New Protests Over Turks Rock Bulgaria

Thousands of Bulgaria’s Slavic majority defied their government and kept up protests in at least four cities Saturday to try to overturn new laws granting religious and cultural freedom for ethnic Turks.

“Turks to Turkey!” and “Listen to the voice of the people!” shouted at least 2,000 people outside Parliament in Sofia, the capital. Demonstrations continued for a third day in the southern town of Kardzhali and in the northern cities of Shumen and Razgrad.

The Turkish government and a spokesman for the ethnic Turks said the nationalistic protests, which have resulted in the country’s biggest work stoppages in more than four decades, were instigated by Communist hard-liners opposed to the ouster of hard-line leaders and the implementation of democratic reforms.

Protesters are demanding that the new Communist leaders reverse a decision Dec. 20 to allow ethnic Turks and Muslims to use their own names and languages and to allow the practice of Muslim religious rites without restrictions.

The demonstrators are also demanding a nationwide referendum on the ethnic question. A major rally was expected today outside Parliament.

Parliament President Stanko Todorov has said the government will not reverse itself.

Turkey on Saturday denounced the demonstrations and said it supports the Bulgarian government. Turkish Foreign Minister Mesut Yilmaz said the protests were organized by people still loyal to ousted Communist leader Todor Zhivkov.

Zhivkov, who was deposed Nov. 10, tried to forcibly assimilate the ethnic Turks by giving them Bulgarian names, prohibiting them from speaking Turkish in public and restricting their religious rights.

Nationalists among the majority Slavs fear the 1.5 million ethnic Turkish minority is growing too fast in number and poses a threat to the country.

The protests continued despite government appeals for calm. Todorov on Saturday went to Razgrad to meet with local officials in an attempt to defuse the crisis.

Bulgarian police said Saturday the protests could escalate out of control.

A statement from police headquarters broadcast on Bulgarian radio said, “The extraordinary situation in many populated places throughout the country confronts the People’s Militia (police) with the impossibility of guaranteeing normal public order.

“The militia’s directorate appeals to the leaders of all political and public organizations and all participants in the events . . . to refrain from irresponsible acts.”