TV spots on charter may be multi-lingual
ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) lawmaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who is a film-maker by profession, shoots reporters during a demonstration in Ankara. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a film-maker by profession, has written and directed TV spots as part of the constitution-making panel’s efforts to raise awareness on the drive for a new charter for Turkey.Önder, a member of the Constitution Conciliation Commission, was given the task after a submission by public broadcaster TRT failed to satisfy the panel.
“The TV spots, aimed at raising awareness and increasing participation in the process, should be featured also in languages other than Turkish. Starting with Kurdish, the TV spots should be in every minority language spoken in Turkey,” Önder told the Hürriyet Daily News.
Proposal to Commission
Önder is expected to put his multi-language suggestion on the table when the Commission meets today to discuss the campaign. He has shot five spots, to be aired on TRT and private channels if approved by the Commission.
The Commission is expected to also make a final decision on whether to listen to a presentation by Ahmet Türk, the co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), an umbrella group of Kurdish organizations. The meeting has been postponed twice amid objections by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The Commission has also scheduled a meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew for Feb. 20, making him the first minority religious leader to submit demands for the new constitution. The Patriarch has said he wishes to personally make the presentation.
