Little Station with Millions of Viewers

Politiken (Danish Newspaper) November 11, 2005

The Kurdish TV Station Roj TV denies any ties to PKK.

By Hans Drachmann

Every day Roj TV sends news, debates, entertainment, movies, and children's programs in Kurdish to 28 million Kurds in 77 countries.

The Danish headquarters are situated in the middle of H.C. Andersens Boulevard a few hundred meters from the Copenhagen Police precinct. The director tells us that about 20 people work here. Many of them travel around as correspondents, while 8 people have there permanent base in the very large apartment.

"We are glad that we have built this TV station in a country that respects freedom of speech," says Manouchehr Tahsili Zonoozi, who is director of the company Mesopotamia Broadcast A/S that runs Roj TV.

He is himself an Iranian Kurd, and came to Denmark as a refugee in 1983. And he was in the group that in 1999 was behind the founding of the broadcasting company in Denmark.

"The TV station was established, because there was a need for it. It is a democratic channel in a democratic country."

The opening of the broadcasting company was made official on June 17, 2000 with a reception at the Søpavillionen (Lake Pavilion), former Prime Minister Anker Jørgensen gave a speech and was elected as honorary president.

Roj TV rents services from production companies when it needs to produce programs. Zonoozi says that the station also has production houses in Sweden, Germany , and Belgium.

It costs money to run a station like Roj TV, but the director prefers not to say how much. In the annual statements sent to Erhvervs – og Selkabsstyrelsen (Board of Business and Companies) only a gross income is given, which is the amount of income that is left after a number of costs are deducted.

In their last financial statement Mesopotamia Broadcast A/S paid 765.000 DDK in wages and had a profit of 61.000 DDK.

Zonoozi informs us that the company makes its money from advertisements and commercials on TV, and also receives money from different foundations in Europe. Among these is the Kurdisk Kulturfond (Kurdish Cultural Foundation).

He totally denies that Roj TV or the company Mesopotamia Broadcast A/S receives any donations from the Kurdish organisation PKK.

"We have no ties to PKK. We have no ties to any political parties. We are totally independent. But we Kurds are always linked to PKK," says Manouchehr Zonoozi.

He is "not at all nervous" about the outcome of the investigation the Copenhagen Police have finished, and he ensures that incitements to hate and terror do not take place on ROJ TV.

"We have very clear lines that we operate within. We show pictures from the war that is taking place, but we show the situation from both sides," says Manouchehr Zonoozi.

Voice of the Kurds

Jyllands-Posten: November 23, 2005

A few days ago Roj TV was almost unknown in Denmark. Today Turkey and the USA are demanding that Denmark take steps against the Kurdish TV Station. Roj TV denies all accusations of ties to terror organisations.

Freedom of Speech

by Peter Kronsted

"Danimaca." The subtitle in the news feature cannot be misunderstood. The top news story from today's news on Roj TV is about the Kurdish TV station itself.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller (Conservatives) is quoted as saying that he will not interfere in the police's investigation into whether the Kurdish TV station receives money from the forbidden PKK, as the USA and Turkey claim.

In front of the TV, around the coffee table in the lounge area of Roj TV in Copenhagen on H.C. Andersens Boulevard all are nodding in recognition of Per Stig Møller's statement.

A few days ago there weren't that many people in Denmark who knew about Roj TV - except of course the Turkish Embassy, who in the spring accused the station of being a voice for terrorists – and Kurds living in Denmark, who receive the programs via satellite discs or cable from TDC (Danish Cable and Telephone Company).

And of course also Copenhagen's Police department, who have been watching and listening to programs in Kurmanci, Sorani, and Zazaki in their hunt for the assumed ties to terrorists, on the request of the PET(Danish Intelligence Agency). The investigation is finished and is now under "legal evaluation," before the conclusion is sent to The Minister of Justice Lene Espersen (Conservatives).

Surprising Exit

But last week the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with his surprising exit from Anders Fogh Rasmussen's press conference, made sure that Roj TV, despite the Danish local elections, was all over the front pages of the newspapers and later on the airwaves in Europe and the USA.

At the press conference TV people from the governmental Turkish network TRT, realized that the female journalist Senem Güneser from Roj TV was in the room. This was passed on to Erdogan, and he therefore refused to be in the same room with a "PKK representative."

"It is good that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Møller is also saying stop, and is not running to follow Minister of Justice, Cemil Cicek's command, because he is putting more pressure on Denmark.," says Roj TV's station leader and director Manouchehr Tahsili Zonoozi.

"Denmark is a role model for us. Kurds have been fleeing, tortured and persecuted for a generation," says Zonoozi, who has himself grown up in and fled from Iran , and was granted asylum in Denmark in 1983. He participated in founding the broadcasting company in Denmark in 1999.

Guarantor for Freedom of Speech.

"For us, Denmark is like heaven compared to what the Kurdish people know. Denmark is a guarantor for freedom of speech," he says.

That freedom of speech also includes Roj TV and the other media companies that are related to Mesopotamia Broadcast is incontestable, says Manouchehr Tahsili Zonoozi.

"Even if we are fighting for Kurdish rights and are a platform for news that are of interest for Kurds all over the world. Freedom of speech bears the responsibility of being objective," says Manouchehr Tahsili Zonoozi. That the station has reports from war actions where Kurdish guerrillas have been involved is due journalistic skills, he emphasizes.

"Would you also forbid CNN or BBC when they send reports from rebel groups activities?," is his answer, and he continues:

"We have put everything out in the open for the police. We have nothing to hide. We are only interested in justice," he says.

The latest accusation against Roj TV is that money from PKK is allegedly financing programming. Roj TV does not have studios in Denmark, but transmits from Bruxelles to the whole world via satellite.

"There isn't anything to look for. Of course we receive money from cultural organisations and Kurds who collect money in support of our struggle for freedom of speech and human rights; but that isn't illegal," says Manouchehr Tahsili Zonoozi.

PM Erdogan: Nationalism is a part of my genes

Hurriyet; Wednesday, November 30, 2005 21:16
In his meeting with a Justice and Development (AKP) Party parliamentary group yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan touched on the topics of "the AKP's nationalism," and the "other Turkey." During the meeting, the AKP's MP from Hatay, Fuat Gecen, said that a general impression in Anatolia of a "false nationalism" on the part of AKP was emerging, in part due to the special treatment the troubled Southeastern regions have been receiving in past weeks. Gecen noted that the Anatolian reaction to this "false nationalism" was coming from "the other Turkey," and then added that they are "reacting" to what they see.

In response, PM Erdogan said "It does not matter in which context it is used, I cannot accept the phrase 'the other Turkey.' No one can speak to me about nationalism or false nationalism. Nationalism is a part of my own genes."

