders of Republican history from a wide range of political opposition.


[CROSS READER] Democratic initiative leaves its mark on AK Party congress

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) held its third ordinary party congress on Saturday at the ASKİ Sports Hall in Ankara.

Read more

So did you do it?

Ergenekon prosecutors asked the Office of Chief of Staff what they knew of coup attempts between 2000-2009:) News in Turkish. here and here.

According to an Hürriyet news, Turkish Armed Forces began to use its new slogan in army premises: “Strong Army, Strong Turkey”. This slogan has been debated recently. Pro-army people loved it, others questioned what that really means. Some suggested a change in places. Strong Turkey will provide a strong army not the other way. Not to mention the fact that Strong Army nations mostly remind dictatorships whose societies are indeed weak…

Read more