Yeni Düzen columnist Aysu Basri Akter reports that Article 8 of a draught replacement to the current Associations Law contains the following provision:
Amaç, düşünce, tutum veya faaliyet alanları aynı olsa bile, hiçbir Sivil Toplum Örgütü Bakanlar Kurulu kararı olmaksızın herhangi bir yabancı örgütle veya uluslararası bir örgüte kurucu üye, üye veya şube sıfatıyla bağlanamaz.
Even if their aims, thoughts, attitudes or areas of activity are identical, no Civil Society Organisation may, without a Council of Ministers resolution, become attached to any foreign organisation or international organisation in the capacity of founding member, member or branch.
The law currently in force apparently imposes no such restriction, which runs contrary to EU norms. Civil society organisations have said that they will not remain silent and will embark on a serious campaign of opposition to this move.
Akter, noting that a number of associations currently cooperate with international bodies and that others have been blocked by South Cyprus from establishing such relationships, speculates that the logic behind this proposal is a wish to cut off all relations with the outside world.
She argues:
Ama ne acıdır ki, “tanınma” siyaseti güttüğünü söyleyen bir siyasi partinin hükümeti, tam da “tanınmama” tam da kendini daha fazla tecrit etme anlayışı üzerinden çalışıyor.
Ve bunun yanında en iyi ihtimalle, adı üzerinde sivil toplum örgütleri (non-governmental organisations) tamamen siyasi iradeye bağımlı hale getiriliyor.
But how painful it is that the guiding philosophy of the government of a political party which claims to pursue the policy of “recognition” is one of total “non-recognition”; one of further isolating oneself.
In addition to this, at the very best what in name are civil society organisations (non-governmental organisations) are being brought into a position of total subjection to political authority.