A Letter From Irland

Let me began by quoting well known Irish man Douglas Hyde once said this "It is a most disgraceful shame the way in which Irishmen are brought up. They are ashamed of their language, institutions, and of everything Irish." He also stated following quotes In order to de-Anglicize ourselves, we must at once arrest the decay of the language. We must teach ourselves not to be ashamed of ourselves. Douglas Hyde. He said these words from the beginning of early 19th century in Colonised Ireland under the British rule that made the Irish to loose it is language. What are the connections between the Irish and Kurds today? The connection that both nations suffered at the hands of their subjects. The worse criminal acts of any states against oppress nations are the killing of it is culture and language. The Kurds today are no different to the Irish people hundred years ago.

The appalling mistreatment of the Kurdish population, which has only served to weaken the Turkish state since its foundation, must be acknowledged and corrected without fear. Kurdish leaders stress that Kurds cannot be described as a minority within Turkey, but rather that they are a constituent element of the state, which would never have gained the influence or strength to make a claim for independent statehood from the ruins of the Ottoman empire had Kurds not thrown their weight behind Ataturk's efforts in return for the promise of equal recognition within the new nation. The Turdish representative at Lausanne, Ismet Pasha, declared: "The Kurds and the Turks are the essential components of the Republic of Turkey. The Kurds are not a minority but a nation." However, after the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) Ankara's policy rapidly changed. The structures of the new state were designed wholly in accordance with ethnic Turkish interests. The Kurds' existence was denied. The Kurdish language, the practice of Kurdish culture, even the concepts of Kurd and Kurdistan were forbidden.

In the past Turkish state tried to close down the numbers of Kurdish language classes in Denmark, today Turkish prime minister has tried to do similar anti-democratic and anti-Kurdish sentiments in Europe. Turkey once for all has come to the terms that Kurdish and Kurds are not just people from the mountain without any culture and language as it often tries to describe it through the Turkish media. Turkey in order to make the Kurds to hate their own language often uses these old fascist Europe tactics, such as dil, gunes teorisi. What is means that Turkey has tried to establish some sort of prove that Turkish is better than the all the languages in the world. What makes Turkey more furious is the Kurds today have satellite channel were they can watch, listen and participate in their own language through Roj TV. It has been the best revival of the Kurdish language in the history of the Kurdish struggle against Kemalist Turkish state. It has been the most successful story for the Kurds. This is what the Turkish authorities can not take at all. "How dare the Kurds watch something else that we have presented to them?" This is the Turkish attitudes that Turkish is better and why the Kurds watch Kurdish instead. So the campaign against the Kurdish ROJ TV goes back to the very root of foundation of Turkish state, under the banner of one nation, one flag, and one language. The Turkish thinking is that there can not be two nations and two languages inside Turkey. What is making Turkey so fearful of Kurdish language, because it has probably realised at least that Kurdish belongs to Indo-European languages and it has very strong roots. .

Kurds shall not give up what they are believe in. ROJ TV is an open university for the Kurds. With out it they wouldn't have known what really happened in Semdinli and many other parts of Kurdistan. It has opened our minds to see the world through Kurdish eyes not the Arab, Persian, or Turkish eyes.


Your Sincerly,

Latif Serhildan,
30.11.2005

A supportive statement from MIA EARLY

A free and independent press, including outreach to Diaspora, is an essential component of regional development and capacity building in any region of the world.

Mia Early

Mr Joost Lagendjik disaproves of the attacks on ROJ TV

Mr Joost Lagendjik, member of European parliament and joint chairman of European parliament's Turkey delegation, declared in an interview with Firat News Agency on Tuesday that he does not share opinions with Mr Erdoghan concerning ROJ TV.

Answering a question related to Erdoghans position vis-à-vis Denmark and ROJ TV, He said "I have been interviewed by ROJ TV as well and I don't agree with his approach. ROJ TV has the right to enter the European parliament and make programs. I have no right to stop that and neither does Erdoghan".

Roj TV active in Turkey

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Monday, November 28, 2005

CHP leader Baykal says a deputy from his party giving an interview to Roj TV was less important than the fact that the channel was active in Turkey

Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said over the weekend the fact that the Denmark based Roj TV channel being active in Turkey was more important than a deputy giving an interview to it.

Speaking to journalists, Baykal said that the CHP deputy from Hakkari, Esat Canan, being interviewed on Roj TV showed that the channel was active both in Denmark and Turkey.

Turkey says Roj TV is a mouthpiece for the outlawed PKK, which is designated a terrorist group not only by Turkey but also by the United States and the European Union, and is pressing Denmark to close it.

Baykal said the government needs to tackle the issue and take measures against Roj TV.

When asked about the affair, Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım said he was sure the CHP would investigate the matter and act in accordance with Turkey's official policies.

Canan dismissed the accusations directed against him on Sunday, arguing, "What's important is not who talked to which Television station, but what they said."

He said Roj TV was available in Turkey and claimed that no one had done anything about it until now. "There were deputies from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) who appeared on the channel before. I don't want to give names, but if that becomes necessary, I'll do that too."

"I am against any sort of violence and I have voiced my opinion on many channels. I talk to many journalists about what I saw and lived through in Şemdinli. Some are aiming to deviate the debate on Şemdinli by emphasizing a single phone interview," he said.

Canan also said he did not believe a disciplinary investigation within the CHP was necessary.

AKP after making a militant a president:

Baykal, speaking before his visit to Atatürk's Mausoleum on Saturday with the new members of the CHP Party Assembly, accused the ruling AKP of trying to make certain a political militant would become the next president.

He dismissed reports that the AKP was considering offering the presidency to Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök, arguing: "What the AKP has in mind for the presidency is very distant from what the chief of general staff can provide. Unfortunately, the AKP is trying to impose its own narrow view on the president."

Citoyenne française d'origine kurde

Je pense que lorsque la liberté d'expression est menacée, l'humanité entière est menacée dans sa liberté.

Roj TV exprime la liberté d'expression de plusieurs dizaines de millions de Kurdes. J'espère que les autorités danoises ne céderont pas à la pression et au chantage du gouvernement turc et ne fermeront pas cette télévision. C'est une entrave à la liberté et à la démocratie.

Citoyenne française d'origine kurde

PM Erdogan: Denmark waiting for police reports on Roj TV

HURRIYET; Tuesday, November 29, 2005 16:05

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on the possible closure of Roj TV in Denmark, saying that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen was "waiting on findings from the police," and adding that "he himself has said that without conclusive findings from the police, there is nothing he can do about it."

In a statement made yesterday at Ankara's Esenboga Airport on his way back from the "Alliance of Civilizations" summit in Spain, PM Erdogan reported that the summit had gone very well, and then answered a number of questions from reporters, including some aimed specifically at the move to have Denmark based Roj TV shut down.

"The process now depends on Danish tactics"

"Contrary to what the media has reported, Rasmussen said to us 'I am waiting on findings from the police.' Right now the police are acting on investigations there. Rasmussen also told me that he had received documents from the US on the subject too." Erdogan then noted that Rasmussen had assured him that Denmark did not look warmly on the idea of harboring a terror group on their land . "The process from here on depends on their tactics and will" said Erdogan.

