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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-12-20Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 20 DECEMBER 2000 Wednesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 20, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)STATE ENTERS PRISONSThe state which couldn't enter prisons for ten years, entered them with the Operation ''Return to Life'' yesterday morning. The power and death fast resistance of terrorist organizations in prisons have been curtailed by the operation. The decision to intervene in prisons to stop the death fasts, was taken during the secret meeting in which representatives of the Interior, Justice and Health Ministries, security directorate, gendarme, national intelligence organization participated and which was chaired by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit last Friday. TWO SOLDIERS DIE IN OPERATION MILLIYET (LIBERAL)ORDER FOR DEATH IN TELEPHONE: BURN YOURSELVESThe state on Tuesday morning staged an operation on the prisons which it could not enter for nine years and which turned into the headquarters of the terrorist organizations. Operations were launched on 20 prisons simultaneously. Most of the prisons were taken under control, however, some of them resisted. Two soldiers died when gunfire was opened from Umraniye and Canakkale prisons. Walls of the resisting prisons were demolished with work machines. A total of 13 inmates in Bayrampasa, two inmates in Bursa, two inmates in Cankiri, and one inmate in Umraniye Prison burned themselves to death. TRANSFERS TO F-TYPE STARTED ACTIVELY The transfers stirred the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission. Bekaroglu from Virtue Party (FP), said, ''the state deceived us, I will resign.'' SABAH (LIBERAL)BAYRAMPASA HORRORInmates in Bayrampasa prison, where the most merciless organization leaders gathered, encountered with kalashnikovs to the operation which the state launched early on Tuesday morning. The state was unable to control the Bayrampasa prison since 1991. A total of 36 prisoners burned themselves to death with the orders of the organization. Operation continued till to the late hours on Tuesday. INTERVENTION SUSPENDED UPON THE REQUEST OF TURK CUMHURIYET (LEFT)OPERATIONS COST 19 LIVES INCLUDING TWO SOLDIERSSecurity forces intervened with the inmates yesterday morning who have been on death fast for 61 days. Clashes broke out between the security forces and the inmates who showed a very strong resistance. The ''Return to Life'' operation cost 19 deaths including two soldiers. A total of 187 people who were on death fast and 634 people who were on hunger strike were taken to the hospital. However, the protestors refused treatment. 4.2 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS ON THE WAY RADIKAL (LEFT)SAVAS: ''I WILL DISCLOSE THE FACTS''Vural Savas, who President Ahmet Necdet Sezer did not appoint again as the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, said he would disclose the facts after January 21, 2001. ESDI SUPPORT FROM CLINTON YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)DISASTER AT LASTGendarme launched an operation in prisons to end the death fasts, but a total of 17 inmates who set themselves on fire upon the instruction of the terrorist organizations in the prisons died. The operation started at 04.30 local time on Tuesday morning. A total of 141 inmates who were on death fast and 434 prisoners who were on hunger strike were hospitalized. But majority of them refused to take medical treatment. Gendarme faced armed resistance in Bayrampasa, Umraniye, Canakkale and Gebze prisons. In the meanwhile, the terrorist organization changed its mind and ordered inmates to burn themselves. After this instruction, 17 inmates burnt themselves. TRANSITION TO F TYPE PRISON TURKIYE (RIGHT)KAVI SAYS FINANCIAL CRISIS TOOK TURKEY 10 MONTHS BACKWARDSIstanbul Industry Chamber (ISO) Chairman Husamettin Kavi has said that Turkey lost the progress it made in ten months in the financial crisis which lasted a week. Kavi said Turkey needs to follow new strategies in the new year. ''What Turkey failed to do in 2000 is that it could not get people's participation in the programme,'' Kavi said. He also said that the demand stopped completely and many factories closed one week before the Ramadan holiday. TELEKOM AND THY ATTRACTIVE FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)AMNESTY LAW ADOPTED BY JUSTICE COMMISSIONThe amnesty law was adopted by the Justice Commission in a difficult way. The balance in the Commission changed in favour of the law when members of the Commission were persuaded to vote for the law during the break. CRITICAL DAY FOR 4,2 BILLION DOLLARS [02] WORLD BANK LOAN TO TURKEYWASHINGTON D.C. - Agreements regarded with two loans, which the World Bank will open to Turkey, will be signed on Thursday. The two loans totally worth 1.28 billion U.S. dollars. The World Bank statement said Thursday's agreements are related with financial sector loan worth of 778 million U.S. dollars, and Privatization Social Support Project Loan worth of 250 million U.S. dollars.The statement said the agreements will be signed in the World Bank building after an official approval is given to the opening of the loan during the meeting of the World Bank Executive Directors Board on Thursday. The signatories of the agreement would be Ajay Chhibber, the World Bank Turkey director, and Ali Umit Gonulal, the economy consultant assigned in Washington Embassy. The statement said during Thursday's meeting of the World Bank Executive Directors Board, the ceiling credit, which the World Bank may open to Turkey for the next three-year period is expected to be determined as five billion U.S. dollars. