Interior minister vows to investigate Eskişehir governor’s threat to journalist

ISTANBUL

Interior Minister Muammer Güler commented on Eskişehir governor's remarks on Oct. 2. AA photo

Interior Minister Muammer Güler has reacted strongly to the Eskişehir governor’s threats made to a veteran journalist who reported on the death of Gezi protester Ali İsmail Korkmaz, vowing to launch an investigation as the bureaucrat’s remarks sparked huge outcry on Oct. 2.
 
Gov. Azim Tuna, who was already harshly criticized over his repeated remarks in connection to the protester’s death, sent a mail to Radikal’s reporter İsmail Saymaz accusing the reporter of misinterpreting his controversial remarks that “Korkmaz was hit by his own friends.”
 
“If you discuss this subject by interpreting it again, you’re vile and inglorious,” Tuna wrote to Saymaz.
 
Güler said that Tuna’s e-mail letter was “unacceptable.”
 
“If there is a threat or a problem with the language he used, an approach that a governor should not take, we certainly cannot defend it. We will certainly take the necessary steps to address the matter,” Güler said, emphasizing that he personally did not side with the remarks “that went beyond [their] purpose.”
 
“That’s why I will examine and investigate it,” Güler said, adding all state bureaucrats should act carefully, playing close attention to detail.
 
Korkmaz was killed after being beaten with batons by plain-clothed men during a demonstration in the Central Anatolian province as part of the country-wide Gezi protests. Five men, including a police officer, are facing jail time over the murder.
 
For his part, Saymaz said that his conscience was clear for the “disturbance” that he was giving to the governor.
 
“A child killed in cold bold in a dark alley of this country is lying under ground,” Saymaz said referring to Korkmaz. “That is why I am asking the [necessary] questions [to the governor],” he said.
 
Tuna sparked outrage and incredulity after suggesting that Korkmaz might have been beaten by his own friends in an effort to frame the police.
 
In the mail he sent at 3:56 a.m. today, Tuna claimed his remarks had been continuously distorted by Saymaz, who again incited the governor’s anger by penning a new story about how the murder trial was now being moved outside of Eskişehir.
 
“Ismail, my son, you’re at it again… The offenders have been found, arrested and are being tried. I guess you’re not pleased with this. Just when you’re out of material, the court asks a question. And we write our opinion in order to prevent incidents from happening in this city where hundreds of thousands of people live, for the [sake of maintain] public order. This [information] is being disseminated to you by our partisan attorneys at that moment,” he said, blaming Saymaz for being prejudiced on the course of the trial.
 
“Even [punishing the suspects with] life sentence wouldn’t please you. If you discuss this subject by interpreting it again, you’re vile and inglorious. Don’t forget that [we may cross paths one day], we will see each other there sooner or later,” he said.