Bugün columnist Gülay Göktürk criticized some Turkish journalists' behavior for what she described as encouraging the military to make political statements, thus prompting the TSK to violate the Constitution. Fikret Bila, Milliyet daily's Ankara representative, in return stated that the military has its own rules on accepting questions and, if top generals do not want to answer, journalists can get no answer at all. Bila also stated that those participating in the debate were columnists from İstanbul and would not be very aware of the rules that Ankara journalists follow while dealing with the military and relations between Ankara journalists and the TSK.
Cumhuriyet columnist Oral Çalışlar and Yeni Şafak's Mustafa Karaalioğlu, who himself used to work in Ankara as a correspondent before recently moving to İstanbul, disputed Bila, recalling that journalists do sometimes encourage the TSK to make political statements. Karaalioğlu also indicated the military's readiness to do so.
In fact some of the participants referred to a remark made by Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt during the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (KKTC) Armed Forces Day reception in late July, days before Gül's formal nomination for president.
By the way I must also mention that the TSK hosted the KKTC reception and imposed its accreditation rules.
During this reception Gen. Büyükanıt renewed his April 12 statement that the military would like to see a president, who is also the commander of the TSK during peacetime, who believed in essence, not just in words, in the republic's secular character. Without being specific, Büyükanıt was referring to the TSK's objection to Gül's presidency.
As readers are aware, Gül's re-nomination for president has raised concerns that Turkey might be plunged into a political crisis due to a strong opposition by the military-led, staunchly secular elite.
This continues despite the fact that Gül renewed his pledge during a press conference last Tuesday to protect and strengthen the country's secular principles if he succeeds in a fresh presidential bid.
Coming back to my earlier reflection of the NTV debate that touched upon media-military relations, a Western diplomatic source of mine also told me that Gen. Büyükanıt was asked a question by journalists during the same KKTC reception regarding the military's opinion of Gül's presidency. According to the same source, Gen. Büyükanıt was provoked into responding.
However this Western diplomat's opinion that Büyükanıt was provoked into responding was not correct at all. His incorrect opinion stemmed in part from some journalists' misrepresentation of military-media relations.
As a long-time journalist in Ankara having much experience dealing with the TSK, I must say that whatever question one poses to top Turkish generals, let's say during cocktails, there is no way they will answer your questions if they do not want to.
Sometimes if they do not want to talk to the media, they will try to prevent questions by having bodyguards and deputies surrounding them block journalists from getting closer.
Therefore it would be wrong to believe that the military is ever provoked into responding to questions posed by journalists.
The essence of what makes relations between the media and the TSK problematic is the latter's strong role in politics and the fact that some journalists end up becoming tools for the role the military is playing in Turkey.
It would also be fair to say that political leaders sometimes use their influence over media owners to silence journalists with critical views.
Both the pressures exerted upon the media by the military and the political leadership alike are equally dangerous when it comes to exercising freedom of expression.
The problems that we are facing in establishing the supremacy of rule of law in Turkey also goes back to this lack of freedom of expression. This situation in particular intimidates many media members and prevents them from doing their jobs in a more democratic fashion. After all, what is at stake at the end of the day is losing their jobs.
Still it is not a good excuse for some media members to become mouthpieces of the practices that are in violation of the rule of law.
In particular those becoming mouthpieces of the military in its frequent practice of political involvement continue to inflict serious harm on the efforts of those trying to contribute to the establishment of democracy in the country.
I also know from my own experience that the majority of journalists would not ask questions of top commanders about issues that directly relate to military affairs, such as defending the nation against foreign enemies.
But in a "give and take" exercise, some journalists will pose political questions to TSK members both to impress their employers and also the commanders, regardless of the harm they are causing the country's efforts toward normalization.
