Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

[Alexandros]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?


The hand was never added to the sculpture


Turkey-Armenia friendship symbol being demolished

26 April 2011 Last updated at 14:29 GMT

The demolition of a huge Turkish statue devoted to reconciliation with Armenia has begun, months after the prime minister described it as a "freak".

The 30m-high statue - depicting two human figures facing each other - was erected on a mountain in the Turkish city of Kars, near the Armenian border.

Local authorities commissioned it several years ago to symbolise an end to decades of enmity and suspicion.

Artists had tried to save the statue, which could take 10 days to dismantle.

The company carrying out the demolition has already cut down one of the figures using a crane, witnesses said.

Rapprochement stalled

The work, called the Statue of Humanity, was the creation of well-known Turkish artist Mehmet Aksoy.

When finished, it would have had one figure extending a hand to the other.

"I am really sorry, sorry on behalf of Turkey," Anatolia news agency quoted the sculptor as saying. "They can demolish it, we will re-make it."

It was commissioned as a gesture of reconciliation, as Turkey and Armenia began attempts to repair relations after a century of hostility.

But that process stalled last year and there were a number of objections to the monument.

On a visit to Kars in January Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly described the monument as a "freak", and an affront to a nearby 11th Century shrine.

Critics say Mr Erdogan may have aimed his remarks at nationalists, who are strong in this part of Turkey, ahead of June's parliamentary elections.

Kars once had a large Armenian community, which was annihilated in 1915 as part of mass killings which Armenians and many historians call a genocide.

Turkey rejects the term and says atrocities were committed on both sides in World War I.

In 2009 the two countries agreed to normalise relations and, in that spirit, the former mayor of Kars commissioned the sculpture.

Link

[Mukuch]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

Parents of Armenian soldier killed in Turkey demand thorough investigation of his death April 26, 2011 | 13:04

The body of the Armenian soldier Sevak Sahin Balrkci, killed in a military unit on April 24 was handed over to his family. Sevak’s parents demand his death circumstances to be thoroughly investigated.

25-year-old Sevak graduated from Faculty of Fine Arts, Istanbul Technical University. He served in the military unit of the gendarmerie in Kozluk district of Batman province. He would have discharged from the army in 23 days.

According to local mass media, he was killed from gunshot wounds, while playing with a gun with his friend on April 24. However, Sevak’s parents do not believe in it and demand a thorough investigation of his death.

His body will be moved to Armenian church in Istanbul and buried on April 26.

[Joseph]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

Ethnic Armenian solider in the Turkish Army, Sevag Balikci, is murdered:


Bir "Askeri Zayiat" Daha; Sevag 24 Nisan'da Hayatını Kaybetti
Bir "askeri zayiat" haberi de Batman'dan geldi. Askerlik yapan Ermeni yurttaş Sevag Şahin Balıkçı, 1915 Ermeni katliamının başlangıcı olan 24 Nisan'ın 96. yıldönümünde karın bölgesine gelen bir mermi ile hayatını kaybetti.

Ekin KARACA [email protected]
İstanbul - Batman - BİA Haber Merkezi 25 Nisan 2011, Pazartesi

Batman'ın Kozluk ilçesi, Gümüşörgü Karakolu'nda askerlik yapan Sevag Şahin Balıkçı (25), dün sabah saatlerinde karın bölgesine kurşun isabet etmesi sonucu hayatını kaybetti.
Olayın yaşanmasının ardından yaklaşık beş saat sonra, saat 15.00 sularında Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri (TSK) tarafından ailesine öldüğü bildirilen Balıkçı'nın otopsi raporu henüz açıklanmadı.
Resmi açıklama basında çıkan ilk haberle çelişiyor

