Turkey: Parliament flooded with 'immunity files'

[english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl]

Subject: Turkey:  Parliament flooded with 'immunity files'
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <ozgurluk at xs4all.nl>

 8 August,1997, Copyright © Turkish Daily News

 Parliament flooded with 'immunity files'

  * Of the 72 deputies who have files requesting that their
 parliamentary immunity be lifted, Independent Deputy Sevki Yilmaz,
 who recently was dismissed from the Welfare Party (RP), has 13
 files supporting accusations against him, more than any other
 deputy
 
  _________________________________________________________________
  
Turkish Daily News

Ankara - The number of requests for lifting of parliamentary immunity
has resulted in a flurry of new files being sent to the parliament
speaker's office since the establishment of the new right-left
coalition. To date, 127 files have been delivered pertaining to
requests for the lifting of immunity on 72 deputies, the Anatolia news
agency reported.

Among the 72 deputies is Independent Deputy Sevki Yilmaz who recently
was dismissed from the Welfare Party (RP). With 13 files sent to
support the lifting of his immunity from prosecution, Yilmaz has the
distinction of having 13, the most number of files relating to his
case, now in the parliament speaker's office. Murat Karayalcin of the
Republican People's Party (CHP) follows him with 11 files. Ibrahim
Halil Celik, who was also dismissed from the RP, is in "third place"
with 10 files.

The "immunity files" which were sent by the Prime Ministry to the
office of the parliament speaker are waiting to be debated in the
joint Constitutional and Justice Commission. The files, some of which
the former RP-led government had been holding on to while waiting for
a constitutional amendment regarding parliamentary immunity, are
expected to be debated on by the Parliament.

The case against Sevki Yilmaz relates to several accusations against
him, including insulting the republic's founder, Ataturk, and the
Parliament, provoking people, and falsifying official documents.
Karayalcin on the other hand, is accused of misusing his office while
mayor of Ankara, and causing people to suffer financial loss.

Ibrahim Halil Celik, who became am independent after he resigned -- or
was expelled from the party, as some RP officials have stated -- had
similar accusations made against him to those made against Yilmaz. He
too is accused of insulting Ataturk and provoking people. Hasan
Huseyin Ceylan, another deputy who resigned from the RP, is also
facing the same accusations.

  Political party leaders
  
There are also immunity files awaiting debate by the Parliament
regarding the leaders of political parties. Among these cases, there
are seven files against RP leader Necmettin Erbakan, more than other
leaders whose parliamentary immunity is being questioned. Erbakan is
being accused of violating the law on holding demonstrations and
accused of provoking people.

Prime Minister and Motherland Party Leader Mesut Yilmaz has three
files against him for breaching the Election Law. These accusations
were made when he was in the opposition. Republican People's Party
(CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal is also facing the same accusations. Grand
Unity Party (BBP) chief, Muhsin Yazicioglu, is accused of violating
the law on political parties.
  ___________

Press-Agency Ozgurluk: http://www.ozgurluk.org
The struggle for human right, freedom, justice and democracy in Turkey
and Kurdistan
Press Agency Ozgurluk
The struggle for human rights, justice and democracy in Turkey and Kurdistan
http://www.ozgurluk.org