Up to this point, much has been said and written about the organization in Turkey. While some see this as the first opportunity for Turkey to confront the phenomenon known as the "deep state," others have chosen to downplay the trial, arguing that the outcome will be a fiasco. However, there are high expectations that this case, although without the potential to shine a bright light on the darker events of Turkish history, will at least cast a dim light on them, paving the way for other events to come to light one day. "Turkey has a long list of unsolved murders. It is a country of execution without trial. Most of the valuable intellectuals of our country have become the target of bullets and have lost their lives. Most of their murderers had help. The murderers have appeared as patriots before us and have continued their threats," says Radikal's Oral Çalışlar when reflecting on Turkey's dark past.
He notes that with the Ergenekon investigation, the state has for the first time managed to gather some clues about the gang's internal formation, and individuals whose arrest and detention was out of question in the past, such as retired generals, became possible. "This is a turning point. It is a fact that the roots of the gang extend deeply into the state," he says, noting that it is impossible to expect this investigation to shed light on everything but that this will only be a starting point. "Now, a new process, a new fight is starting. Some will do everything in their power to make the trial end in ignominy, and keep other dark events from surfacing. It is impossible for us to know who was behind each of these incidents. We know that it is impossible to bring those who are gone back. But, we want to start from somewhere," states Çalışlar.
Star's Şamil Tayyar terms the Ergenekon trial the most significant trial in recent memory. "No matter what the court rules, the Ergenekon trial will have many important implications. From now on, military generals will not sit in front of their computers and make takeover plans. What they will think about are the consequences of attempting to make such plans," he writes.
Another Star columnist, Nasuhi Güngör, joins Tayyar in describing the Ergenekon trial as the most important trial of Turkey's recent history. "The course of this trial with all its evidence, detentions, indictments and dossiers will most probably influence many debates in the near future. The trial will certainly be influenced by these debates at the same time," he suggests. Güngör also explains that the Ergenekon case will be closely monitored by the commanding level of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and more tension will be created as some former TSK members are on trial in the case.
