TURKEY-PRESS SCAN (2)

ANKARA (A.A) - 26.03.2011 - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 26, 2011. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

VATAN
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THIRD RAID ON SILIVRI
Journalists Ahmet Sik, Nedim Sener and DOgan Yurdakul were shocked when prison officials entered their room at Silivri prison to search their rooms at 10 a.m. on Friday. The executives informed Sik, Sener and Yurdakul about the decision to "seize" the draft of Sik's unpublished book named "Imamin Ordusu" (The Army of Imam), and searched the rooms. Nedim Sener reacted as saying, "if the draft is banned, how can Ahmet defend himself?" Prison officials could not find the draft in their search.

OPERATION BASE: IZMIR
NATO was planning to close its base in Turkey's Aegean province of Izmir within the scope of its decision to shrink. However, Cigli base has re-gained importance with the operation on Libya. Despite objections of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the command of the operation on Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi was transferred to NATO. Tens of war jets, 10 AWACS, 10-15 fuel supply planes will join the operation. All planes will be under the control of the NATO base in Cigli, Izmir. NATO spokesperson said a Turkish or U.S. general would head the operation that would last for at least three months. The naval operation will be commanded from Naples, Italy. 

CUMHURIYET
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CIVILIAN DISOBEDIENCE
Publishing houses and human rights defenders have taken action as the draft of journalist Ahmet Sik's book "Imamin Ordusu" (The Army of Imam) was collected and destroyed. Some publishing houses came together and decided to publish the book. Sik is under arrest within the scope of the Ergenekon investigation. 

SURPRISE NAMES IN CHP
Many intellectuals have applied to the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to become candidate to be a candidate in the upcoming general elections in June. Nilgun Turkler, daughter of labor confederation DISK's former chairman who was assassinated Kemal Turkler, also applied to CHP. Professor Mehmet Haberal (in prison within the scope of Ergenekon investigation), former Erzincan chief prosecutor Ilhan Cihaner, former European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judge Riza Turmen, and former state minister Gulek also applied to the party.
Moreover, journalists Mustafa Balbay, Aydin Ayaydin, Oktay Eksi, Veli Ozdemir, Enver Aysever, Umit Zileli, Ali Oztunc, Ismet Hazardagli, Mustafa Dolu, Huseyin Yildiz are candidates. 

RADIKAL
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REACTIONS GROW OVER IMPOUND OF UNPULISHED BOOK
Reactions mounted on Friday to the seizure of copies of an unpublished book, -- "The Army of the Imam" -- by journalist Ahmet Sik, a suspect in the case over Ergenekon, an alleged criminal network in Turkey. "I am concerned that a newspaper came under such an action just because of a book," Turkish Deputy Premier Bulent Arinc said. The daily RADIKAL was raided earlier this week by police who searched the daily's offices and computers for copies of the book. Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay said, "move to destroy the draft copies of an unpublished book is a great concern for me." "We are shocked by the unprecedented seizure of the drafts of an unpublished book," Umit Boyner, head of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association.

HIGH COURT SCARPS TAX FINE ON DOGAN HOLDING
Turkey's top administrative court, the Council of State, on Friday upheld a decision to cancel a tax fine of 862 million Turkish liras levied on Dogan Productions, a venture of the Dogan Holding.