All of these people are still in office, and they were involved for the first time. So the short answer to “What is happening?” is that those who were never, or could never be, touched in the past are now being touched... Now, certain circles and cosmic groups are waiting anxiously.If there are members of the armed forces that conspire to overthrow democracy, the government and the legal order, shouldn’t we nab them? Shouldn’t the judges who take seriously the evidence provided by prosecutors order their arrest? Junta members or coup perpetrators have never been apprehended during the last 60 years. Should they go unpunished once again? Previously, no one has attempted to penalize them, and after every military coup during the last 60 years, the deaths of thousands of our young people were not investigated. Should we do the same this time?
The widow of Çetin Emeç, the former Hürriyet editor-in-chief who was assassinated 20 years ago, said: “We said ‘Iran,’ we said ‘Islamists.’ I am an Atatürkist [derived from founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk], patriotic, pro-military woman. I have never been angry with my state. So, accusing Iran suited my worldview. I wanted to believe that Iran did it. I did not want to confront other realities.” Should we, as the whole country, continue to avoid confrontation with reality?
This is the reality of this country: There is a tutelary regime, a status quo, that is ruthless and cruel. They are everywhere as if we see them with our eyes and touch them with our hands, they are in every institution, the media, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, universities and so-called civil society organizations. They are clearly outside the legal system. They do not assert this openly, but tend to imply it, saying, “You know.” Sometimes, the truth slips from their mouths, such as when they say, about their cosmic men: “We recruited them when they were young, and we raised, trained and protected them, and we arranged their promotion, and ensured that they became police chiefs or governors as our men. They are everywhere, in every political party, in newspapers, TV channels.” They say: “We organized the Sept. 6-7 [1955] incidents. It was a great organization.”
They have never felt any regret for what they have done. Have you every heard any word of regret from their mouths for hanging the popular, elected prime minister and two ministers of this country? They have slaughtered the young people and watched as they died. They have transformed Diyarbakır Prison into a house of torture, but have you ever heard them utter any phrase such as, “I wish it had not happened”?
On the contrary, they are resisting. They are trying to divert the essence of the matter. The top judiciary steps in. Extraordinary meetings are held. The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) intervenes and terminates the prosecutor’s employment. The bold prosecutors and judges who are trying to ensure that justice is done are being discouraged, disillusioned and made into targets by their colleagues. This is not surprising as this was the case with Gladio in Italy. The biggest obstacle, the biggest resistance, came from the top judiciary.
Their collaborators in the media are waiting anxiously. They are running headlines trumpeting a “confrontation” or “revenge operation.” By concealing the fact that the searches were conducted under a court order, they say, “The police raided the prosecutor’s office,” and NTV subtitles the news, “Chief public prosecutor blockaded.” The most insidious of provocations and psychological warfare is being conducted. They did the same in preparing for the military coup of May 27, 1960. “The war academy students are being slaughtered,” they had said. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader is still expecting to assume the single-party government by waiting in the bus station of Ergenekon. He immediately steps in and targets other people instead of the junta members. “We know that there are people who arrange these actions,” he says.
Returning to our question: What is happening in Turkey? There is an ongoing normalization process. Obstacles to democratization are being removed. The tutelary regime is being replaced with the national will.
Pain is expected. Problems are expected. Now, sincere and reasonable people should act with courage as well as with relief. The commanders of the armed forces should have the foresight to accept new Turkey and the emerging democratic awareness. Let the judicial process go on properly. Help it.
Tension will not go away as long as the military insists on governing the country.
