March 24, 2001

    A few months ago we had informed you of a ten day closure of the Yeni Evrensel newspaper. History seems to be repeating itself since Yeni Evrensel has been closed down for another seven days due to a recent court decision. Yeni Evrensel, the only voice of the working class and labourers, is trying to be silenced and facing constant pressures. Yet, those so scared of this voice which continues to increase in intensity are only acting out of the knowledge that the day when it will be their turn to be silent -and keep silent forever- is drawing nearer every day. The working class and the labourers, on the other hand, are completely aware of the fact that, no matter how the situation may seem so, history in fact never does repeat itself!

All the obstacles in front of freedom of speech and press should be removed

    Once again it has been seen that those running the country don't have the slightest endurance for democracy: The daily newspaper Yeni EVRENSEL (New Universal) has been closed down for 7 days due to the decision of the Istanbul 3^rd SSC (State Security Court). The decision is important as it demonstrates the degree to which the judgemental system is independent in our country.
    Although the pretext put forward for the closure is an article published on the anniversary of (8^th of January 2000) Metin Goktepe's death, (a journalist of Evrensel who was beaten to death under police custody), when the conditions of the approval are taken into account, the realities beneath the decision become much more visible.
    The government is recently trying to put a new IMF Programme into practice. This process is being led by Kemal Dervis, (ex vice-president of World Bank recently appointed as a «super» minister), who was injected into the veins of the government as «fresh blood» after being imported from the USA. The Programme of Kemal Dervis who is being presented as a saviour, has already met the reaction of the workers and labourers even before its details have been revealed. It is rejected since it has been clearly seen that the programme is an international programme of the capital designated by the IMF, not a national one as it is being claimed.
    The Yeni Evrensel newspaper, exposing all the effects and the results of the IMF Programme from the beginning, has played an important role in the recognition of this so called programme presented by Kemal Dervis, by the workers and the labourers.
    If the intensive response against the IMF programme and the fact that this movement is entering the process of becoming transformed into an organized labourer action is taken into consideration, it can be seen that the declaration date of the court decision (20^th of March) is not a coincidential event but rather a concious choice.
    On the other hand, the closure of Yeni EVRENSEL has once again exposed the already «officially registered» insincerity of the government regarding these issues. However, these obstacles and antidemocratical applications will neither prevent the development of the workers and labourers movement and their victory against the IMF Programmes nor will they suffice to silence Yeni EVRENSEL, the voice of the working class.
    All the pressures on the media should cease and all the obstacles in front of freedom of speech and press should be removed.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BUREAU