<pre><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>-----------<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>.....TURKISTAN NEWSLETTER...ISSN:--1386-6265....<<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>--------------------------------------------<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>........Editor/Manager: Mehmet Tutuncu......<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>......Business:S.Bogut,H.Savas..............<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>...Features: I. Noyan-Izmirli,Y. Puersuen...<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>......Technical: T. Ates, K. Cagiltay.......<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>>......Associate Editors: A.Baguirov, A. Eren,Z.Kadir....<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>........Editorial Board:Dr.M.Cutler, Dr.H.M.Hubey.......<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>..........T.Kocaoglu,Dr.N.Sariahmetoglu.................<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>--------------------------------------------------------<<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>><<>>.....Volume:97-1:13---20--jun--1997.....<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>-----------------------------<<><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
<>Uze kok tengri asra yagiz yer kilintukta ekin ara kisi ogli kilinmis<>
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>----------<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>></pre>
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********Archives of the Turkistan Newsletter can be found at:***********
********<http://www.euronet.nl/users/sota/turkistan.htm>****************
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___________1. Kyrgyz News -- Naryn Aiyp
Cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan, Judicial Reform, Res Publica
17 June issue not published in protest, More on libel suits, New customs
post between China and Kyrgyzstan, New law on mass media--continuation,
Economics stats released, Public petition on Turgunaliev, New ambassador
to Belarus, Duma delegation to visit Kyrgyzstan
__________2. A new book on Human Rights in Uzbekistan
__________3. RFL/RL News & More -- Yanki Puersuen
3.1) Kazak currency to be devalued
3.2) Pakistani Foreign Minister begins Central Asia tour
3.3) Crimean Turk Democracy and Southeastern Azerbaijan Freedom
Movement--- Unified Independent Azerbaijan Front --(UIAF)
---- An article by David Nissman
3.4) Tatar World Congress in Kazan -- Announcement
_________4. Turkish Republic News - TRKNWS-- A. Toprak
4.1) Erbakan set to step down
4.2) Warships visit Egypt
4.3) Turkey and Ukraine sign a pipeline deal
4.4) Wm. Cohen "Turkey attacked terrorists in Northern Iraq"
4.5) Article from the Economist -- Fall out, that man
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KYRGYZ NEWS - 18 JUNE 1997
1. President Askar Akayev met with Chinese defense minister, Chi Haotian, in
Bishkek today, president press service announced. Cooperation between China
and Kyrgyzstan was discussed. Akayev mentioned that China is one of the main
partners of Kyrgyzstan.
The same day, Chi Haotian met with Kyrgyz Prime minister, Apas Joumagulov.
Joumagulov pointed out that the friendship between Kyrgyz and Cinese nations,
has lasted since ancient time. Also, he congratulate Chinese minister with
returning to rule over Hong Kong.
Chi Haotian, Askar Akayev, Yao Peishen (Chinese ambassador to Kyrgyzstan)
attended the solemn meeting in Bishkek on 18 June, devoted to renaming of the
Lenin avenue after Deng Xiaoping.
2. Seminar on juridical reform in Kyrgyzstan was continued in Bishkek. It was
organized by EU delegation, came to Kyrgyzstan on 14 June, and began on 17
June. Cholpon Bayekova, chairwoman of the Constitutional Court, and Larisa
Gutnichenko, Justice minister, delivered speeches at the seminar today. It
will be ended tomorrow and organizers and participants of the seminar will
hold a press conference on 19 June.
3. Yesterday's (17 June) issue of the oppositional Res Publica weekly was not
published. Chief editor of the weekly, Zamira Sydykova, told RFE/RL by phone
today that editorial board decided on 16 June to stop publishing the paper
until the Supreme court will consider the case of the weekly. According to
Sydykova, it would be some kind of protest to the decision of the municipal
court of Bishkek, taken on 10 June. But no statement on it has been published
in Bishkek.
Sydykova and other 3 correspondents of the weekly was convicted by district
court on 23 June. The municipal court considered the case on 10 June and
acquitted only two of them. Originally, Sydykova was sentenced to 18 months of
imprisonment and municipal court replaced an imprisonment with labor colony
serving.
