Civic campaign for constitutional amendment

Intellectuals with different points of view started a campaign for an
amendment of the Constitution of prohibitions. The journalists, authors and
lawyers who united under the name of "Civil Constitution Initiation" called
everyone to join the new constitution process.


       Intellectuals with different ideologies united under a campaign called
       "Civil Constitution Initiation," demanding an amendment in the Constitution
       which they accuse of being a constitution of prohibitions. Civil
       Constitution Initiation called everybody to participate in the campaign to
       make the 1982 Constitution to be changed. The project which has been
       prepared by a study group including the chairman of the Istanbul Bar Yucel
       Sayman, author Murat Belge, Mehmet Altan, Ali Bayramoglu, Etyen Mahcupyan,
       Prof. Dr. Burhan Senatalar was publicised in a meeting held in Tarik Zafer
       Tunaya Centre.
       Speaking in the meeting the chairman of Citizens Initiation for Light poet
       Ersin Salman stated that they give a special importance to make people from
       different sectors come together and said, "These people are different but
       can agree."
       Murat Belge on the other hand 1982 Constitution do not let people to unify.
       "They prepare constitutions for the benefits of the people. And we live
       under the rules of these constitutions. Our campaign does not suggest a
       draft, but to democratise the establishment process of a new constitution.
       Even if a constitution was prepared with good - will, unless the society
       gets used to it, it is not possible to give democratic messages."
       Reminding that a Founding Commission is not required for a Constitutional
       amendment Belge said, "The Parliament can do this. All it has to do is to
       let people participate and let people different points of view to negotiate.
       This is neither something radical or impossible."
       The study group consists of: Adnan Ekinci, Ali Bayramoglu, Ahmet Insel,
       Burhan Senatalar, Bulent Atamer, Erol Katırcıoglu, Ersin Salman, Esra Koc,
       Etyen Mahcupyan, Haydar Aksoy, Korhan Gumus, Kursat Bumin, Mebuse Tekay,
       Mehmet Altan, Mete Tuncay, Metin Karadag, Murat Aksoy, Murat Belge, Osman
       Kavala, Omer Laciner, Rustu Dayday, Semra Somersan, Tarhan Erdem, Tarık Ziya
       Ekinci, Turgut Tarhanlı, Vecdi Sayar, Yücel Sayman, Yuksel Selek.