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'COURT'S RULING WON'T SATISFY PUBLIC'S SENSE OF JUSTICE IN DINK CASE'
Today's Zaman
Jan 16 2012
Turkey
Even though five years have passed since the assassination of
journalist Hrant Dink, civil society has remained concerned that
evidence relating to the real perpetrators of the crime is still
being covered up, and even if the court's ruling punishes the hitmen,
the public's sense of justice will not be satisfied.
The late editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, Dink was
shot dead on Jan. 19, 2007, by an ultranationalist teenager outside
the offices of his newspaper in İstanbul in broad daylight. The
investigation into his murder stalled; the suspected perpetrator and
his accomplices were put on trial, but those who masterminded the
plot to kill him have yet to be exposed and punished.
A group called 'Hrant's Friends,' who hold demonstrations before
each trial demanding justice, has recently released a statement,
as the court is expected on Tuesday to issue its ruling on the case.
"It's been five years. All the evidence clearly shows we can't be
satisfied with the punishment of two or three people who committed
the murder. Those who pointed out Dink, who said, 'Kill him,' who
waited for him to be killed are all about to come clear out of this,"
read the statement.
The public prosecutor in September pointed to an Ergenekon cell in
the Black Sea province of Trabzon as the mastermind behind Dink's
assassination, but a significant number of public officials have not
been cited for their involvement in the preparation and perpetration of
the Dink murder nor for their efforts to conceal and tamper afterwards
with evidence.
A lengthy list of suspicious irregularities in the Dink murder
investigation, including deleted records and hidden files, suggestive
of a police cover-up attempt, has marred the judicial process. Much
of the evidence has indicated the murder could have been prevented.
Mounting evidence since the day of the murder has indicated police
were tipped off about the assassination plot some months before the
actual attack.
More dishearteningly, links between police and the suspects have been
revealed. For example, Erhan Tuncel, a key suspect in the murder, was
previously a police informant. Although Tuncel is suspected of having
incited Dink's murderer, he is also said to be the one who tipped
off the İstanbul police. Important evidence, including Tuncel's
police records, was hidden from the court. In fact, Tuncel's file
with the police was destroyed since it constituted a "state secret,"
according to officials.
The investigation has yielded more evidence linking the masterminds
of the murder plot to the police force in İstanbul, Trabzon -- the
hometown of most of the suspects and the place where the assassination
was likely planned -- and Ankara, where the police were in possession
of intelligence about the murder.
Hrant's Friends called on the public to gather in Taksim on Jan. 19
and walk to the spot where Dink was killed. Similar demonstrations
are planned outside of Turkey as well.
From: Baghdasarian
Today's Zaman
Jan 16 2012
Turkey
Even though five years have passed since the assassination of
journalist Hrant Dink, civil society has remained concerned that
evidence relating to the real perpetrators of the crime is still
being covered up, and even if the court's ruling punishes the hitmen,
the public's sense of justice will not be satisfied.
The late editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, Dink was
shot dead on Jan. 19, 2007, by an ultranationalist teenager outside
the offices of his newspaper in İstanbul in broad daylight. The
investigation into his murder stalled; the suspected perpetrator and
his accomplices were put on trial, but those who masterminded the
plot to kill him have yet to be exposed and punished.
A group called 'Hrant's Friends,' who hold demonstrations before
each trial demanding justice, has recently released a statement,
as the court is expected on Tuesday to issue its ruling on the case.
"It's been five years. All the evidence clearly shows we can't be
satisfied with the punishment of two or three people who committed
the murder. Those who pointed out Dink, who said, 'Kill him,' who
waited for him to be killed are all about to come clear out of this,"
read the statement.
The public prosecutor in September pointed to an Ergenekon cell in
the Black Sea province of Trabzon as the mastermind behind Dink's
assassination, but a significant number of public officials have not
been cited for their involvement in the preparation and perpetration of
the Dink murder nor for their efforts to conceal and tamper afterwards
with evidence.
A lengthy list of suspicious irregularities in the Dink murder
investigation, including deleted records and hidden files, suggestive
of a police cover-up attempt, has marred the judicial process. Much
of the evidence has indicated the murder could have been prevented.
Mounting evidence since the day of the murder has indicated police
were tipped off about the assassination plot some months before the
actual attack.
More dishearteningly, links between police and the suspects have been
revealed. For example, Erhan Tuncel, a key suspect in the murder, was
previously a police informant. Although Tuncel is suspected of having
incited Dink's murderer, he is also said to be the one who tipped
off the İstanbul police. Important evidence, including Tuncel's
police records, was hidden from the court. In fact, Tuncel's file
with the police was destroyed since it constituted a "state secret,"
according to officials.
The investigation has yielded more evidence linking the masterminds
of the murder plot to the police force in İstanbul, Trabzon -- the
hometown of most of the suspects and the place where the assassination
was likely planned -- and Ankara, where the police were in possession
of intelligence about the murder.
Hrant's Friends called on the public to gather in Taksim on Jan. 19
and walk to the spot where Dink was killed. Similar demonstrations
are planned outside of Turkey as well.
From: Baghdasarian