Turkey in 2002: May

MAY 1

Ali Umit Demir was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison in the case filed regarding killing of two British fans before Galatasaray-Leeds United match in UEFA Cup. Six more suspects were sentenced to three months and 20 days of imprisonment in the same case.

MAY 4

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was taken under medical treatment in Baskent University Hospital because he suffered from pain in his back.

Mustafa Yildirim took hostage 13 people, including foreigners, at The Marmara Hotel with a kalashnikov rifle. Yildirim said that he was staging that act ''to make voice of Chechen people be heard in the world.''

MAY 5

Prime Minister Ecevit was discharged from Baskent University Hospital, where he stayed for almost 26 hours. Ecevit went to his house in Oran district to rest. Prof. Dr. Turgut Zileli announced that Ecevit was suffering from ''a simple intestinal infection.''

MAY 6

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) put photograph of Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu among photographs of leaders of some countries in the map it displayed in the train station of Paris on ''countries where freedom of press was under feet.'' This behavior of RSF led to reactions in Turkey.

Supreme Court Fifth Criminal Department decided to try suspects who occupied Swissotel to protest Russian-Chechen war and to make the issue be heard by international public in Istanbul First Heavy Criminal Court. The department evaluated the occupation as a ''gang'' crime instead of ''terrorism.''

MAY 8

True Path Party (DYP) and Felicity Party (SP) said that the government was not able to continue to work anymore and added that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit should withdraw from his post and an election government should be formed.

General Staff told the French military attache in Ankara that ''if the French armed forces does not show its reaction to the Reporters Without Borders - Reporters Sans Frontiere (RSF) in a reasonable period of time, the military relations can be reviewed,' as RSF put Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu's photograph together with dictators of some countries in the map of ''countries where freedom of press was trampled down'' on the ground of a train station in Paris.

Mustafa Yildirim who took people hostage in Istanbul's The Marmara Hotel was arrested.

MAY 9

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who continued to work at his house after being discharged from the hospital said that he would not withdraw his post.

MAY 10

State Minister Kemal Dervis said that continuation of political uncertainty affected negatively the economic programme and added that date of election should be announced.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ended its photograph action on the ground of a train station in Paris.

MAY 12

Ankara Deputy Chief Prosecutor Bekir Selcuk launched an investigation against Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on charges of ''unjust enrichment''.

MAY 15

Prime Minister Ecevit said that his illness continued as he hit his back on wall at his house.

MAY 17

Prime Minister Ecevit who stayed at his house for 12 days after being discharged from the hospital went to Baskent University Hospital again to receive medical treatment due to his doctors' suggestions.
Baskent University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Haberal, who controlled Ecevit, said that Ecevit has a broken rib and tissue injury in his rib and there were initial signs of thrombophlebitis in his left leg.
Haberal stated that Prime Minister should be kept under hospital conditions at least for one week.
Ecevit's visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan on May 23 and 25, 2002 was delayed. Syrian and Indian prime ministers' scheduled visits to Turkey in the end of May were also delayed.

MAY 18

Baskent University Hospital said that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit reacted positively to the medical treatment that was implemented on him and added that it was observed that recovery process started.

Women's attending funeral prayer, noon prayer on Fridays and prayer on religious holiday was approved with a final declaration of ''Consultation Meeting on Daily Religious Issues'' which was organized by Religious Affairs Directorate.

MAY 20

Baskent University Hospital said in a statement that thrombophlebitis in his left leg of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was in recovery process and stated that Ecevit was continuing his daily work by sitting in an armchair. Prime Minister Ecevit has been half mobilized, the statement added. Baskent Hospital announced on Monday that Prime Minister Ecevit's had been continuing his daily work by sitting in an armchair since his leg had to be suspended in sling due to thrombophlebitis.
Releasing a statement, Baskent University said, ''during this morning's control, it was determined that signs of thrombophlebitis in the left leg of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stemming from vein inflammation decreased to the minimum level. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ecevit's complaints about his broken rib reduced. Prime Minister Ecevit has been half mobilized. He has been continuing his daily work by sitting in an armchair.''

MAY 22

Security forces staged an operation against a boat carrying 233 foreigners, who attempted to proceed illegally to Greek Cypriot side or Italy, in Silifke township of southern Icel province. One of six persons who were wounded in the operation died. Gendarmerie forces detained five people organizing the escape and four drivers who transported the foreigners to Silifke from other Turkish cities and Ali Can, captain of the boat.

MAY 27

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was discharged from the hospital where he received medical treatment for 11 days.

MAY 30

The National Security Council (NSC) decided to propose the Council of Ministers to end the Emergency Rule in Hakkari and Tunceli provinces starting as of July 30, 2002, and to prolong it for another four months, for the last time, in Diyarbakir and Sirnak provinces.

Gendarmerie forces found dead bodies of 19 foreigners including nine children who froze to death in Caldiran township of Van province while trying to illegally pass from Iran to Turkey.

Next > June

^ Back to Top

Privacy Policy

© 1997-2008  Anatolia.com Inc.