EU PROGRESS REPORT STRESSES LOCAL DIALOGUE
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 29 2006
Details of the European Commission (EC) progress report on Turkey
were leaked to press.
The draft report harshly criticizes Turkey over Article 301 of Turkish
Penal Code, which criminalizes insulting Turkishness, especially when
it comes to any discussion of the ‘Kurdish question’ deemed unwanted.
The report stated that Article 301 caused deep concern and the trial
of Turkish- Armenian journalist Hrant Dink brought out the negative
interpretations of the article.
It further warned that Article 301 might cause self-censorship and
herald a new approach to southeast Turkey.
The report again called the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a terrorism
organization and a source of violence as it did last year, and said
only a grass roots dialogue could normalize southeastern Turkey.
It was notable that the new approach came right after Diyarbakir
Mayor Osman Baydemir delivered a controversial speech in Brussels.
Problems facing non-Muslim organizations and Alevis were cited in
the report, but it failed to refer to the headscarf problem again.
The report touched on the Cyprus declaration released by the European
Union on Sept. 21, 2005 and Turkey’s action plan regarding the
Cyprus issue.
The draft did not suggest anything over the Cyprus issue, and it is
not clear what kind of suggestions would be included in the strategy
document.
The Commission report is open to modification until its release on
Nov. 8.
The report mentioned a spate of incidents that broke out in Diyarbakir
during the funeral of several PKK members and spread to neighboring
cities, as well as bombings in the town of Semdinli and the following
arrest of two noncommissioned officers who carried out the attack.
It also mentioned the dismissal of prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya, who
prepared Semdinli indictment.
Headlines from the Report:
Southeast Turkey: Only a grass roots dialogue can normalize southeast
Turkey.
Two local TV channels in Diyarbakir and a radio station in Sanliurfa
were permitted to broadcast in Kurdish.
However, time restrictions continue apart from film and music programs,
and obligatory Turkish subtitles cause technical difficulties.
Non-Turkish children cannot learn their native languages at official
Turkish schools.
No progress has been recorded in regards to compensating terrorism
victims in southeast Turkey.
In August 2005, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered
a positive speech regarding a solution of the Kurdish problem in
Diyarbakir.
The situation of the region deteriorated after the PKK, listed
as a terrorist organization by the European Union, launched armed
resistance.
The European Union is concerned about displaced Kurdish citizens.
No step has been taken to disarm village guards, which are local
villagers armed by the government to counter the PKK.
Freedom of Speech: Progress was recorded in regards to allowing the
broadcast of local and regional languages other than Turkish.
However, lawsuits filed against non-violent thought and certain
articles of the Penal Code are still causing deep concerns and pose
the risk of self-censorship in Turkey.
Article 301 in particular remains a source of concern.
The sentence of Hrant Dink to six months suspended imprisonment in
July displayed problematic interpretations that could result from
Article 301.
This article should be modified to fit EU standards.
Other articles of the Penal Code that penalize non-violent thought
should also be abolished.
Minorities: Religious freedoms are still restricted. Non-Muslim
organizations are not allowed to form corporate bodies and their
rights to acquire property are also restricted.
The Halki Seminary on the island of Heybeli is still closed. No
progress has been recorded regarding Alevis. They still have
difficulties opening Cem evis (houses of gathering).