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Home arrow newsitems arrow CoE slams Turkey for Mayors ao Dissidents "unparalleled" Oppression, unmonitored Local Elections'eve

CoE slams Turkey for Mayors ao Dissidents "unparalleled" Oppression, unmonitored Local Elections'eve

Written by ACM
Wednesday, 26 March 2014

 clrae_up_400


*Strasbourg/CoE/- It's significantly at the eve of exceptionaly Crucial Local Elections both in France and in Turkey, next Sunday, March 30, that CoE, the PanEuropean watchdog for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, strongly slamed Turkey for grossly Violating even Elected Mayors and other Political Dissidents' Rights, in what 2 succesive CoE's Resolutions adopted on 2011 and 2014 denounce as provoking a "disproportionately Destructive effect on ...Democracy in Turkey and ...Human Rights", particularly by a "Long-term remand Detention" of "a large number of mayors, deputy mayors and municipal councillors" who were Massively Arrested just after they had been elected back on 2009, and "still remain" in prison on 2014, Five Years later, "as Turkey prepares itself for new local elections on March 30", 2014,  in "a situation which is Unparalleled" to any other among CoE's 47 Member States, as its Congres of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE) denounced.


+ Moreover, the Turkish Government practically Undermined CoE's work to check whether at least Elementary Democratic Rules will be Respected, or Not, during the comming Sunday's Local Elections in Turkey, by Delaying to send the necessary "Invitation" to the CLRAE until it became practically "Too Late" in order "to organize" a proper control of the Electoral Process on the spot, so that, for the 1st Time, CLRAE was obliged to abstain from sending any Monitoring Team to Observe the politically Crucial forthcoming Vote of March 30, 2014, in that Country, contrary to CoE's generally declared wish to "intensify" Elections' Monitoring in all its Member States, and particularly at those which present the most serious Problems, as notoriously Turkey does... 

=> Thus, given also the Exceptional Fact of "Many Elected Politicians and party members still in Detention" since the previous local Elections of 2009 (See Infra), "it was ..argued that ...the municipal Elections planned for (the 30 of) March 2014 would Not be ...Free and Fair", according to the competent CoE's body : CLRAE's Report debated and voted this week in Strasbourg.

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But, for the 1st time on 2014, such grim realities as Turkey's notorious contempt for Human Rights, are no more simple problems merely for some "Exotic" areas at far away Diyarbakir, but Risk also to Start affecting even EU's core, reportedly via various Manipulations and even Dissidents' Murders, as a strange massive "infiltration" of certain Turkish Lobbies inside French Local Elections, even in so Symbolic Cities as ECHR's headquarters here in Strasbourg, was already denounced by mainstream Médias such as "Slate", founded by the prestigious "Le Monde" Newspaper's former Director Colombani, as well as "Rue89", etc.. A particularly Worrying fact after the cold-blood Murder of 3 Dissident Women who had fled Turkey to seek refuge France, where they were Shot Dead inside their Office at down town Paris on 2013, without yet finding  and punishing those responsible for their bloody killing not even 1 Year later, despite growing and serious Factual indications that this looks more and more like an Execution planned by some Ankara's Secret Services, as it was strongly denounced in Strasbourg both last January by a Press Conference of the Victims' Lawyer during CoE's Parliamentary Assembly session, and this week during CLRAE's March Session Debates on Turkey, f.ex. by mainstream Euro-representative Jean-Louis Testud, deputy Mayor of Suresnes, a ChristianDemocrat/EPP member from France and a convinced Gaullist, (etc. See Infra).


-------------------------------------------
* CLRAE  Debate + Resolution voted on Turkey :
-  Oppression "Debilitates Democracy" => Free CLRAE Member Guven !
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     - "The Massive Detention of local politicians in Turkey is Debilitating for local Democracy", critically observes the 2014-adopted CLRAE Resolution, reminding also its 2010 and 2013 official "Declarations on Elected Representatives Detained in Turkey", and expressing its "Conviction" that "such Detentions constitute a Serious Obstacle to the Democratic process in Turkey and also raise Serious Questions about the rule of Law and the protection of Human Rights and this country".

