29 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News
Bomb explosion in McDonald's
A bomb has exploded in McDonald's in Beyoglu, Istanbul, injuring three, and causing massive material damage. Security officials said a suspicious package was noticed shortly before the explosion in probably the busiest McDonald's in Turkey. Officials added the possible existence of a relation to the suicide bombing in Istanbul, which took place two weeks ago.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
No pass for supremacy of international
law
- Provision to amend Article 90 of Constitution to say that international law takes precedence when it clashes with domestic law fails to get passed.
- Coalition parties opt to support Erdogan rather than fellow Islamist Erbakan; ow voting over article that will help Erdogan considered result of center right DYP and ANAP seeing Erdogan as a threat; article may not pass second round of voting
Parliament has failed to grant international agreements supremacy over Turkish law. The first article in the 37-article amendment package to be rejected at the General Assembly was over Article 90 of the Constitution.
The amendment proposal was number 32 out of 37 and said: "Should there be a clash between domestic laws and international agreements, the international agreements shall take precedence." This provision had been drawn up so as to provide a legal infrastructure for compliance with the EU.
However, as Turkey is not yet a full member, the deputies saw no reason to make such an arrangement and voted it down. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had also opposed making such an amendment to Article 90 when he spoke at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting in August. Sezer had told Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi that such an amendment would lead to a loss in sovereignty.
Some 430 deputies took part in the voting on this article. Only 221 votes were balloted in favor with 149 against and 16 abstentions with 24 empty and 20 invalid papers. This article needs 330 votes at least in round two. Some deputies made an amendment to the amendment proposal to the effect that international agreements shall take precedence only once Turkey had become a full EU member. However, Commission member Tayfun Icli of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said it would be wrong to force this article through at this stage. He said that if it failed to get passed the second round of voting then it could be taken up at a future date.
Second round of voting on Tuesday
As the first round of voting on the package was completed before the weekend, the second round was decided to take place on Tuesday. The Constitution requires at least a 48-hour gap between the first and second rounds of voting. In the second round, there will be no deliberations, simply voting. Any article securing less than 330 votes will be considered rejected. Following the second round of voting, the entire package will be voted on as a whole, the number of acceptance votes determining whether the package will be put to a referendum or not. If the entire package secures between 330 and 366 votes inclusive then a referendum will be called. If it exceeds 366 votes then it will be automatically legislated. President Sezer still has the authority to put it to a national referendum in any case.
Bargaining over exoneration will be difficult
By means of an amendment made to Article 100 of the Constitution, it will now be harder for political parties to enter into bargaining in order to exonerate one another. Any parliamentary enquiries into the prime minister or other ministers will be voted on now by secret rather than open ballot.
In addition, reports prepared by investigation commissions will have to be handed to the Parliament Speaker immediately upon completion. As this provision does not exist in the current 1982 Constitution, a report drawn up by the commissions into Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz was not submitted to the Parliament Speaker on the grounds it could adversely affect his chances in the up and coming elections.
The amendment states that reports shall be distributed to deputies within 10 days of being submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office. They will then be deliberated at the General Assembly within a further 10 days. A vote of 276 will be required to have the prime minister or cabinet ministers put on trial at the supreme court.
DSP deputy for Bursa Ali Arabaci said the amendment was good but did not go far enough. He proposed that Court of Cassation (Appeals) Chief Public Prosecution Office submit requests for such enquiries, but this proposal was defeated.
Some 456 deputies voted on Article 100. It was passed with 434 votes. There were 18 against, two abstentions and two empty.
Immunity and cushy pensions
The proposed amendment to Article 83 of the Constitution concerning deputies' immunity from prosecution saw the least support to date. Deputies showed they were more touchy about being prosecuted than they were about lifting the ban on Kurdish broadcasting. SHould the proposal be accepted, the 100 plus requests to have deputies' immunities lifted should be resolved within three months. Some 435 deputies voted on this proposal, of whom only 355 voted for - enough in the second round, but a rejection in this round. There were 78 votes against.
The proposal for an amendment to Article 86 was seen faster than any other. This proposal would amend the social and personal rights of parliamentary deputies ensuring what has become known in the press as "cushy pension rights". The Constitutional Court will no longer be able to overturn laws enabling privileged pension plans for deputies.
Amnesty broadened
By means of an amendment to Article 87, the scope of amnesties has been broadened. Accordingly, crimes against the state as determined by Article 14 may also be covered by amnesties. In addition, crimes of thought and expression will be covered, too. A total of 411 deputies voted on this, with 389 voting for, 17 against, two abstentions and three empty.
