FIVE Turkish Cypriot journalists and the secretary of the Kibris Media Group have been notified that they will be summoned by a Turkish miliary court over reports and editorials they published more than a year ago about a symbolic referendum that took place in the village of Elia (Doganci).
If prosecuted and convicted, the six could face jail sentences of between 21 and 88 years.
The Turkish military accused three Kibris journalists – Suleyman Erguclu, Basaran Duzgun, Hasan Hasturer – along with Kibris Media Group secretary Fehim Nevzat, and Ortam columnists – Mehmet Davulcu and Hasan Kahvecioglu – with “insulting and ridiculing” the army.
The seven say they have been informed that they could be held in custody for the duration of their hearings.
Speaking after charges had been read to the four Kibris journalists at the paper’s offices in northern Nicosia, Kibris editor-in-chief Erguclu said he believed, “the status quo is living out its final days, and because of that, pressure on the press is being stepped up”.
He added that there were several reasons he believed why such action was being taking.
“They are trying to intimidate the press, discredit the government of Mehmet Ali Talat and create obstacles to Turkey’s EU aspirations”.
Erguclu insists that he and his colleagues will not be deterred from what they term their “struggle” against the status quo.
“If necessary, we will go to prison, but will never give up the struggle,” he added.
The cases all stem from a demonstration held in the village of Elia, near Morphou, by campaigners demanding the right to a referendum on the Annan plan – something which Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash then vehemently opposed. During the event, demonstrators held a symbolic referendum, which prompted hundreds of police and paramilitaries in riot gear to storm the event.
The heavy-handed police action in Elia brought overwhelming condemnation from the pro-solution press. An article published the following day by Duzgun entitled ‘Whose guarantor?’ questioned whether, in the light of the incident, the Turkish military could be seen as the protector of the Turkish Cypriot community.
For the article, Duzgun was charged with “inciting hatred towards the Turkish military” – a charge for which he could serve 21 years in a military prison.
Ortam journalist Davulcu, who has been accused of “creating tension” and “insulting foreign state representatives” faces up to 88 years in jail if convicted of all charges against him.
He responded to the charges by saying: “There is no rhyme or reason to these charges. My job is to inform the public, and that’s what I do.”
He added that the actions were an attempt to “impress on the media that the authoritarian state was making a comeback”.
Kibris Media Group secretary Fehim Nevat said, however, that he did not take the charges seriously.
“How can I take these accusations seriously? Does this mean we are living in a military state?” he said, adding that he was not aware of who was behind the charges.
The Union of Turkish Cypriot Journalists strongly condemned the charges against their members, describing the action as “a last attempt by the status quo to exert its power”.
In a written statement, the Union’s general secretary Osman Kurt said, “They are using the events in Elia as an excuse to punish the Turkish Cypriot people for their 65 per cent support for a solution and life in the EU.”
He called for changes in the law and the constitution to prevent “these kind of attacks” on the press.