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    + Moreover, CLRAE strongly "Regrets" that the "Detention" of "15 Mayors, 23 Deputy Mayors and 133 Municipal Councilors" up to December 2013, and "several Dozens" since the Beginning of 2014, or even "much More, according to the Opposition", as CLRAE's co-Rapporteur, Leen Verbeek from the Netherlands, (a Socialist), added, are not "released", not even now, on grounds that their remand detention had been "Excessive and Unlawful", and that their Rights to be Elected have been Violated, unlike to what was recently decided by the Constitutional Court of the country "in Similar Circumstances and on similar charges" to 5 MPs who had been detained until recently, before being set free, as he noted. On the contrary, these continuing "Prosecutions", and the recent blockade to COE's Electoral Monitoring for Sunday's vote, "are a Majpr Step Back by (the current Turkish Prime Minister) Erdogan", he critically concluded.


    => Therefore, and taking also into account the supplementary Fact that, at least for CLRAE Member, 2009 Elected Kurdish Mayor Mrs Leyla Guven, who "is still in Detention", "since 2010, with No End to her Trial in Sight", while, moreover, "according to (her) Lawyers, her Pre-Trial Detention has already Long Exceeded any Sentence which could result from her Charges", CLRAE's Resolution "resolves to keep following the case Leyla Güven and all other local elected representatives who find themselves in similar situations", and "instructs its Bureau to continue to Examine this issue at Each of its meetings, until the people in question have been Released". In addition, a paralel CLRAE "Recommendation" to CoE's Committtee of Ministers (CoE's Highest Political body), which "asks" them "to invite the Turkish Authorities ... to Release Leyla Güven, and All the Turkish local (2009)Elected Representatives who find themselves in a similar situation".


    + Their Release should be done at least Now, i.e. "in the context of the March 2014 Turkish municipal Elections", later this week, concludes CLRAE's Recommendation, drafted by ChristianDemocrat/EMM representative Anders Knape from Sweden, together with Socialist representative Leen Verbeek from the Netherlands, which was Adopted by a Large Majority at the Plenary, supported by a proportion of 5 Votes against 1 !.....

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    - Earlier this year, CoE's Rapporteurs had, at last, been able to meet the Jailed Member of the CLRAE, 2009-Elected Kurdish Mayor Leyla Güven in  an "overcrowded" "Prison for Common Criminals" in Turkey, where "the drinking Water has often been the cause for Concern", making her "claim that she has Suffered from several illnesses ....which ...would not have happened in other conditions", while she "shares a Cell with 13 other Women, including two 16-years old Girls" (underage Children according to several other National Legislations), who "have to share 8 Beds", so that 1 woman out of 2 "has to sleep on the Floor"... "Visitors" are "often obliged to Queue outside the Prison for Hours, with No Seating or shelter", while "Strip-searching of visitors is common, which is Humiliating, especially for the Older Women".


     - Güven "is being tried in a Mass trial of 175 Defendants", where "a large Number of other local and regional Politicians, activists, Lawyers and Journalists have been Detained on similar charges". "Prosecutions ....began in April 2009, just 1 Month after (her) Party .... returned Strong Results in the municipal Elections" (sic !)... ".According to "her Lawyer, .... all the Charges against these defendants are of a Political nature and are based on private Conversations and Discussions in internal political meetings", which had been taped by "Secret Recordings". Legally "based on the (controversial) Turkish Penal Code , which provides that you can be Charged of "Membership" of an illegal organisation even if you are clearly not a member, IF it ...you have Helped such a group or .. Spoken in favour of such a group or of its aims", while even a simple "Participation in a Demonstration, ....is often considered sufficient evidence for a Criminal Prosecution, if any of the Slogans chanted during such an event can be argued to be ...Propaganda"... "Critics argue that they constitute unreasonable limitations on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly", while, "in October 2013, the Turkish Ministry of Justice revealed that, over the past 4 Years, 20,000 People had been Convicted under the law against "Terrorism, the great Majority of whom were Jailed for Non-Violent offences".


