Journalist To Face Abetting Charges

Arrested three months ago on allegations made by a former member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who surrendered to security forces in Tunceli, Dicle News Agency (DIHA) reporter Rustu Demirkaya is to be tried for "aiding and abetting" that organization.

Attempts made by Demirkaya's attorney Baris Yildirim for his release have yielded no results and the journalist will appear as defendant before the Malatya 3rd High Criminal Court on September 21. If found guilty of the charges, Demirkaya faces 5 to 10 years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the case launched against Demirkaya for his involvement in the coverage of the 4 August 2005 release by PKK of kidnapped private Coskun Kirandi will be held on September 8.

Detained while covering Kirandi's release together with three journalists and five human rights activists, Demirkaya is charged in this separate case for "conducting propaganda of the organization and its aims".

In prison for 3 months

Demirkaya was initially arrested and sent to the Tunceli Prison on 14 June after being apprehended according to statements made by a state repentant identified as Engin Korumcu. He was later transferred to Malatya prison where he is currently held.

Korumcu claimed he was a member of the PKK organization and made statements that involved Demirkaya. The journalist's lawyer Yildirim has since been arguing that it was a violation of the law for him to be placed under arrest merely due to claims made by a "repentant".

Demirkaya's recent problems started after he filed a news report on a criminal complaint made against Tunceli Province Gendarme Regiment Commander Namik Dursun who was accused of fraud. He was detained on May 4, 2005 for this report. (EO/II/YE)