Defamation charges have been brought against lawyer Aygun, for saying The Gendarme Commander threatened me in the presence of Tunceli deputies; Gundem representatives were also charged for publishing the remarks.

Prime Minister Erdogan sues Gunluk Evrensel newspaper for publishing the slogans of privatized paper factory SEKA workers. He seeks 15,000 new Turkish liras in damages. The next hearing will be held on May 3, the World Press Freedom Day.

Ocalans proposal to form a confederation without a sovereign state, wasnt found feasible. Kurdish intellectuals, who are distant to PKK: Fantasy. Lawyers: It cant be done. DEHAP: It should be debated.

Prime Minister Erdogan sued the owner and the publisher of the Penguen humor magazine for depicting him as an elephant, giraffe, monkey, camel, frog, snake, cow and duck. Penguen may be ordered to pay 40,000 YTL.

Gendarme prevented an IHD delegation from entering a village of Nusaybin, where they intended to investigate allegations that a 13-year-old shepherd was shot and killed by village guards.

RSF expressed its backing for Turkish journalists as some 250 of them demonstrated in the streets of Istanbul calling for the shelving of a new criminal law threatening press freedom. They have condemned restrictive measures in the new law.

The Local Media Training Seminar by BIA2 Project was held in Bursa with the 26 local reporters and 15 students of the Communications High-School. The trainers made presentations about reporting based on rights and pointed to the mistakes of the media.

Camyar and Ilhan have been released. The Supreme court of appeals introduced a broader outline for freedom of expression. Demirtas was acquitted. But Zarakolu, Tunc and Aygun continue to stand trials on freedom of expression.

Denouncing police brutality against peaceful demonstrations by women for International Womens Day, Amnesty International calls on the Turkish authorities to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations are brought to justice.

Zafer newspapers owner Atar, chief editor Konukoglu and columnist Eyyupoglu, who criticized the Erdogans treatment of Denktash, will pay a fine of 3,000 YTL in damages. The criminal suit against the journalists is awaiting the new penal code.

2 March trials of Fikret Baskaya and Ragip Zarakolu symbolise the continuation of freedom of expression problems in Turkey.

Reporters Without Borders protested today against the imprisonment of Austrian journalist Sandra Bakutz of Radio Orange 94.0 and the German newspaper Junge Welt.

Journalists and caricaturists continue to criticize the Prime Minister Erdogan who sued caricaturist Kart of Cumhuriyet daily for drawing him as a cat. Caricaturist Kart and editor-in-chief Sucu were fined a total of 3,800 dollars for the caricature.

Pessimistic of the outcome of the truce between Sharon and Abbas, Palestine is the other for the cosmopolite Israeli society says Palestinian human rights activist Sahar Francis. Had they not war with Palestine they would not have peace at home.

CEDAW calls Turkish state encourage more active women participation in politics as well as new regulations in discriminatory laws. Regional disparities in regard to education and health services should also be removed.

CFCU says Turkey used 20 percent of EU grants. Vulnerable project productivity of PIs is the scapegoat of the failure. Former undersecretary Yasamis asserts structural problems is the real source of problem.

Bianet wins Internet journalism prize by the Journalists Association of Turkey. Along with ntvmsnbc.com and hurriyetim.com.tr bianet was aawraded the prize for its performance in 2004. Our womens desk editor Belge recieved the award in Monday ceremony.

Supreme Court of Appeal in a historic hearing decides that secular state can not be secured through punishing thought. Freedom of thought is viable only with providing freedom for irritating or even shocking ideas, 14 judges decide against 13.

PM Erdogan praises US-Turkey friendship during talks with Condolleza Rice: Our strategic alliance perpetuates in a mature and positive manner. These words come a week after bombastic warnings of marching over Kirkuk in the wake of Iraqi elections.

History Foundation, Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) announce their proposal to cleanse textbooks of xenophobia, machismo and ultra-nationalism, after three years of intense research and study.