Author: Kajoyan Gevork

TURKISH ACADEMIC, PROMINENT PUBLISHER ARRESTED IN KCK PROBE

Hurriyet, Turkey
Nov 1 2011

An Istanbul court arrested yesterday 44 suspects in connection with
the ongoing trials over the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK),
including prominent publisher Ragýp Zarakolu and Buþra Ersanlý,
a political science professor.

“It will be a mass trial with a 150 people in total. We undoubtedly
will have to wait for a year before the trial,” said lawyer Ozcan
Kýlýc, who is representing Ersanlý and Zarakolu.

Zarakolu was arrested despite the lack of any documents or information
that would indicate that he was involved in a crime, Kýlýc said.

Zarakolu is the head of the Turkish Publishers’ Union’s Committee
for the Freedom of Publishing, as well as the recipient of numerous
prestigious awards pertaining to freedom of expression.

“Ragýp gave a speech at the academy of the BDP [Peace and Democracy
Party], which was a legal political party in 2010. This was a meeting
open to the public and attended by 150 people in Istanbul. He stands
accused of being a member of the KCK due to the speech he gave at
this meeting. There are no sound recordings anywhere; they point to
a news piece that appeared in the Dicle news agency,” Kýlýc said.

Ersanlý was also arrested because she gave lectures at the BDP Academy,
he added.

“Figures who dedicated their lives to the defense of human rights like
Zarakolu and Ersanlý are getting arrested and imprisoned through the
use of the Kurdish issue as a pretext. We’re at a point where words
fail,” Kýlýc said.

Ersanlý, a political science professor at Istanbul’s Marmara
University, is also a member of the BDP Assembly and has a seat on
the party’s charter preparation commission, which is working toward
drafting a new constitution. The BDP is primarily focused on the
Kurdish issue.

A total of 50 people were detained over the weekend within the scope
of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s
Office into the KCK. Some 47 of the suspects were then transferred
to court, while three suspects were subsequently released by the
prosecutor’s office.

Following a hearing that began at around 11 p.m. on Oct. 31, the
court ordered the 44 suspects to be jailed pending trial; another
three suspects were also released.

The KCK is accused of being the urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), which is itself listed as a terrorist
organization by Turkey and much of the international community.

TURKEY: ARRESTS EXPOSE FLAWED JUSTICE SYSTEM

Armenian Weekly
Thu, Nov 3 2011

Academic, Publisher Held in Crackdown on Pro-Kurdish Party

ISTANBUL (Human Rights Watch)-An Istanbul court’s decision on Nov. 1
to imprison a publisher and a political science professor pending
their trial on terrorism charges exposes the huge deficiencies of
Turkey’s criminal justice system, Human Rights Watch said on Nov. 2.

Ragip Zarakolu The arrests are part of a crackdown on people engaged
in legal political activity with the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy
Party.

Ragip Zarakolu, the publisher, and Busra Ersanli, the professor,
are among 50 people who have been arrested in Istanbul since Oct. 27.

Three were released by the prosecutor and 47 brought before Istanbul
Heavy Penal Court No. 14, which remanded 44 to prison and released
3 pending trial.

“The arrests of Ragip Zarakolu and Busra Ersanli represent a new low
in the misuse of terrorism laws to crush freedom of expression and
association in Turkey,” said Emma Sinclair-Webb, a Turkey researcher
at Human Rights Watch.

All 47 suspects will be charged for alleged links to the Turkish
Assembly of the Union of Kurdistan Communities (KCK/TM), a body
connected with the leadership of the armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK). Under a widening police operation over the past two and a half
years, thousands of people associated with the Peace and Democracy
Party or related political circles have been charged for alleged
links to the KCK/TM or PKK.

Zarakolu is the owner and chief editor of the Belge publishing house, a
champion of freedom of expression and human rights, and vocal proponent
of Kurdish rights. He has faced prosecution many times for the books
he has published and his own writings, none of which have advocated
violence. Ersanli has a chair in political science and international
relations at Marmara University, Istanbul, is a member of the Peace
and Democracy Party’s Party Assembly, and is part of the commission
advising the party on its input for the new constitution.

Most of those arrested were involved in the Peace and Democracy
Party’s Politics Academy, which provides courses and training to party
activists and officials. The arrests appear to be the continuation of
the Oct. 4 police operation in Istanbul, when about 100 people were
arrested for alleged KCK links, with 96 in pretrial detention. Among
those arrested and imprisoned was Zarakolu’s son, Deniz Zarakolu.

“We are seeing the Turkish police casting the net ever wider in the
crackdown on legal pro-Kurdish politics,” Sinclair-Webb said. “Unless
there is clear evidence of people plotting violence or providing
logistical support to armed groups, prosecutors and courts should
throw these cases out.”

