Eksi Sends Letter To Erdogan On Turkish Penal Code

ISTANBUL (AA) - Oktay Eksi, chairman of the World Association of Press Councils (WAPC), sent on Tuesday a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) which will be enacted tomorrow (Wednesday).
     In his letter, Eksi wrote, ''provisions of the New Penal Code, which has been prepared with the understanding of paving the way for sending journalists to prison and therefore which is restricting freedom of communication (right to acquire information, press and expression), will take effect on June 1st, 2005. Our efforts aiming at amending these provisions in line with needs of a democratic and transparent society have not born fruit despite a few changes that were made just for show.''
     So, your government has undertaken the responsibility of the lawsuits we will face after this (the law) takes effect with the support of the main opposition party (except CHP parliamentarian Orhan Eraslan),'' added Eksi.
     (BRC-MS)
2005-05-31