BBP: PARTY BEING PUSHED INTO DINK MURDER SPOTLIGHT

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Feb 10 2007

The leader of an ultranationalist political party on Friday challenged
recent media reports linking his party to the perpetrators of last
month’s killing of journalist Hrant Dink.

Muhsin Yazicioglu of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), citing media reports
alleging that Yasin Hayal, the alleged second man behind the murder,
was given money by a BBP official, said that he will get even through
the courts with those bringing charges against him and his party.

Daily Radikal claimed that Hayal confessed that BBP Trabzon head Yasar
Cihan gave him YTL 1,000 via his family after he was sent to prison
on charges of bombing a McDonald’s restaurant in the city three years
ago. The daily last week also claimed that Ogun Samast, the arrested
gunman, had a very warm welcome from prison staff who allegedly
provided him with new sheets and a newly painted prison cell. The
claims were promptly denied by both prison authorities and the Cabinet.

Yazicioglu claimed that certain circles are working to making the BBP
the focal point of the incidents, branding it an attack on the party.

A photo of Yazicioglu with suspect Erhan Tuncel, arrested on charges
of soliciting the murder before his being a former police informant
came to light, was published by the media in the immediate aftermath
of the killing.

The party leader also said that these reports are clearly meant to
interfere in the judicial process.

The party’s Trabzon head, Cihan, confirming news that he gave money
to Hayal’s family, said that he has been serving in the party as the
provincial head for almost eight months and that as a businessman
he is used to assisting needy families. "I don’t know Hayal’s family
personally; I helped them three years ago as they asked me for help,"
he added.

In related news, yet another suspect, identified as M.K. and detained
in Trabzon late on Thursday in light of Hayal’s testimony, was
delivered to Istanbul police.

Police deny problems with gendarmerie

Investigations into the murder of journalist Hrant Dink are being
carried out in full coordination and without overlooking any details,
said Police spokesperson Ismail Caliskan on Friday.

Asked about the police and the gendarmerie allegedly being at odds,
a claim afloat ever since the bombing in the southeastern Semdinli
district in November 2005, Caliskan denied any problems between the
institutions, saying such speculation is being leaked to the media
by certain malevolent people.