Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

REvuE DE PRESSE-PRESS REVIEW-BERHEVOKA ÇAPÊ-RWISTA STAMPA-DENTRO DE LA PRENSA-BASIN ÖZETi
It also reported that the public was reacting angrily to the
decision. "Hundreds of phone calls by citizens p,rotesting
the decision jammed our ~witch~oards,".it said. 'They de'::
mand that the government Immediately withdraw it."
Hürriyet also quoted the leaders of the main opposition
Motherland Party (ANAP) and of the Republican People's
Party (CHP) as criticizing the decision.
As part of a front page attack on the failure of the Turkish
political system to come up with solutions to society's problems,
Sabah said the public had been denied information on
the Cabinet decision to freeze the discharges.
"Such negative developments help create feelings of unease
and de~ectionamong the masses," it said.
Sabah said DYP members, who learned of the decision
from reporters, had lashed out at Çiller for her failure to inform
her own party.
In his column titled "Who is ruling Turkey?" Sabah's Cengiz
Çandar argued that the present government was doomed.
to collapse before the end of 1994.
"If the rumor (that the military demanded that the govern-
,ment make the decision) is true, then it is a shame for the
government, and especially for the Social Democrat People's
Party (SHP) which keeps bragging about the significance it
attaches to basic freedoms and rights and democratization,"
wrote Candar.
"But if it was not the milit~ that urged the government to
make such a decision, then thiS means that thiS government
has become a handicap to Turkey .... Early polls have to
purge the country in 1994," he concluded.
Cumburiyet CJ.uotedANAP's Eyüp Asik as saying the gov.
ernmental deciSIOnwas a "preparal1on for the dedaration of
martiallaw." Ayd1Ohk'sfront page banner read "Soldiers are
crying."
"Soldiers and their families are reacting angrily to the de.
cision," it said. "Soldiers at the Ankara Cartography Command
broke up chairs.Large numbers of families phoned the
DYP and SHP headquarters protesting against tile decision
and demanding its Immediate withdrawal. The ministers
signed the decision without even reading it," Ayd10hk
claimed, adding a group of soldiers in Istanbul had told the
Ayd10hk reporier that they were going to desert.
It also quoted a soldier stationed in the eastern province of
Erzurum as saving that the decision was "worse than death."
"I cannot perform my duties properly." he said.
Pro-Kurdish daily Oigür Gündem said that the public reaction
was one of anger.
It quoted pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) Deputy
Chairman Remzi Kartal as saying that the decision was indicative
of the state's determination to insist on its militarist
approach to the Kurdish problem.
On Sunday, Hürriyet said DefenseMinister Mehmet Golhan's
statement thatthe decision could be repeated by force
of circumstances conflicted with the prime minister's assurance
that it was "only for this once."
It added that the CI?~f of Staffs headquarters had verified
the rumors that the nuhtary had demanded the freezing of all
discharges.
"It was communicated to the government as an 'ursent
and important demand.'" Hürriyet was quoting a wntten
statement signed by Chief of Staff Secretary General Gen.
Hursit Tolon.
Ayd10hk claim~d that privates were not convinced by any
of the excuses vOicedby the government and that their first
reaction had been 10 "slow down their pace." "Privates stationed
at Erzurum's Askale Fourth Armored Brigade have
decided to slow th~ pace of their daily chores. And they are
~oing to make thelTsuperiors pay attention," Ayd10hk said,
A private at Istanbul's 26th Armored Brigade tried to commit
suicide. Privates say 1994 will the year of desertions.
Their families are worried."
Özgür Gündem on Sunday claimed soldiers at Gercus station
in Batman province had fired shots and shelled the outskirts
of the town in protest at the news.
It said a com~ando stationed in Batman province had reo
portedly committed suicide after he had heard of the decision.
The daily further claimed that President Suleyman
Demirel had himself reacted angrily.
"Demirel is reported to have discussed the issue with the
DYP deputies that he maintains close relations with,"
Ayd10hk said.
"He is also said to have ordered them to use this particular
decision as a weapon against Çiller."
41 killed in Southeast clashes
ANKARA- At least 31 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) ~d to soldiers were killed i~ three days of clashes between
the.separatists and government.troops 10southeastern Turkey, officials
,s31don Sunday. A statemen~ Issu~d by the Emergency Law governor
s office announced the cont1O~a~lOnof ~ massive operation launched
between the ar~as of Darg,eçlt 10 Mardm, Güçlükonak in ~Irnak,
and the Ormanardl Villageof Slirt.
Th~ statement said,that in ~ese three areas, a total of 16 terrorists had
been ~aptured dead, al.ongwith th~ weap