According to Sydykova, she was sent to work in the colony, which situated in
the same district of the city, where is the weekly's editorial board. That is
why she wanted to work at the weekly as technichian, but Kyrgyz authorities
changed their decision last week and sent her in the colony # 36, which is in
the different district. Sydykova was released from the custody on 12 June
(decision on it was issued on 10 June) and had lived in the colony hostel till
17 June. On 17 June, she was hired by the Medical center of Dr.Jenish
Nazaraliev as registering clerk. The center pledged to provide Sydykova with
housing and that is why, according to Sydykova, she may live outside of the
colony hostel.
Lawyer of Sydykova, Yuri Maksimov, told our correspondent in Bishkek today
that he received the municipal court's formal vertict on 18 June and will make
an appeal to the Supreme court tomorrow, on 19 June.
4. Independent weekly "Delo #..." published a letter by Kelly Kayderling, head
of the Bishkek branch office of the USIS, in its today's edition. She writes
that the opinion by Dastan Sarygulov, president of the state gold concern and
plaintiff at the last trial against Res Publica's journalists, on American
juridical system is wrong. Sarygulov published several articles in the
government papers last week, writing that American journalists, accused of
libeling, could also been sentenced to imprisonment.
Mrs.Kayderling writes there is no federal law on libeling in the U.S. and the
Supreme Court ruled in the 1960s that cases on libeling should be considered
in the civil court. Also, Supreme court ruled that laws on libeling in several
American states were illegal.
Chief editor of the Res Publica, Zamira Sydykova, said on 18 June that the
editorial board of the weekly wanted to bring an action against Sarygulov last
year, because he stated publicly several times that the Res Publica was a
venal paper and began a special campaign agains him. But, according to
Sydykova, no one court in Bishkek did agree to begin a lawsuit against
Sarygulov.
5. Government press service announced in Bishkek on 18 June that a new custom
post would be opened on the border between Kyrgyzstan and China, near the
village of Erkechtam, on 20 June. Representatives of China, Kyrgyzstan and
Uzbekistan will take part in the opening ceremony.
6. Kudaikul Darmankulov, director of the "Boordoshtor" Fund to help Tajik
refugees in Kyrgyzstan, told our cortrespondent in Bishkek today that the Fund
began to raise money to built a boarding school for children of Tajik
refugees. The Fund was registered by Justice ministry as a public organization
on 30 May. According to Migration service of Kyrgyzstan, there are 15,510
registered refugees in Kyrgyzstan, majority of them are from neighboring
Tajikistan.
KYRGYZ NEWS - 19 JUNE 1997
1. Government press service announced in Bishkek today that Government,
Federation of trade unions and Association of commodity producers had signed a
general agreement on cooperation. According to Prime minister, Apas
Joumagulov, the agreement will promote the government's constructive
cooperation with main public organizations.
2. Legislative Assembly of the Parliament adopted a new law draft on mass
media in the first reading today, parliament press service announced. Some
deputies did not take part in voting, protesting that the draft is more severe
than the current one, passed on 2 July, 1992.
3. General Assembly of the National Academy of sciences bagan in Bishkek this
morning. New 6 academicians and 12 correspiondent-members will be choosed
during the 2-day session. About 60 scientists have been nominated. President
Askar Akayev, academician, takes part in the Assembly.
4. Director of the State Statistical board, Zarylbek Kudabayev, held a press
conference in Bishkek today. According to Kudabayev, GDP of the country was
7,257.2 million som (about $430 million) in the first 5 months of 1997. It is
more than in 5 months of 1996 by 5%.
Kudabayev says Kyrgyz export was as much as $113.3 million and import $171.6
million in January-May, 1997. Monthly minimal subsistence level is 719 som in
Kyrgyzstan now, official average salary is 544 som, minimal salary is 75 som
($5). Also, there are 62,600 registered unemployed in the country now.
5. Public staff to protect convicted journalists held a press conference in
Bishkek today. Head of staff, formed late in May, is Tursunbek Akunov,
chairman of the Human Rights Movement of Kyrgyzstan. It was announced that
decision of the municipal court, taken on 10 June, was a half-measure. Four
independent journalists were convicted by district court in Bishkek on 23 May
and two of them were acquitted on 10 June.
Also, it was announced that Interior ministry wants to sue Yrysbek Omurzakov,
correspondent of the independent Res Publica weekly, accusing him of insulting
policemen and workers of the Ministry in an article, published in 1996.
Omurzakov was accused of insulting and libeling a factory director in an
article, published in January, 1997, and was arrested on 24 March. Trial
against him began in district court on 19 May but was halted on 21 June and
sent to re-investigation. He was released only after the decision of the
Municipal court, taken on 10 June.
