Cyprus-Forum.com

[Maximus]

I don't know if others have noticed this too, but the daily hurry-it news seems to have stopped publishing readers comments.

I have not noticed any readers comments there for about 2 weeks now.

[bill cobbett]

I don't know if others have noticed this too, but the daily hurry-it news seems to have stopped publishing readers comments.

I have not noticed any readers comments there for about 2 weeks now.

Think you're right Maxi.

3-4 days ago, wanted to reply to Kanli's outrageous "two states in CY" article but couldn't...

[bill cobbett]

Zaman reporting what it calls "implicit criticism" by the US State Dept on interference in the judiciary in Turkey.

"... The US State Department has implicitly criticized a proposal by the Turkish government, which is aiming for a tighter grip over the judiciary by restructuring the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), saying that the US supports Turkish people's desire for a legal system where no one is above the law and where allegations against public figures are investigated impartially.

During the daily press briefing at the US Department of State on Thursday, American journalists quizzed State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki over the developments in Turkey, namely the sacking of police officers, the HSYK proposal and strict control over the Internet, asking for a broader overview of the US position on such issues.

“In our conversations with all stakeholders in Turkey, we continue to make clear that the United States supports the desire of the Turkish people for a legal system that meets the highest standards of fairness, timeliness, and transparency in civil and criminal matters, where no one is above the law and where allegations against public figures are investigated impartially,” said Psaki.

“You are familiar with our view on freedom of speech and freedom of media, which we've expressed as needed and express annually in our report as well. And we're certainly communicating that directly to the government,” she added. ... "

[bill cobbett]

The ban on accessing Vimeo, reported above, has been lifted.

[bill cobbett]

A "debate" this week in the Turkish Parliament over the corruption scandal turns in to a brawl...

[GreekIslandGirl]

lol

[kurupetos]

lol

Yes that was funny.

[repulsewarrior]

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies had already been putting in metaphorical blood, sweat and tears to realize their government’s desired amendments, when they gave some literal blood, sweat and tears on the second day of the ongoing debates as the head of a professional association of judges became the recipient of an attempted acrobatic flying kick from ruling AKP lawmaker Zeyid Aslan.

Erdoğan, however, refused to criticize the mixed martial arts fighter from his ranks, choosing instead to blame “outsiders” for the brouhaha.

“It is wrong that people come from outside to Parliament’s commission’s work to make a speech without having any competence. First, you don’t have the competence to make a speech there.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkis ... sCatID=338

but look...

A fierce brawl erupted on Monday between nationalist and pro-Kurdish deputies in the Turkish Parliament over the use of the word “Kurdistan” when referring to neighboring Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_g ... umnistId=0

...meanwhile:

“The AK Party would not lend support to these proposals,” commented Gürsel of BETAM, who believes that out of the 11 proposals of the opposition, the first article on the removal of legislative immunity for those involved in corruption may be a little extreme as a measure to fight corruption.

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_g ... umnistId=0

According to the main opposition party, the recent alleged corruption represents a huge loss in public money. The CHP leader claimed in his speeches during the past week that the latest cases of alleged government corruption represent a sum as big as TL 247 billion ($113 billion). According to Kılıçdaroğlu, who criticized the prime minister for attempting to block the corruption probe, it would be possible to pay a minimum wage to all those unemployed in Turkey, the number of whom is nearly 3 million according to official data, for eight years if the recent corruption did not exist. Or, it would, alternatively, be possible to carry out 30 transportation projects as expensive as Marmaray, a recently launched commuter train line that stretches under the Bosporus, connecting Asia and Europe under the sea. “It is because the corruption is so huge that Erdoğan is so scared [by the investigation],” claimed Kılıçdaroğlu.

[Tim Drayton]

Discussion will begin today in the Parliamentary Justice Commission of a bill which, if it becomes law, will bring the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors, the body which supervises the judiciary, under the direct control of the Ministry of Justice, thus striking a serious blow to the independence of the judiciary.

Stefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood, has said that Turkey, as a candidate EU member, must first consult with the EU before the proposed law for changing the structure of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors is enacted so as to ensure that it complies with EU legislation.

http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/ab_hs ... in-1170624

(Personally, I do not see how this law can fail to be struck down by the Constitutional Court.)

[repulsewarrior]

Taking a look at what has been going on in light of the principle of the presumption of innocence alone, will suffice to understand what I am trying to say. While everybody is quite rightly referring to the principle of the presumption of innocence to protect the rights of the suspects implicated in the greatest corruption probe in Turkey's history, the same principle is not remembered with respect to millions of other people who are not suspects in any alleged offense or crime. Without proper evidence, findings, investigation results or judicial verdict, millions of people are being accused of being elements of a so-called parallel state by the prime minister and other ministers just because of their ties to a certain social movement. A civil society movement, known for its education and charity services and activities, is being labeled as a criminal or terrorist organization and many evil and ugly labels that reasonable and conscientious people would never accept, including gang, provocateur, traitor, conspirers of international plots and accomplices to foreign powers, are being used with respect to these people who have never been involved in any criminal activity.

http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Don-t-forge ... I5NjI1NS81

...lines are being drawn between the need to be "Turkish", and Individuals who are Turkish, between deductive and inductive reasoning, between Principal and Law, and given what Kurds (and the Alevi) have to say and the reaction to it, between Nation and State; a civil war between the true ideals that flung one man (read: Ataturk) on the stage, and the system over-which his thinking prevailed, an unfinished revolution coming full circle at last (we hope), an end to the stagnation that became "Kemal".