List of Roj TV participants from Ankara grows

Hurriyet; Tuesday, November 29, 2005 16:03

Following the revelation that ruling Justice and Development (AKP) Party MP Faruk Unsal had appeared on Roj TV in Denmark, it has also been revealed that AKP MP Mehmet Elkatmis spoke by telephone on a Roj TV program.

MP Elkatmis, who is also the head of the Turkish Parliament's Commission to Examine Human Rights, spoke by telephone on a broadcast of Roj TV's "Rojname" program, answering questions posed to him by program presenter Sinan Ozturk.

There are others

As it turns out, there are many politicians from Ankara, which is trying to get Roj TV taken off the air in Denmark right now, who have either appeared on or participated in Roj TV programs. From opposition CHP, Algan Hacaloglu, Kamer Genc, and Husamettin Cindoruk have also spoken on Roj TV. From opposition ANAP, Sebgetullah Seydaoglu is also revealed to have been a studio guest at Roj TV, as well as former SHP party members Fikri Saglar and Murat Karayalcin.

A Group of Kurdish Students from Ahwaz University

Hi

We a number of Kurdish students in Ahwaz University, protest the unjust action of Turkish government against ROJ TV. Their demand for closing down ROJ TV is profoundly meaningless at the this age that we are living in. Thank you for your action against Turkish government unjust propaganda.

A Group of Students from Ahwaz University
29/11-2005

Turkey 98th in Press Freedom Ranking

Reporters Without Borders has released the 2005 World Press Freedom Index report ranking 167 countries according to the level of freedom of the press. Turkey has been ranked 98th, fifteen places higher than last year.

BİA News Center
20/10/2005 Erol ONDEROGLU
BİA (Paris) - The Paris-based international organization Reporters Without Borders has released its annual report ranking countries according to the level of freedom of the press.

Of the 167 countries ranked in the2005 World Press Freedom Index, Turkey has risen to 98th place, 15 places higher than its ranking last year of 113. In 2003, it ranked 116th.

In spite of the new Penal Law that went into effect on 1 June, which has been criticized by many journalists, Turkey's position in the rankings has improved because of a reduction in the number of infringements of press freedom since last year.

However, prosecutions of journalists and publishers continue, as recent court decisions against journalist Hrant Dink and the staff of the newspaper Cumhuriyet demonstrate.

The report noted that although the top ten countries are in Europe, some Western democracies have slid backwards in the arena of press freedom.

The United States fell more than twenty places due to the imprisonment of New York Times journalist Judith Miller and the increasing judicial pressure on confidentiality of sources.

The US is ranked 44th overall, but US authorities in Iraq received a much lower ranking of 137th. Canada also moved downwards due to similar judicial decisions infringing on confidentiality.

Poland (53rd), Spain (40th), and Italy (42nd) had much lower rankings than many other EU members, many of which were in the top twenty places. Among other countries that are candidates for European Union membership, Croatia ranked 56th and Romania 70th.

The report named North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Eritrea as the three worst countries for press freedom, and noted that on a regional scale, East Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East had the lowest press freedom rankings.

However, it applauded the fact that many countries in Africa and Latin America were rising in the index, such as Benin and Namibia, both at 25th place, and Trinidad and Tobago at 12th place.

The index also shows that many countries that have recently won independence from freedom or authoritarian government are high in the rankings, as are many impoverished countries, making it clear that a long history of democracy and a high level of economic wealth are not necessary conditions for press freedom. (EA/EK/YE)

MP from Hakkari defends Roj TV appearance

Hurriyet; Monday, November 28, 2005 11:08

Main opposition Republican People's (CHP) Party MP Esat Canan from Hakkari has deflected attention to his appearance on the Kurdish television station Roj TV to other directions, claiming that prior to him, MPs from the ruling AKP Party and opposition ANAVATAN had also appeared on Roj TV.

Justice and Development (AKP) Party MP from Adiyaman, Ahmet Faruk Unsal apparently took part in a program on Roj TV before the government's current stance on the television station was known. Noting that he had appeared prior to the EU's December 17 vote to give Turkey a date for EU accession talks, Unsal said that had used his appearance on Roj TV to answer questions on Turkey's EU process, and that he had said nothing that went against the government.

in response to the slanderous Claims of authorities in Turkey

A statement by Mr. Abdolla Hejab
in response to the slanderous Claims of authorities in Turkey

To the public opinion

As part of the continuous denial policy of Turkey towards the Kurdish people, the officials have started a comprehensive fierce campaign against Roj TV. The campaign, which is far from any democratic values, aims to distort the image, silence the Kurdish voice and try to impose the anti Kurdish mentality of the Turkish system on the international community. For years a such anti democratic campaign has been targeting the people, the democratic institutions, media channels and even Kurdish individuals.

Recently an official statement has been issued from the Security General Directorate, claiming that I was the official in charge of Roj TV and this was used as a proof of Roj TV and myself being linked to the PKK. The aim of the Turkish regime from issuing such a statement is to use my appearance in a programme on Roj TV as a proof to legitimise its request of closing down Roj TV.

The statement and the subsequent campaign are so remote from reality and logic that does not require a reply.

Although it has been along time that I have no party or political affiliations with any Kurdish political party or organisation. For me the democratic standards and human right values which have been codified in the universal charters are the highest values. I support therefore any Kurdistani organisations, which act according to these values to pursue the Kurdish rights.

Roj TV is the voice of Kurdistan therefore its protection against the illegitimate Turkish campaign is the duty of any democratic and patriotic person.
Abdolla Hejab

27/11-2005

Ex-Chief of Appeals Court Denies Speaking to Roj TV

By Cihan
Published: Monday, November 28, 2005
zaman.com

Former Chief of the Supreme Court of Appeals (Yargitay) Sami Selcuk has denied accusations that he has spoken to the Roj TV.

Sami Selcuk told CIHAN news agency he spoke to a Denmark-based television channel ahead of the 2003 parliamentary elections, but only later he learned the channel was the pro-PKK MED TV.

The main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) Hakkari Deputy Esat Canan has defended himself against similar accusations, saying that some senior Turkish officials had also spoken to the Roj TV.

.................

Violent dislike causes fabricated "news" !

It is unlikely that a person in Mr Sami Selcuk's position not to know to which television channel he had spoken to, more over.

Those who are familiar with the history of Kurdish Satellite broadcasting are aware that in year 2003 there was no channel on air called MED TV.

