The investigations into the various coup plots of the last few years reveal all the attempts to lie, dissemble and deceive made by those who are still trying to wriggle out of the consequences of their actions.It is impossible to list all the lies here, but we can give a few telling examples. Hand grenades, explosives, light anti-tank weapons (LAW), rocket launchers, assault rifles, thousands of bullets and various other munitions were discovered in secret depots or buried underground in various cities. The Ergenekon investigation, which began in July 2007, has revealed that these munitions came from the arms depots of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Some of the munitions were found in isolated places, and these are believed to have been dumped in panic by individuals connected to Ergenekon. The military immediately denied ownership or any connection to the arms, but the Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) of the TSK subsequently confirmed with registration numbers, delivery reports and documents that the weapons had been produced by the MKE and delivered to the TSK. The lie was as plain as a nose on a face. Several members of the military and civilians have been detained on suspicion of keeping, storing or stealing the munitions.
The second batch of lies involves coup plans and a junta within the TSK. The chief of General Staff again denied all knowledge or existence of such people and plots. But a huge suitcase full of documents and recordings of the plans was handed over to the media first and later to the courts by officers who had taken part in the preparation of the plots. The signature of Col. Dursun Çiçek, which appears on documents outlining a military plot aimed at discrediting Turkey’s ruling party and faith-inspired civil society movements has, in spite of his claims of forgery, been confirmed by five state institutions and seven forensic investigations, including one by the military. Çiçek’s problems are compounded by voice recordings revealing his attempts to enlist top commanders’ support to stop his case going forward, to hide lies with more lies. Noses were growing.
The health scare lie has been attempted by a number of the accused. Here, those who are or have been fit enough to serve in the military suddenly succumb to the most debilitating complaints as soon as the cuffs are on. However, thus far medical technology has failed to back the self-diagnosed frailties of serving and retired military officers. The most recent report from doctors at the Gülhane Military Academy of Medicine (GATA) states that retired Gen. Çetin Doğan, the alleged author of the Sledgehammer coup plot, had no serious health problems following an MRI, electromyography and blood and other tests run at the hospital. He was fit to travel to Mexico a few days before his arrest, but when he was arrested, his lawyers claimed that he was unfit to travel to the courtroom overnight. Although doctors at GATA found no medical problems, he remains in the hospital, now apparently suffering from depression and mental instability.
In this week’s example, a member of the judiciary was found lying to cover his tracks. Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) Deputy Chairman Kadir Özbek called the prosecutor in Erzincan to interfere unlawfully in the Sledgehammer case. When caught, he claimed he had received the call, not initiated it. Police video evidence proved otherwise. Do we see a donkey’s tail sprouting from the HSYK’s rear à la Pinocchio?
Then the head of the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV) said she did not follow the news and that she doubted an incident in which a Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy was instrumental in convincing a witness to alter his testimony in the Erzincan leg of the Sledgehammer trial. Yet, the video recordings from the venue of the meeting have been shown and discussed by the entire media for almost a week. The CHP deputy himself and all those implicated accept that the meeting took place. But the head of YARSAV still doubts whether such a thing happened. Is the head of the judiciary now growing donkey’s ears?
The truth will be revealed, and the liars must reform or pay. The democratization of Turkey requires stringent ethics in the public arena. We are too often in the hands of those who will listen to no wisdom, whatever its source. The prosecutions must continue so that the guilty can face the consequences of their actions.