     - During that CLRAE visit, "she expressed her Sadness that, since her Election as Mayor in 2009, (i.e. 5 Years ago !!!!!) she had been Unable to carry out her Mandate and serve her People", while now, (on January 2014), "she was wearing Black, in Mourning for 2 young men who were Shot Dead ...in the town of Hakkari, on 6 December 2013 by Turkish Security Forces, while participating in a Demonstration against the Desecration of Graves", as CoE's Report reveals.


    =>  In consequence, CoE's "rapporteurs are Concerned by the excessive Length of Proceedings, the Excessive length of remand Detention (5 Years), and the nature of the Charges (Comp. Supra). They believe that the situation of Ms Güven and the other local elected representatives in similar circumstances raises Serious Questions with respect to Turkey’s commitment to local Democracy, and constitute Serious Impediments to ...(the Victims') political mandates", so that, "if this situation persists" even longer, then, "the Credibility of the forthcoming 30 March 2014 Municipal Elections will be seriously Compromised", they warned Ankara's Government, (Comp. also Supra).


    >>> That's why CLRAE's Report concludes by a "Call for All the Mayors and municipal Councillors in question to be Freed" from the Turkish Prisons.
-------------------------------------------


    + During CLRAE's Plenary public Debates, it was also revealed that the Turkish Government has, in addition, recently ... "Abolished in many areas the pre-existing Local/Regional Authorities and transfered their competences to the Central Administration", back in Ankara, while more than "8 Young People were Killed" b the Turish Security Forces "during Protests", as denounced also the Local representative Cukur Devrim from Izmir (the overMillenary Smyrne), inviting the CLRAE to be "more Active" against such gross Violations of the PanEuropean Organization's official tasks to defend Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, (obviously implying that all this should lead, sooner or later, at least to some Sanctions vis a vis Turkey's blatant failure to comply with its commitments vis a vis the CoE)...


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+ Turkish groups' "Infiltrations", Harassment and/or Murders against Dissidents in France ? !
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    ++  But the Problems currently provoked by Turkey to the detriment of Democracy and Human Rights have extended  recently much further than its own borders, seriously Threatening to negatively affect even several EU Countries, such as f.ex. France, as it was revealed by several converging parallel developments, right at the eve of exceptionaly Crucial French Local Elections which are due to conclude at the Same Day as in Turkey : Next Sunday, March 30, 2014 :

3_dissident_women_from_turkey_murdered_in_paris_on_jan._2013_400
 

    => Pointing at "the 3 Women (Political Dissidents) Murdered in Paris" at the beginning of 2013, and speaking at the CLRAE Debate on behalf of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group (the biggest), mainstream French Euro-representative Jean-Louis Testud, deputy Mayor of Suresnes, a long-time Gaullist, strongly denounced  that "the Enquiry is revealing that the Killer had Links with the Turkish Secret Services", while many among the French Investigators, already more than 1 Year after the cold-blood Murders, "deplore the fact that the Turkish Government practically Refuses to really provide any serious Judicial Assistance" in order to search, find and punish those Responsible for the uprecedented Killings, as he said !

testud_clrae_400

           Testud was apparently referring mainly to the recent Leakage of a Tape reportedly describing a Discussion between an unnamed Turkish Official of Ankara's Security Services and the suspected Killer,   where they exchange views about the concrete, Technical details and Plan that he intended to use in order to penetrate unnoticed in France and Murder the 3 Women in downtown Paris : A Tape which circulated widely at the Internet, as well as with a Transcript of its Full Text, provoking a row, as it was earlier described in Strasbourg in detail by the French Lawyer of the Victims' Families, in a Press Conference during January 2014 CoE Assembly's session.