Save ROJ TV, the Kurdish satellite TV

T.C ve onun sövenist medyasi, son zamanlarda tarihi görülmemis bir sekilde ve mazlum kürt halkinin tek sesi olan ROJTV üzerindeki baskilari ciddetle protesto eder ve nefretle kiniyorum. Bin yildir kürt halkini yok sayan T.C devleti ve onun dalkavukcu medyasi, son zamanlarda ROJTV kapatilmasi icinde Demokratik Danimarka'ya baski yapmakta ve Danimarka'yida kendi kötü emellerine ortak etme cabalari icindedir. Danimarka'nin demokratik prensipler üzerinde kuruldugunu veinsan haklarina ve basin özgürlügüne önem verdigini biliyor ve T.C nin baskilarina boyun egecegine inanmiyoruz. Danirmarka sunu cok iyi bilmeliki, T.C rüsbet vermekle üstüne yoktur. Kürt halkina karsi yürüttügü bu kirli savasta Avrupa'nin bir cok ülkelerini rüsbetle, kendi pis emellerine ortak etmis ve kürt halkinin kanina sokmustur. Avrupa birligine aday olan Türkiye, Kopenhag-kriterlerine uyacagina, Avrupa birligindeki ülkeleri kendi ilkel ve barbar kriterlerine uymaya calismaktadir. Sayin Danimarka Basbakan'i ve tüm Danimarka halki, sizlerden ricamiz, bizleri ve cocuklarimizin sesi olan ROJTV'yi kapatmayin. ROJTV'nin kapatilmasi halinde tüm kürtleri ayaga kaldiracagi gibi, kürt halkini derinde etkiliyecek ve tüm cocuklarimizin üzerinde hem psikolojik ve hem ruhsal bulanimlara yol acacagi kesindir. Danimarka'nin simdiye kadar göstermis oldugu bu onurlu davranisi selamliyor ve devamini bekliyorum. Türkiye'yi Avrupa Birligine entegre etmek istiyorsak, onlarin bu anti demokratik isteklerini asla kabul etmemeliyiz. Yoksa medeniyetler toplulugu Avrupa, yüz yillardir büyük zorluklarla elde ettigi bu degerli kazanimlardan cok sey kaybedecek, Fasist ve Sövenist Türk-medyasina teslim olacaktir.

Demhat Bêrtî
Demsah Bêrtî
Demxwes Bertî
Nuhat Bêrtî

ROJ TV'YE SİSTEMATİK SALDIRI

Televizyonumuz şahsında, basın yayın özgürlüğüne yönelik saldırılar, Türkiye Başbakanı Tayyip Erdoğan'ın Danimarka ziyareti sonrasında sistematik bir şekilde devam ettirilmektedir.

ROJ TV'ye yönelik saldırı kampanyasının kararı, 19 temmuz 2005 tarihinde Genelkurmay ikinci başkanı İlker Başbuğ'un Türk medyası ile yaptığı toplantıda alınmıştır. Bu toplantıda Orgeneral Başbuğ, Türkiye'de yayın yapan bazı gazeteler ile Roj TV'ye tahammül edemediğini belirterek Türk medyasından yardım talebinde bulunmuştur.

Türkiye başbakanı Tayyip Erdoğan ve ana muhalefet partisi genel başkanı Baykal, ROJ TV'ye karşı bir ittifak oluşturarak saldırıları tırmandırmaktadırlar. Türkiye'nin temel ve acil sorunlarını çözmek yerine üzerini örtmek için oluşturulan bu kampanyaya Türkiye medyası da dahil olmuştur.

Türk gazete ve televizyonları her günROJ TV'ye yönelik asılsız ve yalan haberler üretmekte ve Türkiye'deki asıl gündemi çarpıtmaya çalışmaktadır. Şemdinli, Yüksekova ve Silopi'de halkın kararlılığı ile açığa çıkarılan ve odağında Türk genelkurmay başkanlığının bulunduğu gelişmeler, ROJ TV'ye saldırı kampanyası ile unutturulmaya veya gizlenmeye çalışılmaktadır.

Kürt halkına açık saldırılar karşısında duyarlılık göstermeyen ve sorunu geçiştiren Erdoğan ve Baykal, ROJ TV'ye saldırı konusunda tam bir fikir birliği ve dayanışma içine girmiştir. Türk medyası da yaptığı yayınları ile bu baskı koalisyonunun ortağı haline gelmiştir.

Televizyonumuzun yayınlarının içeriğini, niteliğini, uluslararası basın normları ve yayın ilkeleri karşısındaki durumunu tartışmak yerine, yalana dayalı bir saldırı kampanyası yürütülmektedir.

ROJ TV yönetiminde yer almayan şahıslar yönetim kurulu üyesi gibi gösterilmekte, televizyonumuzun çeşitli programlarına katılan politikacılar, aydınlar, sanatçılar suçlanarak, "TV programlarına katılma" suçu oluşturulmak istenmektedir. Bu hukuk ve ahlak dışı yaklaşımla ROJ TV etrafında bir tecrit çemberi oluşturulmak istenmektedir.

Basın-yayın özgürlüğü sıralamasında 167 ülke arasında 115. sırada yer alan; dünya saydamlık örgütlü raporunda 146 ülke arasında yolsuzluk sıralamasında 77. sırada olan Türkiye'nin ROJ TV'ye saldırıları bu açıdan anlaşılırdır ve bir değer taşımamaktadır.

Televizyonumuz şimdiye kadar olduğu gibi bundan sonra düşünce ve ifade özgürlüğüne bağlı kalacak, Türk ordusu, hükümeti ve Türk medyasının faşizan saldırılarına boyun eğmeyecek ve özgür çizgisini sürdürecektir.

28 Kasım 2005

ROJ TV Yönetim Kurulu

A systematic attack on ROJ TV

After Prime minister of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Denmark, the continuous attack and insult on press freedom, such as smearing ROJ TV has been increased.

An organised and orchestrated decision to attack Roj TV, was taken in the meeting of General Staff on 19th July 2005, and was pronounced in a press conference with Turkish press by second commander Ilker Basbug . In this press conference, general Basbug declared that some of the newspapers are not tolerating Roj TV and asked press for closer collaboration against Roj TV.

The prime minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of the main opposition party Baykal are working for a collective defamation approach against Roj TV. Instead of resolving the actual and daily problems of Turkey, they cover up the realities. Even Turkey's mass media have joined this latest approach.

Turkey's press and television stations, by their daily baseless claims and disinformation against Roj TV, are covering up the real agenda in Turkey. Their aim is to make people to forget the events in Semdinli, Yuksekova and Slopi, where the significant public awareness revealed the role of state involvement in the incidents.

Erdogan and Baykal who do not take any real step to solve the Kurdish questions have a common view in attacking ROJ TV. The Turkish mass media have turned into an instrument for broadcasting of dictating ideologies by these parties.

Instead of evaluating the content and quality of our programming and setting it in the framework of universal press norms, they have restored the fabrication and insulting campaign against ROJ TV.

They named people as members of Roj TV’s managing board, who have never had such positions. They terrorise politicians, intellectuals and artists who participate in our programmes. They are attempting to charge the personalities attending at ROJ TV’s programs with criminal acts. By these means, which are against all moral and legal principles, they want to isolate Roj TV. Turkey's record in press freedom among 167 countries in the world is in the rank of 115. Even the world's transparency report has placed Turkey at 77 among 146 ranked countries. If we review those reports then the reason for attacking Roj TV becomes clearer.

