Partial Amnesty

In Turkey's Kayseri State Prison a few weeks ago, inmates held an engagement party for two former Deputies who were among the 460 politicians jailed last year as supporters of executed Premier Adnan Menderes. Last week the engaged couple could look forward to a wedding ball without chains. Approved by the National Assembly was a long-delayed amnesty for all but 53 of the prisoners. Among those still behind bars: ex-President Celal Bayar, 78, serving a life sentence.

Bitter bickering over the proposed amnesty has been the parliament's main preoccupation for more than a year, while Turkey's economy teetered and riots erupted in the cities. Republican Premier Ismet Inonu, 78, wanted a partial amnesty. His coalition partners in the Justice Party, as political heirs of Menderes, demanded immediate and total amnesty. The army junta, which had overthrown Menderes was against letting anyone go. Wily Inonu finally won out by allowing his divided government to collapse and forming a new coalition with two small parties that agreed with him. Striding spryly up to the rostrum after the Deputies had passed his amnesty, Inonu said: "This is a big step toward attaining peace and happiness in the country. I congratulate you."

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