    Both the Victims' Families and their Lawyer had launched then a publc Appeal to the Turkish Authorities to at last Investigate the Revelations apparently made with that Tape leaked at the Internet, and really help the French Police to find all the Truth about those who had ordered and prepared the unprecedented cold-blood Murder of the 3 Dissident Kurdish Women killed in Paris. But, 2 more Months later, it seems that, according to Testud's intervention at this week's CoE's Debate, Ankara hadn't yet provided any useful assistance in order to really check all Factual indications and uncover the Truth on this sordid affair, not even 2 more Months later, at the end of March 2014, (i.e. practically 15 Months after the Jan. 2013 Killing in Paris)..


    The experienced French Lawyer of the Victims' Families had also started to raise the Question of the New "Socialist" French Government's legal Duty (according also to ECHR's well established case-law) to provide an efficient "Protection" to such Dissidents, particularly when they can be targetted and at obvious Risk to be seriously threatened by some so notoriously Undemocratic and Brutal Regimes as that of the Turkish "Deep" State, considering also the Fact that 2 of the Victims had been already recognized as Political Refugees, while the 3rd was reportedly an NGO Human Rights' Activist trying to help Kurdish refugees abroad.


    + But things became much more nasty Today, when Testud reminded the well known fact that this 3rd Victim, was a Young Girl "from Strasbourg, that we (MEPs) knew well, because she came often to meet and speak to us, here, at the Council of Europe", as he said during the CLRAE's Debate on Turkey, (which, curiously, was one of the few to be exceptionaly .. Excluded from CLRAE's website publication, in principle, of all full Video-tapes showing what really happened during MEPs' discussions (See relevant Screenshot)...

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    Simply because that Murdered Girl was, moreover, reportedly living at one of Strasbourg's Suburbs in which the out-going Socialist Mayor Ries, who has appointed as Campaign Director a Turkish ex-belly dancer, who reportedly came to France "to study .. Turcology" (sic !), Günbay, is currently Funding the erection of a big Mosque and even "an Islamic Religious School run by Fundamentalists", as Rightist Candidate Mayor Schaffhauser recently denounced.

sagla_2014_400

 

+ In addition, it's also from there that a reportedly Nationalist Turkish Lobbyist, Saglamer, (opposed to such Dissidents to the current Turkish Government with which one of the grouplets of which he's member, the COJEP, notoriously cooperates, as French Media denounced earlier this week), has just managed to "infiltrate" (according to the wording used by mainstream Media "Slate" of the former Director of the prestigious "Le Monde" Newspaper, Jean-Marie Colombani), with a last-minute manouvre, one of the 2 Frontrunner Candidates for the post of New Mayor of Strasbourg's city, Senator Fabienne Keller, (former Mayor since 2001, who had failed to be re-elected back on 2008, after accepting that same Lobbyist in her list, from where were nevertheless absent, curiously, any notable EU Citizens from any among the other 27 EU Member Countries !). Apparently she fell now Victim of some gross attempts to Manipulate the Public Opinion, by a few slyly Misleading Press Reports of certain Local Media which had initially made an astonishingly Excessive Publicity to that Turkish Lobbyist, with False claims that he would have got almost .. 5 % at the 1st round, while, in fact, he failed to get more than only about 2%, (in reality only  a Tiny .. 1% of the registered voters), merely by forming a Communautarist small grouplet 90% composed almost exclusively from Turkish and/or some reportedly "converted to Islam" individuals, obviously cut off from the French and other EU Citizens of Strasbourg.

 

(../..)

 

 ***

 

("DraftNews", as already sent to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final version might be published asap). 

 

***

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 sarko_merkel_mieux

The official presentation of a "Program" respecting People's choices voted in the June 7, 2009 EU Elections, to be debated in EU Council and EU Parliament during its 1st Session on July in Strasbourg, is the No 1 Priority, according to Democratic principles, for the Franco-German axis, said the main winners at the ballot box, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel.