Civilian look to MGK
The military-civilian balance at the National Security Council (MGK) has been altered thanks to an amendment to Article 118. Currently, there are five each civilian and military permanent members. The amendment sees the military stay at five while the civilian contingent is increased to nine. In addition, the phrase "will be given priority attention by the government" has been replaced by "will be evaluated" and so MGK proposals may not now become policy. A total of 432 deputies voted, of whom 399 voted for, 32 against with one empty paper.
Erdogan phobia in ANAP and DYP
During the deliberations over the package, the coalition parties offered a green light to Justice and Development Party (AK Party/AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in favor of fellow Islamist Necmettin Erbakan. However, as both ANAP and opposition center right True Path (DYP) see Erdogan as a threat, the article secured only 369 votes. It was said that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) may also have voted against. The article may not make it through the second round of voting. AKP was formed after the Islamist opposition Virtue Party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court. The popularity of this party and its leader Erdogan had greatly disturbed ANAP and DYP alike. A provision had been added to Article 76 of the Constitution that would eliminate the chance of Erdogan getting reelected following his political ban. The provision in Article 76 saying that any persons convicted of anarchist or ideological actions could never be elected as political deputies was removed with the appropriate phrase replaced by "terrorist action". This would allow people condemned under Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code to stand for election. If the article gets passed then a case filed against Erdogan by Court of Cassation Chief Public Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu saying Erdogan cannot be elected leader of a political party may well go in Erdogan's favor. A total of 435 deputies voted, of whom 369 voted for, 54 against, with the others being invalid, empty or abstentions.
Furthermore, Saadet (Happiness and Contentment) Party had submitted a proposal during deliberations over Article 69 to have the political ban on Erbakan lifted early. This proposal was rejected. By means of an amendment to Article 69, it will become harder to dissolve political parties. Of the 470 deputies that voted on this proposal, 428 voted in favor, 28 against, five were empty and three invalid.
Second obstacle to party closure
A further amendment to Article 149 calls for a three fifths majority vote at the Constitutional Court to dissolve a political party. Currently, a two thirds majority is sought.
September 12 immunity lifted
A proposal to lift Provisional Article 15, which forbids anyone taking the decisions, laws and decrees passed by the military regime between 1980 and 1982 to court has been lifted.
No pardon for Ocalan
By means of a provisional amendment made to one proposal, any crime against the state committed before the amendment to Article 87 comes into force cannot be pardoned. Thus PKK separatist terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan cannot be pardoned.
Ankara - TDN Parliament Bureau
CONCERN
Military dominated MGK reviews possible spill-overs to Turkey
of the looming US-led war against terrorism
MGK expresses support for US anti-terror war
Turkey's all powerful National Security Council (MGK) lent Washington "every required support" in its fight against terrorism.
The military dominated MGK declared Friday after a lengthy meeting under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer that the council reviewed developments after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in United States and discussed possible impacts of the developments on Turkey and the measures that Ankara may take.
Stressing Turkey's unreserved opposition to all kinds of terrorism, the statement said that in its fight against terrorism Washington would receive "every required assistance" from Turkey.
Calling for international solidarity against terrorism that imperils the lives of innocent civilians, the MGK statement said an international campaign was a must to fight terrorism.
The statement said at the council meeting it was stressed that Turkey would provide every possible assistance that would not hurt Turkey's national interests to the fight against terrorism.
The MGK meeting was participated at by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen, Land Forces Commander Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Bulent Alpkaya, Air Force Commander Gen. Cumhur Asparuk, Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman and MGK Secretary General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc as well as deputy prime ministers Devlet Bahceli, Husamettin Ozkan and Mesut Yilmaz.
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, the statement said, participated in a portion of the meeting and briefed the Council on the latest developments on Cyprus.
The statement said the MGK reviewed the Action Plan aimed at strengthening the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and advised the government to continue implementing the Action Plan with determination.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
TUSIAD lambasts government
- TUSIAD criticizes the government in the Higher Consultation Board meeting
- The TUSIAD chairman says the environment of confidence needed for economic recovery is not there, and 'We need a government that can make a sound analysis of the period in which we live'
- TUSIAD chair Ozilhan asks President Sezer to take a more active role during this critical period
TUSIAD Executive Board Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan harshly criticized the government coalition and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in his speech on economic and social development during the Higher Consultation Board meeting. Claiming that the government could not provide the environment of confidence needed to revive the economy, Ozilhan said, "We need a government that can correctly analyze the current situation of Turkey."
Ozilhan also called on President Sezer to guide the country with a vision at this critical time.
