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HRANT DINK MURDERED AGAIN
By Mehmet Ali Birand
Hurriyet
Jan 19 2012
Turkey
There are some verdicts that make you say, "Well, they have got
their deserts." There are some verdicts that make you say, "Wow,
this is not happening."
With all due respect to our judiciary, everyone has seen what kind
of reaction the verdict on the Hrant Dink case has received. The cry
echoing from the public should be taken into consideration.
The judiciary has rejected the claim that this murder was planned and
executed by a group. It seems that two children playing cards once
said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Istanbul and kill this
Armenian." They wandered around and when they came across Hrant in
front of Agos newspaper one of them pulled the trigger.
What a pity.
The verdict that the court reached, I am sure, is even being laughed
at by the crows.
How could they not? Wasn't it understood before and during the case
that the state knew that Hrant was going to be killed?
The preparations, the place where the gun was bought, the place
where shooting practice was done, who the possible candidates to
pull the trigger were and who the instigator was - the gendarmerie,
directors of security departments, even the governor knew. They even
warned Hrant. But they did not protect him.
When the same judiciary that arrests and drags people through the
mud for months because they have hung a poster, or stigmatizes as
terror organizations those protests where three people gather, all of
a sudden, decides that there was no organization in the Hrant murder,
what can you say?
This verdict can only be changed by the Supreme Court of Appeals.
The state should also start acting. The state must start an
investigation for those civil servants who have sheltered the
criminals, who have not fulfilled their responsibilities and who had
a share in the murder of Hrant Dink.
Hrant Dink's case should not be left unsolved. Hrant did not deserve
this.
Or do we deem this treatment suitable for him because he is an
Armenian?
Is Turkey US' controller in the region?
The Global Relations Forum (GIF) was formed two years ago in 2009. It
is a well-regarded think tank made up of political, business, science
and art circles. Most importantly, their reports are not prepared on
ideological basis; they have a completely impartial approach.
Their latest report was prepared under the co-presidency of Fusun
Turkmen and Yavuz Canevi, with Gozde Kucuk as project director and
with experts on the subject such as Hanzade Boyner, Gokhan Cetinsaya,
Memduh Karakullukcu, Sonmez Koksal, Umran S. Inan, Sami Kohen and
Ozdem Sanberk. Its topic is Turkish-American relations and it studies
developments past and present.
I recommend this report because it is indefinite where the region
is heading. Total confusion is experienced. The Arab Spring has
disappeared. A harsh winter has replaced it. The United States has
left Iraq. Iran has an increased appetite. It looks like Bashar
al-Assad has reinforced his position in Syria.
The only country that can lead a stable life is Turkey.
During the meeting at which the report was publicized, many
striking impressions were shared. Primary among these was the recent
warm approach of Washington toward Turkey and the fact that this
relationship has developed into its most positive form of late.
The question is whether Turkey wishes to be molded into becoming the
U.S.' new supervisor, or controller, in the region.
You can find GIF and the report in question at www.gif.org.tr.
By Mehmet Ali Birand
Hurriyet
Jan 19 2012
Turkey
There are some verdicts that make you say, "Well, they have got
their deserts." There are some verdicts that make you say, "Wow,
this is not happening."
With all due respect to our judiciary, everyone has seen what kind
of reaction the verdict on the Hrant Dink case has received. The cry
echoing from the public should be taken into consideration.
The judiciary has rejected the claim that this murder was planned and
executed by a group. It seems that two children playing cards once
said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Istanbul and kill this
Armenian." They wandered around and when they came across Hrant in
front of Agos newspaper one of them pulled the trigger.
What a pity.
The verdict that the court reached, I am sure, is even being laughed
at by the crows.
How could they not? Wasn't it understood before and during the case
that the state knew that Hrant was going to be killed?
The preparations, the place where the gun was bought, the place
where shooting practice was done, who the possible candidates to
pull the trigger were and who the instigator was - the gendarmerie,
directors of security departments, even the governor knew. They even
warned Hrant. But they did not protect him.
When the same judiciary that arrests and drags people through the
mud for months because they have hung a poster, or stigmatizes as
terror organizations those protests where three people gather, all of
a sudden, decides that there was no organization in the Hrant murder,
what can you say?
This verdict can only be changed by the Supreme Court of Appeals.
The state should also start acting. The state must start an
investigation for those civil servants who have sheltered the
criminals, who have not fulfilled their responsibilities and who had
a share in the murder of Hrant Dink.
Hrant Dink's case should not be left unsolved. Hrant did not deserve
this.
Or do we deem this treatment suitable for him because he is an
Armenian?
Is Turkey US' controller in the region?
The Global Relations Forum (GIF) was formed two years ago in 2009. It
is a well-regarded think tank made up of political, business, science
and art circles. Most importantly, their reports are not prepared on
ideological basis; they have a completely impartial approach.
Their latest report was prepared under the co-presidency of Fusun
Turkmen and Yavuz Canevi, with Gozde Kucuk as project director and
with experts on the subject such as Hanzade Boyner, Gokhan Cetinsaya,
Memduh Karakullukcu, Sonmez Koksal, Umran S. Inan, Sami Kohen and
Ozdem Sanberk. Its topic is Turkish-American relations and it studies
developments past and present.
I recommend this report because it is indefinite where the region
is heading. Total confusion is experienced. The Arab Spring has
disappeared. A harsh winter has replaced it. The United States has
left Iraq. Iran has an increased appetite. It looks like Bashar
al-Assad has reinforced his position in Syria.
The only country that can lead a stable life is Turkey.
During the meeting at which the report was publicized, many
striking impressions were shared. Primary among these was the recent
warm approach of Washington toward Turkey and the fact that this
relationship has developed into its most positive form of late.
The question is whether Turkey wishes to be molded into becoming the
U.S.' new supervisor, or controller, in the region.
You can find GIF and the report in question at www.gif.org.tr.