Turkey’s Anti-Terrorism Law contains a vague and overbroad
definition of terrorism, Human Rights Watch said. Furthermore,
court interpretations of the law make its misuse more likely. The UN
special rapporteur on the protection and promotion of human rights
and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Martin Scheinin,
has criticized the definition and called for its reform, saying that
such crimes should be confined to “acts of deadly or otherwise grave
violence against persons or the taking of hostages.”

The European Commission has also repeatedly drawn attention to the
misuse of terrorism charges in Turkey and has said the definition of
terrorism in Turkish law is too wide, most recently in its October
2011 progress report on Turkey.

“These prosecutions demonstrate that the problems identified by the
UN and European Commission have not gone away,” Sinclair-Webb said.

“Turkey urgently needs to amend its vague and widely drawn terrorism
laws and stop using them to clamp down on legitimate and peaceful
political activity.”

Trials of Peace and Democracy Party members and activists for alleged
links to the KCK and PKK are being carried out across the Turkey.

After waves of arrests that began in April 2009, the first, and main,
trial began at Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No. 6 in October 2010.

Among its 152 defendants are a large number of public and well-known
figures, including serving mayors and a human rights defender. In a
7,578-page indictment, they are charged with crimes such as “aiming to
destroy the unity and integrity of the state” (separatism), being a
“member or leading member of the PKK,” and “aiding and abetting the
PKK,” If convicted, they face penalties of between 15-years and life
in prison.

The investigation that led to the Diyarbakir trial was initiated
after a court order four years ago authorized police surveillance of
suspects and wiretaps. The investigation was the first into alleged
links between activists and officials of both the Democratic Society
Party and the successor Peace and Democracy Party with the PKK, via
the KCK. It led to similar investigations in provinces throughout
southeast, eastern and western Turkey.

Human Rights Watch knows of many other related trials in the courts
of Diyarbakir, Adana, Van, Erzurum, and Izmir, for alleged offenses
in the many provinces over which those courts have jurisdiction. In
each case, the indictments allege that the defendants belong to the
KCK’s Turkey Assembly, and that this assembly operates in cities
throughout Turkey under the control of the PKK.

The evidence against the defendants is largely based on wiretaps,
surveillance of an office some of the accused frequented, intercepted
email correspondence, and testimony from secret witnesses. However,
there is scant evidence to suggest the defendants engaged in any acts
that could be defined as terrorism as it is understood in international
law-namely, violent activities such as bombings and hostage-taking
targeting civilians, or the plotting of such activities. The indictment
in the main Diyarbakir trial also lacks compelling evidence of
logistical or material support for an outlawed armed group, nor is
there evidence that the accused directly incited violence.

The widespread and dispersed nature of the ongoing investigations
and arrests, and a lack of available official statistics on the
investigations and trials, make it impossible to produce accurate
up-to-date estimates of the numbers currently in pretrial detention
and the total number on trial, though it certainly runs to several
thousand on trial, Human Rights Watch said. An October Interior
Ministry statement put the number in pre-trial detention on KCK-related
charges at 605, although the figure has fluctuated considerably over
the past two years.

For more information, visit

BAKO SAHAKYAN:”THE STATE BUDGET SHOULD BE REALISTIC”

Noyan Tapan
03.11.2011

On 2 November President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan convoked
an enlarged consultation on issues related to the formation of the
2012 state budget.

The President expressed his satisfaction with close cooperation
between the legislative and executive branches, noting that thorough
discussion of this important document makes it more balanced.

The Head of the State noted that the 2012 state budget should be
realistic, maintain its social orientation and create possibilities
for ensuring the dynamic pace of the country’s development.

Speaker of the National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan, premier Ara
Haroutyunyan, deputies, members of the Cabinet and other officials
partook at the consultation.

Central Information Department of the Office of the ARTSAKH REPUBLIC President

ARMENIAN EXPERT FORECASTS RULING REGIME’S SELF-DESTRUCTION

Tert.am
03.11.11

The purport of politics has been distorted in Armenia. It has turned
into struggle between groupings and clans, with intrigues being the
principal instrument, Hmayak Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Union of
Political Scientists, told journalists Nov. 3.

People are getting accustomed to that – an intrigue means political
progress for them. However, it is not politics in its classical sense,
the expert said.

The main political question now is: “Who’s whose relative?” However,
the country is facing serious challenges. “The police chief resigns,
but in his interviews he swears loyalty to President Serzh Sargsyan.

But his task is ensuring the country’s internal security. Government
officials are now competing in proving their loyalty to Serzh
Sargsyan. But Serzh Sargsyan does not need your loyalty at all. He is
supposed to ensure well-being of the coming generations,” Hovhannisyan
said.

