The Six Months of Local and Regional Media
The report encompasses practices and intrusions that targeted the local and regional media, which BIA Legal Assistance Desk has been monitoring since the year 2000.
According to the eight-page report, one journalist has been arrested, nine are still being tried, three journalists have been convicted, nine have been acquitted, six have been attacked and four have been threatened.
Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) has halted the broadcasts of 52 local and regional radio and television stations for a total of 2921 days.
The report was prepared by collecting the information given by local and regional broadcasting organization that exist within BIA, and by investigating and advancing the developments that took place in the media.
RTUK halted broadcasting for a total of 2921 days
* During the period only covering the months of January-June 2002, RTUK halted the broadcasts of 52 local and regional media organizations for a total of 2921 days. In 2001, RTUK had halted the broadcasts of 56 television and radio stations for a total of 3132 days.
* According to the report, which covers more than 50 incidents and 84 local and regional media organizations, Ahmet Aksoy, the owner of the "Olusum" (formation) newspaper, was arrested because of an article, and sent to the Nizip Prison.
While nine journalists are still standing trial, Guler Yildiz, one of the managers of the "Cinar" (sycamore) newspaper, was sentenced to 10 months of suspended prison term. As an outcome of the cases against journalists, nine including Cumhur Kilicoglu, were acquitted while three were convicted.
* The journalists were under the pressure of local administrators, such as governors, district officers and mayors. A total of four journalists were threatened during this period:
Eryilmaz, the Governor of the northern province of Bartin, the was fined for insulting the owner of "Bartin" newspaper, Esen Alis.
In the central Anatolian province of Konya, prosecutor Cicek attempted to search the "Kon TV" building for drugs. Kon TV had been broadcasting programs about this prosecutor.
Sinan Kara, the owner of the "Mersin Haber" (Mersin news) newspaper was sentenced to 17 months in prison.
District officer Erdogan, in the southern city of Iskenderun, scolded Ersen Korkmaz, the owner of the "Demoktrat Iskenderun" (democrat Iskenderun) newspaper, on the phone because of an article.
* There were six incidents where the journalists were attacked:
M. Kemal Celik, who writes for the "Batman Postasi" (Batman post) was attacked by a group of police from the "Celik Kuvvet" (Steel Force) Department, on his way out of a football game.
Ahmet Leventyuru, the owner of the "Arayis" (pursuit) newspaper, was attacked at the Publishing and Broadcasting Bureau of the Mersin Municipality.
In the eastern province of Van, the police first pecked at " Alp TV" cameraman Sukur Akyuz, then seized his camera.
Gunman attacked to Ali Riza Tig, " Pusula" (compass) magazine owner, in the middle of a street in northern province of Zonguldak. He had published articles about corruption allegations. Tig has sued the gunman who had been arrested, but is unable to hire a lawyer because of impossibilities.
BIA Legal Assistance Desk,in line with BIA objectives and ideals, has been offering free consulting services since September 2000 in every level, from legal applications of local newspapers, radio and television stations to the jurisdiction problems.
Lawyer Fikret Ilkiz is the consultant of the BIA Legal Assistance Desk and Erol Onderoglu is the secretary.( (EO/NM/EA/NM)
* For more information: BIA Legal Assistance Desk Secretariat - Erol Onderoglu,Telephone : 0 212 251 15 03, Fax : 0 212 251 16 09, e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]