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Re: Turkey and minorities
The 70 Million Steps Against Coups coalition gathered in front of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate to protest the Cage Operation Action Plan in İstanbul’s Balat district on Saturday.
We won’t allow assassinations or coups, Anti-coup NGO says
11 January 2010, Monday
EMINE DOLMACI İSTANBUL
The 70 Million Steps Against Coups coalition has protested the Cage Operation Action Plan, which is said to have targeted non-Muslims and children, as well as other Ergenekon-related activities, in front of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
During the gathering that took place in İstanbul's Balat district on Saturday, Yıldız Önen, who spoke on behalf of coalition members, said an assassination plot against Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew was distressing.
Noting that coup plotters who target, ostracize and aim to kill non-Muslims and minorities and cause division and animosity between different groups have been caught red-handed, Önen said: “From now on we will not allow assassination teams and coups.” Members of the NGO, carrying banners that read “All peoples are brothers” in Turkish and Greek, called on the “cosmic” room documents -- where confidential military documents are believed to be kept in archives -- to be revealed and those guilty to be prosecuted. The coalition also announced that a demonstration will take place on Jan. 23 in Taksim’s Tünel area simultaneously with demonstrations in both İzmir and Ankara.
While protesting these events, 70 Million Steps Against Coups coalition spokesperson Önen said they wish that they could say coups will not take place in this day and age. He also stated that they wish that they could believe that the coup diaries, Ergenekon, the Cage Operation Action Plan and the assassination attempt against Arınç are not real and that those following Judge [Kadir] Kayan -- who conducted research into the cosmic room -- are ordinary citizens; however, this is not possible. “Yes, we would really like to say all this -- only if this were not a country that managed to have three bloody coups, one post-modern coup and one e-coup in 50 years,” stated Önen.
Explaining that the events which have unfolded recently in Turkey are no laughing matter, Önen said: “We would like to announce that nobody can touch the patriarchate or Bartholomew,” as she called on freedom for the oppressed, religious minorities, languages and political views. Önen continued her speech, saying: “May our Greek brothers’ minds be at ease: You are here, we are here and brotherhood between our communities is here. Coup plotters, gangs and those who are pro-Ergenekon have been caught red-handed; we will not allow these gangs to be set free. We will fight until the counter-guerilla is dispersed.”
The Cage Operation Action Plan, the assassination attempt against Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç and the threats against Judge Kayan have raised eyebrows and led to protests in various segments of Turkish society.
Link
The 70 Million Steps Against Coups coalition gathered in front of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate to protest the Cage Operation Action Plan in İstanbul’s Balat district on Saturday.
We won’t allow assassinations or coups, Anti-coup NGO says
11 January 2010, Monday
EMINE DOLMACI İSTANBUL
The 70 Million Steps Against Coups coalition has protested the Cage Operation Action Plan, which is said to have targeted non-Muslims and children, as well as other Ergenekon-related activities, in front of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
During the gathering that took place in İstanbul's Balat district on Saturday, Yıldız Önen, who spoke on behalf of coalition members, said an assassination plot against Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew was distressing.
Noting that coup plotters who target, ostracize and aim to kill non-Muslims and minorities and cause division and animosity between different groups have been caught red-handed, Önen said: “From now on we will not allow assassination teams and coups.” Members of the NGO, carrying banners that read “All peoples are brothers” in Turkish and Greek, called on the “cosmic” room documents -- where confidential military documents are believed to be kept in archives -- to be revealed and those guilty to be prosecuted. The coalition also announced that a demonstration will take place on Jan. 23 in Taksim’s Tünel area simultaneously with demonstrations in both İzmir and Ankara.
While protesting these events, 70 Million Steps Against Coups coalition spokesperson Önen said they wish that they could say coups will not take place in this day and age. He also stated that they wish that they could believe that the coup diaries, Ergenekon, the Cage Operation Action Plan and the assassination attempt against Arınç are not real and that those following Judge [Kadir] Kayan -- who conducted research into the cosmic room -- are ordinary citizens; however, this is not possible. “Yes, we would really like to say all this -- only if this were not a country that managed to have three bloody coups, one post-modern coup and one e-coup in 50 years,” stated Önen.
Explaining that the events which have unfolded recently in Turkey are no laughing matter, Önen said: “We would like to announce that nobody can touch the patriarchate or Bartholomew,” as she called on freedom for the oppressed, religious minorities, languages and political views. Önen continued her speech, saying: “May our Greek brothers’ minds be at ease: You are here, we are here and brotherhood between our communities is here. Coup plotters, gangs and those who are pro-Ergenekon have been caught red-handed; we will not allow these gangs to be set free. We will fight until the counter-guerilla is dispersed.”
The Cage Operation Action Plan, the assassination attempt against Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç and the threats against Judge Kayan have raised eyebrows and led to protests in various segments of Turkish society.
Link
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