“Further dismissals should be expected. Everyone is suspecting
everyone, and they are plotting. The reason is that the people cannot
differentiate between the primary and the secondary. The country’
priority is to cope with the crisis, whereas we do not have any plans
to resist the crisis,” the expert said.

“The current administration will eventually devour itself,”
Hovhannisyan said.

The authorities’ policy is void of any criteria. “They are speaking of
bringing back Gagik Belgraryan. Why then did you dismiss him? What is
the criterion? Did he propose a new development concept for the city?

I would also like to see the sense of changing the police chief,” the
expert said. “Of course, Vladimir Gasparyan is a hard-liner. But did
he present a new program or concept? The only difference is that Mr.

Gasparyan can be tough with the press, whereas Alik Sargsyan used to
complain that the police always turned out a scapegoat,” Hovhannisyan
said.

RUSSIAN COURT FOUNDS JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES LOCAL LEADER GUILTY OF EXTREMISM

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 3, 2011 – 14:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A regional court in Russia’s Altai region found the
local head of the Jehovah’s Witnesses guilty of extremism on Thursday,
November and sentenced him to 100 hours of community service, RIA
Novosti reported.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses is an international religious organization.

Many representatives of more traditional religions consider it to be
a totalitarian pseudo-Christian sect.

The Gorno-Altaysk City Court initially acquitted Alexander Kalistratov,
head of the Altai branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, on April 14. The
Supreme Court of the Altai Republic later canceled the acquittal
judgment at the request of the prosecutor’s office and remanded the
case for reconsideration to the same court.

The second trial started on June 22. Investigators opened a case
against Kalistratov after he published and distributed 48 religious
articles of “a strongly extremist nature” aimed at discrediting
other religions.

Prosecutors demanded 140 hours community service for Kalistratov
after he was convicted of inciting hatred and insulting human dignity.

Prosecutors told RIA Novosti they will not appeal the sentence although
Kalistratov was sentenced to only 100 hours community service.

The case is not the first time the authorities in Russia have
acted against the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In June 2010, a court in
Komsomolsk-na-Amur ordered the blocking of a website operated by the
group, claiming it violated the integrity of the Russian Federation
and incited social, racial and religious discord.”

Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) and other organizations have
criticized Russia’s 2002 law on religious extremism, claiming it
has “led to the prosecution of numerous peaceful groups with do not
threaten public order, social peace or national security.”

HRWF says 265 religious and faith-based organizations are on a
blacklist of so-called extremist groups in Russia.

WILL MERKEL VISIT ARMENIA?
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:22:10 – 03/11/2011

The German Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt made an
interesting comment on the reshuffle of Armenia. “I think this process
is connected with the statements of the President of Armenia, that
the next elections will be organized better than the 2008 ones. In
recent meetings with the EU representatives, he promised to ensure free
elections and continue the fight against corruption, to organize the
customs system taking account of the criticism of the European Union
in the context of the EU Association Agreement,” said the Ambassador.

Usually, ambassadors do not comment on domestic affairs of the
countries they are appointed to. They can hold speeches, give
assessments only in terms of democratic and civic norms and social
developments. But an ambassador commenting plainly on a domestic
process is quite rare and perhaps also bizarre.

Ambassador Schmidt must know this unwritten rule of diplomatic
practice. However, the German Ambassador seems to have his own
diplomatic rules which have been expressed in an interesting way
recently.

In particular, the ambassador is very actively observing the home
political situation. He attends the rallies of the opposition, standing
behind the rostrum beside the ANC leadership. Quite recently he made an
assessment of Ter-Petrosyan’s government, which the Congress disliked,
though the Ambassador used to go to the rallies and talk to the ANC
leaders and they seemed to like it.

He has recently delivered an interesting speech to the Armenian
people where he compared the unification of Germany and 20 years
of independence of Armenia wishing the Armenian people “creative
obstinacy” which is important for the Karabakh and Armenian-Turkish
issues.

Hans-Jochen Schmidt’s interest stands for the interest of Germany,
perhaps the increasing interest because Berlin was not so much
interested in the Armenian home political life before. Just a few
German foundations were active in the creation of the civil society
of Armenia, which used to work with the non-governmental sector,
media and opposition.

Now, the interest of official Berlin is growing. This is logical,
consdiering German leading economic and political role in the European
Union, which forces it to be active in geopolitical processes as well.

These processes are directly related to the South Caucasus.

Germany understands very well that as a South Caucasian state, Armenia
has a strategic, military-political key potential. Unfortunately,
this potential is perceived in Armenia worse than anywhere else in
the world. Since independence, Armenia has been following the path
of losing this potential, rather than its generation and use.

