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                  Fate of Turkish Courts Hangs in the Balance

   by Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL -- The fate of Turkey's special courts hangs in the balance as
   criticism continues to grow over their sweeping powers. The Turkish
   government is now discussing curtailing or even abolishing the courts.
   But the courts' supporters argue they are key to demilitarizing the
   country.
   This week the headquarters of one of Turkey's main trade unions was
   raided by police and dozens of its officials, including its leader,
   detained.
   The raids are connected to an investigation of alleged links to the
   Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. It was the latest controversial action by
   Turkey's specially-powered courts and prosecutors.
   Set up in 2005 by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government to
   replace state security courts, they were primarily created to fight
   terrorism and plots to overthrow the government.
   One of the most high profile cases involves prosecutors' allegations
   that an army seminar in 2003 laid out plans to undermine Erdogan's
   government by planting bombs in historic sites in Istanbul and
   provoking an escalation of tension with Greece, to pave the way for a
   military takeover. The defendants deny the allegations and say the
   seminar was just a war game scenario and not an actual plot.
   But the special courts' sweeping powers and their preparedness to use
   them is causing growing alarm.
   European Union enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele visiting Istanbul
   this month, and added his voice to those concerns.
   "The union has always criticized the legislation allowing specially
   authorized judges and prosecutors, so we have understanding for all
   those who questioned their existence," Fuele said.
   Over 6,000 members of Turkey's main legal Kurdish party, including 32
   elected mayors, are currently in jail awaiting trial or on trial in the
   special courts. Scores of journalists, human rights workers,
   environmentalists, as well as over 500 students also are incarcerated
   by the courts.
   Thomas Hammerberg of the Council of Europe published a critical report
   of Turkey's judiciary system earlier this year. It says the courts and
   prosecutors' powers are putting defendants in an alarming position.
   [The courts'] "Access to the material of the prosecutor and the time
   that the authorities are given in order to interrogate before a lawyer
   is in the picture, is another one. Those who are detained in such cases
   have problems with confidential talks with their lawyers. Aspects of
   that ... reduces the rights of people," Hammerberg said.
   Erdogan has criticized the court promise for judicial reform. Deputy
   Prime Besir Atalay said Wednesday that reform could come as early as
   this weekend.
   "Our PM had announced that we are working on it, that there is such
   work going on," he said.
   The package is expected to be introduced Saturday, but reforming the
   courts' power has met strong resistance from within the government.
   Supporters of the special courts argue they are crucial to driving the
   army out of politics.
   Although political scientist Cengiz Aktar of Bahcesehir University
   criticizes the courts for taking too long to wrap up the coup plot
   cases, he says they are playing an important role.
   "I hope the judiciary will pull its act together, and go ahead and
   re-establish confidence in the public opinion that something is really
   happening and those plotters will be punished. These people are not
   saints, or at least the majority of them are not saints. They have been
   involved in coup plots, they ganged together, they killed people
   threatened people," Aktar said.
   This month key members of the armed forces met with the prime minister
   and are reported to have pressed for an end to the investigation.
   Retired brigadier general Haldun Solmazturk says the courts are now
   undermining the army's effectiveness.
   "There are currently almost 400 generals and admirals in jail now,
   including a former chief of staff. And the army has shown no reaction
   at all  Clearly the army is under strict civilian control and beyond
   that the army itself is crippled," Solmazturk said.
   With the country facing a potential conflict with neighbor Syria and a
   resurgence in fighting with Kurdish rebels, the days of Turkey's
   special courts could well be numbered.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/turkey-courts/1351895.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/turkey-courts/1351895.html