6. Several public organizations of the country had sent an open letter to
President Askar Akayev, one of the signatories told our correspondent in
Bishkek today. They asked Akayev to help to move Topchubek Turgunaliev, an
oppositional leader, from the colony in the remote Leilek district to Bishkek.
Turgunaliev's health is growing worse and he needs a medical treatment. Among
the signatories are Ashar Movement, Bei-Bechara party, Human Rights Movement,
Patriotic movement ond others.
Turgunaliev was accused of embezzelment (when he was a dean of the University
of Humanities in Bishkek in 1994) and arrested in December, 1997. Municipal
court sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment in January and the Supreme
Court cut down his term to 4 years of labor camp. He was placed to a colony
near Bishkek late in February, but was moved to the remote district on the
border with Tajikistan early in March. Opposition says trial against him was
politically motivated.
7. Government press service announced in Bishkek today that Esengul Omuraliev
has been appointed as Kyrgyz ambassador to Belarus by the President's decree.
He had been a chairman of the State Anti-monopoly commitee before. Former
ambassador, Borubek Ashirov, was choosed early this year as a chairman of the
inter-government committee of the Economical union, formed by Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 1994.
8. Parliament press service announced in Bishkek today that Russian
parliamentarian delegation, led by Gennady Seleznev, speaker of the State
Duma, will come to Kyrgyzstan on 25 June. Seleznev will meet with President
Akayev, Prime minister Joumagulov, speakers of the two Houses of Parliament,
Usup Mukambayev and Almambet Matubraimov. Also, he will address the joint
session of Kyrgyz Parliament. Agreement on cooperation between parliaments of
two countries, other agreements will be signed during the visit.
9. Foreign ministry announced in Bishkek today that 30 Kyrgyz observers will
take part in the municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to be held this
fall. 5 Kyrgyz observers took part in the general elections in Bosnia last
year.
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#2
New Book of Human Rights Activist from UZBEKISTAN
(From the door of the Other World)
Rashid Bekzhanov
Rashid Bekzhanov, the brother of Muhammad Salih, the exiled leader of the
outlawed opposition political party Erk (Freedom), was sentenced in 1995 by
Khorezm Regional Court to five years' imprisonment, apparently on a charge
connected with illegal business activity. He had been arrested in December
1994 on a charge of distributing anti-government leaflets, but that charge
had been dropped. Amnesty International was concerned about allegations
that the charge against Rashid Bekzhanov was false, and that a criminal
case against him had been fabricated because of his family relationship
with Muhammad Salih. Amnesty International sought further information about
the basis for the criminal prosecution of Rashid Bekzhanov.
Rashid Bekzhan is after thre years of jail now free but in exile. He has
written a book about his prison memories. The Turkish and Russian versions
of this book can be consulted at Turkestan Human Rights page of Erk
democratic Party.
From the beginning of the book:
[Might not display properly on your terminal]
SEFER BEKCAN
OTEKi DUNYA KAPISI ONUNDE
Sefer Bekcan 1961 senesinde, sürgündeki bir ailede dünyaya geldi.
1968^Òde ailesi ana yurtlari olan Harezm^Òe geri döndüler.
Sefer Bekcan orta ögrenimini tamamladiktan sonra Sovyet Ordusunda
askerlik vazifesini yapti. Daha sonra 1982^Òde Taskent^Òte giderek,
"Özbekistan" yayinevinin idare heyetinde çalisti. 1983^Òde Taskent Pedagoji
Enstitüsü^Òne bagli Edebiyat Fakültesi^Òne girdi.
1976^Òdan beri siir yazmakta. siirleri sehir ve cumhuriyet basininda
yayinlandi.
Sefer Bekcan 1988 yilindan itibaren siyasî hareketlere faal olarak
istirak etmeye basladi. 1993^Òde Erk Partisi^Ònin idare kurulu azasi iken
tutuklandı. 1996^Òda serbest birakildi.
Sefer Bekcan, bu kitabinda üç yillik hapis hayati ve Özbekistan^Òin son
10 yil içindeki siyasî vakialari dile getirmekte.
Bu kitabi dünyadaki insan haklarinin gerçek savunucularina ve isimsiz
kahramanlara, bilhassa da ben tutukluyken perisan halde çabalayan esim
Qurbanay^Òa bagisliyorum.