Now, a period has started when it is clear that the continuation of
this process and its waste can bring about serious issues of balance
in the South Caucasian region. Apparently, this is the reason of
the growing interest of international political centers towards the
domestic affairs of Armenia.

WELL-INFORMED ARMENIAN OFFICIAL SURPRISES JEWS

Tert.am
02.11.11

A high-ranking Armenian official, who was recently on a visit to
Israel, has reportedly surprised the Jews with his high intellect
and profound knowledge of the country’s history and domestic policies.

“The three-member delegation headed by the high-ranking official spent
a couple of days in Israel. The guests studied several core facilities
in the country’s northern and central parts and met with the Armenian
community representatives of Jerusalem,” the Israeli Russian news
website IzRus reported, without disclosing the official’s name.

An unnamed diplomatic source told the website that the envoy’s visit
to the country had been arranged by Israeli Ambassador to Armenia
Shmuel Meirom. The source said the visit was cognitive, adding that
the guests were not scheduled to have meetings with the country’s
political leadership.

IzRus had earlier reported that Yerevan was sending its high-ranking
official to Tel Aviv to discuss potentials of strategic cooperation.

FORMER YEREVAN MAYOR TO REPLACE DEPUTY PM?

Tert.am
02.11.11

The former Yerevan Mayor, Gagik Beglaryan is going to replace Armen
Gevorgyan as the deputy prime minister of Armenia, according to the
local newspaper Hraparak.

Gevorgyan’s resignation was reported earlier on Monday.

Speaking of foreseeable structural reforms in the government, the
paper says the head of the National Security Service, Gorik Hakobyan
will be the next to quit office. He will be reportedly replaced by
Armen Avetisyan, the former head of the Customs Service.

The paper claims that the reforms will further result in the
reorganization of several ministries and other government bodies.

Earlier, Chief of Police Alik Sargsyan was sacked from office. On
Monday evening, reports on the resignation of Hovik Abrahamyan,
the speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, were made public.

According to Hraparak, Abrahamyan is expected to join the Prosperous
Armenia Party, a political force represented in the ruling coalition

US DIDN’T FORGET THE PROTOCOLS

yerkir.am
13:40 – 02.11.2011

The announcement of US Secretary of the state Hillary Clinton, as if
Turkey has to verify the Armenia-Turkish protocols, is just a wish
with a small possibility.

Politician Sergey Minasyan talked about this during the press
conference and added that the US will not press on Turkey about this
however won’t forget the progress as well.

KIM KARDASHIAN DIVORCE APRÈS 72 JOURS DE MARIAGE
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 2 novembre 2011

La vedette de la telerealite Kim Kardashian, 31 ans, a annonce hier (31
octobre) qu’elle avait demande le divorce a son mari, Kris Humphries,
seulement 72 jours après leur mariage qui a coûte 10 millions de
dollars, rapporte le magazine Us.

Kardashian a depose sa demande de divorce tôt hier matin a Los Angeles,
peu de temps après avoir epouse le joueur de basket-ball de la NBA,
le 20 août dernier, après neuf mois de frequentation.

Alors que de nombreuses speculations circulent, voulant que leur
relation ait ete inventee de toutes pièces seulement pour attirer
l’attention mediatique, des sources près de Kardashian affirment
maintenant qu’il s’agit d’une histoire beaucoup plus compliquee.

Une source declare : ” Elle est sincèrement amoureuse de l’amour. Elle
est toujours la fille qui griffonne le nom de son futur mari dans son
cahier de notes. Et c’est ce qui s’est produit. Elle est tombee très
amoureuse de lui alors qu’elle ne le connaissait pas reellement. Elle
a ete frappee très fort. ”

Alors que de nombreuses personnes continuent de croire que Kardashian
a peut-etre precipite les choses en demandant aussi rapidement le
divorce, la source insiste sur le fait qu’elle n’avait pas d’autre
choix.

” Elle ne voulait pas rester la et continuer a mentir en disant a quel
point elle etait heureuse dans son mariage alors qu’elle ne l’etait
pas. Elle a beaucoup de regrets “, declare la source. Soulignons
qu’après l’annonce du divorce de Kim, sa jeune s~ur Khloe a rapidement
pris sa defense en ecrivant sur sa page Twitter : ” Lire certains de
ces commentaires est tellement douloureux. Je suis reconnaissante
envers nos fans qui comprennent et qui sont respectueux. La haine
est degoutante. L’amour est tout. Dieu merci pour notre famille. Nous
sommes forts et nous deviendrons encore plus proches ! Je t’aime. ”