They stressed  that the New EU Commission's President must have a "Program" in favor of an EU which "protects" its Citizens, regulates financial markets and aims at a "Political" Europe" : a wording they have used as incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid.

They also declared ready for a "political" endorsment of "Mr. Barroso's candidacy" in June's EU Council, considering that an official decision would have to be made after EU Parliament's debates and votes, possibly from next month (July), with the legally necessary final acceptance shortly after Lisbon Treaty's entry into force, hoped for September or October.


- "A Program, and Mr. Barroso" : This resumes, in substance, the anouncements made by Sarkozy and Merkel, on the question of current EU Commission's President, Barroso's declared wish to succeed to himself for a second mandate, to be extended during the following 5 years.

 In their 1st meeting after EU Elections, they observed that "the Franco-German axis counted in European Elections' campaign... But, we both keep a realistic view : We saw the number of those who abstained, and we must absolutely give them an answer. We also see the disilusionment of an important number of Europeans vis a vis Europe, and we are aware of the responsibilities we have".

sarko

 - The "Duty" of the new EU Commission's President, after June 7, 2009 EU Elections' result, "is to act for a Europe which protects the Europeans, to commit himself into working for a better Regulation of Financial transactions, ... and to have a Political will for Europe", underlined Sarkozy.

Therefore, "we have asked M. Barroso... to clarify, to officialy present the intentions he has", he anounced.

- "We want to speak also about the Programme", explained Merkel.

- "It's important that for the next EU Parliament's mandate (2009-2014) we take the right Decisions for Europe.  Obviously on Persons, but mainly Decisions on Issues", she stressed.

- "It's not simply a question of a Person, it's also a question of a Programme". We are "really asking Mr. Barroso to commit himself on a Program, and on Principles, on Values", Sarkozy added.

EU President-in-office, Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, accepted the Franco-German stance :

- "Barroso must present his Programme. The Czech Presidency agrees with that", Fischer reportedly said later, after meeting Sarkozy.

But Press reports from Brussels claimed that Barroso had preferred to be officially appointed by EU Council since June, (i.e. next week), "because this was implied by the current Treaty of Nice, according to him", and considered any delay until the possible ratification of the new, Lisbon Treaty on September/October, as "undemocratic".

- "At any case, independently of what Germany and France ask, it's also EU Parliament's wish". "We shall propose Mr Barroso's candidacy... But even in the framework of Nice Treaty, EU Parliament has to be associated in this Decision", the French President observed.

If this is correctly done, then "we support Mr. Barroso's candidature", and "if the (EU) Parliament agrees, we might ratify this decision since July", (i.e. next month), they both said.

smerkem_400

- "France and Germany support Baroso's candidacy, But we want to speak also on the Program. We believe that this Program should be established in close cooperation with EU Parliament, and that's why we have followed an appropriate way", said Merkel.  - If EU Parliament wants, this election can take place on July,  but this must be done in full agreement.

- "We shall support Mr. Barroso's candidacy, without doubt", said Sarkozy. "But we have asked from Mr. Barroso, as I told him yesterday, to put into detail.. his intentions, at the eve of his 2nd mandate, if the situation avails itself.


    France and Germany "don't want to take an Official Legal Decision by writting" during "the next (EU) Council" (on June 18-19), declared Sarkozy.  Because they prefer, at this stage, only "a Political decision" on June, "so that we (EU Council) can work together with EU Parliament", which starts to meet only Next Month, since July in Srasbourg, "leaving a Legal decision by writting for later".

    - "If the Conditions are fuillfiled in EU Parliament, we (EU Council) are ready to give the agreement and make it offficial", said Merkel

    - "But, now we are working in the base of Nice Treaty. If tommorow we want to work in the spirit of Lisbon Treaty, we have to find a proper way", she added.

    - "Of course it's Legally complicated, because we are going to make a Political proposal to the forthcoming Council, for an EU Commission's President, on the basis of Nice Treaty : So, we (EU Council) will not appoint the Commissioners. Only the President.  If EU Parliament agrees, it could endorse this position on July", explained Sarkozy.