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Director is also expected to approve the support package, worth of 10.400 billion U.S. dollars, which they agreed to give Turkey to overcome the difficulties in financial markets in Turkey. The 7.500 billion U.S. dollars section of this package was formed of the additional source, and the 2.900 billion U.S. dollars section was formed of the loans that was foreseen in accordance with the stand by agreement of the last year. -PARLIAMENT ADOPTS INCOME BUDGET OF 2001 The Income Budget of the Financial Year 2001 was adopted in the parliament early on Wednesday morning. If the inflation rate exceeds the ten percent increase that will be made in civil servants' wages, the Council of Ministers will determine and undertake an additional increase in wages. The budget of 2001 will have an expense of 48,2 quadrillion liras and an income of 42,8 quadrillion liras. The budget deficit is foreseen to be 5,4 quadrillion liras. Meanwhile, three proposals that were submitted by the coalition parties were voted and accepted in the parliament during the discussion of the budget. According to these proposals, the tax taken from the mobile phone subscribers in January each year will be divided to 12 months. Another tax will be collected from owners of VCD and DVD. -NEW SKI FACILITIES ON ZIGANA MOUNTAIN'S SUMMIT TO Zirve Hotel took over the management of Zigana Gumuskayak Ski Resort which is located on the top of Zigana Mountain. Zirve Hotel's Director Huseyin Celap said their goal was to develop winter tourism in Eastern Blacksea region adding that the new facility will open during Ramadan holiday. ''We've restored the old facility and set up a new one with 45 beds, a cafeteria for 75 people and a restaurant which can host 150 people at a time,'' Celap explained. Celap said that he expected the Zigana Mountain draw many ski lovers to the area including the amateurs. A total of 25 billion TL was spent to restore the Zigana Zirve Hotel's facilities. -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''PRISONS WILL BE SAVED Prime Minister Ecevit gave information about the operation in the prisons, dubbed ''Return to Life''. Ecevit said the operation was very successful, and congratulated the security forces. Pointing out that all the security forces worked in harmony, Ecevit said, ''in fact, preparations for harmonized works started weeks before.'' Ecevit said a terrorist shelter was removed due to the operation, and noted that, ''from now on, all the developments required by the state, will be fulfilled in a healthy way. Those prisons will be saved from being terrorist shelters.'' Ecevit said, ''two soldiers died. I implore God's grace upon those who died, and I wish those injured would recover soon.'' When asked if he was concerned about the demonstrations experienced in some provinces following the operation, Ecevit said, ''there may be provocations. We should be very careful. The important thing is that a very big and important terrorist shelter would be demolished. This is a significant success.'' Responding to a question if they obtained any information that the illegal organizations, which were having death fasts, would launch activities, Ecevit said required care was shown. Ecevit said, ''of course some developments may occur. We should consider every possibility. Those terrorists should have understood that they could not cope with the state.'' -HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS SAYS 293 INMATES ARE KEPT AT HOSPITALS A total of 72 inmates were hospitalized, Durmus said adding that 66 of them were injured. Three inmates at Sagmalcilar State Hospital died at the hospital, he said. Three inmates at Istanbul's Umraniye Prison were hospitalized at Gulhane Military Academy hospital and another one was treated at the prison. A total of 29 inmates from Ankara Maximum Security Prison, Cankiri and Bartin prisons were hospitalized. Three of these people were treated for burns and they remain in critical condition. 22 of them refuse treatment, Durmus said, adding that 14 of these inmates who have no serious disorders will be sent back to prisons. Durmus said some of the inmates, although they claimed they were on death fast, were in good condition. There will be a consultation this afternoon to decide on the ones who will be sent back to prisons. -JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: Turk told reporters that the intervention was obligatory and that nobody was used or deceived. There was no change in the attitude of the Ministry, Turk said, adding that the incidents entailed the intervention. Turk said that the operation was launched in 20 prisons early on Tuesday morning, and that the intervention in 18 prisons was completed on Tuesday evening. The operations at Umraniye and Canakkale prisons continue, Turk noted. Turk stated that the operations at these two prisons were suspended last night and that the operation re-started this morning. Security forces continuously call the inmates to surrender and give up resistance, Turk said. Turk continued, ''but it is seen that the terrorist organizations pursue a policy of getting stronger by dragging their supporters to suicide and death. This is very wrong. The protest plan which was set up on the human life led us to today's point. To this end, it is time to put an end to this meaningless incident.'' ''The inmates who were kept at Bayrampasa Prison, were transferred to some other prisons yesterday. We think that the unrest