Olayın ardından hayatını kaybeden Sevag Şahin Balıkçı'nın annesi ve kız kardeşiyle görüşen Agos muhabiri Funda Tosun, olaya ilişkin öğrendiklerini bianet'e anlattı:
* Sevag vurulduktan sonra, ailesine TSK'den önce arkadaşları tarafından bilgi ulaştırılmış.
* Aileye yapılan açıklamada, askerler çit örerken, doldur boşalt yapan bir askerin kaza kurşunu ile Balıkçı'yı öldürdüğü belirtilmiş.
* Basında haber "şakalaşma sonucu silah patlaması sonucu hayatını kaybetti" şeklinde çıktı. Resmi açıklamaya göre ise doldur-boşalt sırasında ateş alan silahtan çıkan kurşunun Balıkçı'nın karın bölgesine isabet ettiği iddia ediliyor.
* Olay yaşandığı sırada bir grup çit örüyor, bir grup ise çit örenlerin güvenliğini sağlıyor. Sevag'ın çit ören ekipte mi, yoksa güvenlik sağlayan ekipte mi olduğu şu an bilinmiyor.
"TSK bir açıklama yapmak zorunda"

* Aile henüz olayın nasıl gerçekleştiğine dair net bilgiye sahip değil. Kurşun isabet eder etmez mi ölüyor, yoksa hastanede kan kaybından mı hayatını kaybediyor, bilinmiyor.
* Sevag'ın babası cenazeyi Gümüşsuyu Askeri Hastanesi'nden alarak Feriköy Kilisesi'ne getirdi. Çarşamba günü düzenlenecek törenin ardından Sevag Şişli Mezarlığı'nda toprağa verilecek.
* Annesi, "TSK, oğlum askere gittiğinde 'oğlunuz bize emanet' diye mektup göndermişti. Emanet böyle mi korunur? Üstelik o özel bir emanetti; az sayıda kalan Ermenilerin özel emanetiydi. TSK bir açıklama yapmak durumunda" şeklinde konuştu. (EKN/EÖ)

Bad translation but here it is: http://translate.google.com/translat...26prmd%3Divnso

[Joseph]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

Ethnic Armenian solider in the Turkish Army, Sevag Balikci, is murdered:


Bir "Askeri Zayiat" Daha; Sevag 24 Nisan'da Hayatını Kaybetti
Bir "askeri zayiat" haberi de Batman'dan geldi. Askerlik yapan Ermeni yurttaş Sevag Şahin Balıkçı, 1915 Ermeni katliamının başlangıcı olan 24 Nisan'ın 96. yıldönümünde karın bölgesine gelen bir mermi ile hayatını kaybetti.

Ekin KARACA [email protected]
İstanbul - Batman - BİA Haber Merkezi 25 Nisan 2011, Pazartesi

Batman'ın Kozluk ilçesi, Gümüşörgü Karakolu'nda askerlik yapan Sevag Şahin Balıkçı (25), dün sabah saatlerinde karın bölgesine kurşun isabet etmesi sonucu hayatını kaybetti.
Olayın yaşanmasının ardından yaklaşık beş saat sonra, saat 15.00 sularında Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri (TSK) tarafından ailesine öldüğü bildirilen Balıkçı'nın otopsi raporu henüz açıklanmadı.
Resmi açıklama basında çıkan ilk haberle çelişiyor

Olayın ardından hayatını kaybeden Sevag Şahin Balıkçı'nın annesi ve kız kardeşiyle görüşen Agos muhabiri Funda Tosun, olaya ilişkin öğrendiklerini bianet'e anlattı:
* Sevag vurulduktan sonra, ailesine TSK'den önce arkadaşları tarafından bilgi ulaştırılmış.
* Aileye yapılan açıklamada, askerler çit örerken, doldur boşalt yapan bir askerin kaza kurşunu ile Balıkçı'yı öldürdüğü belirtilmiş.
* Basında haber "şakalaşma sonucu silah patlaması sonucu hayatını kaybetti" şeklinde çıktı. Resmi açıklamaya göre ise doldur-boşalt sırasında ateş alan silahtan çıkan kurşunun Balıkçı'nın karın bölgesine isabet ettiği iddia ediliyor.
* Olay yaşandığı sırada bir grup çit örüyor, bir grup ise çit örenlerin güvenliğini sağlıyor. Sevag'ın çit ören ekipte mi, yoksa güvenlik sağlayan ekipte mi olduğu şu an bilinmiyor.
"TSK bir açıklama yapmak zorunda"

