Chief of Staff's "Envoy" to Jailed Generals Charged with Ties to Assassination of Cypriot Journalist

Hüseyin Yalyalı of Press Laborers Union of Turkish Cypriots has demanded that gen. Galip Mendi who visited the imprisoned Ergenekon generals on behalf of the General Staff should be tried for the murder of Kutlu Adalı in 1996.

Lefkoşa - BİA News Center
04 September 2008, Thursday

Criticizing the permissiongranted to Garrison Commander Gen. Galip Mendi to visit the imprisonedErgenekon generals Hurşit Tolon and Şener Eruygur, Hüseyin Yalyalı, a member ofthe board of directors of the Press Laborers Union of Turkish Cypriots, hasdemanded that the permission should be given for the investigation of his role in the murder of Kutlu Adalı.

Kocaeli garrison commander three-stargeneral Mendi had visited both of the generals in the Kandıra prison on behalfof the General Staff.

Yalyalı reminded that Mendi’sname had appeared in Adalı’s murder in Northern Cyprus on July 6,1996 and since the murder was not investigated, the European Human RightsCourt (AİHM) had convicted Turkey.

Adalı was first threatenedand then killed for the articles he had written about the illegal activities ofthe Civil Defense Organization headed by Mendi.

The Church raid, the searchof the graves, Adalı murder…

Yalyalı said, “The GeneralStaff was backing this person in the past, too.”

According to Yalyalı, Mendi’sname is mentioned in the raid of the Saint Barnabas Church, the search of the historicaland old graves; he is known as one of those responsible for these incidents.

Yalyalı says the Civil DefenseOrganization, which was headed by the soldiers, used to do intelligence work ratherthan civil defense.

“This was Ergenekon at its best. I always say that if one wants to look at Cyprus, one will see the laboratoryof the Special War Office of the deep state politics.

Nothing was done in spiteof the EHRC decision. Yalyalı says “Although there were many details such as  the weapons andmaterial kept in this institution, the Uzi gun used to kill Adalı and the fact that the CivilDefense people were at the murder scene before the police and the military,none of them were discussed.”  

He also reminded that themurders the Special War Office of Turkey had committed in Cyprus since1960’s were not limited to the Adalı murder. For example, journalist HaşmetGürkan, who had supported the continuance of the United CyprusRepublic, was killed as well. (EÖ/EÜ/TB)

Independent Communication NetworkIndependent Communication Network comprises more than internet news website bianet.org. It is a continuously unfolding network since 1997 and embraces "Training Drives" for journalists and communication students and NGOs; handbook series, "Radio Programs" for the local media, conferences, forums, international exchange programs.

IPS Communication Foundation (BİA)IPS Communication Foundation is the implementing body for the BIA &bianet.org. Founded in 1993 by four journalists and one human rights activists, has implemented many projects including a BİA, BİA2 and BİA3.

BİA LibraryBİA Library comprises of handbooks series and guides and researches which systemize the theoretical and informative contributions realized during the implementation of programs within the BİA projects. Some of the 15 publications are in English and accessible via bianet.org.

Contact usYou can reach IPS Communication Foundation directors, BİA project coordination, bianet.org editorial board via telephone, fax, e-mail and mail from everywhere on the globe, dispatch information and/or documents and request meetings.