Ban to come on soldier foundations

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

A promotional poster for the Mehmetçik Foundation.

Turkey’s Parliament’s Constitutional Reconciliation Commission has agreed to ban the founding of associations for soldiers on the basis of an article in the constitution regarding the right to found associations.

According to information gathered by the Hürriyet Daily News, the article on the right to found associations was negotiated in the commission. It was proposed that soldiers and police be given the right to found associations, but the proposal was not accepted on the grounds that giving this right to armed entities could potentially cause trouble. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), Republican People’s Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) came to an agreement about the ban for the first time in the commission. 

The commission agreed that the provision about the right to found associations “does not pose an obstacle to placing limitations on TSK and law-enforcement bodies.” The right for soldiers and police to found associations and unions was also proposed. However, the “limitations” were preserved on the grounds that not limiting soldiers and police who have armament and command-task hierarchy could bring about negative consequences. 

In the meantime, the rights of judges, prosecutors and public officers to found associations will not be limited as long as the associations are related to their jobs. Thus, trade organizations in these fields will be encouraged.