Posted on 11/04/2006 9:08:36 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -
Thousands of nationalist Turks marched in the capital Saturday, vowing to defend the secular regime against radical Islamic influences and urging the government not to make too many concessions in order to gain European Union membership.
Some 12,000 people from more than 100 pro-secular associations waved Turkish flags as they marched to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. "Turkey is secular and it will remain secular," they chanted during a march broadcast live on some TV channels.
Ret. Gen. Sener Eruygur, president of the Ataturk Thought Association and former commander of Turkey's paramilitary forces, warned against alleged plans by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Islamic-rooted government to run for president - a symbol of secularism in Turkey.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will retire in May, and the parliament - dominated by Erdogan's legislators - will choose the new president.
Eruygur also urged protesters to rally against EU demands to grant greater cultural rights to Kurds and other religious and ethnic minorities.
Turkey is fighting a separatist Kurdish guerrilla group, the Kurdistan Workers Party, in a war that has killed more than 37,000 people since 1984, and many Turks regard granting more rights to Kurds a concession to the rebels.
The U.S. and EU consider the organization a terrorist group.
The European Commission is expected to issue a highly critical report next week accusing Turkey of dragging its heels on political reforms and demanding significant improvements in 2007 if Ankara wants to stay on track to join the bloc.
The draft report, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, says Turkey is failing to meet minimum human rights standards, and cites problems in freedom of expression, women's and trade union rights, and civilian control over the military.
Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...
This is good news, but do notice what appears to be a Communist flag in the background. One of the problems with Turkey is that you have two extremes - and neither of them is good.
The President should fly to Turkey and PUBLICLY embrace the leaders of the 12000.
This is a start. Only 1 billion to go.
And no, the media will not report this.
Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...
ping
Bump for Turks!
Two coffees "medium sweet".
So now today we have news of massive protests of Chavez in Venezuela and Islamo-Nazis in Turkey, and our own worthless, disgusting MSM sleazes will be dead silent about both, just as they were about the pro-America demonstration in S. Korea a few years ago. What's new?
Well, at least it's something.
Of course, if the Sunni Islamists were clear-headed, the Turkish Republic, not the United States, would be their 'great Satan': it was Ataturk and his 'New Turk' movement that destroyed the Caliphate they want to re-establish.
Radical Islam not to be confused with non-radical islam which does not believe in the Koran.
Good find, Ernest!
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