will end at Umraniye and Canakkale today. Ending this meaningless resistance in the possible shortest time,'' Turk added. Turk noted that 16 inmates, most of whom burnt themselves to death, died so far and that 78 inmates were injured. It was seen that the inmates who burnt themselves to death, acted in line with the instructions of the terrorist organizations, Turk said. Turk said, ''here, I want to once more call the inmates to end their meaningless resistance. They cannot reach anywhere like this.'' Two soldiers died during the operation while four soldiers were injured, Turk noted. Turk stated that 187 death fasting inmates and 634 inmates who were on hunger strike were saved in the operation. The inmates who were saved, were transferred to the hospitals, but some of the inmates still refuse medical treatment, Turk said, and went on saying, ''this is the result of the terrorist organizations' policy of getting stronger by dragging their supporters to suicide and death. We expect these young people to act with common sense and give up their wrong attitude.'' Turk said that most of the prisons were seriously damaged and that to this end, it was obligatory to transfer the inmates to some other prisons or F type prisons. A total of 490 inmates were transferred to F type and other prisons, Turk noted, adding that the Sincan, Edirne, Kocaeli F type prisons were opened. Turk stated that there were not any deficiencies in these prisons and that 45 woman inmates in Bayrampasa Prison were sent to Bakirkoy Woman and Juvenile Prison. Turk said that 87 inmates who were convicted of being members of the terrorist organization PKK, were transferred to Istanbul Prison. If the law on conditional release and suspension of punishments is passed, there will be a relief in prisons, Turk said, adding that to this end, the F type prisons will no more be an urgent problem. Recalling that the opening of the F type prisons was postponed earlier, Turk said, ''But, the developments entailed us to temporarily transfer some inmates to some F type prisons. Also, the amnesty law has not been passed yet.'' The initiatives to end the death fasts and hunger strikes were exerted till the very end, Turk noted. Turk noted that some people stage protests against the intervention. ''Of course, people can stage protests in democratic countries. This intervention was made to save people who were close to the brink of death due to the pressure of the organization. This intervention was made to take under control those who are responsible for the unrest. To this end, everybody should fulfil his/her responsibility,'' Turk added. -A TOTAL OF 36 INMATES IN MALATYA PRISON Zafer Sipahi, the Malatya Republican Chief Prosecutor, told A.A correspondent that 36 inmates who received medical treatment in hospitals, were transferred to Sincan F type Prison. Sipahi said that nine inmates, including seven female inmates who were also treated in the hospital, were sent back to Malatya Prison. Meanwhile, 300 inmates who were convicted of terrorist crimes, started to be transferred from Bayrampasa and Gebze prisons to Kocaeli F type Prison. The Kocaeli F type Prison has a capacity of 368 inmates. In the meantime, 127 inmates were sent to Sincan F type Prison. Officials told A.A correspondent that 235 inmates from Cankiri, Ceyhan, Bartin, Nevsehir, Aydin and Malatya prisons, have been brought to Sincan F type Prison so far. The registration of 108 inmates from Aydin and Malatya Prison continues in Sincan F type Prison, the officials said, adding that after the registration ends, the inmates will start to be kept in this prison. The officials noted that almost 344 inmates will be kept in Sincan F type Prison. The health personnel is also available in the Sincan F type Prison. -THIRD TURKEY-GREECE POLITICAL CONSULTATION MEETING HELD IN ATHENS Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Yigit Alpogan is heading the Turkish delegation while Anastasios Skopelitis, the Greek Foreign Ministry Political Director, is leading the Greek delegation. The bilateral and international relations are debated in the meeting. The two delegations are also taking up the confidence-building measures which have been found as appropriate to be debated by the political directors of the foreign ministries of the two countries. -JUSTICE MINISTER TURK (2): Responding to questions of journalists, Turk said, ''a total of 490 inmates have been transferred to F type prisons and other prisons. There are not any female inmates and children among them. Female inmates have been sent to Woman and Juvenile Prison in Bakirkoy district of Istanbul.'' When asked whether or not Sadi Ozpolat who dragged inmates to commit suicide, died, Turk said that he did not die. Responding to another question, Turk said, ''operations at Canakkale and Umraniye prisons can be concluded later today. Security forces have been paying careful attention to prevent casualties and damages. They continuosly call on inmates to surrender. This meaningless resistance at Umraniye and Canakkale has to stop. I am calling on them once again to end their resistance. It leads nowhere.'' When asked, ''sources said that inmates who were taken to hospitals, were in good condition. These inmates refused medical treatment. There are allegations saying that inmates were taking some vitamin pills during their death fasts. Are these allegations true?'' Turk noted, ''hunger strikes do not mean to eat anything. They take some medicines. But a normal nourishment is out of question. Death-fasting inmates come to a critical point after 60 days. Therefore, we launched the operation on the 60th