Roj TV as always will be devoted to the principles of free thought and free speech. We are not bowing to the attacks and pressures perpetuated against us by Turkish army, government and press, and we will continue in our free and independent path.

28 November 2005
ROJ TV
Managing Board

Ji bo raya giştî!

Li berdewamiya siyaseta înkarker a dewleta Tirk li hember gelê Kurd,di wan rojên dawîn de, sîstema şerê taybet kampaniyek berfireh li dijî Roj TV daye destpê kirin. Di wê kampaniya dûr ji hemû pîvanên demokratîk de, hewl tê dayîn deng u rengê gelê Kurd bê birrîn, u civaka navneteweyî jî bibe hevdengê zêhniyeta dijkurde deselatdar li Turkiyê. Bi salane kampaniyên dijdemokratîke dewleta Turk, car gel, car saziyên demokratîk, car çapemenî u carna jî takekesên Kurd bi hedef digrin. Wê carê jî daxûyaniyek fermî li ser navê Mudîriyeta Emniyeta Giştî hatiye weşandin u ez, bi navê ku goya berpirsiyarê Roj TVê bûme wekû belgeya girêdana televîziyonê bi PKKê re hatime nîşan dan. Armanca dewleta Turk ji wê daxûyaniyê ewe ku beşdarbûna min di programek Roj TVê de wekû belge bide nîşan dan u li ser wê bingehê rewabûnê (meşrûiyetê) bide daxwaza xwe ya daxistina televîziyona Roj TV.

Balkêşe ku medya Turk, bi rojname, TV u hemû navgînên dine ragehandinê ve, ew daxûyaniya Rêveberiya Asayişa Turk bi awayek berfireh weşandin u ji bo bêdeng kirina dengê gelê Kurd carek dinê bûne rêveberê siyaseta deselatdar.

Ew daxûyanî u kampaniya li pey wê re ketî rojevê, hin dûr ji mentiq u rastiyê ne ku pêwîstî bi bersiv danê nake. Ji bo raya giştî veşartî nîne ku mebesta Turkiyê ji kampaniyek bi wî awayî, berî her tiştî ewe ku meşrûiyetê bide siyaseta xwe ya dijminkar li hember daxwaziyên rewa ye gelê Kurd. Lê gelê me bi salane ew siyaset red kiriye u niha li hemû bakûrê Kurdistanê bi awayên cuda propagenda u bi giştî siyaseta bi kîne dewletê rojane protesto dike. Serhildanên li Şîrnex u Gewerê belgeyên herî zindiye wê rastiyê ne. Di asta navneteweyî de jî niha roj bi roj zêdetir zêhniyeta înkarkere Turkiyê dikeve ber rexneya raya giştî u alîgirên demokrasiyê. Kampaniyan nûye dewletê, tenê reaksiyonek bê encam li hember wê rewşê de ye.

Ez, her tim bi erka xwe ya însanî u neteweyî dizanim ku ewa li destê min bê ji bo pêşve birin u bidest xistina daxwazên meşrû u neteweiye gel li hemû beşên Kurdistanê de bi awayek aştiyane u demokratîk encam bidim. Li ser wê bingehê, hem li Kurdistan u hem li koçberiyê her tim hewla min ew bûye hindî bikaribim bi wê pîvanê re girêdayî bimînim. Lê her çend di salên derbazbûyî de min di rêzên tevgera Kurdistanê de
berpirsayetiya siyasî hebe jî, çi têkiliyên min yên siyasî an rêveberiyê bi Roj TV an dezgehên dine çapemeniya Kurdistanî li derweyî welat re nebûne. Li derweyî wê çendê, beşadariya min ya di meydana çapemeniyê de, di çarçoveya şirove u ragehandina ramanê de, ne tenê bi Roj TV re, belkû bi gelik kanalên ragehandina dine Kurdî li hemû beşên Kurdistanê re hebûye u wê ji niha u pêve jî hebe. Hevpeyivînên min yên bi Roj TV re her tim di wê çarçoveyê de bûne.

Ji wê bi der, niha demek dirêje ku tu girêdana min ya rêkxistinî bi çi partî an aliyên siyasiye Kurdistanê re nîne. Di heman demê de, ez xwe bi dostê hemû partî u rêkxistinan dizanim ku ji bo nirxên hevbeşe mirovatiyê u mafên gelê Kurd kar dikin. Ji bo min pîvanên demokratîk u nirxên mirovatiyê ku di konvansiyonên cîhaniye mafê mirovan de hatine, nirxên herî bilindin, u Kongra Gel jî di nav de, her rêkxistinek Kurdistanî ku bo bi destxistina mafê gelê Kurd di wê çarçoveyê de kar bike, ciyê piştgiriya minin.

Roj TV dengê Kurdistanê ye u, li hember hêrişa nemeşrûe Turkiyê de, parastina Roj TV, erka min u her mirovek demokrat u niştîmanperwere.

Abdullah Hicab
27.11.2005

A concerned citizen

In the interest of free and democratic societies in the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere, every last one of us should stand up in opposition to this sort of draconian and represssive action. Roj TV represents not only a forum in which Kurds all over the world can debate and discuss issues facing their people and seek peaceful solutions to bring a resolution to the Kurdish Question, but an important contribution to the preservation of endangered languages and cultural diversity globally. Ventures like Roj TV are the very future of free, democratic and pluralistic societies. To lose Roj TV to those who undermine this would be a loss for us all, Kurds, non-Kurds, humanity.

Sarah
a concerned citizen and friend to the Kurdish struggle!

Kurdish American Education Society

The malevolent policy of the Turkish government toward the Kurds in general, is now pointed at forcing the closure of ROJ, Kurdish satellite TV which broadcasts in Kurdish to the Kurds throughout Europe and to Kurdistan. Turkey wants to treat the Kurds who live in the relative safety and freedom of Europe, and the Western world, with the same measure they have treated their Kurdish population in Kurdistan for the last century. Now that the government of Turkey has been given the privilege of negotiations to join the Democratic European Union, one of their priority demand is for European countries to deny Kurds any form of organized cultural activities, economic rights and the rights to self-expression. They are now demanding that the country of Denmark revoke the operating license of ROJ TV, which operates in that country legally and peacefully in support of the basic rights for the Kurds in Turkey.

Invoking Turkish tactics of the past, particularly against the Kurds, Turkey now demands that Europeans must comply with the Turkish version of democracy, rather than Turkey complying with world’s demand that Turkey upholds respect for human rights and freedom of expression for the Kurds. In the view of the Turkish government, the West must succumb to the old-old Europe way of living under the fearful hooves of the Ottoman Turks through religious radicalism, pan-Turkism, and ultimately being “The Bridge” where one crosses to conquer and destroy, rather than learn, improve and allow a new culture to evolve and flourish.

