Refleksi: Apakah SBY-Kalla bersama MUI tidak mempunyai agenda tersembunyi?
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5457FB19-7BF6-4D8D-8C10-27097EB75609.htm UPDATED ON: SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2007 12:23 MECCA TIME, 9:23 GMT Turks hold pro-secular protest More than 200,000 demonstrators are estimated to have taken part in the protest [EPA] More than 200,000 demonstrators have protested against Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, becoming the country's president. Protesters in Ankara on Saturday called for the government to resign, chanting slogans including, "We don't want an imam as president." "I'm here to prevent Recep Tayyip Erdogan from becoming president,"Serkan Ozcan, an engineer who travelled nearly 600km from Izmir to Ankara to attend the rally, said. "Never has someone of that mentality been president and never will be." Erdogan's party was elected to an overwhelming majority in parliament and can appoint whoever it wants to the presidency. If he does decide to run, Erdogan's own popularity and his party's firm control over parliament will mean his opponents will have little power to stop him. Erdogan's party is expected to announce its candidates for the position this month. 'Islamic agenda' Secularists in the 99 per cent Muslim country fear that if Erdogan, or someone close to him, wins the presidency next month, the government will be able to implement an Islamic agenda without opposition. Protesters gathered in Ankara on Saturday [EPA] The prime minister has pushed Turkey closer to the European Union, but he is also known for his religious principles. He has stoked secularist concerns in Turkey by speaking out against restrictions on wearing Islamic-style head scarves in government offices and schools and taking steps to bolster religious institutions. He also tried to criminalise adultery, but came under criticism for the move and backed down under pressure from the EU. But the country's pro-secular military maintains a strong influence over Turkish politics and in 1997 generals pressured Erdogan's mentor out of the prime minister's office because he was viewed as excessively religious. Analysts warn that any serious tensions between the government and the military could have a serious effect on the country's economy. Saturday's rally was organised by Sener Eruygur, president of the Ataturk Thought Association and a former commander of Turkey's paramilitary forces. President to step down The demonstration come after Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Turkey's pro-secular president, told military officers in an address on Friday that "for the first time, the pillars of the secular republic are being openly questioned". Sezer steps down on May 16 and parliament will elect the new president early next month. "We hope that someone who is loyal to the principles of the republic, not just in words but in essence, is elected president," general Yasar Buyukanit, the chief of the military, said on Thursday, in a statement widely interpreted as a warning to Erdogan not to run. Erdogan's government has denied it has an Islamic agenda. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