    But, on Autumn, "if Ireland ratifies Lisbon Treaty, there will be, at any case, a 2nd Decision, to appoint the Commission's President, this time on the basis of Lisbon treaty, and then, we, the EU Member States, would have to appoint (also) the EU Commissioners", he added.

    As for the precise Timing :  - "Everything is suspended until the Irish vote... Now, we must all make everything possible to help Ireland to say "Yes"" to Lisbon Treaty... The Irish Referendum, ..will take place either on September or on October. It's a Question which depends on the Irish. And,  then, we shall have the Choice of the Candidates for the permanent Institutions of Europe".

    However, "if Ireland says No, we, French and Germans, have to assume our responsibilities, and we'll do so", he concluded.

    But British and Swedish governments were reportedly eager to have a final EU Council decision on Barroso since this month, on June's European Council. While the other EU Member Countries are divided, several of them preferring to wait until EU Parliament pronounces itself, on July, and/or until Lisbon Treaty might be ratified by Ireland at the beginning of the Autumn. Barroso's current mandate ends on November.

    There are also various, contradictory and/or unpredictable reactions inside EU Parliament vis a vis Barroso's wish to continue a 2nd mandate, because many MEPs are openly or secretly opposed, reluctant, or hesitating.

    In the biggest EU Countries, as France and Germany, EU Citizens voted on June 2009 EU Elections for a renovated, non-technocratic but Political Europe which cares for its Citizens, with an Identity, Values and Borders, declared incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid, by mainstream, pro-European Governing Parties. Similar choices were also supported in several other small or medium EU Countries.

    On the contrary, whenever, in other Countries, Governing and other mainstream Parties didn't make these choices or eluded them, EU Citizens massively voted for euro-Sceptics whenever they were the only ones to to promise anti-bureacratic change and oppose Turkey's demand to enter into the EU, (f.ex. in the UK, Netherlands, etc).

    It's seems to be an Open Question whether Sarkozy and Merkel's conditions will be really accepted by Barroso, who was appointed on 2004 in a different political context, (with Socialist Prime Ministers in Germany, France, etc), had rejected in the Past the idea of EU becoming "equal to the USA" as "ridiculous", and pushed for Turkey's contoversial EU bid, trying to "soften" or contain the changes desired by the People who voted for Merkel and Sarkozy with another policy vis a vis Turkey on 2005 in Germany and on 2007 in France, as they did all over Europe on 2009.

    In addition to many EPP Governments, it's 3 remaining Socialist Prime Ministers : Gordon Brown in the UK, Zapatero in Spain, and Socrates in Prortugal, who support Barroso, as well as Liberal Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt. But their Parties lost the June 2009 EU Elections.

    Questioned whether there was still "Time" for "other" possible "Candidates", Sarkozy and Merkel did not deny, nor made any comment on that, but simply said that "it's not for us to make publicity for any candidates. We anounced our choice ("A Program, and Mr. Barroso"). But we respect any other candidate".

    Among various other names cited are former Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt, former UNO's Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson of Ireland, Italian former EU Commission's vice-President Monti, etc. Meanwhile, Luxembourg's PM Juncker, (who had been unanimously accepted by EU Council for EU Commission's Presidency on 2004, but refused), announced his intention to resign from "EuroGroup"'s Chair. Thus, he might be available for another Top EU job.

    As "EuroFora"'s "opinion" said (See publication dated 9/6/09) : - "If the current candidates (i.e. Barroso, etc) to the Top EU jobs promise and guarantee to respect People's democratic choices, then, it's OK".

"Otherwise, Europe must find new candidates, really motivated and able to implement these democratic choices of the People."

    Because, "in Democracy, the forthcoming choices for EU's Top Jobs,...should be made according to EU Citizens' Votes in June 7, 2009 European Elections, and main EU Governments' strategic policies".
        

***

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