The Kurdish American Education Society, urges all the peaceful and democratic governments of the world and institutions engaged in promoting social justice, to reject the deeply deceptive policies of the Turkish government in its pursuit to close ROJ TV. ROJ (pronounced Roozh) in Kurdish is the word for light. It also stands for a Ray Of Joy. It reminds me of the words of a Kurdish poet,

Bah-Bah, chu khandan hati tue
Sa-masto shadan hati tue

Wa ghamin dell-e-tareman
jour roj wa zendan hati tue

Translation,

How lovely and nice, is your radiant smile,
Happy is your face and delightful your thoughts,

To the lonely hearts living in darkness,
Like a Ray Of Joy, you entered our imprisoned world!

Let the Ray Of Joy in to your life! Join me in a letter writing campaign, to prevent the closure of ROJ TV through Turkish Government efforts currently underway in Europe. Please visit the following site and write your comments in support of saving ROJ TV from closure. http://rojtv.blogspot.com

In Freedom and Peace,
Ardishir Rashidi-Kalhur
For
Kurdish American Education Society
Kurdish American Education Society

Kurdish politicians ask Denmark not to close down Roj TV

Saturday, November 26, 2005

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Leaders of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) appealed to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to resist Turkish requests to close down Roj TV, a satellite television broadcasting from the Copenhagen, which Ankara says is a mouthpiece for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The letters, signed by the party's two joint leaders, Aysel Tuğluk and Ahmet Türk, the party said Turkish requests for Roj TV's closure had "created concerns among the Kurdish people." "Any request for the closure of an organization working toward the development of (Kurdish) language and culture is unacceptable," the letter said, arguing that it was a "contradiction" for Turkey to seek a ban on Roj TV at a time when it must improve its rights record to gain entry into the EU.

Turkey, on the other hand, continued to press Danish authorities to close down the television station. Police spokesman İsmail Çalışkan said at a weekly press briefing that a PKK member, Abdullah Hicap, was also an executive at Roj TV and showed footage of Hicap making a statement on behalf of the PKK on Roj TV during the weekly conference. Çalışkan called on countries fighting terrorism to fulfill their responsibilities under international law. "According to international law, terrorist organizations' broadcasts on television stations amount to a crime," he said. "In the past, certain pro-PKK broadcasting institutions in Britain, Germany and France have been closed down. The countries concerned should fulfill their responsibilities concerning Roj TV within the framework of international law."

Danish Radio and Television Board: Decision regarding regulation on incitement to hatred

The following is the previous decision by Danish Medie secretariatet concerning Turkish complaints. [SaveRojTV]

The Danish Radio and Television Board has on the 20th of April 2005 taken a decision regarding a complaint against ROJ TV. The complaint, from the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen, was that ROJ TV a Kurdish satellite television channel registered in Denmark has broadcast programmes, which incite hatred and fear among people by supporting the organisation PKK/KADEK/KONGRA-GEL, which is included in the EU Council decision of 2 April 2004 as a terrorist organisation. Supplementary documentation to the complaint included videotaped examples of news broadcast by ROJ TV.The Radio and Television Board has taken the decision according to article 11, section 3, in the Executive Order no. 1174 dated 17 December 2002: Programmes may not in any way incite to hatred based on race, sex, religion, nationality or sexual orientation.The Boards decision of 21 April 2005 is that ROJ TV has not violated article 11, section 3. The Board found that the programmes contained normal news reporting about the fights between Kurdish guerrillas and the Turkish military and did not contain incitements to hatred. It was stressed that news reporting as a supply of information is not in itself incitement to hatred and that the possible effect on viewers of reporting a topic may depend on their political attitudes.Furthermore, the complaint concerned ROJ TVs presumed relations to PKK and to MED TV (whose UK licence was withdrawn by British authorities) and Medya TV (to whom French authorities refused to grant a licence). Since these organisational matters are not regulated in the Broadcast Act the complaint about these matters was referred to the police.

source:Radio and Television Board Denmark
http://www.mediesekretariatet.dk/mediasecretariat.htm
jf@mediesekretariat.dk

Kamuoyuna

19.12.2003 tarihinde, Danimarka Media Sekreterliği'nden aldığı yayın izni ile yayınlarını sürdüren televizyonumuz, Danimarka ve Avrupa Birliği yayın ilkelerine uygun yayıncılığını sürdürmektedir. Ancak yayına başladığı ilk günden itibaren ROJ TV, Türk devletinin saldırılarına hedef olmuş; sistematik hale getirilen bu saldırılar son günlerde yeni bir boyut kazanmıştır. ROJ TV'ye yönelik bu devlet terörüne karşı milyonlarca izleyicimizi ve kamuoyunu bilgilendirmek bu aşamada zorunlu hale gelmiştir.

Türkiye'nin mevcut eğitim, kültür ve basın politikası, esas olarak tek millet, tek dil ve tek dine dayalıdır. Bütün kurumlaşma, planlama, iletişim ve politika bu resmi ideoloji çerçevesinde örgütlendirilmektedir. Türk Anayasası, Türk Ceza Yasası ve Yönetmelikler, Türkiye'de farklılıkların kendilerini ifade etmesini engellemektedir. Bu konuda yeterli-tartışmasız yüzlerce örnek vardır. Devletin resmi ideolojisine uygun olmayan düşünce suçları, gazete ve radyo kapatmaları, siyasetçi ve yazarlar için hapis cezaları, Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesinin kararları Türkiye'de düşünce ve ifade özgürlüğü bulunmadığının en açık kanıtıdır. Dolayısıyla din, dil ve ırk ayrımcılığı bizzat Türkiyenin anayasa ve ceza yasalarına dayalı olarak devletin kurum ve kuruluşları tarafından yapılmaktadır.

Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Üst Kurulu(RTÜK) yönetmeliği, özel televizyon ve radyolara Kürtçe yayın hakkı tanımadığı gibi, Kürtçe yayın yapan medya kuruluşları hakkında hala davalar açılmakta ve ceza verilmektedir. RTÜK, radyo ve televizyonlar için verdiği kapatma ve yayın durdurma cezalarını ağırlıklı olarak Kürtçe yayınlara vermektedir. Kürtçe şarkı ve Kürtçe müzik yayınlandığı için radyo ve televizyonlar kapatılmaktadır. AB ilerleme süreci müzakerelerinde, Türkiye'ye bu engellemelerin kaldırılması yönünde sürekli uyarılar yapılmaktadır. Ancak Türk Devleti hak ve özgürlükler alanını genişletmek yerine, kendi sınırları içindeki yasak ve kısıtlamaları Avrupa Birliği sınırları içinde de kabul ettirmeye çalışmaktadır. ROJ TV'ye yönelik saldırıların bizzat Türk Dışişleri Bakanlığı ve Adalet Bakanlığı eliyle yürütülmesi de Türkiye'nin içerdeki yasakları Avrupa'ya ihraç cüretkarlığının bir parçasıdır.

