TV NEWS PRESENTER and Journalist Uğur Dündar has given an exclusive interview to our newspaper, Londra Gazete last Sunday, after visiting London on holiday with his family.
He spoke of freedom of press in Turkey and across the world, current political affairs and how freedom of press was in the times of past leaders.
Renowned broadcast journalist Uğur Dündar, spoke to our newspaper about how world leaders are restricting the press, the experiences of freedom of press in England and the United States of America and the solution to the Kurdish problem.
“OUR NAMES WERE GIVEN TO THE SUSURLUK GANG”
Dündar, explained that the Freedom of Press in Turkey had more rights 40 years ago, however in recent times they have thrown the Freedom of Press to the chamgers. He also underlined the fact that the press in Turkey is being restricted but in the last few years they haven’t wanted the press to be this silent before.
He said: “There were times when our names were given to the Susurluk Gang and an order for us to be assassinated. During the of Tansu Çiller there was a lot of pressure and restriction. The was pressure during the times of Turgut Özal but alongside Özal was the late Adnan Kahveci who was a very trustworthy and discreet politician. Because of this there have been no other times like the recent times that the press have seen such pressure and restriction.”
“BBC WERE GIVING BROADCASTS OPPOSING THATCHER”
“During the ruling of Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War, Thatcher wanted to stop the BBC from broadcasting the war and turned up at the BBC where she said to the News Manager: “Your news broadcasts are upsetting our soldiers”, the manager replied with: “Bring a comedian to make your soldiers laugh, we’re news reporters” and they continued to broadcast the Falklands War.
ECEVIT USED TO VISIT, DEMIREL USED TO CALL AND POLITELY REQUEST
“On topics that we reported Ecevit used to call and ask if there was anything he could deal with and would then solve it. He made no oppression or restriction to the press. At times where we’d come across one another in Ankara he would surprise us, there were times where he even opened the door to our press car. He was a gentleman leader. At one of Demirel’s Anatolian visits, the citizens said: “We want to get in contact with Uğur Dündar, he will solve our problems” to which Demirel laughed as they believed that their Prime Minister would not be able to solve their problems, he later on called me to explain what happened.”
“HDP, PKK MUST DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE PKK”
“Millions of people voted for HDP. We must respect this. HDP must draw the line between themselves and terrorism group PKK. They must condemn the PKK. In regards to the Kurdish problem being solved, only HDP should be concerned. It is the party of Kurdish people in our country. Closing a political party is very wrong. It cannot be democratic.”——————–