Hicç bir şeyi uydurmadim, hatta burada dile getirilen kisilerin
isimlerini dahi degistirmedim. Bunun için epey kisi muhtemelen bana
gücenecek. Ne çare ki bu kitabi yazmaktaki niyetim, kimilerini memnûn yahut
dargin etmekten daha mühim sebeplere dayanmaktadir.
OÖzbekistan^Òda bugün halk totaliter rejim iskencesinde azçekmekte.
Bu azabi kendi cabalariyla azaltmaya çalisanlar var, bu kitap onlara
destek vermek, gün gelip de onlarin bu zahmetlerinin hakkiyla
degerlendirilmesi için yazildi. Öte yandan totaliter rejime kendi çabalari
ve fikri ile yardim edenler de var. Benim fikrime göre, onlar da
hizmetlerine layik muameleyi görmeli. Onlar sunu iyi bilmelidirler ihanetin
bagislanmasi mümkün, ama asla unutulmaz.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
#3
>>From: YANKI PURSUN <fyp@usa.net>
3.1)
KAZAK CURRENCY TO BE DEVALUED. The government has announced it will readjust
budget indicators for June and allow the exchange rate of the tenge to drop
from 73 to 77.4 to the dollar, Interfax Kazakstan reported. Deputy Finance
Minister Zhanat Yertlesova said on 18 June that this decision was based on a
revised forecast that puts inflation at 17.5% by year's end. Yertlesova added
that the payment of pension arrears is not expected to fuel inflation in the
second half of the year.
3.2)
PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER BEGINS CENTRAL ASIAN TOUR. Gohar Ayub Khan arrived
in Almaty on 18 June on the first leg of a tour of four Central Asian states,
RFE/RL correspondents reported. Khan met with his Kazak counterpart,
Kazimjomart Tokayev, to discuss bilateral economic and political relations.
Afghanistan was also high on the agenda of their talks. Tokayev said his
country favors a coalition government in Afghanistan. Khan is scheduled to
travel to Kyrgyzstan on 19 June. He will also visit Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
3.3)
>>From fyp@usa.net Wed Jun 18 18:59:39 1997
RFE/RL NEWSLINE
Vol 1, No. 55, Part I, 18 June 1997
IS CRIMEAN DEMOCRACY CONTAGIOUS?
by David Nissman
The Crimean Turkic National Movement, which began in the Central Asian
resettlement camps in the mid-1950s, now flourishes in Crimea, the ancestral
homeland of the Crimean Turks and site of the present Crimean nation. The
movement survived under very unusual conditions and is now having an
unexpected influence.
When the Crimean Turks were deported from Crimea in 1944, they were deprived
of their government, their culture, and their rich heritage. In short, they
were denied the right to develop their nation. The establishment of the
National Movement, with its tight and democratic structure, permitted the
leaders of the movement to be in constant contact with the people. When the
Soviet Union broke up, the Crimean Turks did not have to dismantle Soviet
institutions and the thought patterns associated with them. As a result, the
Crimean parliament has evolved into what is arguably one of the most
democratic in the former Soviet Union.
By contrast, the former union republics continue to be burdened by the last
vestiges of the Soviet command economy and have thus faced extraordinary
challenges in moving toward a market system. That struggle has sometimes
compromised their ability to proceed toward a democratic system as well. Thus,
it is not surprising that some politicians in the former Soviet republics have
expressed admiration for the Crimean democratic system, even if they have not
attempted to apply the Crimean experience at home.
But now the Unified Independent Azerbaijan Front (in southern or Iranian
Azerbaijan) appears interested in following the Crimean model. Like the
Crimeans, the Iranian Azeris have been deprived by state of their national and
political rights, their culture, and even an education in their mother tongue.
Tehran has reacted with varying degrees of hostility to any effort by the
Iranian Azeris to claim those rights.
The UIAF recently drew up a platform that bears a striking resemblance to
that of the Crimean Turkic National Movement. It has proclaimed that it
"believes in a state of law and freedom and rejects any form of individual or
ideological dictatorship or a one-party system." The UIAF also states that it
is "opposed to a mixture of religion and politics" and actively encourages a
diversity of opinions.
