So far, none of the generals who were involved in the three coups since 1960 or other minor military interventions in politics have ever faced judicial prosecution for attempting to change the constitutional order through the use of force. At a time when Turkish democracy is in a crisis sparked by the launch of a closure case against the ruling AK Party, which won a landslide election victory in the last general elections, Turkey's attempt to hold these generals accountable for their unconstitutional behavior has boosted hopes of improvement in Turkish democracy, against all odds.Sabah's Mahmut Övür says even opponents of coups were surprised by the detentions of the generals, because this is the first time generals have been taken into police custody in Turkey. "This is a very new and unusual situation for a country which constantly lives in fear of a coup. This is a country where perpetrators of a coup, supporters of a coup and generals whose names have been involved in scandals are not accountable to Parliament over their actions," Övür said, explaining the reasons for his surprise. He notes that although countries such as Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy have settled their accounts with coup supporters and gangs during the 1970s and '80s, Turkey has failed to do this and military interventions in politics either resulted with the execution of politicians or their leaving the political stage. Nevertheless, Övür says, Turkey's integration process with the global world had started a new period in the country in which supporters of democracy started to speak up. He cites the government's reaction against a military memorandum last year and the Ergenekon detentions as evidence of this. "Although a bit late, Turkey has come to this point. Everything is being restructured," says Övür.
Star's Mustafa Karaalioğlu, though somewhat skeptical about whether the latest Ergenekon detentions will be Turkey's first step in confronting the coup plotters, complains about those who have failed to take a stance against these generals and even boasted of siding with them despite the ongoing allegations about their involvement in coup plans. "There cannot be any more serious offence in a democracy than plotting a coup. Turkey cannot be a real democracy as long as it does not confront the coup series it has been turning a blind eye to since the 1960s," Karaalioğlu maintains. In consideration of this, he says the latest Ergenekon detentions are very crucial because the coup plans in 2004 alone reveal a large gang formation. "The system, prone to coups and coup threats, is the biggest calamity to hit Turkey. It goes beyond the power of both the government and the opposition. Turkey can no longer live with this disgrace," he adds.