* Aile henüz olayın nasıl gerçekleştiğine dair net bilgiye sahip değil. Kurşun isabet eder etmez mi ölüyor, yoksa hastanede kan kaybından mı hayatını kaybediyor, bilinmiyor.
* Sevag'ın babası cenazeyi Gümüşsuyu Askeri Hastanesi'nden alarak Feriköy Kilisesi'ne getirdi. Çarşamba günü düzenlenecek törenin ardından Sevag Şişli Mezarlığı'nda toprağa verilecek.
* Annesi, "TSK, oğlum askere gittiğinde 'oğlunuz bize emanet' diye mektup göndermişti. Emanet böyle mi korunur? Üstelik o özel bir emanetti; az sayıda kalan Ermenilerin özel emanetiydi. TSK bir açıklama yapmak durumunda" şeklinde konuştu. (EKN/EÖ)

[hipeter924]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

I believe those who really do want positive change aka genocide recognition and a freer society will always remain a small oppressed minority in Turkey, at least until nationalism and racism are removed from politics (which won't happen in centuries if ever). Turkey is much like Nazi Germany under Hitler, or Chile under Augusto Pinochet, all elements against the government are rounded up and put in prison, intimidated, or killed, it has the same nationalist mentality, the same internal and external threats and the same genocidal and hateful aspects to society. It's sad, why should Armenia bother with Turkey, better off improving relations with other powers to stand as barriers to Turkey's desire to annihilate and destroy Armenia with its terror state Azerbaijan. Also I see it a good sign that China is willing to form economic relations with Armenia, it will put Armenia onto a better economic footing in the region.

[Tigranakert]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

Turkey move on, moves upward, makes itself useful to the world. Armenia dig itself a hole and just sits in it, and each year digs the hole a little bit deeper. No wonder nobody cares for you - the hole is so deep they can't even see you anymore. And anyone approaching the hole to look down gets a stone thrown up at them.

This is a typical European/Western view. They don't care that Turkey made itself "useful" by killing hundreds of thousands of Armenians, Assyrians or Greeks. They don't care that Turkey till this day is one of the most racist countries in the world, where world heritage is still being destroyed and history being falsified.

America, Western-Europeans and Scottish people like bell-the-cat themselves have genocidal blood in them. Imperialism was founded by these people, that's why they don't care. It's us Armenians who never had it in them to destroy other nations, to commit genocides, pure for power and money. That's why we have lost a big portion of our lands, because we had some decency. We had self-respect.

Westerners/Europeans, they don't see the good deeds of us Armenians, on the contrary, they praise Turkey now even though they are the ones who have committed horrific crimes.

Thank you again, Scott, that you have showed how biased and inhumane you are.

[Hayayrun]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

What exactly you mean by "makes itself useful to the world"? That is very interesting category. Do you mean geopolitical prostitution that becom turkeys forighn policy?

What a foolish argument!

Yes of course "Turks make themselfs very useful to the word" by having extinguished nearly 3 000 000 christian lifes, by destroying christian cultur and dissipation christians from Turkey.

Such a foolish argumentation can one say, if he never been in Turkey or north Cyprus.

I was born in Turkey and I know very well what it is to be a christian and armenian in Turkey, how turks treat armenians and others.

Only if one is fool or blind can say something foolish like "Turkey make itself useful to the world"

[Alexandros]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?


This file photo shows a group of journalists marching in the Mediterranean province of Antalya. The banner reads 'Free Press, Democratic Turkey.' DHA photo


Turkey 'world leader' in imprisoned journalists, IPI report says

Friday, April 8, 2011

ISTANBUL - Daily News with wires

Turkey has more journalists in prison than any other country in the world, including China and Iran, according to a press release issued Monday by the International Press Institute.