ROJ TV'nin RTÜK yasalarına değil, Avrupa Basın_Yayın ilkelerine tabi olduğunu bir kez daha hatırlatırken, başta ROJ TV izleyicileri olmak üzere kamuoyunu Türk devletinin bu saldırıları karşısında duyarlı olmaya çağırıyoruz.

8 Kasım 2005

ROJ TV
Yönetim Kurulu

Roj TV'ye çıkıp Şemdinli'yi anlattı

Saygı ÖZTÜRK/ANKARA

Hurriyet- CHP Hakkári Milletvekili Esat Canan, hükümetin kapatılması için çalıştığı PKK'nın yayın organı Roj TV'ye demeç verip, Şemdinli olaylarını değerlendirdi. Canan, 'Sonuçta Roj TV de Güneydoğu halkına hitap eden, oranın kültürünü tanıtan, müziğini çalan bir televizyon' dedi.

BAŞBAKAN Tayyip Erdoğan'ın, Danimarka'daki basın toplantısını Roj TV muhabirinin alınması nedeniyle terk etmesine karşılık, CHP Hakkári Milletvekili Esat Canan, bu televizyona demeç verdi. Canan, PKK organı olduğu belirtilen ve hükümetin kapatılması için girişimlerini sürdürdüğü televizyonun muhabirlerine Şemdinli olaylarını değerlendirdi. Esat Canan, 'Neden Roj TV'ye çıktınız?' sorusunu şöyle yanıtladı:

SONUÇTA BİR TELEVİZYON

'Roj TV, yeni değil, eskiden beri yayın yapan bir televizyon. Orada benden önce de bazı milletvekili arkadaşımızın açıklamaları, demeçleri yayımlanıyordu. Benim, Roj TV'de ilk kez açıklamam yayımlandı. Canlı yayınlarına katılan milletvekilleri de oldu. Örneğin Saadet Partisi'nin eski Genel Başkan Yardımcısı Mehmet Bekaroğlu da çok kez bu televizyonun yayınlarına katıldı. Sonuçta Roj TV de bir televizyon. Güneydoğu halkına hitap eden, oranın kültürünü tanıtan, müziğini çalan bir televizyon. Bu televizyona açıklama yapmam ya da yaptığım açıklamanın orada yayımlanması, o televizyonu, açıklamalarını, programlarını tasvip ettiğim anlamına gelmez, gelmemelidir. Hepimizin amacı, bu ülkede birlik ve beraberliği pekiştirmektir. Bu ülkede Kürtlerle, Kürt kimliğini inkar etmeden, birlikte yaşayabileceğimiz ortamın sağlanması konusunda hepimize düşen görev ve sorumluluk var.'

BAŞBAKAN'DAN TEDBİR

Bu arada Erdoğan, Danimarka'daki basın toplantısında yaşanan Roj TV krizinden sonra yeni bir önlem aldı. Erdoğan, bundan böyle ilgili ülkedeki basın toplantısılarına katılacak akredite basın kuruluşlarının isimlerinin kendilerine bildirilmesini istedi. Bunun ilk uygulaması, 27-29 Kasım'daki İspanya gezisi için gerçekleştirildi.

هه‌وڵه‌کانی کاربه‌ده‌ستانی ده‌وڵه‌تی تورکیا له‌دژی ڕۆژتیڤی هیچ سنورێک ناناسێت

Kurdish News Service - 2005-11-24 13:57:26

ڕۆژهه‌ڵات نیوز- دوای ئه‌ردۆغان ئه‌م جاره‌یان وه‌زیری ده‌وڵه‌ت به‌رپرسیاری دیداره‌کانی یه‌کێتی ئه‌وروپا و تورکیا عه‌لی بابا جان داوای له‌یه‌کێتی ئه‌وروپا کرد که‌ ڕێگه‌ به‌ ته‌له‌فزیۆنی ڕۆژ نه‌دا به‌ دوای، کۆبونه‌وه‌کانی بروکسل دا بچێ بابا جان دوێنێ به‌شداری کۆبونه‌وه‌ی کۆمسیۆنی په‌رله‌مانتارانی نێوان په‌رله‌مانی تورکیا و یه‌کێتی ئه‌وروپا بوو.به‌هۆی ئه‌وه‌ی که‌ له‌کۆبونه‌وه‌که‌دا هه‌واڵنێری ئاژانسی فراتیش ئاماده‌ بوو، بابا جان ناڕه‌زایی نیشان دا و داوای له‌کاربه‌ده‌ستانی ئه‌وروپا کرد که‌ ڕێی پێنه‌ده‌ن. باباجان بانگه‌شه‌ی کرد که‌ کێشه‌ی بنه‌ڕه‌تی له‌کوردستان، ئاسایشه‌ و یه‌کێتی ئه‌وروپاشی به‌وه‌ تاوانبار کرد که‌ مۆڵه‌ت به‌ هه‌واڵنێرانی کورد ده‌دات که‌ به‌دوای کۆبونه‌وه‌که‌دا بچن.ئه‌و قسانه‌ی باباجان، ڕووبه‌ڕووی ناڕه‌زایی په‌رله‌مانتارانی ئه‌وروپا بۆوه‌. ڕاپۆرته‌ری تورکیا کامیل ئۆرلینگس یش ڕایگه‌یاند: که‌ ئه‌و شتانه‌ی ده‌کرێت یاسایین، هه‌ر بۆ ئه‌وه‌ش ئه‌وان ناتوانن ڕێ له‌ڕۆژتیڤی بگرن که‌ به‌دوای کۆبونه‌وه‌که‌ دا بچن.رۆژنامه‌وانێکی قوبرسی به‌ باباجانی گوت: ئێوه‌ به‌و قسانه‌تان بێ ڕێزی له‌هه‌مبه‌ر په‌رله‌مانی ئه‌وروپا ده‌که‌ن و تیرۆری ده‌وڵه‌ت په‌یڕه‌و ده‌که‌ن.

Kurdish party slams Turkish bid to ban Kurdish TV station

ANKARA, Nov 25 (AFP) - 11h53 - Turkey's main Kurdish party appealed Friday to the Danish government to resist Ankara's bid to have a Denmark-based Kurdish TV station banned for alleged links to armed Kurdish rebels.
"The demand to have Roj TV banned is a move to prevent the Kurdish people's right to receive news in their own language. It is not possible to reconcile this initiative with freedom of press and expression," the Democratic Society Party (DTP) wrote in a letter to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Describing the Turkish government's move as "unacceptable", DTP leaders wrote that it was a "contradiction" for Turkey to seek a ban on Roj TV at a time when it must improve its rights record to gain entry into the European Union.
Turkey has asked the Danish authorities to revoke Roj TV's broadcasting license on grounds that it has ties with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an armed group considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week refused to attend a press conference during a visit to the Danish capital Copenhagen because Roj TV reporters were present.
Ankara charges that the channel, on the air since March 2004, incites hatred by openly supporting the PKK.
Denmark's broadcasting watchdog ruled at the beginning of the year that Roj TV's programming contained no incitement to hatred of Turkey and Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said Monday that he had seen no proof of the station's links to the PKK.
Ankara's move against Roj TV comes at a time of increasing violence in mainly Kurdish southeastern Turkey, where more than 37,000 people have died since 1984, when the PKK launched an armed campaign for Kurdish self-rule in the region.