Even the Iranian Azerbaijani's newly created national flag and the political
hierarchy it represents appear to be a copy of the Crimean Turkic model. The
flag's nine stars each stand for a province of the territory on which the
Iranian Azeris hope to create their state. Each province will be ruled by a
representative parliament, which will send its representatives to the "high
parliament" in the capital.
In Crimea, the political structure is remarkably similar: each community has
its own parliament or mejlis. Each local mejlis sends representatives to the
mejlis that comes next in the hierarchy. The central mejlis in the capital has
33 members selected by the mejlises lower in the hierarchical structure.
Neither the platform of the Crimean Turkic National Movement nor that of the
Unified Independent Azerbaijan Front mentions economic programs. As the
Crimean experience shows, a free people is able to generate a free market on
its own. The Crimean Turks have chosen to give priority to the development of
free, national, democratic institutions.
That the Crimean model already appears to have inspired the Iranian Azeris
gives some reason to hope that it may inspire others as well.
The author is an independent specialist on the region.
-----------------------------------------------------
3.4)
>>From fyp@usa.net Wed Jun 18 18:59:52 1997
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 00:21:42 -0200
In accordance with the Decree of President of the Republic of Tatarstan dated
10 February 1997, the Second World Congress of Tatars should take place in
Kazan on August 28-29 this year. Please find enclosed the Regulations on the
Second World Congress of Tatars.
According to the resolution of the working group, which is responsible for the
organization of the Congress, every Tatar community abroad (except CIS states)
is granted with a quota of 1 delegate. The delegates of the Second World
Congress of Tatars should be elected in the community meeting prior to July 1,
1997. Delegate's registration form (sample is attached hereto) to the working
group as soon as possible.
The Congress's working group expresses its strong belief that every community
send authoritative representative of the organization, who have been
contributing infensively to the preservation and development of Tatar culture,
language and traditions.
The Congress programme allows for round table discussion the following:
1. Heritage and Encyclopaedia of the Tatar people.
2. Tatar Education (Alphabet, teaching, science).
3. Ways of Development of the Tatar culture (professional and amateur art).
4. Tatar Books, Publishing, Press, Mass Media.
5. Society, National Originality and Family.
6. Tatar Youth.
7. Economy, National Interests, Ties and Migration.
8. International Law, Democratic Nationhood and Tatar Nation.
9. Tatar in Foreign Countries and their Cooperation with Tatarstan.
The working group will pay for delegate's accomodation and board in Kazan.
Travel expenses are not covered.
Arrival - August 27, 1997. Departure - August 31, 1997.
Contact phones: +7 (8432) 365916, 366926, 640393, 362507.
Date of the delegates arrival information concerning transportation shall
be submitted prior to 10 August 1997 to the address:
Executive Committee of the World Congress of Tatars
Room 34, 1 Svobody Sq., Kazan 420060, Tatarstan
I.Tagirov
Deputy Chairman of the Congress's working group,
Chairman of the World Congress of Tatars Executive committee
_______________
Registration form of a delegate the Second World Congress of Tatars
1. Surname
2. Name
3. Date of birth
4. Place of work (address)
5. Position
6. Public activity
8. Telephone
9. Telex
10. Fax
11. Permanent address
12. In the work of what "round tables" are you going to take part
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
#4
Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1997
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 20:01:03 -0400
4.1) ERBAKAN SET TO STEP DOWN TODAY
Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan will visit today President
Demirel and submit his resignation in line with the coalition protocol
foreseeing a transfer of the premiership to Tansu Ciller, leader of
the junior partner of the coalition government. Ciller expects to be
assigned with the task of setting up a new government. However,
President Demirel will have the final say in the issue. /All papers/
4.2) WARSHIPS VISIT EGYPT
Turkey has sent five warships that participated in the Sea
Wolf'97 military exercises in the Aegean to the Egyprian port of
Alexandria. The ships will stay there until June 20, with the
commanding personnel of the visiting Turkish fleet scheduled to visit
Egyptian military officials. Specialists note that the visit of
Turkish warships to Egypt showed the importance Turkey accords Egypt.
