ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 1st, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PRELIMINARY DEFENSE FROM AK PARTY
Justice and Development (AK) Party submitted its 98 pages preliminary defense compiled in 3 files to the Constitutional Court.
In the defense there are photocopies of record books signed by former presidents Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel and PMs Mesut Yilmaz, Tansu Ciller, certain ministers and an army general during their visits to Fethullah Gulen's schools. Former PM Bulent Ecevit's remarks referring to Gulen's schools as saying "There has not been such a service for culture, even in the 600 years Ottoman history" were also cited in the defense.
PLEASE! COMMON SENSE
Negotiations did not bear any results, and May 1st celebrations turned into a quarrel. While the government did not allow celebrations in the Taksim Square, the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), and the Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK) and some labor unions under Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is) said they would march to Taksim Square.
DISK Secretary General Tayfun Gorgun said they did not change their decision to march to Taksim Square from three different directions. He said, "We will celebrate May 1st together with 500,000 workers with carnations in our hands."
There was division among Turk-Is with two different statements yesterday. While Chairman Mustafa Kumlu said they would not march to Taksim Square, Secretary General Mustafa Turkel said, "we will gather in Dolmabahce and march to Taksim Square from there."
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted to the insistence of labor unions about Taksim and said, "To make an imposition with a mentality insisting on doing whatever they want is an attempt to create public disorder."
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HAPPY MAY 1ST
Today is the festival of workers. The world celebrates May 1st as a festival. In Turkey, tension is on top because the government and labor unions could not reach a consensus on celebrating May 1st at Istanbul's Taksim Square. Labor unions are determined to celebrate May 1st at Taksim Square. They are saying, "we will be at Taksim with 500,000 people". On the other hand, all the officials --from the government to Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler-- said, "there is no permission." Governor Guler said that they had an intelligence that members of terrorist organization would clash with police by using May 1st celebrations.
AK PARTY GAVE ITS PRELIMINARY DEFENSE TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
Ruling AK Party gave its preliminary defense against the closure case to Constitutional Court two days before the legal deadline. 98-page defense says that the lawsuit was filed with political aims.
PROJECTION MISSED IN INFLATION
Central Bank increased its inflation projection due to fluctuation in global markets and price increase in oil and food. Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz announced inflation in 2008 was projected as 9.3 percent which was earlier 4 percent.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TAKSIM SIEGE
It is forbidden to enter Taksim today within the scope of measures which were taken by the government following the debates regarding celebration of May 1st. DISK said that they would celebrate May 1st at Taksim Square with 500,000 workers. Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said they would not let workers to celebrate May 1st at the square. 25,000 police officers will be on duty in Istanbul today.
PRELIMINARY DEFENSE AT COURT
Ruling AK Party presented its preliminary defense against closure case to Constitutional Court without asking extra time. 98-page preliminary defense in six dossiers was presented to the Court at around 6:20 p.m. yesterday.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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MAY 1ST ALARM IN ISTANBUL
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler announced the measures which were taken against illegal demonstrations in Taksim district of Istanbul. Ferry services were suspended from Uskudar and Kadikoy districts to Besiktas, Kabatas and Karakoy till noon. Tramcar services between Sirkeci and Kabatas, funicular services between Taksim and Kabatas and subway services between Mecidiyekoy and Taksim will also be suspended. There will be snipers on high buildings. The crowd will firstly be warned to "disperse"; if they resist, pressure water will be sprayed. 66 schools in the district are closed today.
1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE INSURANCE
One million people, including babies, acquired insurance in the last four months not to be included in new Social Security Law. People, who had insurance before April 30th, can retire at the age of 58 and 60 (women, men respectively). People, who had insurance one day later, can retire at the age of 65.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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301 AMENDED
The bill amending Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code was adopted at the General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament. In the bill the term "Turkishness" was changed as "Turkish Nation" while "Republic" was changed as "the Republic of Turkey". The maximum punishment for the crimes under this article was lowered to two years.
AT TAKSIM SQUARE WITH CARNATIONS
The Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), and the Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK) and some labor unions under Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is) once more reiterated their determination to celebrate May 1st in Taksim Square. A statement by these labor unions said any possible chaos should be blamed on the Governor and the police department.
DISK Secretary General Tayfun Gorgun said "We will celebrate May 1st together with 500,000 workers with carnations in our hands."
While Turk-Is Chairman Mustafa Kumlu stepped back from his word and said they would make celebrations in the designated areas, Turk-Is Secretary General Mustafa Turkel said they would march to Taksim Square. Workers will not march to Taksim Square from three different directions but gather in Sisli and march to Taksim from there.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AK PARTY DOES NOT TAKE ON ACCUSATIONS
Justice and Development (AK) Party did not ask for additional time in the dissolution case and submitted its preliminary defense to the Constitutional Court. AK Party asserted the thesis that the case is not jural but rather political and stated that according to European laws and Venice guidelines a party could only be dissolved if it supported violence.
Excerpts from the defense: National Education Ministry's circular are open to Council of State's inspection. When Bulent Arinc was Parliament Speaker he was not an AK Party member. President Abdullah Gul can't be tried as a lawsuit against former President Kenan Evren was rejected in the past.
TURKISH PENAL CODE ARTICLE 301 FINALLY CHANGED
The amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which had been discussed for three years, was adopted with 250 votes against 65. Due to the principle that "the clause favoring the tried will be taken into consideration", the ongoing lawsuits will be suspended and the permission of the Ministry of Justice will be sought.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PRELIMINARY DEFENSE SUBMITTED TO CONSTITUIONAL COURT
AK Party officials submitted their preliminary defense compiled in 6 folders to the Constitutional Court, two days before the deadline. PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier said that they would not ask for additional time.
COMMON SENSE FROM TURK-IS
Despite Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), and the Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK), Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is) Chairman Mustafa Kumlu said they would not make celebrations in Taksim but only lay a wreath to the monument there. He said "ignoring the warnings against provocations and going to Taksim for celebrations would be against May 1st spirit."
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURK-IS GAVE UP TAKSIM
Upon intelligence of police department that there was a preparation for an armed attack, the government did not allow May 1st celebrations to be held at Istanbul's Taksim Square due to security reasons. While DISK and KESK continued on their insistence to celebrate May 1st at Taksim Square, Turk-Is stated it would not celebrate May 1st at Taksim Square not to prepare a base for provocations.
PRICE INCREASE IN ENERGY AND FOOD MADE FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION HARD
Inflation rate, which dropped to single digits thanks to political stability and tight monetary policy, has exceeded targets for the last two years. Central Bank stated that 4 percent target, which was announced for 2008, could not be realized; the new projection is 9.3 percent.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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THIS PERSISTENCE COMES UP NEWLY
DISK, which gave its chairman as a deputy to Democratic Left Party (DSP) government in 1999, was silent in those years; but for the last two years, it has been insisting to celebrate May 1st at Taksim Square. On the other hand, Turk-Is gave up its decision to hold celebrations at the square.
(OZG-GC-MS)