The group based its release on a report published by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE, that said 57 journalists are currently in prison in Turkey. As of December, Iran and China each had 34 journalists behind bars.

“While Iran and China topped lists in December by reportedly jailing some 34 journalists each, Turkey, a candidate for membership in the European Union, has nearly doubled that number five months later, raising questions about the country’s commitment to freedom of the press and the legitimacy of its democratic image,” IPI Press Freedom Adviser Steven M. Ellis wrote in an article featured on the institute’s website.

Daily Radikal meanwhile reported in its Friday edition that Aziz Özer, chief executive officer for the monthly culture and literature magazine Güney (South), had been sentenced to 1.5 years in prison because of a short story and a caricature he published that were determined to constitute “making propaganda” for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. The implementation of the sentence was not suspended.

In its report, the IPI also noted the case of journalist Nedim Şener, an IPI World Press Freedom Hero who was arrested recently on accusations of being a member of the alleged Ergenekon coup-plot gang. Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE representative on media freedom, who commissioned the report, called upon Turkish authorities to bring the standards of press freedom in Turkey up to meet its OSCE commitments.

The IPI also drew attention to the fact that there are between 700 and 1,000 ongoing cases in Turkey that could result in the imprisonment of more journalists.

“The sheer number of cases poses fundamental questions about the legal provisions governing journalism in Turkey and raises concerns that the number of journalists in prison could further increase,” said Mijatovic.

The report conceded that governments do have a legitimate need to fight terrorism, but stressed that the notion of national security should not be used as a basis to curb press freedom. The IPI noted that most of the arrested journalists were taken into custody either under Turkey’s anti-terror law or for alleged crimes under the criminal code’s prohibitions on “founding, leading or becoming a member of an armed organization for the purpose of committing certain offenses.”

The report also noted the extremely long sentences requested by for journalists. Ibrahim Çiçek and Bayram Namaz from Atılım newspaper, for example, each face up to 3,000 years in prison.

“These journalists are in jail because of Turkey’s anti-terror Law. This law threatens the freedom of press, and investigative journalists live under its menace. We find this unacceptable. We made a request to the government to change this law, but unfortunately the government does not lend an ear to professional journalist associations,” said Ferai Tınç, the chair of IPI’s Turkey National Committee and an IPI board member.

“Turkey, at the crossroads between East and West, is a major regional power with an ancient cultural heritage. The country is also often held up as an example of a healthy Muslim democracy,” said IPI director Alison Bethel McKenzie, who warned that moving away from this history and imprisoning more journalists than any other country is damaging.

McKenzie also called on the Turkish government to respect press freedom and release all journalists who have been detained because of their work.

Link

[Alexandros]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?


A similar scene at Saint (Ayia) Photou cemetery, Akanthou (Photo: Lobby for Cyprus)


Greek Cypriot cemetery used as dumping ground

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE

Thu, Apr 07, 2011

Residents of the occupied Neo Chorio Kythreas have been speaking of the “heartbreaking situation” regarding the Greek Cypriot cemetery in the village.
According to media reports, the cemetery’s walls have collapsed and all of the graves’ headstones have been broken; in addition to this damage, construction trucks are using the site as a dumping ground by pouring their debris and dirt into the cemetery.

Referring to the Greek Cypriot visitors of the cemetery who grieve over the view of this situation, the residents said that this is a “human disgrace” and called on the “officials” to proceed to the restoration of the cemetery as soon as possible.

They added that the graves should be protected and that respect towards dead people should be shown irrespective of their religion. “Such a damage does not suit neither to our religion nor to our humane feelings,” they stressed.

Link

[Mukuch]

Re: Can Turkey Learn Tolerance?

Turkey move on, moves upward, makes itself useful to the world.

What exactly you mean by "makes itself useful to the world"? That is very interesting category. Do you mean geopolitical prostitution that becom turkeys forighn policy?