Stating that difficulties had increased after the last TUSIAD YIK meeting in June, Ozilhan said extreme fluctuations in foreign currency and high inflation figures occurred during the summer season, which had originally been expected to be calm.
Noting that the real sector continued to falter and the bureaucracy came to a halt, Ozilhan said that no one wanted to work or take responsibility. Stating that graft sucked the blood out of Turkey, Ozilhan said "It is correct to continue to struggle against graft but if you consider all credits that are not paid back as graft, investigate subjects that require expertise as police events, the system won't work. No one can even sign a simple form."
Less bureaucracy
Pointing out that the economy, which could not even cope with its own problems, would not bear the problems created by a paralyzed bureaucracy, Ozilhan said: "Therefore while the government is being reestablished, the current laws should be revised so as to enable the bureaucracy to work more smoothly and take responsibility. The work environment, where fear and suspicion is dominant today, should enable the continuation of ordinary operations."
Ozilhan stated that Economy Minister Kemal Dervis and the economy administration should be more open to warnings from the private sector over knowledge and surveillance and said: "This is not the time to try to govern things from where we sit. We need a government that can analyze the conditions, shape its economic and political priorities under this light, guide the dynamic forces of the country and mobilize resources."
Is Turkey abandoned to its fate?
During the second part of his speech, Ozilhan talked about the terrorist attacks in the United States and said the event had deeply shaken the world. He added that the man on the street was worried about his future at a time when talk about a third world war and a clash of civilizations was on everyone's lips.
Ozilhan argued the responsibility lay with authorities who did not make statements that would satisfy the people and criticized President Sezer. He said:
"Does anyone know which vision informs us at this time when everyone says that nothing will be of old? Do we have a leader that could pull us out of this morass? Is there really someone who governs us? Or were we abandoned to our fate?
"Is it not natural that we should expect the respected president to lead society and have a vision for Turkey in a new world? In the face of events that rocked the world, why do President Sezer or Prime Minister Ecevit not address the nation? We are living on the fault lines that will give shape to the new world. Will we make do with a defense reflex that reflects a psychological complex with statements such as 'they called us, they give us importance, they invited us to the United States?' Or will we protect Turkey and do what it takes to reach our goals?"
Ozilhan suggested that the politicians had found an opportunity to become heroes and said: "They can use this chance and go down in history with their contributions to the construction of a new Turkey at the threshold of the third millennium. The country needs politicians and leaders that will chart new horizons and lead society."
YIK Chairman Muharrem Kayhan said Turkey had to brace for one of the most difficult periods in its history and had to distinguish itself as an industrial, secular and European country in the Islamic world at this time.
Istanbul - Turkish Daily News
Kutan: Our door always open for
Gurtuna
- Gurtuna: Our affection, respect and ties will continue
Saadet (Happiness and Contentment) Party leader Recai Kutan received Istanbul Greater City Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna in his offices at Parliament, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Gurtuna said he had worked for many years with the now defunct Virtue Party (FP) and wished Saadet many successes. Stating that Saadet would make an important contribution to Turkish political life, Gurtuna said he believed the party would create the solutions that were needed.
Kutan said that Istanbul was a mosaic of Turkey with its 6 million population and praised the Greater City Municipality for its work in recent years making Istanbul a livable city. He also pointed out the problems being faced by Istanbul and other municipalities and said that a new Local Government Bill aiming to reduce these burdens was on the agenda at Parliament.
When asked by journalists whether Kutan was going to invite Gurtuna into the party, he replied: "We have worked together in the past. Naturally, our door is wide open to our valued brother. But we do appreciate the special circumstances he finds himself in. However, in the end, I still maintain that people sharing the same view should unite under the same roof."
Gurtuna later met the leader of the other, less conservative Islamist party the Justice and Development Party (AK Party/AKP) Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They spoke for approximately half an hour. Just as with Kutan, Gurtuna said they had worked long together and wished the party success in the future. Tayyip Erdogan returned the compliment saying he was sure the successes noted by the Istanbul Greater City Municipality would continue.
Gurtuna was asked by journalists whether or not he would join the AK Party or any other party. Gurtuna replied: "At the moment we are independent and we are trying to carry out our duties independently."
On the matter of the Albayraklar criminal investigation looking into allegations of corruption between Istanbul Greater City Municipality and the Islamist (Green) capital holding Albayraklar Group, Gurtuna said nobody had approached him for questioning. In reply to the same question, Erdogan said the torture of women and children taken into custody by the police during the investigation was a disgrace for Turkey. He said they were going to pursue the matter to the end.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
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