IT IS FOR SURE THAT I WILL WITHDRAW MY COMPLAINT, AS LONG AS THAT YOUNGSTER REALIZES HER FAULT
Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated that as long as that student who threw eggs at him at Ankara University, realized his fault and apoligized, it would be enough to withdraw his complaint. Bagis said: "It is ridiculous that some politicians make use of this situation for politics within their parties and to advance their positions."
Egemen Bagis went to Brazil in order to represent Turkey in the Mercusor Summit which stands for South America Economic Cooperation Area and answered the questions of the journalists related to the issue.
Reminding that as the government, they signed an agreement of historical importance which would pave the way for Turkey's coming closer to Latin America, Bagis said: "Unfortunately Turkey's agenda is negatively affected by an egg incident which is illogical."
Bagis stated that approximately two months ago, he was subjected to an attack by some persons at the conference hall in Ankara University European Research Centre and he gave a formal statement to the security forces about the incident. Bagis said the following:
"I declared that I made this complaint not because of the fact that this attack was damaging to myself or to my jacket but, because of the fact that those who carried out this attack moved towards behaviour that includes physical violence exceeding their democratic protest rights. I did not file the law suit. A public prosecutor evaluating the findings of the security forces filed it. 2 years of imprisonment which is the highest level of punishment is in the indictment of Public Prosecutor of Ankara. The current case is in the nature of a civil law suit and the court recognizes the referred case as an insult to a public official. The acceptance of the case and its conduct is independent from our complaint. In accordance with article 131 of Turkish Penal Code, the investigation and prosecution of this offence does not depend on complaint."
Egemen Bagis emphasized that, statements such as: "Bagis refused the consensus proposal of the public prosecutor claiming that his jacket was stained" did not reflect reality.
Noting that the incident they faced was not an individual case but a reflection of a process that has been transformed into a collective attack, Bagis said: "The attacks of the circles, which did not get their share from democracy, towards myself or towards the government is being shaped by the egg incident now. Against us there are also the circles that exploit the young persons and that have different agendas."
Bagis stated that they also refused the invitation of 11 young people to have an interview closed to the press and to have coffee at the meeting "NGOs are on the way to EU" organized in Istanbul to revive the dialogue. Bagis said that they faced those who wanted to argue with them in front of the cameras and that the good will and tolerance they showed did not bring any results.
THROWING EGGS IN EU IS ALSO CONSIDERED AS AN INSULT AND ASSAULT
Bagis said the following:
"Everyone with conscience should know the fact that Egemen Bagis did not make a complaint because his jacket was stained. The claim that an innocent young person was punished because his jacket was stained is a terrible propaganda. Egemen Bagis was subjected to an attack. Similar attacks are also carried out systematically towards other members of the government, to the deputies and to the public officials. This group of people are making use of throwing eggs to make an impact but at the same time not to be punished.
Although there were a lot of protesters in where the incident took place, it is clear that, we did not make a complaint with the reason that they used their democratic rights. It is unreal that throwing eggs in EU is a democratic right. It is the extension of an ongoing propaganda. Throwing eggs in EU is subject to a punishment within the scope of an assault. Throwing eggs in EU is also considered as an insult and assault."
THOSE WHO CAN'T COMPREHEND THE GRAVITY OF PKK CONSIDER PROTEST WITH EGGS BLAMELESS
Indicating that he was a democratic and tolerant soldier for the cause of Turkey's accession to the EU, Bagis said, "Despite the attacks with eggs, demagogy of the opposition, all kinds of sleight of hand and erroneous news, they made progress on the way to the EU.
Noting that democracy was a loving protector for people who have faith in it and a nightmare for those who don't, Egemen Bagis said, "It is natural for some politicians who couldn't comprehend the gravity of PKK terror to consider protest with eggs blameless. That the representatives of a political movement who can't react against PKK terror try to advise us is thought-provoking."
Pointing out that forgiving the young without making them know their mistakes would cause other people to launch similar attacks in the future, Bagis said:
"We don't have the right to do that. Law can't be a matter of negotiation for us. Law doesn't favour deliberate act and evil intent. It favours innocence. However, if they state that they were wrong, of course the situation changes. Leaving aside the attempts of politicians, particularly CHP, to take the event to a dirty platform, I find it useful to restate my views on the young as a young politician, which I stated repeatedly before. Pictures of neither eggs thrown nor students fighting with the police are images which befit Turkey's democracy photograph. Doubtless the young have the right and freedom to protest. On the other hand the limits and norms of this right are obvious. It is not a right to do someone else harm.
I repeat once more as I said many times before. To see the error of your ways is a virtue. We are ready to withdraw our complaint if that young person realizes his fault and apologizes. I hope that this would also prevent people from committing similar faults. I find it funny that some old-fashioned politicians try to exploit this situation by making efforts to abuse this event for show purposes to gain favour and place within their parties".
Egemen Bagis said, "I hereby make my call and enunciate my feelings once again. We never responded to a friendly hand with a clenched fist and we will not do such a thing today, either. It is our duty to protect democracy against violence. We defend democracy against any type of terror and will continue to do so".
PENAL PROVISIONS ON INSULT IN THE EU COUNTRIES
In Austria, insult and assault against the members and bodies of government and the members of parliament are immediately prosecuted, without being subject to a complaint, and provision is made for a judicial fine up to one year and prison sentence. In Denmark, provision is made for imprisonment up to six months and fine for the offenders, these types of crimes aren't subject to a complaint and they are prosecuted directly by the public prosecutors.
In France, the same acts are deemed to be crimes under the 30th and 31st Articles of the Penal Code and the Freedom of the Press Law and a judicial fine of 45 thousand Euros is provided for those who commit them. In Germany, provision is made for imprisonment up to one year and a fine up to 9 thousand Euros.
According to the Italian Penal Code, in case of a verbal or written insult or libel involving action, a prosecution can be brought dependent on a complaint. Special provisions are repealed in respect of insult, libel and swearing at public officials, however, provision is made for imprisonment up to one year and a fine up to 1032 Euros in the event of insult and libel crimes committed this way. If the crime involves certain material allegations against the honour and dignity of a person, provision is made for imprisonment up to two years and a fine up to 2065 Euros and if the crime is committed via press or publicly or in the course of a demonstration, the penalty is set to be imprisonment from six months up to three years and a minimum fine amounting to 516 Euros.
Source: AA
