TURKISH OPINION POLL SHOWS TRUST IN EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT
Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 3 2007
Text of second of the three instalments of a report on an opinion poll
conducted by Odak Polling Company: "Seventeen point two per cent of
the public believe that the United States and Israel govern us"
The results of the survey also revealed a drastic change in society.
For example, people believe that they could rely on the court in
Strasbourg if they have no other remedy.
It is a significant sign indicating that people have replaced the
concept of "State" which they regarded as a sacred cow in the past
with the notion of "law." Meanwhile, they also have clear ideas about
the Armenian allegations of genocide and they do not give credence
to those allegations. But, they cannot easily disregard conspiracy
theories. According to the survey, 17.2 per cent of the public believe
that the country is actually controlled by a power called the United
States/Israel.
Agar has affected his party’s grass roots
Recent statements made by DTP [True Path Party] leader Mehmet Agar who
said that armed Kurdish insurgents should be encouraged to lay down
their arms and to participate in the political process seem to have
affected the party’s grass roots. The most liberal interpretation of
his remark which drew attention to the possibility of being involved in
politics independent of the PKK was made by voters supporting the DTP
[Democratic Society Party] who were followed by DYP sympathizers. The
public is less tolerant when it comes to people’s right to learn and
broadcast television and radio programmes in their native tongue. But,
around 90 per cent of the respondents sympathizing with the DTP gave
positive answers to both questions.
The public does not lend credence to Armenian allegations of genocide
Only 13 per cent of the public share Armenian allegations of genocide
while 72.7 per cent categorically deny them. Interestingly, only 19.4
per cent of the respondents intending to vote for the DTP, which
targets Kurdish voters, said that they were not supporting those
allegations. One of the arguments supporting allegations of genocide
is that Hamidiye Regiments consisting of troops from Kurdish tribes
were used to attack Armenians during the Ottoman era.
Affects of conspiracy theories
A comparison of the responses to the questionnaire indicates that
this question elicited probably the most interesting answers. A part
of the respondents selected one of the options including the United
States and Israel and another one referring to the deep state and
expressed the opinion that they were playing an influential role in the
administration of the country. It was a very important indicator that
could be used for understanding the effects of conspiracy theories
on the public. Furthermore, those two answers were mostly preferred
by well educated people who can access such conspiracy theories in
books and newspapers. There is a consensus among the supporters
of all political members who agree that the media are the most
influential power.
The public is more enthusiastic about freedoms
The results of the survey show that the public has more liberal
opinions than the political parties, politicians, and opinion leaders
about almost every issue. This finding clearly explains why many
politicians are no longer popular and demonstrates the shortcomings
in the political system.
I would apply to the ECHR if necessary
An overwhelming majority of the public (61 per cent) regard the
European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] as a personal guarantee.
Seventy-three point nine per cent of the respondents who do not believe
that there is a fair legal and judicial system in Turkey said that
they trusted the ECHR.
Well-trained people want a fairer system
The interviewers did not inform the respondents about the source of
the slogans mentioned in this question or when they were used. Most
of the people interviewed chose two slogans, including "There will no
oppressed or oppressor; there will be a fair system upholding human
dignity" which was used by Bulent Ecevit’s Republican People’s Party
in the 1970s and "Enough is enough; let people speak up now!"
highlighted by Adnan Menderes’s Democrat Party in the 1940s. The first
one was preferred by university graduates sharing the opinion that
"there is not full democracy in Turkey" while others who believe that
there is full democracy said that they liked the second one more than
others. Meanwhile, Suleyman Demirel’s slogan that goes "Roads would
not be damaged if protestors walk on them" was more popular among a
majority of literate people without a diploma.
We are divided on the death penalty
The majority of the public is against torture whatever its reasons
may be. But, the grass roots of the Motherland Party [ANAP] and the
Nationalist Action Party are not so clear about this issue. The public
is split down the middle over the death penalty. The grass roots of
the ANAP seem to be in favour of capital punishment and the effects of
the PKK’s terror campaign are clearly visible in this approach. This
outcome may also be ascribed to rising tide of violence as a result
of press reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
