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TURKISH JUDGES TO DECIDE WHETHER TO JOIN 'CAGE' WITH MALATYA KILLINGS
Hurriyet
April 15 2010
Turkey
Judges hearing a case about the murders of three Christians in Malatya
in 2007 announced Thursday a decision to consider whether to merge
the trial's file with the "Cage Action Plan" case, which is scheduled
to open on June 15.
The "Kafes" (Cage) Action Plan called for the bombing of a museum
during a student visit, and also termed the killings of three
missionaries, the murder of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of
Armenian origin, and the murder of Priest Andrea Santoro in Trabzon as
"operations."
The judges will now decide whether to combine the cases and will make
their announcement at the trial's next hearing on May 14.
Those at the case, meanwhile, believe the shadowy group Ergenekon
is also involved. "We have no doubts about the connection of this
event with Ergenekon. We believe that prosecutors and judges are
under pressure," said Erdal Dogan, a joint attorney in the case.
The indictment of the case about the Cage plan, which was allegedly
prepared by members of the Navy, said the plan is the product of
an illegal organization with direct connection with the alleged
Ergenekon gang. The alleged Ergenekon gang purportedly aims to topple
the government by creating turmoil in society and allegedly includes
soldiers, politicians, academics, journalists and others.
Soldiers from the Navy, including admirals, are under arrest in the
scope of the case against the Cage plan.
In April 18, 2007, German Tilman Ekkehart Geske and Turks Necati
Aydın and Ugur Yuksel were stabbed to death in the Malatya office
of the Zirve Publishing House, for whom they were working.
Four suspects were detained at the scene, while a fifth, Emre
Gunaydın, was injured after jumping out of the third floor of the
building in a bid to escape.
The four suspects were arrested at the time, while two others were
arrested two years later upon the testimony of Gunaydın, who accused
them of inciting the murders. Those two suspects were later released
pending trial.
Meanwhile, in Thursday's hearing, a letter from Burak Dogru, a convict
in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas, was read, alleging that
Varol Bulent Aral, one of the two men who allegedly incited the group
to kill the Christians in Malatya, also offered Dogru money to kill
the three victims 3.5 years ago.
According to Dogru's allegations, Aral offered him money and state
support. "When I refused the offer he told me to forget what I knew,
otherwise I would not see the sunlight again."
Hurriyet
April 15 2010
Turkey
Judges hearing a case about the murders of three Christians in Malatya
in 2007 announced Thursday a decision to consider whether to merge
the trial's file with the "Cage Action Plan" case, which is scheduled
to open on June 15.
The "Kafes" (Cage) Action Plan called for the bombing of a museum
during a student visit, and also termed the killings of three
missionaries, the murder of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of
Armenian origin, and the murder of Priest Andrea Santoro in Trabzon as
"operations."
The judges will now decide whether to combine the cases and will make
their announcement at the trial's next hearing on May 14.
Those at the case, meanwhile, believe the shadowy group Ergenekon
is also involved. "We have no doubts about the connection of this
event with Ergenekon. We believe that prosecutors and judges are
under pressure," said Erdal Dogan, a joint attorney in the case.
The indictment of the case about the Cage plan, which was allegedly
prepared by members of the Navy, said the plan is the product of
an illegal organization with direct connection with the alleged
Ergenekon gang. The alleged Ergenekon gang purportedly aims to topple
the government by creating turmoil in society and allegedly includes
soldiers, politicians, academics, journalists and others.
Soldiers from the Navy, including admirals, are under arrest in the
scope of the case against the Cage plan.
In April 18, 2007, German Tilman Ekkehart Geske and Turks Necati
Aydın and Ugur Yuksel were stabbed to death in the Malatya office
of the Zirve Publishing House, for whom they were working.
Four suspects were detained at the scene, while a fifth, Emre
Gunaydın, was injured after jumping out of the third floor of the
building in a bid to escape.
The four suspects were arrested at the time, while two others were
arrested two years later upon the testimony of Gunaydın, who accused
them of inciting the murders. Those two suspects were later released
pending trial.
Meanwhile, in Thursday's hearing, a letter from Burak Dogru, a convict
in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas, was read, alleging that
Varol Bulent Aral, one of the two men who allegedly incited the group
to kill the Christians in Malatya, also offered Dogru money to kill
the three victims 3.5 years ago.
According to Dogru's allegations, Aral offered him money and state
support. "When I refused the offer he told me to forget what I knew,
otherwise I would not see the sunlight again."