Cemil Çiçek’s Penis Politics

Cemil Çiçek, a center right politician but with an intense nationalist tendency, who could cling to AKP’s rise and who always gets important positions the government reiterated recently a crude, primitive statement about PKK members: Most of them are not circumsion. So he implies PKK members are probably Armenians. He continues to deny Kurdish existence. … Read more

HSYK’s latest judiciary coup attempt, PKK’s ceasefire, Increasing unemployment rates… Towards referendum (6)

Kadir Özbek, head of HSYK, acts like an opposition leader… Ergenekon shadow persists over top jurists, courts Today’s Zaman The suspicious incidents are believed to be the work of Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal organization accused of working to overthrow the government. … Ergenekon suspects intimidate judges with compensation claims Today’s Zaman More and more efforts … Read more

While I am on a trip, PKK declared ceasefire…

It is a “Ramazan ceasefire” but it seems that negotiations behind the doors continue, I am glad, many are glad, nationalists are whining as usual… In the following roundup, there are pieces on the referendum, an article on the Ergenekon Case from Open Democracy, and more stuff…

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We now have new top army chiefs

looks like a deal cut in favor civilian authorities…

New chief of staff:

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Işık Koşaner

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Erdal Ceylanoğlu: New land forces commander

Thus hawkish Hasan Iğsız who was accepted to be the land forces commander is gone for good…

Turkish government, military reach deal over top posts

from Hurriyet Dailynews
The Turkish government and the military reached a deal Sunday night over the appointment of top army chiefs after days of uncertainty last week.

Turkey names new military chiefs

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Turkey’s government appoints generals to two top posts, ending a stand-off with the military.

Turkey’s government, military reach agreement on filling top armed forces posts

from Yahoo news
Turkey’s government and military have reached a deal on appointing the two top military positions an agreement that highlights growing civilian authority over a military that once shaped…

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Erkan states the obvious: YES in the Referendum- Towards Referendum (5)

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* The myth of consensus. Some oppose to the changes stating that changes were not made through consensus. As if any constitution was ever made by consensus in Turkey. In fact, a major constitutional change led by a ruling government which was at least elected is a first in Turkish history…
* If AKP was able to cooperate with CHP, MHP and BDP, would there be better changes? I don’t think so. Turkish opposition is far behind AKP in terms of democratic reforms. They are more interested in maintaining status quo through which they have a chance of existence.
* In abstract, all proposed changes point out a more democration situation. So why the opposition?
* Major opposition to changes is about the status of high judiciary and military judiciary system. At present state, they are closed circuit institutions, guardians of Kemalist ideology and a continuous obstacle to EU process. The proposed changes opens up the criteria to become a member of these institutions. They were instituted like this by the military coup d’etat regime so that they would be guard the proposed political and judicial system. Now AKP means to change it and I certainly support that…
* Thus “Independent judiciary” is a big lie. Existing judiciary system was built under military tutelage and is certainly not independent.

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Towards referendum (4): “High-level general called to testify as key military council continues”

High-level general called to testify as key military council continues

from Hurriyet Dailynews
The general expected to be named to head Turkey’s land forces has been called along with 18 other military officers to testify as part of the Ergenekon probe.

Turkeys PM Erdogan attends a wreath-laying ...

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (C) attends a wreath-laying ceremony with members of the High Military Council at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara August 1, 2010.? Read more » REUTERS/Umit Bektas

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – A critical YAŞ meeting

Turkey?s Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), where decisions regarding the promotion and dismissal of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) personnel are made, convened yesterday.

The trouble with Turkish constitution-making by Aengus Collins

Is Turkish constitutionalism losing its way again? There was an encouraging decade of consensus-building and liberalization between 1995 and 2004, but since the multiple crises of 2007 and 2008 it is hard to avoid the feeling that the country?s capacity for effective constitution-making is on the wane.

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Towards referendum (3): AKP’s blogging contest: Best blog posts in favor of Constitutional changes

Check out the jury members.

Dörtyol: It was a Psyop after all?

It is now certain that some military personnel was involved in Dörtyol riots. An arrested provocateur turned out to be a sergeant… He is released by the military court- as usual. Dörtyol riots started after PKK members killed 4 policemen in town. PKK members hijacked a car  that belonged to the mayor of town who … Read more

Towards Referendum (2): PSYOPs in Dörtyol and İnegöl

Two towns whose populations are more intermixed due to domestic migration, Dörtyol and İnegöl have been targets of psychological operations in order to start communal strifes. This is a pattern that has been observed several times in pre-1980 coup d’etat. In the old days, Alevis vs. Sunnis tension was manipulated. Now comes Turks vs. Kurds tension. Kurdish populations increase in especially Western parts of Anatolia and this brings some social tension. There have been some other attempts to instigate strifes in recent years but İnegöl and Dörtyol cases that happened in the same week seem to be more deliberate. Mobs agitated by Turkish nationalist themes are mobilized after seemingly personal conflicts between persons that happend to be Kurds and Turks.

