 | lots of lapses by the Belgians lately, including refusing to act on CIA info about nuclear equipment sent to Iran despite being embargoed. |
Belgium has been left red faced by the disappearance of convicted Turkish militant Fehriye Erdal, who vanished while under surveillance of the intelligence service VS and the Interior Ministry. Erdal had been under intensified surveillance in the past two weeks leading up to her conviction in Brugge Court on Tuesday for links to the Turkish militant group DHKP-C.
"And how intense was the surveillance, M. le Inspecteur?"
"I cogitated intensely to infer her whereabouts!" |
She was sentenced in absentia to four years jail and the court ordered her immediate apprehension. However, it was later revealed that Erdal had been missing for 24 hours. An international arrest warrant has now been issued.
| "Legume! I have cogitated that the wench has absconded! Issue an international arrest warrant immediately!" |
And the news of Erdal's disappearance dominated front page headlines in Belgian newspapers on Thursday.
"Extry! Extry! Read all about it! Intelligence Belgique hoses it again!"
"Here, boy! Lemme see that!" |
Turkish editorials and news broadcasts also paid heavy attention to the issue.
| Yes, I imagine they might, considering what DHKP-C has been linked to. |
The DHKP-C militant had been staying in a Belgian government safehouse since the end of March 2000 after her arrest in September 1999 in Duinbergen on suspicion of illegal weapon possession and using a fake passport.
| safehouse? SAFEHOUSE??? Pardon me, but Whiskey Tango Foxtrot????? |
Erdal was placed under the supervision of the Interior Ministry after she applied for political asylum in July 2000. If she needed to leave her safehouse — for example to visit a doctor — Erdal needed to ask ministerial permission.
| ah, of course - she's just a poor misunderstood political refugee |
"Legume! Did you, perhaps, issue a permission slip for her to go to Outer Mongolia?"
"Certainly not, M. le Inspecteur! It was to go to Australia." |
This occurred on various occasions in the past six years without any problem, but when security service officers went to arrest her on Monday night, Erdal had disappeared.
"Where is she?"
"I dunno. Said she was goin' to see the docteur!" |
House raids in Brussels at known DHKP-C addresses yielded nothing.
| I feel faint, I'd best go lie down. |
"Fehriye Erdal? Nope. Nobody by that name here!"
"Hokay. Ummm... What's your name?"
"Ummm... Fehriye Smith." |
The Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry and federal public prosecution department were left pointing at each other for an official comment on Wednesday as Belgium was increasingly left red faced by the disappearance.
"Wudn't me."
"Wudn't me."
"Wudn't me. It wuz them!" |
Eventually, Interior Minister Patrick Dewael and Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx confirmed in a joint statement on Wednesday night that Erdal had been under intensified supervision of the security service VS since 19 February. However, the VS lost sight of Erdal on Monday night.
Adding to the diplomatic pressure on Belgium, Turkey requested the extradition of Erdal on Monday.
| "Sorry. Can't do it. She's gone to the docteur." |
It is the third such request.
"Again? She's at the docteur again?"
"She's been feeling poorly." |
Erdal's lawyer has said the latest request could be due to the fact Turkey has abolished the death penalty. However, Erdal's extradition is not considered likely because
| ... she's beat it for parts unknown? |
she was arrested in relation to a "political offence". The DKHP-C aims to overthrow the Turkish government and has already claimed responsibility for several violent attacks in Turkey.
| and in Belgian eyes that makes her a political refugee? The place is f*cked up even more than I thought. |
| Remember how much the Euros dislike the Turks, and it begins to make sense. Not a lot of sense, but sense. In a Euro sort of way. |
Belgian opposition parties are now demanding answers from ministers Dewael and Onkelinx, stressing that both of them have made mistakes in handling the issue. "This incident is damaging for the reputation of our country," Christian Democrat CD&V MP Tony Van Parys said.
|