day of the death fasts.'' Responding to another question, Turk told reporters, ''we want to improve physical condition of prisons. We also want to make necessary legal arrangements to guarantee rights of inmates and to provide living conditions at prisons which are appropriate to human rights. We will submit our works to government and the parliament as soon as possible.'' When asked whether or not transfer of inmates to F type prisons would continue, Turk said, ''unfortunately, damages occurred at prison buildings during the interventions. Therefore, it is impossible to settle inmates in damaged buildings. Transfer of them to other prisons is in question.'' Turk added, ''we have expended efforts till the last moment to end actions at prisons without any intervention. We have launched the operation on the 60th day of the death fasts to prevent deaths of inmates. The intervention's goal is to save lives of inmates.'' (End) -INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN: Responding to questions of journalists, Tantan said, ''operations are underway at Umraniye and Canakkale prisons. Security forces resumed the operations in these prisons at 06:30 a.m. I hope that operations would end tonight.'' Noting that transfer of inmates to F type prisons would continue, Tantan told reporters, ''after operations are concluded, stuff seized at prisons will be displayed and journalists will be briefed.'' When told by a journalist that telephone conversation among inmates was broadcast despite media blackout, Tantan said, ''first prosecutor's office listened to the tapes. The prosecutor's office did not consider broadcast of tapes as inconvenient.'' -237 DWELLINGS AND 10 MOSQUES SUFFER DAMAGES IN Ahmet Ozyurt, the governor of Afyon, told the A.A correspondent on Wednesday that damage assessment works were under way in Bolvadin, Cay and Sultandagi townships. ''Public Works and Settlement Ministry teams have been carrying out the damage assessment works. Three mosques were damaged slightly in Bolvadin. In Sultandagi township, 219 dwellings suffered minor damage, 15 others suffered moderate damage and six mosques were damaged slightly. In Cay township, two dwellings were damaged slightly while a mosque suffered moderate damage,'' he said. Ozyurt noted that 250 tents, 100 blankets and 100 stoves dispatched by the Red Crescent, had been distributed to residents in Sultandagi township. Meanwhile, Mustafa Ozkafa, the Mayor of Konya, said that quake caused heavy damage in Aksehir township. Ozkafa added that 15 tonnes of foodstuff and 2 thousand loaves of bread were sent to Aksehir. -TRANSFER OF INMATES TO F TYPE PRISONS CONTINUES Sources told the A.A correspondent that a total of 118 inmates including Ercan Kartal, one of the suspects of assasination of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996, and Sadi Ozpolat, one of the so-called officials of the terrorist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) had been transferred to F type prison in Edirne from the Bayrampasa prison in Istanbul. Kartal and Ozpolat were put in one-person rooms. Meanwhile, tight security measures have been taken in Edirne for transfer of inmates. A number of security forces have been deployed in critical points of the province. Gendarmerie teams do not allow civilians to come near to the F type prison. Meanwhile, nearly 100 students at the Trakya University, held a demonstration to protest intervention in prisons. The students dispersed peacefully after chanting slogans. Mustafa Adagul, the republican chief prosecutor in Aydin, said that 69 inmates had been transferred to F type prison in Sincan township of Ankara from Aydin prison. Adagul noted that six death-fasting inmates who were taken to Aydin state hospital, were in good condition. He added that the inmates refused medical treatment. -SIGNING CEREMONY OF GSM 1800 LICENCE TRANSFER POSTPONED A statement of the Transportation Ministry said that the ceremony which was scheduled to be held between the Transportation Ministry and the Turk Telekom Inc. on Thursday, was postponed. The statement added that the signing ceremony will be held in the following days. -INTERIOR MINISTRY: Releasing a statement, the Interior Ministry said, ''intervention which started at Canakkale prison at 05:00 a.m. on Tuesday, was suspended at 06:00 p.m. the same day. Security forces resumed the intervention early on Wednesday. Security forces called on 158 inmates including 78 women who gathered in a ward, to surrender immediately. But they responded to security forces with fire-machines, fire-bombs, pipe-bombs, skewers, knives and other kinds of weapons.'' The statement noted, ''security forces restarted the operation at Umraniye prison in Istanbul at about 02:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Armed resistance of inmates is continuing. Security forces are paying careful attention to prevent any casualties.'' -TOTAL OF 16 INMATES IN BARTIN PRISON MEET WITH THEIR FAMILIES Officials of the Bartin Republican Prosecutor's Office told A.A correspondent that 16 death fasting inmates who were the members of the illegal terrorist DHKP/C and TIKKO organizations and who were brought to Bartin state hospital in yesterday's intervention in prisons, met with their families under tight security measures. The officials said that the health condition of the inmates was stable, but they refused any other food than sugared and salty water. The inmates are expected to be transferred to the Sincan F type prison, the officials added. Meanwhile, damage assessment works in Bartin prison continue.
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