Judicial shield plan denied

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç denied yesterday media reports that the military had submitted a proposal to the government for a judicial shield for soldiers involved in the fight against terrorism, similar to the one afforded recently to the intelligence agency.

“The issue was not on the Cabinet meeting agenda. However, I asked the ministers of justice, the interior and the defense and they said there was neither such a demand [from the army] nor such a preparation,” Arınç said after a Cabinet meeting.

The Akşam daily reported at the weekend that the General Staff submitted a draft to the Prime Ministery that would add a provision to military or civil legislation to require the permission of the prime minister for investigations against soldiers assigned to fight terrorism for their alleged crimes committed on duty.
Arınç also said he was not aware of any preparations to subordinate the Gendarmerie to the Interior Ministry.