Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03ISTANBUL386, PUSHING BACK ON CENSORSHIP: "ARARAT" AND FREEDOM

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03ISTANBUL386.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03ISTANBUL386 2003-03-24 11:19 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Istanbul
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000386 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM TK
SUBJECT: PUSHING BACK ON CENSORSHIP: "ARARAT" AND FREEDOM 
OF THOUGHT 
 
1. (U) Summary: Istanbul contacts claim the overall climate 
for free expression continues to improve.  While the GOT 
continues to censor works dealing with the Kurdish issue and 
other sensitive topics, improvements in legislation have 
strengthened the underlying legal basis for freedom of 
expression.  The film "Ararat," which runs headfirst into one 
of the most sensitive political issues in Turkey, the tragic 
massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during the early 
twentieth century, is not expected to face obstacles to its 
release in Turkey.  These Istanbul contacts ascribe most 
problems with censorship not to specific government policies, 
but to narrow-minded bureaucrats who are stubbornly resistant 
to change.  End Summary. 
 
 
Freedom of Thought Movement 
-------------------------------------- 
2. (U) Author and free speech activist Sanar Yurdatapan 
described the work of his Freedom of Thought movement, which 
began in 1995 as a signature campaign in support of renowned 
author Yasar Kemal, who was under investigation for a letter 
he had published in a national daily.  Using a Turkish law 
that held writers and publishers equally responsible for 
their publications, Yurdatapan and over 1000 supporters 
"re-published" Kemal's letter, thereby forcing the 
prosecutors to open cases against all of them.  The cases 
dragged on for years, eventually resulting in dismissals for 
the defendants.   In the meantime, the movement replicated 
these tactics and began to publish regular compilations of 
writings and transcripts that had been subject to 
investigations and trials, using prominent names as 
"publishers" to publicize the cases and shame the system into 
acquitting the defendants.  The movement continues to publish 
one or more pamphlets each year and supports the original 
defendants in their legal battles in the courts. 
 
 
Film Review and Rating Commission 
--------------------------------- 
3. (U) Film directors, producers, and distributors generally 
fare somewhat better than their prose counterparts.  Unlike 
publishers, however, film producers and distributors must 
submit films to the Review and Rating Commissions (RRC) for 
an age-based suitability rating and prior approval before 
they can distribute them to theaters.  Legislative reforms in 
1991 established a Lower RRC with 3 members (2 appointed by 
the industry, one by the state) and a Higher RRC with 7 
members (4 appointed by the industry, 2 by the state, and one 
by the National Security Council).  Only particularly 
controversial and sensitive cases are submitted to the Higher 
RRC.  According to Bedahattin Cetin, President of Belge Film 
(a film distribution company specializing in foreign and 
artistic films) and Vice President of the National Film 
Platform (an industry coalition), only one film has been 
denied marketing approval since the RRCs were established. 
That film, "Big Man, Small Love," was subsequently granted 
approval by the courts (and won national accolades), although 
the director herself is still the subject of an ongoing court 
case. 
 
 
"Ararat": No Problems Expected 
------------------------------ 
4. (U) Cetin currently owns the distribution rights for 
"Ararat," the film written and directed by Atom Egoyan about 
the mass killing of Armenians that took place in 1915 in the 
waning days of the Ottoman Empire.  Cetin told poloff that he 
expects a very limited demand for the film, perhaps no more 
than three screens.  Although there were local press reports 
last year when the film first came to public attention that 
the then-National Security Council described it as the 
greatest threat to Turkey since "Midnight Express," Cetin 
assured poloff that he has not experienced, nor does he 
anticipate, any problems or obstacles in bringing the film to 
Turkey.  "In fact, a government minister personally 
congratulated me on taking the initiative," Cetin said. 
Cetin did note that he planned to edit a particularly violent 
and shocking rape scene, but not for political reasons (Cetin 
claims that, upon hearing his concerns, the film's director 
admitted that the same scene had been edited for U.S. 
distribution).   Cetin's primary concerns are about the 
timing of the film's release in relation to a possible war in 
Iraq. 
 
 
Narrow-Minded Bureaucrats 
------------------------- 
5. (U) Both Yurdatapan and Cetin told poloff that the primary 
obstacles to freedom of expression are narrow-minded 
bureaucrats who are generally inclined to ignore legislative 
changes that protect the rights of writers, journalists, and 
film makers.  Asked whether there might be a link between the 
level and type of harassment and which political parties are 
in government, both said they had not detected any such 
pattern.   According to Yurdatapan, many, if not most, of the 
cases filed against writers and journalists are eventually 
dismissed in the courts.  The cases and trials themselves, 
however, continue to be used as a form of harassment.  As for 
films, despite having prior approval from the RRCs, Cetin 
admitted that local governors still have the authority to 
pull films from the theaters and send them to court if they 
believe they are subversive.  The American film "Basic 
Instinct" and the Iranian-Kurdish film "A Time for Drunken 
Horses," for example, were pulled from theaters in separate 
provinces on the order of local governors (the former for its 
explicit sexuality, the latter for its portrayal of the 
Kurds).  The courts overturned the bans in both cases and the 
increased publicity that resulted led to long and successful 
runs in the theaters. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
6. (U) If the opening of "Ararat" goes as smoothly as Cetin 
predicts, it would indeed be a positive sign.  However, to 
date, it remains unclear whether recent reforms will lead to 
a broad loosening of state censorship.  The Publishers' 
Association of Turkey reports that, in 2002, the GOT opened 
cases against 67 books and leveled charges against 35 
publishers and 48 writers; in 2001, the GOT took such action 
against 42 books, 23 publishers and 38 writers.  The GOT 
continues to level charges of separatism against writers and 
publishers of works dealing with the Kurdish issue or using 
the word "Kurdistan." 
ARNETT