Turkey's "proof" against Roj TV: The Kurdish national anthem

by rojhalat_kurd @ 25.11.2005 - 10:42:55 am

The Turkish state presented to the Danish government documents filled with what the Turkish state calls "proof" that the Kurdish satellite TV-channel Roj TV is run by the PKK. Among their most important "proofs": That Roj TV plays the Kurdish national anthem 'Ey Reqib' during opening and closing.
Among what they call "proofs" are that Roj TV is airing programs that also the first Kurdish satellite TV-channel MED-TV was airing. MED-TV was closed down by the British government after a request from Turkey. Among the Turkish state's "proof" are that Roj TV's program in the Kurmanci dialect of Kurdish is called 'Nuce', just like the news program in MED-TV was called. 'Nuce' simply means 'News' in Kurmanci. The same argument was given for the news program in the Sorani dialect which is called 'Dengubas'. 'Dengubas' means 'News' in Sorani.
The Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan had boycotted a press conference which he was to hold with the Danish PM Rasmussen, because the conference was attended by a reporter from Roj TV. Rasmussen rebuffed Turkey's request to kick out the Kurdish reporter by saying that there was freedom of the media in Denmark and EU.
Denmark's official stance is that Turkey's allegations against the Kurdish satellite TV-channel Roj TV are baseless.

Danish-Kurdish satellite TV

Dear Martin Selsøe

I'm writing to you on the basis of your article in today's Information, "Danish-Kurdish TV has a terrorist past", with the first page trailer: "Kurdish TV-channel incited (opfordrede in Danish) violence from Great Britain. Now it sends from Copenhagen". At the beginning with bold (I don't know what they are called in English, sorry; manchett in Swedish, one of my mother tongues), you say: "Kurdish satellite channel incited violence from Great Britain and had terrorists on the Board in France. Now it sends from Denmark, but if the terrorist sympathies are intact is debatable, professor says".

This professor is Amir Hassanpour, Iranian Kurd, one of the most respected researchers on Kurdish language and media in the world, and a good friend of mine - we have written together, and he also has an article in the volume that my husband edited for my 60th birthday (and I'm writing in english so that Amir understands - I cc this letter to him). I believe that what Amir is reported as saying in the article itself is more or less what I believe he thinks, and it is reported fairly. But the quote above is in my opinion made to look as if Amir had said it all, i.e. that he had directly said that Med-TV incited violence and that the Board included terrorists. I think that this is most unfortunate because it gives more credibility to these claims which are ideologically following the line that the Turkish state has, in negatively labelling acts and people that may not do more than ask for the Kurds the type of linguistic, cultural and educational human rights that Turkish-speakers in Turkey (or, Danish-speakers in Denmark) take for granted for themselves. In addition, of course, the trailor and titling of the article are not formulated in as balanced a way that I would expect from Information. And saying in the picture text that the Danish police is investigating the issue "on the basis of evidence (beviser in Danish) collected by the Turkish Embassy" seems to imply that this "evidence" is trustworthy, without saying a word about Turkish state terrorism or even hinting at the fact that information from the Turkish state in relation to what their legal reforms (which certainly are a step forward, no doubt about that) have or have not achieved, has been seriously biassed, to formulate it nicely. I will attach one of my articles which shows this clearly.

I have been interviewed (two one-hour programmes, aired early this autumn, 2005) by Hassan Ghazi (whom I know since many years from Sweden where he was political refugee) for ROJ-TV, in Brussels, and so has my husband, professor Robert Phillipson (Copenhagen Business School). He spoke about European (Union) language policy in general (his latest book is called English-Only Europe? Challenging language policy). I spoke about linguistic human rights, in general, and specifically in relation to Turkey, a research area where I am without any doubt one of the world's leading experts, with many books, and work with the UN, UNESCO and OSCE. We talked to several dozen ROJ-TV staff during our two days in Brussels and discussed their ideologies and policies, programmes and connections, etc, in depth.

Obviously the whole issue is extremely complex. The deeply ambivalent role of the USA, both in relation to the Kurds in different countries and in the whole issue of who, how and why defines terrorism and what is done in the name of "fighting" it, and to what extent Denmark and Britain are more or less uncritically following a US agenda would minimally need to be mentioned.

I would appreciate it very much if you, for a follow up, did an interview with Robert and me, on linguistic and cultural (lack of) rights of the Kurds in Turkey. We are at home until Wednesday morning, then in Paris at a conference until Saturday evening; we are away most of the following week too (Robert in Brussels, me in Helsinki), but then we are in Denmark for most of December.

sincerely
Tove Skutnabb-Kangas
--
Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas
Roskilde University, Dept of Languages and Culture, Denmark
Åbo Akademi University Vasa, Dept of Education, Finland
Use only home address: Tronninge Mose 3, DK-4420 Regstrup, Denmark
email:SkutnabbKangas@gmail.com
home page: http://akira.ruc.dk/~tovesk/

Police wrap up Kurdish television investigation

11/19/2005 Denmark.dk - Danish police are under pressure to conduct a hasty investigation of a Kurdish television station that Turkey claims is financed by a terrorist organisation The Copenhagen Police is wrapping up its investigation of a Kurdish television station in Denmark, which Turkey accuses of being financed by the Kurdistan's Workers' Party (PKK), a separatist movement labelled as a terrorist organisation by the European Union. 'The material that police have collected so far is now subject to legal evaluation, and no one has been charged in the case,' said police advocate Michael Jørgensen from the Copenhagen Police. In October, the police began an investigation of ROJ TV, a Kurdish television station broadcasting news, entertainment, films, children's programs, and debate shows to Kurds in Denmark from its studios in downtown Copenhagen.

ROJ TV says it has no connections with PKK.

Turkey has long criticised Denmark for not banning the station, and on Tuesday, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan left his meeting with Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen in a fury, when he discovered that one of the station's reporters was present at a press briefing after their meeting. Erdogan made it clear upon his return to Turkey that he expected Denmark to close down the station. 'As a medium, they support terrorism. It's an organ that promotes terrorism and shelters terrorist activities in my country,' Erdogan said. On Thursday, a spokesman from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters in Ankara that Turkey was keeping a close eye on the Danish police's investigation of ROJ TV and expected a fast result. Turkey has succeeded in having a number of Kurdish media closed down in Germany. Rasmussen said he had no choice but to allow the Kurdish reporter to attend the press briefing. 'Today, we have been confronted with a number of things, where I simply cannot compromise,' Rasmussen said. 'These are fundamental principles about how a democracy works.'