Unlike the previous cases, government acted swiftly this time and there have been arrrests in İnegöl and security forces patrol the city. Mobs are cowards. When they see security forces at work, they back down. In fact, in most of the cases, security forces are “called to wait” and then come the massacres. This time the government will not let this happen. It seems. Well, apparently these operations aim to destabilize the country and calls for “law and order” regime. Not more democratizations…

In the mean time, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu who emerged as a symbol of hope for some in opposition continue to embarrass himself with ridicilous allegations.. That’s the best CHP  could reach…

In the mean time, judiciary battles continue.  There is a warrant to arrest 102 active and retired military officials although it is not executed yet… We will see the drama unravel in the next days…

Unrest against Kurdish Population in Hatay

from Bianet :: English
Four police officers were killed in an attack on a police car in the south-eastern city of Dörtyolu; the party building of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party was burned; shops owned by Kurds were demolished. Tension is still rising high in the region.

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Towards Referendum (1): a roundup

Unfortunately, I could not find an English translation of proposed changes. I am working on it. You can find a documents where all changes in Turkish are listed. Besides, AKP set up a website again only in Turkish about the changes here. I will declare my official position on referendum soon… The list of constitutional … Read more

Good news: Turkey passes law to keep Kurdish children out of jail

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Turkey passes law to keep Kurdish children out of jail

from Yahoo news
Turkey s parliament has passed a law to curb the imprisonment of Kurdish children who take part in violent protests, a practice that has further poisoned ties with the restive minority.

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Turkish politics roundup (2): CHP, Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu meeting, Internal struggle at SP…

Erbakan supporters call for new SP convention from Hurriyet Dailynews The recent Saadet Party convention failed to yield the expected solidarity, the founder of the party has said as his supporters call for a new convention. Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and main opposition Republican People’s Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu shake hands during … Read more

Turkish politics roundup (1): Referendum and judiciary

ŞAHİN ALPAY – Referendum to further consolidate democracy The military in Turkey staged a coup d?état on Sept. 12, 1980, held power for nearly three years and adopted a highly authoritarian constitution that reinforced the tutelary powers of the military and judiciary over democracy before allowing elections and the reintroduction of multi-party politics. Turkey’s Prime … Read more

Constitutional Court violates Constitution again but not prevents a possible Constitutional change…

Having the current Judiciary establishment in Turkey, this might be the best result. Now comes the referendum on September 12, the anniversary day of 1980 coup d’etat. Hopefully, coup constitution will get a blow that day…

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BÜLENT KENEŞ – Constitutional Court violates Constitution again

Article 148 of the Turkish Constitution, which establishes the functions and powers of the Constitutional Court, states: ?The Constitutional Court shall examine the constitutionality, in respect of both form and substance, of laws, decrees having the force of law, and the Turkish Parliament?s Rules of Procedure.

MAIN FOCUS: Turkish court blocks constitutional reform | 09/07/2010

from euro|topics

The Constitutional Court of Turkey has declared parts of the government’s constitutional reform invalid. The press writes that the court has once more overstepped the boundaries of its jurisdiction, but that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan has nevertheless scored a partial victory in his campaign to bring more democracy to the country.

YAVUZ BAYDAR – A disputable, but smart move

After deliberations which lasted almost 10 hours, Turkey?s Constitutional Court on Wednesday signed, sealed and delivered another historic decision which, although in part disputable, shines with its caution to not cause severe damage for the fragile democracy.

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – A mediocre ruling

Turkey?s Constitutional Court, which has sparked heated debates due to its controversial rulings in the past, has added one more such ruling to its record, annulling key amendments in a government-sponsored reform package that aims to raise the judicial and democratic standards in the country.

Court annuls key Turkish reforms

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Turkey’s Constitutional Court annuls key parts of government-backed constitutional reforms.

Turkey to vote on post-military constitution

from FT.com – World, Europe
Turkey’s government-sponsored constitutional reforms can be put to a referendum as planned in September, after a constitutional court ruling annulled only details of the most controversial proposals

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“Constitutional reform: a summary of key amendments

Serap Yazıcı Constitutional reform: a summary of key amendments by istanbulnotes Serap Yazıcı has a very useful article in the most recent issue of Insight Turkey, outlining the constitutional amendments that are currently with the Constitutional Court for consideration and that are set to be voted on in a referendum on 12 September. The most … Read more