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RSF CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION
BÝA, Turkey
Oct 3 2007
Just before the second hearing of the Dink murder trial, the RSF
urged Turkey to investigate the murder fully.
As the Dink murder trial resumes, authorities urged to prosecute all
those who knew about murder plot.
Appeal just before second hearing
On the eve of the second hearing in the trial of the alleged killers
of Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor Hrant Dink, who was gunned down
on 19 January, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) today (28 September)
called on the authorities to go after all those who instigated or
knew about the plan to kill him.
"Thanks to the Dink family's efforts, some progress has been made since
the first hearing on 2 July," the press freedom organisation said.
"It shows the authorities have begun to realise the seriousness of
this case, and we welcome that. But this initial progress is not
enough. All the people who participated in this murder, and all
those who were aware of its preparation and did nothing to stop it,
must also be prosecuted and punished according to the law."
Widow's letter to Prime Minister
The second hearing in the trial is due to be held on 1 October in
Istanbul. Nineteen persons are being tried for Dink's murder or
complicity in his murder. Only eight of them are currently detained
after the court decided to release four of the suspects - Salih
Hacisalioglu, Veysel Toprak, Osman Alpay and Irfan Ozkan - during
the first hearing.
As a result of a 15 March letter from the victim's widow, Rakel Dink,
urging Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to investigate what happened
during the months prior to Dink's death, Erdogan announced that he
has assigned the case to his Commission of Enquiry, a special team
that is permanently at his disposal.
Investigation in Trabzon
Two of the commission's investigators reportedly went to the northern
city of Trabzon, where all the defendants live, to look into the
accusations that have been levelled against its security forces.
Two members of the city's police were already being investigated as
a result of allegations made by Coskun Igci, the 19th person to be
charged. Igci claims he was employed as an informant by the police
and warned them that an attack was being prepared on Dink.
Intelligence and police chiefs not to be prosecuted
After the Dink family filed a new complaint, the family and the two
of the leading suspects, Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, were formally
questioned again as to what they knew about the role of two police
officials in the case.
Nonetheless, Trabzon's governor decided on 7 August that intelligence
chief Ramazan Akyurek, and Trabzon police chief Resat Altay are not
to be prosecuted for failing to prevent the murder despite repeated
warnings.
The Dink family has appealed against the decision not to bring
prosecutions against them and against police officers Engin Dinc,
Faruk Sari, Ercan Demir, Ozkan Mumcu, Muhittin Zenit and Mehmet
Ayhan.
--Boundary_(ID_+7nB0sFUBPfFIZ5FmmrV AQ)--
BÝA, Turkey
Oct 3 2007
Just before the second hearing of the Dink murder trial, the RSF
urged Turkey to investigate the murder fully.
As the Dink murder trial resumes, authorities urged to prosecute all
those who knew about murder plot.
Appeal just before second hearing
On the eve of the second hearing in the trial of the alleged killers
of Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor Hrant Dink, who was gunned down
on 19 January, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) today (28 September)
called on the authorities to go after all those who instigated or
knew about the plan to kill him.
"Thanks to the Dink family's efforts, some progress has been made since
the first hearing on 2 July," the press freedom organisation said.
"It shows the authorities have begun to realise the seriousness of
this case, and we welcome that. But this initial progress is not
enough. All the people who participated in this murder, and all
those who were aware of its preparation and did nothing to stop it,
must also be prosecuted and punished according to the law."
Widow's letter to Prime Minister
The second hearing in the trial is due to be held on 1 October in
Istanbul. Nineteen persons are being tried for Dink's murder or
complicity in his murder. Only eight of them are currently detained
after the court decided to release four of the suspects - Salih
Hacisalioglu, Veysel Toprak, Osman Alpay and Irfan Ozkan - during
the first hearing.
As a result of a 15 March letter from the victim's widow, Rakel Dink,
urging Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to investigate what happened
during the months prior to Dink's death, Erdogan announced that he
has assigned the case to his Commission of Enquiry, a special team
that is permanently at his disposal.
Investigation in Trabzon
Two of the commission's investigators reportedly went to the northern
city of Trabzon, where all the defendants live, to look into the
accusations that have been levelled against its security forces.
Two members of the city's police were already being investigated as
a result of allegations made by Coskun Igci, the 19th person to be
charged. Igci claims he was employed as an informant by the police
and warned them that an attack was being prepared on Dink.
Intelligence and police chiefs not to be prosecuted
After the Dink family filed a new complaint, the family and the two
of the leading suspects, Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, were formally
questioned again as to what they knew about the role of two police
officials in the case.
Nonetheless, Trabzon's governor decided on 7 August that intelligence
chief Ramazan Akyurek, and Trabzon police chief Resat Altay are not
to be prosecuted for failing to prevent the murder despite repeated
warnings.
The Dink family has appealed against the decision not to bring
prosecutions against them and against police officers Engin Dinc,
Faruk Sari, Ercan Demir, Ozkan Mumcu, Muhittin Zenit and Mehmet
Ayhan.
--Boundary_(ID_+7nB0sFUBPfFIZ5FmmrV AQ)--