Presidents Commission of Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals issued a statement criticising certain political circles for attempting to influence and control the judiciary branch.

What commission trying for? - 21 / 05 / 2008 22:27

The Commission said recent developments proved that these circles failed to absorb the independence of the judiciary branch and were trying to create a judiciary branch that took sides with and protected the executive branch.

"This is what is aimed: But it should be never forgotten that history has never witnessed a state who managed to survive and secure the safety and happiness of their citizens with such a guided judiciary branch," said the Supreme Court Presidents Commission.

The Commission said the systematic attacks targeting the judiciary branch and harming the basic principles of the Republic which had been going on for almost a year had intensified recently.

"These consistent acts delay the real agenda of the society and its problems waiting to be solved." The commission said the same circles, by making use of the general accord in the society over the need to change certain articles of the constitution, introduced a draft aiming to change the whole constitution in line with the directives and desires of a certain political ideology.

It said this attempt which ignored the necessity to seek a wide approval from the society, created serious tension.

The commission said the intense and righteous resistance of the society interrupted the adoption of the said draft, nevertheless, the bills amending Article 10 and 42 of the constitution were adopted with speed.

DISSOLUTION CASE AGAINST AK PARTY

Referring to the dissolution case filed against the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party at the Constitutional Court by the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the commission said, "However, the defendants and their supporters ignored the fact that the indictment was a corporate one, and they attempted to make the Chief Public Prosecutor subject to reactions and enmity of the people through illogical, unlawful remarks and articles and acts most of which constitute crimes in themselves."

It said methods and intentions were more frequently tried recently to influence the court to take a result in favor in the dissolution case --with an astonishing belief that "it was authorized by the people to do anything it wishes" and by complaining about judges, targeting them, even getting help from foreign individuals and institutions.

The statement also criticized submission of "the draft strategy on judiciary reform" to EU Commissioner for Enlargement.

It said all these developments were enough to evidence that independence of judiciary was not absorbed, and a supporter, adherent and protector judiciary was tried to be created.