The move is made in the aftermath of a recent visit by five
Turkish navy vessels to the Israeli port of Haifa. Diplomatic sources
in Turkey and Israel have denied claims that Turkey and Israel will
stage joint military maneuvres during the visit of Turkish vessels to
Israel. Officials noted that the date of future exercises planned
within the framework of Turco-Israeli agreements for military training
cooperation has still not been fixed. /Milliyet/
4.3) TURKEY AND UKRAINE SIGN PIPELINE DEAL
Turkey and Ukraine will sign today an agreement for the
construction of the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline. The agreement will be
signed by Energy Minister Recai Kutan and his Ukrainian counterpart in
Ankara. According to observers, the pipeline will facilitate the
transportation of 25 million tons of oil to Western markets. /All
papers/
4.4) WILLIAM COHEN: "TURKEY ATTACKED TERRORISTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
US Secretary of Defense William Cohen voiced support for the
Turkish Armed Forces cross-border operation in Northern Iraq. In
reply to a question accusing Turkey of invading Northern Iraq, Cohen
said that simply was not the case and pointed out that the operation
was initiated in a move to sweep away PKK terrorists from the region.
/All papers/
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
4.5)
Subject: TRKNWS-L The Economist: Turkey. Fall out, that man
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 20:05:18 -0400
The Economist, June 14, 1997
Turkey. Fall out, that man
(ANKARA)- THREE times since 1960, Turkey's opinionated generals have
sent their men on to the streets to remove prime ministers not to their
liking. Now they are at it again, only this time without budging from
their barracks. By telling Necmettin Erbakan to do the politically
un-do-able, the generals have in effect killed his government. It has
lost its parliamentary majority, and announced an early election,
probably in the autumn. Now comes the hard part: the generals want to
make sure that Mr Erbakan, the first Islamist to lead secular Turkey,
will also be the last.
With this in mind, they have been harrying Mr Erbakan since February,
when they demanded that he close a batch of religious schools called Imam
Hatips. More recently, they got him to expel over 100 army officers they
thought too enthusiastically Islamic, and announced that they would sue a
member of parliament alleged to have insulted them five years ago. Then,
on June 6th, they released a list of prominent companies--many of them
pally with Mr Erbakan's Welfare Party--which they want boycotted. These
companies are accused of supporting "reactionary activities", army-speak
for financing mosque-building and courses on the Koran.
Also on June 6th, a general announced that the government had not
stumped up extra cash needed for the big military operation currently
under way against Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq. When this was
denied by Mr Erbakan's finance minister--the chief penny-pincher,
according to the army- another general said the minister was lying.
Opposition leaders accused the government of "treachery".
On the whole, though, the generals have failed to persuade pious Turks
to stop liking Welfare. Fearing his supporters' wrath, Mr Erb-ak-an refused
to close the Imam Hatips, thus irritating his coalition partner, the more
secular True Path Party. But his readiness for a new election is based on an
apparently well-founded assumption that Welfare will improve on the 21.5%
of the vote it won at the previous election, in 1995. This is worrying
the other side.
Support for Welfare is based less on its brief record in office--an
undistinguished one, by any reckoning--than on the unexpected durability
of its broad appeal. This is most apparent among the many Turks who have
reached voting age since 1995. Many are graduates of Imam Hatips. Others
spent their adolescence in Welfare-run municipalities, and feel easy
about political Islam. In a new election, many of them are expected to
vote for Welfare.
Anti-Welfare opinion has hardened, too. Since the other parties are a
fragmented lot, opposition to Welfare has drawn itself up behind the army.
But other institutions have joined in. On May 21st, Turkey's chief
prosecutor filed charges against Welfare in the constitutional court,
arguing that it should be banned for flouting Turkey's secular
constitution. Turkey's two biggest media companies have intensified their
attacks on the government, screening grainy footage of Welfare members
supposedly insulting secular figures.
In the short run, Turkey's generals are hoping for a new coalition,
shorn of Welfare. For this to happen, however, Welfare and True Path
would have to botch the terms for a new election. They could. Mr
Erbakan wants Mrs Ciller's help, so as to make it harder for the courts
to close Welfare before a vote. But, in return, the impatient Mrs Ciller
now wants to take over as prime minister from the squirming Mr Er-ba-kan
by June 18th. Both schemes require parliamentary approval, tricky without
a majority. The generals go on gazing unblinkingly at the twitching
politicians.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Mark Hubey ---------------------------------------------------------
http://www.csam.montclair.edu/Faculty/Hubey.html
hubey@pegasus.montclair.edu hubeyh@alpha.montclair.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
*
TURKISTAN-N is an electronic newsletter whose purpose is to report on the
"Land of the Turks". With Turkistan we mean in general lands where Turkic
peoples live without any geographical restriction and without specific
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